Skip to main content
Games Radar
  • Newsarama
  • Total Film
  • Edge
  • Retro Gamer
  • PLAY
  • SFX
SFX The world's number one sci-fi, fantasy and horror magazine
Subscribe
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
Gaming Magazines
(opens in new tab)
Gaming Magazines (opens in new tab)
Why subscribe?
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
(opens in new tab)
View (opens in new tab)
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletter
  • Magazines
    • Retro Gamer
    • Play
    • Total Film
    • Edge
    • SFX
Trending
  • Disney Plus bundles
  • Best Sci Fi Movies
  • New Marvel TV Shows
  • New TV Shows

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. Movies
  3. Star Wars

Tell us what you thought of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

By Lauren O'Callaghan
published 18 December 2015

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • Comments
Richard Edwards, Editor, SFX

Richard Edwards, Editor, SFX

"It was quite stressful to watch because I was so excited about it and I found not knowing what's coming next in a Star Wars movie quite disorientating. But come the end it was a mixture of relief, exhilaration, joy and trying to get my head around what I'd just seen."

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Daniella Lucas, Content Manager, GamesRadar+

Daniella Lucas, Content Manager, GamesRadar+

"I love Rey! Is this what it feels like for dudes normally when they have a male hero to relate to? Because if so I want more heroes like Rey. I would have lost my shit if I saw this a kid growing up."

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Justin Towell, Reviews Editor, GamesRadar+

Justin Towell, Reviews Editor, GamesRadar+

"The excitement and hush that fell over the audience as the blue text faded away was incredible. And I was laughing and grinning for three quarters of it. Very, very happy to see the old cast (though a bit unnerved at how old they look/are), and excited for the new cast coming through. But by the end I was left feeling deeply unsettled, and I came out feeling very sobered. A pity as everything else was fantastic."

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Jane Crowther, Editor, Total Film

Jane Crowther, Editor, Total Film

"It reignited my passion. I had been immune to the excitement for The Force Awakens having been burnt by the prequels and I found myself believing in it all, all over again. I never expected to feel so strongly about Star Wars again and I am back to the adoration levels of my 9-year-old who watched her VHS of A New Hope so much the soundtrack went wonky and no amount of tracking would fix."

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Daniel Dawkins, Group Editor in Chief, Games

Daniel Dawkins, Group Editor in Chief, Games

"Thrilled. Relieved. Surprised. It's a generational touchpoint, which was obvious from the opening crawl as the audience's tentative whoops became a self-reinforcing roar of approval, and lent a comic symbolism at 4am outside the cinema, as I stood next to Princess Leia and a ten-year-old Kylo Ren, waving to their dad (Obi Wan) as he collected the car."

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
David Houghton, Features Editor, GamesRadar+

David Houghton, Features Editor, GamesRadar+

Have you ever only realised how much you missed something once you got it back? Ive written before (opens in new tab) about why and how much Star Wars matters to me, and after 16 years of pain and disappointment, The Force Awakens was everything I (just about) dared to hope it would be. Beat for beat, its simply perfect, resulting in sporadic giddy sobbing throughout, and more than a bit of lip-trembling discussion afterward. And Im supposed to be the cynical one on GR+. But weve got Star Wars back, and that just feels wonderful.

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Matt Maytum, News Editor, Total Film

Matt Maytum, News Editor, Total Film

"I got chills from the opening Lucasfilm logo (plus the 'galaxy far, far away' card and crawl, obviously), but the overwhelming feeling was of being transported, and seeing a familiar universe anew through wide eyes."

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Anthony John Agnello, Senior Social Editor, GamesRadar+

Anthony John Agnello, Senior Social Editor, GamesRadar+

At the risk of sounding like a jerk, I was surprised by just how good The Force Awakens turned out to be. I've enjoyed JJ Abrams' movies in the past, but never loved one. Having a new Star Wars movie that I enjoyed would have been enough and that's what I was expecting. I loved watching this movie.

