Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith turns twenty years old next month. It was the last Star Wars movie directed by George Lucas, and until Disney bought the franchise in 2012, most people thought it would be the last Star Wars movie ever. With a new Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, heading to theaters next year, and Season 2 of the acclaimed series Andor debuting at the end of the month, now seems like a good time to reflect on the saga so far. Here are the twelve theatrical Star Wars movies ranked in order from best to worst.
1. The Empire Strikes Back
It may be a predictable choice, but this movie remains worthy of its throne. Of course, the iconic “I am your father” scene will forever be one of the most famous plot twists of all time, but this movie has so much more to offer. It introduced the quirky Jedi Master Yoda, who became one of the most beloved Star Wars characters. It took the audience to iconic locations like snowy Hoth, swampy Dagobah, and beautiful Cloud City. Leia and Han became a memorable couple, and Luke’s character grew as he went through his Jedi training and had to deal with sacrifice.
2. Return of the Jedi
This movie brought the original trilogy to a satisfying end. Luke’s arc came to a close as he set out to redeem his father. Vader grew from a terrifying antagonist to a caring father, and his sacrifice likely brought a few tears. Han also grew from an apathetic smuggler to a compassionate hero through his love for Leia and friendship with Luke, but he retained his charming personality. This is the sort of movie that leaves you happy for all the characters when you exit the theater.
3. Revenge of the Sith
The Star Wars fanbase has warmed up to the prequels in recent years, but even when this movie was new, it was acclaimed. It gives a heartbreaking portayal of how Anakin’s inability to accept loss leads to his inevitable decent into darkness. The battles are breathtaking, especially the iconic duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan, and the movie’s themes of how darkness is seductive both personally and politically remain relevant to this day.
4. A New Hope
The saga wouldn’t exist without its first chapter. While it’s not the most polished Star Wars movie and the story is simple, the imaginative world and memorable characters have lingered in people’s minds for almost fifty years. Everyone remembers watching Luke gaze longingly at the twin sunset and the bouncy jazz music of the Mos Eisley Cantina. The characters are cultural icons and will likely remain so forever. When life feels overwhelming, we can visit our friends in the galaxy far, far away and gain hope that good will triumph over evil.
5. Solo: A Star Wars Story
This movie may have disappointed at the box office, but it’s just plain fun to watch. Alden Ehrenreich gives a fantastic performance as the titular smuggler, showing that he is worthy to fill the great Harrison Ford’s boots. The movie shows us a young Han who wants to remain optimistic despite the galaxy’s harshness, but he is eventually overtaken by devastation. This adds a layer of poignancy to how Han has become jaded in A New Hope. Also, Donald Glover is ridiculously charming as Lando Calrissian.
6. Attack of the Clones
Anakin’s lament about how much he hates sand may be cheese, but where would the internet be without it? Aside from that, this movie tells a fun story that takes us to awesome locations such as gorgeous Naboo and gloomy Kamino. We get to see the beginnings of Anakin’s downfall and how love can be both a positive motivation and a destructive force. Also, Yoda finally unleashes his lightsaber moves.
7. The Last Jedi
This was probably the most controversial Star Wars movie in history. Some people praised how it made bold decisions in its storytelling, while others raged that the movie ruined Luke Skywalker by making him a depressed recluse. Regardless of the controversy, this movie gets many things right. Rey and Kylo Ren have a complex dynamic that shifts between attraction and hatred. Mark Hamill gives a devastating performance as a heartbroken Luke whose failures have overtaken him. Yes, it’s a different Star Wars movie, but there’s still a lot to like.
8. The Phantom Menace
Fans may have trashed this movie when it first came out, but more than two decades have passed, and people now remember it fondly. The pod race scene is exhilarating and makes you wish you could go pod racing in real life. The master and padawan dynamic between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is fun, and of course, the Darth Maul fight is one of the most iconic lightsaber duels in the saga. People have even started to appreciate Jar Jar Binks. He may be awkward and clumsy, but he always wants to help no matter what.
9. The Rise of Skywalker
The sequel trilogy came to an uneven end, but that doesn’t mean this movie is devoid of merit. Palpatine’s return came out of nowhere, but Ian McDairmid still gave a chilling performance and delivered plenty of villainous satisfation. The fascinating dynamic between Rey and Ben continues, and Ben’s character arc comes to a satisfying fulfilment as he finally leaves the dark side behind. Plus, the moment when Han appears to Ben is one of the most emotional scenes in the whole saga.
10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The first theatrical Star Wars spin-off movie presented an unflinching look at the realities of war and how sacrifice is necessary. It introduced a ragtag group of characters working together to steal the Death Star plans and then (SPOILER) proceeded to kill them all. Depending on your perspective, that was either a courageous storytelling move, or it ruined the whole movie. Regardless, we can all agree that Vader showing off his lightsaber skills was awesome.
11. The Force Awakens
Disney’s solution to deflect fan rage was to essentially remake A New Hope. Again a fighter sends off crucial information with a cute droid before being captured, again an orphan finds said droid on a desert planet, and again the heroes must destroy a planet-annihilating weapon. It’s not a bad movie by any means, but perhaps the sequel trilogy could have been stronger if its foundation hadn’t been so derivative. Plus, the decision to (SPOILER) kill Han Solo made for an uneven tone.
12. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
The excellent animated series got its start in the theaters. This movie sets out to only be a pilot for a TV show, and it succeeds in setting things up for the series, though it’s obvious that it strings together the first few episodes of a show. Still, the show it spawned was amazing, and this movie also introduced Ahsoka Tano, who would eventually become a fan favorite. That alone makes this movie notable.
