| More tabs | Originally released as just Star Wars in 1977, the film now known as Episode IV – A New Hope had its subtitle retroactively added in 1981 to fit into the broader series, following the success of the sequel. While numerous versions, including the 1997 Special Edition, exist with various alterations, official home releases later cemented the "A New Hope" title. You can find detailed information on the film’s different iterations at Wookieepedia and by exploring alternate versions on IMDb .