It's not just better than Episode IV, it's better than almost any score of ever made. People love to nitpick at this score, finding anything they can to justify why it's not the greatest score ever, but they come off sounding bitter. Most of them are Goldsmith/Horner apologists, anyway.

If James Horner ever came up with an original theme as good, as memorable as the Imperial March, Horner fanboys would cream themselves and proclaim it the best theme of all time. Williams fans aren't even sure if this is his best theme of the early '80s. Put another way: Williams has more original themes in this one score than Horner's had in his entire life.