Every Star Wars Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

When “Star Wars” fans hear “The Clone Wars,” they’re more likely thinking about the television show instead of the movie. This 2008 animated film was released in theaters to mostly negative reviews. Although technically considered a financial success due to the low budget, it’s a movie mostly forgotten by the fans. Perhaps the biggest reason for this is that despite the theatrical release, it was nothing more than a glorified pilot for the television series of the same name. However, it did introduce us to Ahsoka Tano and gave us our first look at a time period previously unseen for the most part in the franchise.

After fans had waited almost 20 years to get a new dose of “Star Wars,” the reaction to much of the first prequel was mixed. So when “Episode II” was released in 2002, everyone hoped it would land far better than its predecessor. The best parts of this movie included many of the battle scenes on Geonosis. Additionally, the film featured far less of Jar Jar Binks and our first look at Yoda handling a lightsaber. Unfortunately, shotty dialog and a terrible romance plot between Anakin and Padmé were cringe-worthy at best to sit through. Hayden Christensen may have come into his own since then, but watching this now can be as coarse as sand.

When J. J. Abrams took the reins back from Rian Johnson after “Episode VIII,” fans wondered exactly how he would address some of the radical changes that movie had made. Turns out by far and large, much of the previous film would be retconned by Abrams' new version. Instead of a fresh take on what the new rebellion was facing, the film brought back one of the evilest “Star Wars” characters all in the name of fan service. Sure, there was plenty of onscreen action, but an argument could be made that fans really wanted to see something new and different.

With the success of “Rogue One,” Disney tried again and produced a movie that killed the entire “Star Wars” anthology film saga. Giving fans a story they didn’t really need, this tale of Han Solo’s early beginnings had a lot of potential. We learned where the scruffy-looking scoundrel got his name, how we won his ship, and how Chewie became his best mate. Despite an interesting setup, the film failed to generate the box office returns Disney was hoping for. It forced them down a path to reconsider their strategy when it came to these one-off films.

It had been 16 years since the last theatrical “Star Wars” film. The stakes were high, and fans were foaming at the mouth to see what George Lucas would give them. The film made plenty of ripples, both on the dark and light side of the critics. Most people loved Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor’s characters, and any action these two fell into. But massive criticism fell on the excessive presence of the comic relief character, Jar Jar Binks. Added to that, the film had clearly moved away from practical effects and much of the onscreen magic was now buried in excessive CGI. The recent “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series has, however, reignited fans' interest in the prequels. So, there’s that at least.

Rian Johnson’s take on the “Star Wars” universe ignited a huge debate among fans. Many took issue with how he had taken the beloved character of Luke Skywalker and essentially turned him into a cynical man, hiding from the galaxy. Even Mark Hamill had difficulty with this new direction. Yet, it wasn’t just Luke that fans were divided about. The film also killed off Supreme Leader Snoke without notice or any real story behind the evil character. Throw in Leia’s inexplicable “rebirth” and a time-filler plot around a casino, and you’ve got a movie with plenty of action, but not much in the way of heart.

Anyone who had seen the original trilogy knew Anakin Skywalker would one day become Darth Vader. When the time finally came to show this on screen, fans got a lot more than they bargained for. It opens with one of the greatest space battles “Star Wars” had ever seen. From there we are treated to Anakin’s own inner dilemma regarding his future as a Jedi. The mechanics of how he ultimately turned to the dark side can be debated all you want. But no one can argue his final battle with Obi-Wan was one we all loved watching.

Now here’s a “Star Wars” movie no one knew they needed. The first of only two anthology films, this flick answered a question from the original 1977 movie. How did the Rebels know so much about the Death Star? For the first time in the franchise’s history, we saw a movie that didn’t involve Luke or anything to do with the Skywalker Saga. Even though “A New Hope” spoiled how this movie would end, it didn’t take away from the stakes, or the excitement of seeing how Jyn and Cassian would fulfill their mission. It proved that “Star Wars” had plenty of tales to tell that didn’t have to revolve around the Jedi.

In the original “Star Wars” trilogy, “Return of the Jedi” was meant to serve as a redemption story. With Luke having become a Jedi, and his father continuing to do the Emperor’s bidding, there was a sense that things were about to come full circle. Sure, the Death Star was a repeat of the original 1977 film, but this time around, it wasn’t just about the Rebels beating the bad guys. With everything that Vader had done since turning, the possible death of his son was enough to have him turn on his own master and fulfill the prophecy we’d learn of years later. It’s a film filled with hope, family, and an eye toward a better tomorrow.

Some diehard fans argue that “The Force Awakens” was just a retread of the original “Star Wars” movie. A secret, held in a droid, will help the heroes fight a planet-destroying weapon. Yes, there are definitely parallels here, but that didn’t change how much fans loved and needed this film. After having lost a bit of faith with where the prequel trilogy took us, finding a way to give us something both new and familiar was a daunting task. Rey’s “awakening” would set the new trilogy in motion, and lead us to the unique world of “Star Wars” we’re living in now. Like it or hate it, we needed something to kickstart the franchise again, and this did it in an incredibly entertaining way.

It was the movie that changed the landscape of cinema forever. People had seen science fiction in the likes of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still” and countless others. But George Lucas’ take on good vs evil in a fantasy world set in space opened up the viewer's mind to possibilities they’d never seen before. Luke’s journey from farmer to Rebel pilot may be set on alien worlds, but it’s still a hero’s journey. Lucas showed the world that stories about heroes could be set in far non-contemporary locales. It created a whole new universe that our world is still finding new and creative ways to tell stories that affect us all.

It’s often said that a sequel can never be as good as the original. “The Empire Strikes Back” proved that’s not always the case. A quick Google search on the best “Star Wars” movie and you’re likely to find “Empire” at the top of those lists. We certainly did. A little romance, a little conflict, and plenty of action, “Empire” was nowhere near a repeat of its predecessor. This was a film that gave audiences everything they never knew they needed, including one of the single biggest reveals in cinematic history. All the big players get their fair share of screen time, plus it gives us plenty of philosophical debate around the nature of good vs evil. Best. Sequel. Ever.