Ranking All Ten Star Wars Movies
The blockbuster franchise has had its ups and downs — here’s how the movies stack up.
Since I can remember, Star Wars has been an integral part of my life. It’s the first movie franchise I fell in love with, and the first theater experience I remember as a child. That’s not to say there haven’t been some bumps along the road — Star Wars is a notoriously divisive franchise. With Episode IX coming out this December (and hopefully a trailer on the way soon), I decided it was time to rank the live-action, theatrically released Star Wars films, starting with:
10. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Attack of the Clones is easily the weakest entry in the Star Wars Saga. There’s something to be said about this movie’s visuals, and the battle sequences remain some of the best of that time. That being said, George Lucas does not know how to write realistic dialogue, and it is glaringly obvious in this movie. At its core, this movie is a romance, and a creepy one at that. Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman have exactly zero chemistry, and the dialogue they both have to sell couldn’t be sold by any actor or actress I know of. The second act drags the audience through an uncompelling mystery, and an anonymously donated clone army should have been a red flag the Jedi wouldn’t need the Force to see.
9. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Lucas’s follow up to Attack of the Clones fixes some of the issues of the previous installment, while doubling down on others. At no point in this movie does anything drag, as it’s action-packed from start to finish. It also boasts some of the best visuals of any sci-fi movie even today. Yet, once again, Lucas’s dialogue (especially the Christensen/Portman scenes) fails to be believable or interesting in the slightest. Since the relationship between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé is what Lucas decides to hinge the former’s transformation into Darth Vader on, it rings hollow and feels phoned in. The decision Anakin makes takes a matter of seconds, far from the epic fall from the light we were promised in previous installments. Add in a brutal ending which doesn’t make Obi-Wan a very sympathetic character, and you have a movie that ultimately disappoints, despite some great ingredients.
8. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace is the most entertaining and enjoyable of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, hewing closer to the original spirit of the movies. Sure, Jar Jar Binks is an annoying character clearly created for children, but Lucas’s Star Wars was very much aimed at children, even (and especially) the original trilogy. There are some great moments in this movie, from the cool underwater Gungan city, to the exciting podrace on Tattooine, to a great third act which boasts one of the best and most involving lightsaber duels in the Star Wars franchise. Also, it’s got Liam Neeson in it, and is the only prequel to feature Yoda as a puppet. Full disclosure: this movie was the first theater experience I remember, so I do have quite a bit of nostalgia attached to it. I also talked my parents into taking me to see it three times. It has its flaws, but I love this movie.
7. Solo: A Star Wars Story
For what it’s worth, I would have liked to see Chris Lord and Phil Miller’s version of this movie, but the movie Lucasfilm gave us was a damn good time. All the worry surrounding Alden Ehrenreich’s ability to be Han Solo was unwarranted, as he puts in a fine performance without trying to impersonate Harrison Ford’s iconic take on the role. The cast of characters surrounding Ehrenreich are all well-drawn, fun characters I would spend a few more movies with. Perhaps more than any Star Wars movie, this one follows the Saturday morning serial format more than any, which can make for a disjointed story without a lot of drive. The plot is whip fast, moving through time and events at lightspeed (hehe), and sometimes the narrative drive slows down because of it. Still, this movie is a lot of fun. It’s shame more fans didn’t show up in the theater for it.
6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The return of Star Wars, courtesy of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm, was helmed by J.J. Abrams, the man who also rebooted the Star Trek franchise. Much like those movies, Abrams imbues everything with a sense of wonder and fun; it’s clear that he grew up watching Lucas’s original films. Sometimes, it’s a little too clear, as there are many familiar elements in The Force Awakens. A new, diverse cast of characters is introduced, however, with newcomer Daisy Ridley’s Rey being a heroine for the ages. It may not be the most original entry in the franchise, but its just what Star Wars needed to make a comeback.
5. Return of the Jedi
The third installment of Lucas’s original trilogy is a genuine pleasure that boasts the best space battle in the Star Wars series. Fan favorites Yoda and Obi-Wan return in this installment to help Luke Skywalker finish the path to becoming a Jedi Master. The first act is a daring rescue of Han Solo, who was frozen in carbonite and sold to Jabba the Hutt in the previous installment, while the second two acts deal with a new Death Star, which our band of heroes has to destroy with the help of the Ewoks. Seemingly more kid friendly (but also surprisingly dark in areas), Return of the Jedi is a solid movie that just doesn’t reach the heights of the first two installments of the trilogy. A great end to the greatest trilogy of all time.
4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
This movie was a welcome surprise after a troubled production with copious amounts of reshoots. If the entire movie was retooled in post-production, I’m hard pressed to find any evidence in the final product. This is a movie that puts the “war” in Star Wars, and has one of the best third acts of any sci-fi movie out there. An ensemble cast of colorful characters all get their chance to shine, anchored by the charismatic and tough Jyn Erso, played to perfection by Felicity Jones. A direct prequel to the 1977 Star Wars, this movie ties in perfectly, and retains the spirit of the original. Darth Vader has a small role which reminds us why he’s one of the greatest villains in movie history.
3. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Here’s the thing: I love The Last Jedi. I am aware of its flaws (looking at you, Canto Bight and space-Leia), and it doesn’t really work as a sequel to The Force Awakens. However, it genuinely excited me in a way that no other Star Wars movie had since I was a child. The space battles are incredible, the lightsaber duel in Snoke’s throne room is second only to the Maul/Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan face off in Phantom Menace, and Mark Hamill’s performance as a grizzled, broken Luke Skywalker was truly something to behold. Rey, Poe Dameron, Finn, and Kylo Ren were all given great character development in a story that took some very unexpected turns. Rian Johnson truly shook the Star Wars franchise up, opening up new doors and possibilities. This is the movie that made it seem like Star Wars could move past the story of the Skywalker family. With Johnson currently developing a new Star Wars trilogy, the future looks bright for the franchise.
2. Star Wars*
*none of that “A New Hope” bogus
Lucas’s original 1977 masterpiece started a worldwide phenomenon, though Lucas wasn’t very confident in his work during production. Star Wars is classic movie-making at its finest, boasting state-of-the-art special effects (at least for its time) and a sense of fun that won over the public at large. It introduced us to iconic characters from the elegant yet battle ready Princess Leia to the smarmy smuggler Han Solo to the evil and menacing Darth Vader, one of cinema’s great villains. Rewatchable and epic, this movie is one of the greatest of all time.
1. Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars may have started it all, but Empire Strikes Back solidified the franchise as a cultural icon. While many sequels fall prey to being watered-down retreads of their previous installments, Empire gave the audience something new, making a much more personal story and developing the characters we loved from the first movie. There are multiple iconic moments in this film, from Han Solo’s response to Leia’s confession of love to the reveal of Vader’s true identity. This is the movie that also introduced audiences to fan favorites Yoda and Lando Calrissian, the former in glorious puppet form and voiced by the great Frank Oz. Considering the cultural impact this movie has had (its basically the gold standard for every sequel made today) and the risks it took (it ends rather bleakly), it is easily the best of the Star Wars series.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there really isn’t a movie in this series that I don’t enjoy watching. This is just where they fall on the spectrum of enjoyment for me. Star Wars has always been a large part of my life, and the series that got me into movies in the first place. It makes me genuinely upset that there are people who are so angry and resentful that they can’t just sit down and enjoy the movies anymore. This is a series that means so much to so many people, and I’m glad that it’s starting to diversify and explore new things. Spread peace and love, and may the Force be with you.
