Star Wars. A magically stunning and visually amazing treat that transcends timelessness. It changed the world, our imaginations, and how we approach film-making.   Episodes V and VI were also amazing, and definitely stayed in the consciousness of popular culture seemingly forever. However, the prequels changed all that. With their abundance of computer generated imagery, unsympathetic characters, insipid pacing, and somewhat uninteresting plot-lines,  they effectively split the fan base in half for sixteen years. This changed after Disney bought Lucasfilm and created Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With its coherent acting, return of fan favorites, an abundance of new characters who were well thought out, awesome practical effects, and nods to the original trilogy, it cleared the hole in many fans' hearts. With its emergence i ask: 
Do you prefer Force Awakens or Episode IV? Why or why not? Do you think its sequels will surpass it or not? May the force be with you.

It's hard to say which is "better" since they come almost 40 years apart. You can't compare the special effects because they are so different.

However, if I had to pick one I think I know how I would do it.

I would pick Episode 4 because without that movie none of the rest would exist. What Lucas and Co. accomplished with that movie is nearly unprecedented. I still really enjoyed Force Awakens but A New Hope is still the better movie in my opinion.