Lone Starr is a charming yet down-on-his-luck space pilot, traveling through the galaxy in his Winnebago spaceship, "Eagle 5", with his best friend, Barf.

He gets tangled in a mission to rescue Princess Vespa, who has run away from an arranged marriage but ends up kidnapped by the evil Dark Helmet. Lone Starr takes on the mission not out of nobility but because he’s deep in debt to the grotesque gangster Pizza the Hutt and desperately needs the reward money.

Along the way, he discovers his true lineage, trains with the wise Yogurt (a parody of Yoda), and learns how to master the "Schwartz", a comedic take on the Force. By the end of the film, he becomes a true hero, defeats Dark Helmet, saves Druidia, and ultimately wins Princess Vespa’s heart.