Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog post on storytelling. I’m loving the new Obi-wan Kenobi series, and I figured it’s high time for this ranking. Today, I’ll be ranking all of the main films, plus the two live-action spinoffs, in the Star Wars universe. This is all, of course, my opinion, so please don’t flame if you disagree. On the contrary, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these films! There’s much debate among fans as to which elements of each film make them better or worse than the others, and I wanted to explore those storytelling elements and see how they weave together through one of the greatest film franchises of all time. As a ground rule, I won’t be ranking any unofficial films, such as the Ewok films or the terrible Christmas special. I also won’t include the 2008 The Clone Wars film, as it was more meant as a pilot for the television series and has an entirely different cast and tone. Only the eleven main live-action films will be ranked. With that stated, let’s head off to a galaxy far, far away!
Number Eleven: The Rise of Skywalker
Poor J. J. Abrams. Your trilogy held such promise, but it all came crashing down with this utter mess of a film. There are many issues with this movie, but foremost among them is that Abrams admitted to not planning out the entire trilogy before he started, and boy does it show. First, the movie is riddled with plot holes, foremost among them being the decision to shoehorn Palpatine back into the story. Second, there’s lazy writing galore, such as Rey accidentally killing Chewie with Force Lightning, only for Chewie to reappear alive not even five minutes later! But worst of all was Abrams’ decision to ignore or retcon literally everything established in the previous film. While I might have disagreed with some of the choices made in The Last Jedi, the story had to commit to them at this point. Going back on them now just felt like a massive waste of the audience’s time and energy. As a result, the grand climax of the Skywalker Saga fails to hit home as it should. Between great characters like Finn and Maz Kanata, possible new directions for the story like Kylo Ren refusing to be redeemed, and hope for the next generation of Jedi, this entire film is an exercise in wasted potential. Alas, I must move on, but this is the only Star Wars film I can truly call a BAD movie.
Number Ten: Attack of the Clones
Jumping way back to almost the beginning of the chronology with this one, we have the middle entry of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. First, I want to state that this is not in any way a bad movie, not like Rise of Skywalker. A recurring theme with the prequel trilogy films is that the things they do well are done very well. Sadly, they each have weaknesses that hold them back in one way or another. This film did a great job in expanding the Star Wars universe and characters, had amazing action scenes, and introduced one of the most interesting and charismatic villains in the franchise, Count Dooku. And, of course, Ewan McGregor and Samuel L. Jackson are both brilliant. The main thing holding this film back is, unfortunately, the script. The writing is painful at times, particularly in the romantic moments between Anakin and Padmè. (I don’t like sand…) Worse, Anakin’s big moment of darkness in slaughtering the Tuskin Raiders who killed his mother creates a massive plot hole. The audience is left questioning how Padmè could ever fall in love with and marry the murdering egomaniac Anakin was becoming. Their love makes absolutely no sense in this context. If Lucas had instead given Anakin more of a double life in which he tries to keep his pursuit of power and his love of Padmè separate, that would have made for a more compelling love story. Still, this is a great entry to the series, even as it pales in comparison to the other films.
Number Nine: The Phantom Menace
Ok, I can feel your anger, but hear me out! I went back and forth a few times with this ranking, but ultimately decided I had to rank The Phantom Menace over Attack of the Clones. This film suffers from much the same weakness as the previous entry, as its writing and direction were rough, to say the least. Jake Lloyd, one of the most maligned parts of the film, was actually an incredible young actor who did not benefit from Lucas’ script in the least, and the fans voiced their displeasure at him for Lucas’ missteps, unfairly in my mind. Likewise, the decision to place such a goofy character as Jar Jar Binks in the film met with a similarly harsh reaction from the fans. But I’ve often thought these two elements could have worked out incredibly well with better writing and direction. Instead of making Jar Jar the constant comic relief, make him the tragic innocent – a representation of what the Jedi fight to protect. His goofs and jokes are an attempt to cover up his pain at being exiled from his home. (Or even better, Darth Jar Jar!) And as for young Anakin, Jake Lloyd could have benefited from some time working with Wil Wheaton, allowing him to emulate Wesley Crusher from Star Trek. He might still have been a bit annoying, but in a way that helps the story move forward. The two little alterations might have changed this film’s standing forever! And that’s not even counting the things the film does right. First, can any fan of the franchise watch Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor together and not smile? They’re perfect in every scene! Then, there’s the modernizing of lightsaber combat, culminating in the three-way fight against Darth Maul and his saberstaff. Finally, this was the film that started the massive world-building project that the prequel trilogy did so well at. Many fans complain about the politics and trade route talk, but those elements are what helped expand this universe in ways we absolutely adore to this day! For these reasons, I rank The Phantom Menace as the second-best in the prequel trilogy.
