Every Star Wars Movie Ranked From Worst to Best

This was the least well-reviewed “Star Wars” film — an animated account of events that took place between the events of Episodes II and III. It follows Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, as they try to maintain order in The Force, contending with criminals and Sith forces. The Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus disliked the film’s “mechanical animation and a less-than stellar script,” as just 18% of critics gave “The Clone Wars” a positive review. Despite its poor reception, the film served as a backdoor pilot for a TV show of the same name that was actually critically very well received, running seven seasons between Cartoon Network, Netflix, and Disney+.

Of the 11 live-action “Star Wars” films — three trilogies and two spinoff stories — none has had a lower Tomatometer score than this one. The movie introduces viewers to Anakin Skywalker before he becomes Darth Vader, and shows how he began his path to the Dark Side. Though “Phantom Menace” has dazzling visual effects and plenty of star power, with actors like Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, and Natalie Portman, less than 60% of fans and critics felt positively about the film.

Reviews of 2002’s “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” were modestly better than those for its predecessor, as nearly two thirds of reviews aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes said the movie was good — though the audience score was lower, at 56%. The Critics Consensus said the improved focus on action was a needed alteration, but “ponderous plot points and underdeveloped characters” hampered the film.

“Attack of the Clones” takes place a decade after “Phantom Menace,” showing Anakin Skywalker’s increasing power and difficulty managing that power.

This is a spinoff film that traces the origins of everyone’s favorite scruffy looking nerf-herder, Han Solo. It reveals how Solo became a smuggler, got his name, got his ship, and became best friends with Chewbacca. Behind the scenes, “Solo” was a famously fraught production, as directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller left halfway through production, citing “creative differences.” Veteran filmmaker Ron Howard stepped in and reshot a majority of the film. The movie had the lowest box office haul of any live action Star Wars film, at just under $214 million.

“The Last Jedi” divides its attention between Rey, as she learns to control the power within herself, and the Resistance, as they fight against Kylo Ren and the First Order. The film’s quality is difficult to rank. Though 90% of critics gave it a positive review according to Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score was less than half as high, at 42%. Some have speculated this may have been the work of online trolls, while others point out that critical and fan opinions often vary widely, especially in a franchise as nostalgia-fueled as “Star Wars.” In addition, fans may not have connected with the vision of director Rian Johnson as much as they did with that of J.J. Abrams, who directed Episodes VII and IX.

This entry wrapped up the third “Star Wars” trilogy as Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron sought to bring balance to the Force by fighting against the First Order, and the Dark Side. In terms of reception, “Episode IX” is the inverse of its predecessor, as the vast majority of fans, 86%, loved the film, but critics were largely unimpressed, with only about half giving it positive marks. The film brought back J.J. Abrams from Episode VII after director Colin Trevorrow was dismissed by Disney.

“Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” sees Anakin complete his journey to the Dark Side and transformation into Darth Vader. As the Clone Wars rage on, Chancellor Palpatine strengthens his hold on power in the galaxy at the expense of the Jedi. Though many “Star Wars” fans lump all three prequels into the same box of disappointment, some might forget that “Revenge of the Sith” is generally well-regarded. The film is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with 80% of critics and two-thirds of movie-goers offering positive reviews..

This film served as an important proof of concept for Disney — that they could create a crowd-pleasing blockbuster set in the “Star Wars” universe that took place outside of a trilogy. The movie proved to be a smash hit, with a half-billion dollar box office haul and positive reviews from over 80% of both fans and critics, per Rotten Tomatoes. Set just before the events of Episode IV, “Rogue One” tells the story of a courageous group of rebels who risk their lives to find the one weakness in the Death Star. The Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus said the film “draws deep on Star Wars mythology while breaking new narrative and aesthetic ground.”

The third Star Wars trilogy got off to a terrific start with “The Force Awakens.” The film introduces brand new characters, like Finn, Rey, Poe Dameron, and more — as well as some familiar faces from past films. The plot involves the Dark Side attempting to seize hold of the galaxy once again — this time, in the form of the First Order, led by the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke and Kylo Ren. The film was an all-around smash hit, grossing nearly $1 billion in the U.S. alone. More than 90% of viewers and 86% of critics said they enjoyed “The Force Awakens” as well, with the Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus saying the picture “successfully recalls the series’ former glory while injecting it with renewed energy.”

“Return of the Jedi” brings the original trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. After rescuing Han from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, Luke, Leia, and the rest of the Rebel Alliance launch one last attack to take down the second Death Star — all while Luke must resist the temptation of joining his father, Darth Vader, on the Dark Side. As with the other two original trilogy entries, moviegoers and critics alike loved “Return of the Jedi.” It ranks among the 100 top-rated films of any kind, per IMDb users, and was nominated for four Academy Awards.

The “Star Wars” franchise likely never would have become the major force in entertainment it is today without the major success of the original movie, retitled “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” upon its rerelease in 1981. The groundbreaking blockbuster follows an unassuming Luke as he learns the truth about the Empire, the Jedi, and The Force. Along the way he meets some of the most subsequently famous characters in movie history — Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and more. The movie was critically lauded, as more than 90% of critics gave it positive marks. But the real impact of “A New Hope” comes from its fans — nearly all who have reviewed it on Rotten Tomatoes said they enjoyed it. When the film came out in 1977, it smashed box office records and instantly became one of the most iconic films ever made.

Of all the beloved Star Wars films, “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” stands out as the best. The film takes on a darker tone than the original, and delivers some of the most memorable moments in cinema history, including Han Solo replying “I know” when Leia says she loves him, and Darth Vader’s shocking reveal that he is Luke Skywalker’s father. On Rotten Tomatoes, 94% critics and 97% of fans say they liked the movie. The film has the 15th highest user rating of all films on IMDb, at 8.7/10. It also took home the Oscar for Best Sound in 1981.