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When you look at the purpose, content and meaning of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, it quickly becomes apparent that they are all linked and all help each other out in different ways. Together, they have helped reboot a franchise that has been still since 2005 with the release of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

The purpose for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was for the new films be heavily tied in with the original trilogy as this was when Star Wars was at its best in the eyes of the majority of the Star Wars community and would give fans a sense of nostalgia. Therefore, it was important for the fans to know what happened after the events of the original trilogy which gave purpose to the new trilogy of Star Wars films being made as it allowed there to be a new storyline in the Star Wars universe. Something that heavily linked it the new trilogy to the old trilogy was the reoccurrence of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca after 30 years away from the Star Wars Saga. This helped give fans a feeling of nostalgia as they will have recognized beloved characters from the original films and it also helps fans understand just how connected this film is to the original trilogy.

Roughly 30 years after the destruction of the Death Star; ex-stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) finds himself turning on the First Order after coming to the realisation that he was fighting for the wrong side all along. Finn discovers a young girl known as Rey (Daisy Ridley) and realises that she is the one in possession of the BB-8 droid that has a map leading directly to Luke Skywalker which the first order have been looking for relentlessly. Rey and Finn finally encounter Kylo Ren in person whilst on board the Star Killer Base and engage in lightsaber combat using Luke’s lightsaber. After a long winded lightsaber duel it is Rey who ends up on top and Finn and Rey can then continue with their journey to Luke Skywalker. This links into purpose as this content summary shows how the film is trying to give the audience a feeling of nostalgia whilst simultaneously setting up a new storyline.

The Director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams has stated that the film has two main meanings. Firstly, to bring about a feeling of nostalgia by bringing back elements of the original trilogy that fans have come to know and love over the years, and secondly, to set up a new story that will help continue the saga and add more depth to the already rich in detail Star Wars universe. This links into purpose and content as the two meanings of the film come together to form the overall purpose, whereas the content featured within the film is what gives the film its meaning by combining both the nostalgia and new path elements.