9 Ways Star Wars: The Force Awakens Is an Exact Replica of A New Hope

The glaring similarities between Rey and Luke are the most obvious links between episode IV and episode VII. Both characters are living unsatisfying lives on barren desert planets, wishing for something more meaningful to take them away from it all. The two are also skilled tinkerers, with Luke being able to fix droids in a pinch and Rey knowing the ins and outs of the Millennium Falcon like the back of her hand. They each encounter a droid that has been separated from its master and is carrying an important, life-altering message, and on top of this, they're both Force-sensitive. This trait in particular changes their fates forever and is the reason many suspect Rey might be Luke's long-lost daughter.

The harsh desert planet of Tatooine that Luke longs to leave for a life of adventure is nearly indistinguishable from Rey's home of Jakku. Both locales have their fair share of nasty creatures, from Jawas to the sleazy junkboss Unkar Plutt (played by an unrecognizable Simon Pegg).

A New Hope's R2-D2 and The Force Awakens's BB-8 are supercute, lovable, and OK, technically soulless droids — but both end up stealing nearly every scene they're in. In addition to their cuteness, the droids are sent on important, top-secret missions for the good guys, end up bonding with the movie's main character after a serendipitous encounter, and are constantly in danger of being captured by the Dark Side villain hunting them.

The 1977 film's cantina scene is iconic, so it's only fitting that the new movie paid direct homage with an updated version of its own, complete with a song composed and voiced by Lin-Manuel Miranda and director J.J. Abrams. Both cantina scenes have equal amounts of campy, outrageous-looking customers and are the place our heroes must visit to gain vital information regarding the Rebel Alliance. Han Solo is in both scenes, first going to Mos Eisley's tavern with Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and later traveling to Maz Kanata's watering hole with Rey and Finn.

The broad idea of "good vs. evil" personified in two warring factions is used in both movies. The Force Awakens updates A New Hope's terminology, but it's inherently the same. The Rebel Alliance is now referred to as the Resistance, and the Empire has become the First Order.

Darth Vader and Kylo Ren are not only linked by blood but also share some disturbing personality traits. The two have a habit of using the Force when they're displeased, whether it's Vader slowly squeezing the life from someone who did him wrong or Kylo Ren flipping out and slicing everything in sight with his three-pronged lightsaber. Kylo Ren may not be as polished a villain as Vader, but no one can deny they're equally ruthless and unpredictable.

Despite the fact the Death Star was blown up not once but twice in the original trilogy, the First Order decides that the best route to take is basing their operations once again in a sphere-shaped hideout. To add insult to injury, the way the Resistance takes down the base in The Force Awakens is pretty much identical to what happens in A New Hope, with a crew of brave X-wing fighters blasting it away.

Just like Obi-Wan was a wise, grizzled mentor to Luke, Han stepped up to offer support to Rey when she needed it most. Both of these characters meet sad, unfortunate, deeply personal deaths at the hands of their former allies, be it Darth Vader (Obi-Wan's loyal padawan once upon a time) or Kylo Ren (Han's son). If you didn't openly sob when Han falls off that catwalk, then props to you.

In A New Hope, Senator Palpatine (or Darth Sidious) is the frail yet ridiculously evil ruler to whom Darth Vader reports. In The Force Awakens, Supreme Leader Snoke is the one who seduces Kylo Ren to the Dark Side, only seen in brief glimpses as a large hologram. They both suffer facial deformities and are able to rule by having underlings do their bidding. Snoke is still a mystery as of yet, but everyone from Boba Fett to Jar Jar Binks has been rumored to be the big bad's true identity.