by Haley Mitchell, online & entertainment editor

Widely anticipated to be the biggest title of 2015, J. J. Abrams’ new addition to the multi-billion dollar “Star Wars” franchise has left fans both new and old satisfied and speechless, and rightfully so. The Force Awakens has awakened the sci-fi fan in everyone, grossing $57 million on Thursday alone.

A colorful combination of storylines both new and old, TFA was fascinating in its own right, only adding more depth to the already well-explored Star Wars universe. Abrams has worked hard to please fans of the classic trilogy–several camera techniques and characters are reflected in TFA, though the story is far from a retelling.

After the chilling nostalgia of reading a new, slightly heavy-handed opening crawl, we are immediately flung into action, following the actions of Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), the best pilot in the Resistance, and his metallic yet charismatic BB-8 droid companion. While this opening sequence is nothing new, tension and suspense still play a heavy role as Dameron escapes The First Order. BB-8, in the chaos, soon falls into the hands of Rey (Daisy Ridley), a scavenger who, while struggling to make ends meet, still manages to have a good heart and hold out hope that her mysteriously absent family will return for her any day now. Add stormtrooper deserter FN-2187 (John Boyega) into the mix and a healthy smattering of all our old favorites (Han, Leia, C3-PO), and together they make for one amazing movie.

Some cameos may be lost on newcomers to Star Wars, but for old fans, the classic aspects of the story combined with the subtle but brilliant use of symbolism will be refreshing. This movie also employs a more diverse cast, featuring several more roles for females and people of color.

Filled to the brim with delightful Easter eggs and some beautiful movie symbolism (if there’s heavy contrast between light and dark, chances are it’s symbolism), TFA has paved the way for a new generation of Star Wars films. Just maybe (hopefully) in the future, they won’t rely so heavily on recycled plot points.