Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
In the original Star Wars film, General Dodonna is identified as the first on-screen speaker of the exact line “May the Force be with you.” The attribution comes from an excerpt of an official movie companion; the full companion could not be checked, so that specific identification is less firmly established than the phrase’s appearance in the film.
Who says the line first in the original film?
General Dodonna is named as the first character to say “May the Force be with you” in Star Wars, later titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. An excerpt from an official movie companion supports the attribution, but the full document was not available to verify. Lucasfilm’s historical account independently confirms that the phrase is heard in A New Hope, though it does not identify the first speaker: StarWars.com’s history of “May the 4th”.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Star Wars 1-9 Complete Movie Collection Bundle (Blu-Ray, Region Free) | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vmUHMpYfL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray] | $119.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Star Wars: The Complete Saga (9-Disc Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51KTKxL-sTL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Star Wars: The Complete Saga (9-Disc Collection) [Blu-ray] | $151.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Star Wars Trilogy | $48.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Star Wars Trilogy Episodes I-III (Blu-ray + DVD) | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The careful answer is therefore: Dodonna is the reported first on-screen speaker in the film, not a conclusively verified first user of the words in real life. The evidence identifies a character speaking dialogue; it does not establish who first wrote or said the phrase outside the movie.
When did the film and the phrase appear?
The film, originally released simply as Star Wars, opened on May 25, 1977, according to StarWars.com’s release-date history. Lucasfilm says “May the Force be with you” is heard in A New Hope, placing the familiar line in the 1977 film.
#1 Best Overall
Is “May the 4th be with you” the original quote?
No. “May the 4th be with you” is a pun on the film line, using the date May 4 in place of “Force.” Lucasfilm historian Lucas O. Seastrom says the earliest evidence for the pun dates to 1978, and records a known May 4 use in 1979. That makes the date joke a later documented play on the film’s wording, not the original dialogue.
The May 4, 1979, London Evening News advertisement read, “May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations!” It congratulated Margaret Thatcher on becoming Britain’s first woman prime minister. The wording and context are reproduced in Lucasfilm’s account and noted alongside the film’s release history by StarWars.com.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
Rank #4
Rank #2
- THE PHANTOM MENACE(PG),A NEW HOPE(PG),ATTACK OF THE CLONES(PG),THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK(PG),REVENGE OF THE SITH(PG-13)and RETURN OF THE JEDI(PG)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
