Tape 1: Star Wars

Tape 2: The Empire Strikes Back

Tape 3: Return of the Jedi

The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition was a theatrical anniversary edition of the original trilogy, in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

The renewal was done by digitally remastering the image and sound with extensive clean-up and restoration work, Lucas also made a number of changes to the films in order to "finish the film the way it was meant to be" (as Lucas said in a September 2004 interview with the Associated Press) so that someone who started watching the saga from the prequel trilogy wouldn't notice the aesthetic difference between the 20 years.

The most significant alterations were cosmetic, generally adding special effects which weren't originally possible, like the addition of some originally filmed but cut scenes (like Han Solo's confrontation with Jabba the Hutt), the addition of new digitally made sequences (like the arrival at Mos Eisley) which sometimes included the replacement of older scenes altogether (like the flight to the Death Star).

Other changes, however, are considered to have affected plot or character development. These changes, such as the change often referred to with the phrase "Han shot first," have been controversial, inciting considerable criticism of George Lucas by fans.