Star Wars The Force Awakens Summary and Synopsis

This page details the Summary and Story Synopsis for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This Episode 7 summary details The Force Awakens plot points in detail.

The action opens over the planet Jakku with an Imperial Star Destroyer dispatching drop ships and Kylo Ren's shuttle to the surface. Just ahead of them is Poe Dameron, who is in the process of recovering a map to the location of Luke Skywalker, who has vanished from the galaxy.

Poe is captured, but not before depositing the map in the body of BB-8, who escapes into the desert. During the assault, stormtrooper Finn hesitates to attack innocent villagers and is admonished on return to the Star Destroyer by Captain Phasma.

BB-8 stumbles upon Rey, a young scavenger eking out a living while waiting for her family to return. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren uses the Force to interrogate Dameron, learning the map is aboard BB-8. Finn rescues Poe because he needs a pilot to help him escape from the Star Destroyer. The two steal a TIE fighter but are separated on crash landing. FInnn takes Poe's jacket from the wreckage.

Finn meets Rey and BB-8. BB recognizes Poe's jacket. The First Order attacks and Finn, Rey, and BB steal the Millennium Falcon from a local thug and escape.

The Falcon immediately begins giving its new crew mechanical trouble. A large freighter detects it and takes it aboard. The freighter is piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca who have been searching for the Falcon. Han learns that the trio are trying to reach the Resistance and confirms that Luke Skywalker is indeed real.

Pirates in pursuit of Han board the ship, but Rey releases a cargo of dangerous creatures from Han's freighter and our heroes escape aboard the Falcon. They make their way to meet Maz Kanata, a benevolent free-port trader. Spies alert the Resistance and First Order to the group's location.

Meanwhile, Kylo Ren speaks with General Hux and Supreme Leader Snoke. During the conversation, the audience learns that Han Solo is Kylo Ren's father. The First Order agrees to use their super weapon, Starkiller Base, to destroy the Republic Senate.

In Maz's palace, The Force guides Rey to Luke's Blue Lightsaber which Kanata has long possessed and acquired through unrevealed means. Rey refuses the blade and runs into the nearby forest. The First Order attacks and after a battle captures Han, Chewie, and Finn. However, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron, sweeps in and rescues the trio. Meanwhile, in the forest, Kylo Ren battles Rey and captures her. Han and BB-8 see her brought aboard Ren's shuttle. Han recognizes his son. Leia Organa and C-3PO arrive and Leia greets Han.

At the Resistance base, Finn reveals the power of Starkiller Base, even as the First Order prepares to fire their superweapon on the Resistance. The group also learns that the map to Luke Skywalker is incomplete. The Resistance launches a fighter attack on Starkiller's weak point, while Finn, Han, and Chewbacca disable the planetary shields.

At Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren interrogates Rey, but discovers she is strong in the Force. His attacks awaken her Force awareness, and she uses her newfound ability to escape while Ren is preoccupied.

Han, Chewbacca, and Rey disable the shield and capture Captain Phasma, dumping her down the garbage chute. The Rebel fighter attack begins. Rey joins the group. They determine to aid the Resistance assault by planting explosives within. Finn and Rey open the facility and Han and Chewbacca plant explosives. Kylo Ren appears and Han chooses to confront him.

Han called Kylo "Ben" and begs him to return home. Ren responds by killing Han. Chewbacca wounds Ren and detonates the explosives.

Ren confronts Finn and Rey in the forest. Kylo Ren disables Rey and attacks Finn. The two battle with lightsabers and Kylo Ren severely wounds Finn. Rey awakes, takes the lighsaber, and fights Kylo Ren, severely wounding him.

Poe takes advantage of the opening created by Han and Chewbacca's explosives to fly in and detonate Starkiller's weak point. The explosion separates Kylo Ren and Rey. Chewcacca rescues Finn and Rey in the Falcon and our heroes escape as Starkiller Base explodes.

Back at the Resistance Base, R2-D2 awakens from a long slumber and reveals that he is carrying the missing section of the map. Combining his data with BB's, a complete route is laid out to Skywalker. Rey and Chewbacca make their way to the planet, and Rey meets Luke atop an island over a vast sea, offering him his lightsaber.