27 Nostalgic Star Wars Photos From the 70s and 80s in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

A long time ago, before CGI stormtroopers and billion-dollar franchises, Star Wars was a scrappy sci-fi gamble that changed pop culture forever. The late ’70s and ’80s were the golden era of Star Wars fandom; action figures filled toy aisles, behind-the-scenes practical effects looked like magic, and Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford were just getting started.

These 27 photos transport you back to that original trilogy era, capturing everything from candid moments on set to the marketing frenzy that made Star Wars a household name. Whether you grew up with Kenner toys or remember seeing A New Hope in theaters, these images will take you on a nostalgic hyperspace jump to a time when the Force was just beginning to awaken.

1. George Lucas surrounded by Star Wars props in 1977

George Lucas stands among numerous models and props from the Star Wars universe, featuring spacecraft and characters under a starry backdrop. A large, spherical space station hovers in the sky, reminiscent of a popular sci-fi franchise.

2. Star Wars, Opening day. May 25th, 1977

A large crowd gathers outside a movie theater with Star Wars prominently displayed on the marquee. The theater features ornate architecture, and a tall building is visible in the background. The scene is in black and white. — xavier_grayson

3. George Lucas next to a prototype of R2D2 in 1976

George Lucas, wearing a brown coat and red sweater, stands next to a partially constructed model of R2D2. R2D2 has a dome-shaped head and wooden legs. — UltimateLazer

4. George Lucas on the set of Star Wars in 1976

George Lucas operates a film camera on a tripod, wearing headphones and a plaid shirt, in a futuristic set. Nearby, another individual stands in a helmet and vest, facing away, against a backdrop of control panels and equipment. — lunchtimereader

5. Star Wars billboard in Tokyo, Japan, 1977

A vibrant cityscape at night with a large, illuminated Star Wars billboard in Japanese. The billboard features characters from the movie against a starry background. Surrounding buildings are adorned with various colorful advertisements and lights. — tomhagen

6. Star Wars opening in Japan

A crowd gathers outside a movie theater featuring large circular portraits of characters from a Star Wars film. The theater entrance is adorned with sci-fi themed decorations. People in 1970s attire are visible. — BaronVonBroccoli

7. The main cast of Star Wars in 1977

A black and white photo of six people outdoors. Three are standing, two men and a woman. The others, two men and a woman, are also standing. They are dressed in suits and casual wear, with trees visible in the background. — wroofer

8. How they filmed the intro to Star Wars

A person operates an overhead camera filming the opening crawl of the movie The Empire Strikes Back in a studio. A long text panel with slanted, blue lettering is visible under the camera setup. — Mightnight_Manifest

9. “My grandad in the 70s, on the set of Star Wars in Tunisia preparing food for the crew.”

An elderly man in a beige cap and sweater sits at a table with food in a rustic room. The table is covered with a colorful cloth and has fruit and a bottled beverage. A stove is visible in the background. — Evil_Gibbon

10. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher during the making of the first Star Wars.

A black and white photo of a young man and woman sitting closely. The man is wearing a patterned sweater and has short hair. The woman has shoulder-length hair and is looking at him while resting her arm on her knee. — MummyLongLegs

11. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford doing a radio interview in 1977

A black and white photo of three people sitting at a cluttered desk in a room with wooden walls and electronic equipment. The person on the left wears a Fire Sale T-shirt, the middle person is in a plaid shirt, and the right person wears a suit jacket. — 2DeadMoose

You kind of get the feeling that Harrison Ford might already be sick of talking about Star Wars.

12. Anthony Daniels in his C-3P0 suit, trying to get some shade on the set of Star Wars

A gold humanoid robot sits on a white chair in a vast, barren landscape. It holds a blue umbrella with fringe, shading itself from the sun. The sky is clear, and the ground is light-colored, casting shadows nearby. — userdeleted

Can you imagine how hot it would be wearing that suit in the middle of the desert?

13. This photo from 1983 was used for a cover of Rolling Stone.

A person in a black suit, a furry creature, a woman in a bikini with arms outstretched, and a creature holding a beach ball pose playfully on a beach. A cooler and boombox are nearby. — _AegonTargaryan_

14. R2D2 (Kenny Baker) eating a sandwich on the set of Star Wars in 1976

A person dressed as a famous robot character takes a break on a film set, drinking from a cup. The set is bustling with crew, cameras, and equipment, capturing a scene reminiscent of a sci-fi desert landscape. — Alternative_act-1578

15. Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher on the set of The Empire Strikes Back, March 1979

Two people smiling and hugging, wearing matching winter jackets with Star Wars patches. They are outdoors in a snowy environment, with blurred buildings in the background. — Harvickfan4life

16. Mark Hamill waiting to shoot his first scene (March, 1976)

A person in a beige outfit stands in a desert landscape, holding their hands clasped. They wear boots and a utility belt. In the distance, two figures are visible sitting on the ground. — userdeleted

18. Anthony Daniels as C-3P0 getting a light on the set of Star Wars, 1970s

A sepia-toned image shows a metallic robot with goggles, resembling retro sci-fi designs, holding a cigarette in its mouth. A hand is holding a lighter close to the cigarette, attempting to light it.

19. Warwick Davis with his Star Wars action figures in the early 80s

A young boy lies on the grass, smiling, with his head resting on his hand. He is surrounded by several Star Wars action figures and a Darth Vader helmet. Trees and shrubs are visible in the background. — getdemssnacks

20. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill at the premiere of Star Wars in 1977

Three people in formal attire are engaged in conversation at an event. The person in the middle is gesturing with a smile, while the individuals on either side are attentive and also smiling. The atmosphere is elegant and sophisticated.

21. Mark Hamill next to an early Star Wars banner in 1976

22. Ben Burtt in 1980. He was the sound designer for Star Wars and created the sounds for the lightsabre, R2-D2, Darth Vader’s breathing, blaster, and tie-fighters.

A person kneels on a patterned rug, holding a parabolic microphone. Surrounding them are reel-to-reel tape recorders and audio equipment. The setting appears to be indoors, with dim lighting and wood-paneled walls. — Stonewalled89

23. Carrie Fisher hiding in a trashcan on the backlot of the Star Wars set in 1976

A person is peeking out from inside a metal trash can on the street, with only their eyes and part of their head visible. They are flanked by other trash cans, and theres a building window in the background. The image is black and white.

24. “George Lucas and my uncle Gary working together on the original Star Wars movie set in 1975.”

Black and white photo of a man working on a large model of a futuristic structure. He stands beside it, with another man observing. Studio lights and equipment surround them, creating a workshop setting. — SolidInevitable

25. Mark Hamill in Amsterdam in 1980

A person wearing a leather jacket and scarf smiles while pointing at a life-size Yoda figure. They stand in front of a display with Star Wars posters, including The Empire Strikes Back. — statecap

26. The cast of Star Wars, 1980

Four people pose playfully; two men support a woman lifted between them, and the third man stands beside them with an arm around. The woman wears a hat, blue top, and purple skirt, and one man seems to kiss her cheek. — francescomuttini

27. In 1977, Steven Spielberg took out an ad in Variety congratulating George Lucas on Star Wars surpassing Jaws to become the number one film of all time. In 1982, George returned the favor.