Ranking Every Star Wars Film
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
May the 4th be with you. Star Wars is the film franchise that started them all back in the 70s, and boy have we never stopped this ideology (although I personally think that franchises have stifled creativity a little bit). I will say that I grew up on the original and prequel series, and so there is quite a bit that I love about this story from a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. I was addicted to the Episode 1: Racer game (I am a certified winner against that awful Bozzie Baranta [if you know, you know]). I owned so many toys and other forms of memorabilia (even a beloved chess set). I taught myself to talk like Jar Jar Binks (I was nine, to defend myself). However, I’m focusing solely on the film series today, and only the feature films. Despite my attachment to the franchise as a child, I will be true to myself today (no nostalgia goggles, here). I also can acknowledge that I no longer fall under the same umbrella of other Star Wars fans, and so I will preface this ranking by stating that I likely will have some unusual takes (not intentionally, of course). In my opinion, here are the Star Wars films ranked from worst to best.
11. The Rise of Skywalker
The only Star Wars film that I actually abhor is The Rise of Skywalker; I actually like it less than when I reviewed it. I know many fans were bothered by the risks taken with The Last Jedi, but to retcon everything, spit in the faces of viewers (somehow Palpatine is alive and kicking) and not even tell a sensical story (General Hux shifting from the sequel series’ most angry villain to being an informant is just stupid, and easily my least favourite Star Wars choice ever) is just a series of poor decisions. The action and effects are fun, but who cares when this is unquestionably the worst Star Wars film (so much so that it officially kills the sequel series nearly beyond repair).
10. The Phantom Menace
It feels like picking low hanging fruit to declare The Phantom Menace one of the worst Star Wars films, but I think I can at least admit to myself that George Lucas wanted to make a film specifically for kids. Now, there is a ton of decision making circling around the merchandising of anything and everything in this film, and I understand this completely. It is far from a good film, but I kind of feel like The Phantom Menace is like the Nickelback of film: not good, but so far from the worst thing ever, and pretending that it is is a lie to ourselves just to fit in. I can admit that it is likely one of the most disappointing releases, given the hype surrounding it, but The Phantom Menace is bad, not catastrophic.
9. Attack of the Clones
In ways, Attack of the Clones is actually worse than The Phantom Menace (the dialogue especially), but it is slightly better overall. The attempt to progress the story with at least a pinch of maturation is nice. The intention to humanize Anakin Skywalker is at least commendable, even if his storyline doesn’t always click properly into place (particularly when the film tries to make his ways as Darth Vader understandable, but he comes off more infantile). Attack of the Clones is mediocre, but not the worst.
8. Solo: A Star Wars Story
The events and intentions behind this Han Solo origin story are interesting, but the film is quite a bore to me. I felt like I never needed to see it again after I first watched it (and I still haven’t revisited it). Still, even though Solo: A Star Wars Story is clearly made with the intention to make big bucks, it feels a little more genuine with what it wants to show. The effects are stunning in typical Star Wars fashion, and the attempt to expand the central character’s lore feels slightly genuine. Still, I wasn’t blown away here.
7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One is even more lopsided than Solo is (when it flops, it really flops), but I was more interested in this film, particularly the suspenseful elements. Even amidst some head-scratching decisions (the use of CGI to revive Peter Cushing mainly, and what is up with the voice Forest Whitaker adopts here?), there is a bit of a thrill ride happening. I also never need to see this film again, particularly because it is a prologue to the first sequence of the first Star Wars film and this film is fine enough to enjoy once, but it’s worth a shot.
6. Return of the Jedi
The initial Star Wars series ends with a bit of a thud, but it isn’t a terrible film by any means. Perhaps Lucas and company got too enveloped by the ability to astonish young viewers (see The Phantom Menace over a decade later), but there at least a bit of closure here; back when even the first film franchise understood finality. It really doesn’t compare with what came before it, but Return of the Jedi is at least cut from the same cloth.
5. The Revenge of the Sith
On the other hand, The Revenge of the Sith is actually the best film of the prequel series. While still far from perfect, it plunges into the whole purpose of this preliminary story: understanding Darth Vader and his history. The film succumbs to action (particularly its lengthy climax, but what a battle this is), but the film is still more well assembled than the other films in the prequels. Still, some portions haven’t aged too well (again, the dialogue is brutal at times), but Sith is easily the lone (somewhat) winner of the three.
4. The Last Jedi
Okay, hear me out. I can admit that The Last Jedi is highly contradictory within Star Wars’ lore, but I at least like that it tries many new things (until The Rise of Skywalker defecated all over it). I love the artistic side of this film and how it feels like the most prestigious Star Wars film at times. Then again, there are a few parts I cannot excuse (the “casino” portions feel pointless, to say the least, and the final shot feels so forceful), but then we have the throne room sequence which is just gorgeous (and Rey’s solo scenes feel poignant). The Luke Skywalker stuff is debatable: my biggest problem is when he shrugged off the lightsaber Rey retrieves for him, but I dig grumpy Luke otherwise (why wouldn’t he be jaded at this point according to the sequel lore up to this point?). Far from perfect, but I will defend The Last Jedi: when it works, it really works.
3. The Force Awakens
Remember when the prequel series seemed so promising? I do. The Force Awakens honestly made me believe that Disney’s takeover may have been for the best (boy, was I wrong). The new characters seemed excellent. The risks made sense (particularly the audacity to kill off the beloved character they did). The film was equal parts fun, spellbinding, and fresh (outside of being quite a carbon copy, or carbonite copy, of A New Hope); I felt like a kid again during this film. I was expecting so much after this film. I still think The Force Awakens holds up quite well (even with the atrocious final sequel film that comes later).
2. A New Hope
Star Wars started off nearly perfectly, especially since only one film wound up being better after over forty years. The first film — which would ultimately be retitled A New Hope — is still a brilliant homage to so many genres and styles: westerns; samurai epics (especially The Hidden Fortress); political commentaries; the expansiveness of science fiction (of course). In spite of what came after (including or excluding Star Wars films specifically), A New Hope is still one of the best action adventure films of the 70s, and it had to be to justify decades of offshoots, sequels and prequels, merchandising and more (you don’t just become the start to the first film franchise for no reason). And then there was one.
1. The Empire Strikes Back
One of the best sequels of all time. Arguably the greatest twist of all time. A bettering of an already fantastic film. The Empire Strikes Back is easily the best Star Wars film in my opinion. It is the only instalment that knew what to do next after the first film blasted us off. Darth Vader gets complexity and texture better here than any prequel could fulfil. The characters that once wowed us are even better here (plus we get some new faces like Yoda). Virtually everything that made Star Wars a good film is put on full blast here. It’s the result of a follow-up made to accompany a successful film, and not squarely to make more money. The Empire Strikes Back holds up as a mainstream, blockbuster epic, on its own two feet, and as a continuation of something special. No contest: this will likely forever be the peak of all things Star Wars.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from X University (formerly known as Ryerson), as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.