MOVIE NEWS – The vast universe of streaming occasionally holds hidden treasures, and now, a legendary gem has resurfaced—one that fans long believed was lost in a galaxy far, far away. For decades, Star Wars enthusiasts have begged Disney+ to release the original theatrical versions of the films, but Disney and Lucasfilm have remained unmoved. However, it seems that someone has found a loophole: the unaltered 1977 cut of Star Wars is now available for free on a streaming platform.

According to a report by Men’s Journal, the original, unmodified 1977 cut of Star Wars is currently streaming on the app Cinema Box, accessible through Roku. This version of the first Star Wars movie is the theatrical cut—free of all modifications and edits that were added in later releases and the Special Editions that came after The Empire Strikes Back, when 1977’s Star Wars officially became Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

For those familiar with the franchise created by George Lucas, this is a monumental discovery. In the late 1990s, Lucas became fascinated by the digital technology that Industrial Light & Magic had developed for Jurassic Park. Inspired by these advancements, he decided to make substantial changes to the original Star Wars trilogy. At the same time, as he was preparing to launch the prequel trilogy with 1999’s The Phantom Menace, he also released the Special Editions of the original films in 1997. While these digitally remastered versions were visually stunning, they also sparked enormous controversy among fans.

Lucas didn’t just enhance the visual quality of the original trilogy—he also rewrote key moments and added entirely new sequences, many of which were widely criticized. The Special Editions introduced drastic changes that, for many, fundamentally altered the essence of the films. One of the most infamous modifications was the now-legendary Han Shot First debate. In the original 1977 version, Han Solo mercilessly gunned down Greedo without hesitation. However, in the Special Edition, Greedo fires first, and Han simply reacts in self-defense—completely changing the nature of Han’s character, much to the frustration of longtime fans.

Another major alteration involved the inclusion of Jabba the Hutt, who did not appear in the 1977 cut. Lucas later inserted him using CGI, transforming the once-mysterious gangster into an awkward, oversized digital slug. Many fans saw these additions as unnecessary and believed they detracted from the original film’s raw and practical charm.

Why Is It Nearly Impossible to Watch the Original Star Wars Cuts?

The Special Editions weren’t just controversial because of their changes—they also became the only versions officially available for viewing. When Lucasfilm released these editions in 1997, they effectively replaced the original cuts. Although the unaltered versions were later included as bonus features in a 2008 DVD release, this was the last time they were officially distributed.

The reason Lucasfilm refuses to release the original, unedited theatrical versions of the early Star Wars films remains a mystery. Fans have repeatedly pleaded with Disney to make these versions available, especially now that the studio owns all Star Wars rights. While a copy of the 1977 film exists in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry, where it can only be viewed by appointment, the general public has been effectively blocked from seeing the movie in its original form.

With what appears to be a deliberate effort to erase the original 1977 Star Wars cut from public access, one has to wonder—maybe it’s time for the same treatment to be given to the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.

Source: Men’s Journal