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Rosie Fletcher, Special Editions Editor, Film

Rosie Fletcher, Special Editions Editor, Film

"Exasperated (by the full year of anticipation), bored (by hour waiting for the film to start), nervous (about not liking it), nervous (about needing a wee during it), then awed, moved, amused, fascinated and elated. I'm not even the biggest Star Wars nut but it was so tonally spot on that any minor niggles just didn't matter, and since I've seen it I find myself wanting to talk about it incessantly. The baddies were the best."

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Leon Hurley, Executive News Editor, GamesRadar+

Leon Hurley, Executive News Editor, GamesRadar+

"As an exercise in tactical fan service The Force Awakens nailed it: from haircuts to accents - even bits of corny dialogue - it knew what buttons to press and just how much to press them. I think the thing that surprised me the most though was how funny it was. A lot was played for laughs and again, like the referential nods, it was pitched perfectly to never grate. Most of all, for me, it just felt like a good start for what is clearly going to be a long run of movies. It took a well know universe and made it feel familiar and fresh at the same time - the original cast clearly relished their return as old hands, while the new faces provided plenty of wide-eyed wonder to the reimagining."

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Ian Berriman, Reviews Editor, SFX

Ian Berriman, Reviews Editor, SFX

"In-between laughing and feeling like cheering, The Force Awakens made me regret that I can't turn off that jaded, critical part of my mind that tallies familiar plot devices, anticipates twists and quietly mutters, "Well, they could have done that slightly better" and could just enjoy a Star Wars film like a ten-year-old can. Adulthood sucks."

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Sophia Tong, Global Editor in Chief, GamesRadar+

Sophia Tong, Global Editor in Chief, GamesRadar+

"Only Star Wars can get me out of the house and face the world numerous times because I need to see this movie again. Right now. I never walked out of the previous Star Wars movie thinking they were THAT bad, because I always came out feeling so damn happy because I just saw Star Wars. I was so giddy and pleased coming out of the theater because seeing a fantastic Star Wars movie with wonderful characters and a badass heroine belongs on a whole new scale of happiness. How I would have loved to have grown up wanting to be like Rey instead of uhh, Luke Skywalker."

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • Comments
Lauren O'Callaghan
Lauren O'Callaghan
Social Links Navigation

Lauren O'Callaghan is the former Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar+. You'd typically find Lauren writing features and reviews about the latest and greatest in pop culture and entertainment, and assisting the teams at Total Film and SFX to bring their excellent content onto GamesRadar+. Lauren is now the digital marketing manager at the National Trust.

See comments
Load Comments
Recommended
New games for 2023 and beyond to add to your wishlist
  1. Hi-Fi Rush review
    1
    Hi-Fi Rush review: "An undeniably wild ride that shouldn't be ignored"
  2. 2
    Elgato Wave DX review: "An excellent choice for streamers looking for a high-quality dynamic XLR microphone"
  3. 3
    Herman Miller X Logitech Vantum review: "A well-designed and comfy ergonomic chair but one that lives firmly in the shadow of its sibling"
  4. 4
    Season: A Letter to the Future review: "As beautiful as it is quaint"
  5. 5
    Dead Space review: "A sublime mix of fresh, familiar, and freaking terrifying"
  1. Antonio Banderas in Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
    1
    Puss in Boots: The Last Wish review: "The cat's pyjamas"
  2. 2
    The Fabelmans review: "Spielberg's period drama evokes wonder"
  3. 3
    M3GAN review: "A lot of fun but short on frights"
  4. 4
    Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Almost as sharp as the first"
  5. 5
    Babylon review: "Damien Chazelle's immersive vision of Hollywood's golden era"
  1. The Last of Us
    1
    The Last of Us episode 3 review: "An early contender for one of 2023's best episodes"
  2. 2
    Poker Face episode 1 review: “Takes the hardboiled detective story to a new level”
  3. 3
    The Last of Us episode 2 review: "A more calculated entry that focuses on Joel and Ellie"
  4. 4
    The Last of Us episode 1 review: "Expands on the games – and often betters them"
  5. 5
    Vikings: Valhalla season 2 review: "Has lost some of its feverish intensity"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Advertise with us (opens in new tab)
  • Review guidelines (opens in new tab)
  • Write for us (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.