Number Eight: The Last Jedi
Talk about a controversial and polarizing film! I remember my initial reaction to this movie, and I think it holds true to this day. This film is an excellent science fiction and fantasy film, but not a great Star Wars film. Much like the prequel trilogy, what this film does well is done very well. In particular, the fighter sequence on Crait was masterfully done, an amazing callback to the Battle of Hoth. And while I initially didn’t like the jaded Luke Skywalker, his take on the older character has grown on me significantly. He had initially tried to rebuild the Jedi Order as it had once been without learning any of the lessons from their fall. As a result, Luke’s Jedi failed, resulting in his exile. His character serves as a wonderful contrast to the fiercely idealistic Rey. Director Rian Johnson wanted to subvert expectations with his Star Wars film. Unfortunately, he broke tradition on some tiny but EXTREMELY important things, which hold this film back. First, this is the only film in the franchise not to include the iconic line, “I have a bad feeling about this.” Yes, Johnson tried to play off BB-8’s opening beeps as that line, but that’s a poor excuse. In addition, this is the only main film to completely lack a lightsaber duel! That’s inexcusable! True, Luke faced Kylo Ren in the end, but he wasn’t actually there on Crait and their lightsabers never actually touched, so… not a duel! Subverting expectations is one thing, but there are certain expectations in Star Wars of little traditions being met. Additionally, some of the new characters felt out of place. Rose was ok if a little bland, but Admiral Holdo? Not so much. Holdo just came off as incompetent and stole the story that should have been given to Admiral Ackbar! But I digress. In spite of my complaints, Johnson’s take on the franchise could have done very well. He took major risks, but I think some of the risks he took were the wrong risks to take. What if Kylo had actually killed Leia in this one? Talk about a bold new direction! I could have even gotten on board eventually with Rey being a nobody, breaking the emphasis on lineage in the franchise. Sadly, a film that could have risen to nearly the top of the list sits near the middle due to these polarizing decisions made by the director.
Number Seven: Solo – A Star Wars Story
I wrote a bit about this film in my last blog post, but I feel this movie is underrated in the Star Wars franchise. It was, admittedly, a financial flop, but this is primarily due to it being one of the most expensive movies ever made rather than fans hating it and refusing to go see it. As a story, this is a rather compelling origin for Han Solo. Han in this movie is young and idealistic, far different from the sarcastic mercenary we meet later on. This is the adventure that broke him, then remade him into the smuggler that could eventually become a hero of the Rebellion. Early on, we see Han’s desire to be a great pilot for the Empire, before he’s demoted out of existence for having a mind of his own. In his first foray into the smuggling business, almost his entire crew is killed on top of their prize being stolen from them. Tobias Beckett acts as something of a mentor, constantly warning Han against his trusting nature. Eventually, this comes full circle when Han trusts his instincts and shoots first, killing Tobias before he can kill Han. Aside from the fun heist-based story, the cast in this one is surprisingly strong. Woody Harrelson is great as the veteran conman, Emilia Clarke makes for a wonderfully seductive and untrustworthy love interest, and then there’s Donald Glover. Holy hell, did they knock it out of the park casting Glover as Lando! And while some fans didn’t enjoy a different actor portraying Han, Alden Ehrenreich truly did a wonderful job in an impossible task, in my opinion. Han and Lando’s scenes together are the absolute high points of the movie, hands down. While this may not be the greatest film ever made, I feel it deserves much more respect than it gets.
Number Six: The Force Awakens
Oh, what could have been. I initially had this movie a couple of spots higher in the rankings, but when taken alongside the rest of the sequel trilogy, I had to demote it a little bit. That’s unfortunate because this movie gave me hope at the time that Star Wars was headed in the right future direction – paying homage to the past while trying to break new ground. Many argue that this film is just a rehash of A New Hope, and perhaps it is, but I argue that’s a good thing. Though I have my complaints about where J. J. Abrams eventually went with his trilogy, he started it off well by following Lucas’ key rule about Star Wars: “It’s like poetry. It rhymes.” Abrams knew he had to prove he could follow and understand this rule in order to earn the trust of the fans. The result was a movie that reminded us why we fell in love with this franchise to begin with while also introducing us to fresh new characters. Daisy Ridley is wonderful as Rey, even as her character was wasted in future films, and her chemistry with John Boyega’s Finn is really strong in this movie. Their banter on board the Millennium Falcon is among my favorite exchanges in the whole franchise. “You got a boyfriend? Cute boyfriend?” “None of your business!” Classic! Even with the mess this trilogy became, I love this movie all the same. A truly worthy entry to the franchise.
