Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) is a science fiction epic directed and co-written by J. J. Abrams, serving as the first installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and taking place thirty years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The story follows Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, who join Han Solo and General Leia Organa in the Resistance to search for the missing Luke Skywalker and fight against the First Order, led by the conflicted Kylo Ren. Produced after Disney's 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm, it marked the first film without extensive creative input from franchise creator George Lucas and holds the record as the most expensive film ever made, with a net budget of $536 million. Featuring a mix of returning legends like Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher alongside newcomers Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and John Boyega, the movie premiered on December 14, 2015, and was released on December 18, 2015. It was a massive critical and commercial success, grossing over $2.07 billion worldwide and earning five Academy Award nominations. The film was followed by The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), completing the sequel trilogy.