Fighting the enemy, using cool technology and completely filling up the domestic box office at $477 million dollars is the ever popular Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Many still wonder why it is so successful, especially now since the Star Wars series is already 40 years old but still able to draw in such huge crowds and add generations of fans. The answer is within the writing, technology and story it gives to it’s audience. But of course most of our thanks goes to Disney to help revive the love for a galaxy far, far away.

This story begins as a prequel, but instead of the past prequels, this adventure takes place just hours and days before the start of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. We find out how exactly Princess Leia was able to get those plans of the Death Star for destroying it. This team to find the plans is led by some fresh faces. You follow Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and more loveable characters as they try to accomplish this treacherous mission. People who watched the older movies know that Princess Leia does get the plans, but the struggles and sacrifices people made to get there will have you sweat at the pressure and become an emotional wreck by the end.

Even with this film wrapping up 2016, Rogue One was still able to have such a high successes. Some may call it ironic or inspiring but it’s main theme is when everything goes bad you still keep pushing because you still have hope. Even when there is a 97.6% chance of failure, the hope for change and better a future is in your hands to try. The story of rebels can be seen in how you look at this new year. The past year has many agreeing that it was a terrible year for most people. This should not stop you from being optimistic about the future. Even if things are looking bad in the past to this moment; this is the start of the year and should start with a new hope for your future.

Plus, you have a few more Star Wars movies to look forward to.