Number Five: Return of the Jedi
Ah, I have fond memories of this film. This was one of my most-watched movies as a kid, and it’s no wonder why. Even including The Phantom Menace, this is arguably the most kid-friendly entry in the franchise. Some fans may decry this, but even with its flaws, this film is a fantastic culmination of an incredible trilogy. My favorite part is being able to finally see Luke Skywalker at his most powerful. Throughout the entire first act, there’s simply no doubt in his mind that he’ll succeed in his mission, it’s only a question of if Jabba will bargain for Han’s life or not. Luke has truly come into his own from the whiny farm boy he used to be, and this is part of what makes the film so great. Lucas masterfully ties up so many plot threads in this one, and none more satisfying than Anakin Skywalker’s final redemption. Anakin is the tragic hero of the first six films of the franchise, and he finally has his greatest moment in truly epic fashion. Now, the film is not absolutely perfect, though this is the point in the list where, in my mind, the films are approaching perfection. Yes, the Ewoks being able to defeat the Empire with rocks, ropes, and sticks seem implausible, but I’m able to see this for what it’s truly meant to be – a representation of all peoples, both civilized and indigenous, rising up against the Empire’s oppression. Now, if only Lucas hadn’t forced us to endure the CGI scenes of the Special Edition…
Number Four: Revenge of the Sith
Undoubtedly the darkest film in the series, the final entry of the prequel trilogy is easily its best. While the film is a bit bloated and juggles a large number of plot points, it manages to do so with surprising grace. Anakin is more mature and likable as a character in this one, for the most part, though it’s clear from the start that the corrupting influence of the Dark Side has taken hold in his mind. His slow descent into desperate fear of his wife’s impending death is what drives the emotional part of this story. In spite of more cringe-worthy romantic moments between Anakin and Padmè, the weight of Anakin’s final fall to the Dark Side hits as hard as it should. Watching Ian McDiarmid chew up every scene he’s in just adds to the building tension. Contrasting these heavy scenes is Obi-Wan’s mission to end the Clone War. Ewan McGregor has been great through the entire prequel trilogy, but this film is where we truly see him at his best. His daring infiltration of the Separatist base and subsequent defeat of General Grievous can only be described as swashbuckling. I’m sure the late great Errol Flynn watched those scenes with a huge grin on his face. The film’s final climax is both epic and tragic, seeing best friends Anakin and Obi-Wan each doing everything they can to try and kill the other in a ferocious lightsaber duel. Such intensity can only be matched by the poignant beauty of the epilogue as all the pieces fall into place for the next generation.
Number Three: Rogue One – A Star Wars Story
While most of the franchise deals with the epic struggle between good and evil, this film takes a grittier, more down-to-earth approach. Eschewing the typical Jedi and Sith tropes, the focus here is on the street-level war the Rebel Alliance is waging against the Empire. We see people of questionable morals do awful things for the greater good, and it makes for an incredible war story set in the Star Wars universe. Almost from the start, the audience can correctly guess that none of the main characters will survive the movie, but that’s what makes it so compelling. The crew of Rogue One are the pawns who must be sacrificed to put the Empire in check. While some fans question the use of CGI to allow Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher to reappear as Tarkin and Leia, such technology is clearly not going anywhere in the Star Wars franchise, and it didn’t detract from the overall experience to me. This movie really has everything. The plot is intense and captivating. Jyn and Cassian make for a deliciously tense alliance. Chirrut and Baze are an iconic comedy duo. K2 is possibly the best droid in all of Star Wars. Even Krennic is a strong villain, what with his massive inferiority complex. And the ending! Damn, I nearly soiled myself when Vader showed up in that darkened hallway! This film is the hidden masterpiece of the franchise.
Number Two: A New Hope
The one that started it all. By today’s standards, it may seem aged, almost quaint, but this quaint little film was a gargantuan risk taken by George Lucas. Most of the main actors have said that they didn’t have lofty expectations for it during filming, but thanks to Lucas’ vision and the folks at Industrial Light and Magic revolutionizing the special effects industry, they gave birth to an eternal classic. So many points are hit perfectly in this story. Luke is whiny, immature, and idealistic, yet is forced into action with a short-handed army in the climax. Han is cynical and self-absorbed, yet returns to save Luke after previously running away. Leia knows she could die at any minute, yet still risks everything to try and defeat the Empire. The action is admittedly slower in this movie than in all other Star Wars movies, but I find that it works well. This is the audience’s introduction to this strange new world, and Lucas gives them quiet moments early on to fully take it in and appreciate the alien landscapes. But when the action gets going, holy crap does it get going! While the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Vader is arguably the film’s only weakness, the final attack on the Death Star still ranks as the most pulse-pounding action scene I’ve ever watched. This film is an amazing achievement, yet even Lucas wasn’t positive of its success, hence why he wrapped up the story in a heroic little bow. Nearly fifty years later, we’re still obsessed with it and everything that came after it.
Number One: The Empire Strikes Back
What can I say about this masterpiece? It’s not only the best film in the franchise, it’s my single favorite movie of all time. This film is genuinely perfect in every way. It’s a masterclass in storytelling and character development. The plot is intense and paced extremely well. Even the older special effects hold up to this day. And of all the Special Edition versions of the original trilogy, this is the one where the CGI distracts from the experience the least. This film manages to be so many things at once. It’s an amazing adventure story. The action segments are pulse-pounding and fun. It tells the greatest love story in the history of cinema. And that emotional climax when Luke finally confronts Darth Vader! One of the greatest scenes in all of film. This is a perfect movie and is well-deserving of a place of honor alongside some of the all-time classics.
And that’s going to do it for this ranking. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on all the Star Wars films. Of course, I’d love to know what you think! Do you agree with my ranking? Did I screw the pooch? Should Rise of Skywalker be number one? Yeah, right. Anyway, please leave a comment with your thoughts! Also, let me know if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. If you did enjoy, please leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!
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