With “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” being back in theaters for the first time since 2005 due to its 20 year anniversary, I thought it would be fitting to first watch the movie in theaters, then rank my top 10 Star Wars movies ever. This list will be only the 11 canonical movies, and “The Last Jedi” will be the only movie off the list.
10. “Solo: A Star Wars Story” – This movie was just boring and bland. As a fan of the saga, this movie was disappointing. I never really came back to this movie after watching it for the first time. It has no reason to exist. It didn’t interest me or add any depth to any of the characters. Han Solo is the saga’s most famous non-Skywalker, and they did nothing to make him cooler or more likeable or add any to his character development or plot. Overall a 5/10.
9. “The Rise of Skywalker” – This movie was the conclusion to an already disappointing trilogy featuring Rey Palpatine and Ben Solo. The plot of this movie was bad along with the others in this trilogy. The other movies set it up for failure. There were so many plotlines and holes from the previous two movies that this one had to close and it just didn’t get the job done. It feels very rushed and sloppy and it jumps all over the place for no reason. It did a decent job of closing these holes, but there was so much going on that it just couldn’t. Overall a 5.8/10
8. “The Force Awakens” – This movie was the first of the sequel trilogy, and I had decently high hopes and expectations. Finn seemed like an amazing character and a perfect plot for a stormtrooper-turned-Jedi story. Kylo Ren seemed like the perfect character as the successor to Vader, and I do still love his character. However, making Rey the Jedi protagonist just seemed like the wrong decision. Giving her the raw powers of the Force that she had just didn’t make sense. However, I thought it did give the next two movies a big opportunity to be great. Overall a 6.4/10
7. “A New Hope” – This is the first movie to the original trilogy and it was great. This movie introduced the world to something unusual but so amazing, and it opened up a wormhole of what now is the Star Wars Universe. The plot was deep and gave room for so many opportunities in the future. Starting the movie with the kidnapped Princess Leia left to be saved by her brother/son of Vader (which they didn’t know at the time) was an amazing way to kick off the saga. Kenobi duels his old, lost friend Vader while Luke, Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca barely escape the Death Star’s destruction. Overall an 8.5/10
6. “Attack of the Clones” – This is the second movie to the prequel trilogy which in my opinion is the best trilogy of the three. Sadly though, this movie was definitely pretty corny and cheesy. George Lucas was left to write this movie on his own, which is definitely not his strong suit, and it left Anakin’s character to be pretty corny. This movie brought up the accusations of Hayden Christianson being a bad actor and I can’t blame them. However, the fights in this movie were amazing and the final scene with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker fighting former Jedi and Master to Obi-Wan’s Master was amazing. Count Dooku was the perfect antagonist to end this movie and his dialogue opened up so many theories to Qui-Gon Jinn’s character even after death. Anakin beginning his turn to the Sith in this movie was amazing and seeing his anger and pain after his mom died was a beautiful way to transition into “Revenge of the Sith.” Overall an 8.7/10
5. “Rogue One” – This movie was meant to be a filler showing the construction and use of Darth Vader’s “Death Star.” It featured no Jedi or lightsaber fighting like normal and yet the movie was still incredible. The plot was deep and, in only one movie, the character depth was amazing. The acting was great and I felt like I really loved a lot of the characters. My only problem with this movie was that you knew how it was going to end. Jyn Erso was an amazing character and seeing her father get taken at the beginning and being reunited was amazing. Then, Jyn watching her father die was so, so sad. It was a rollercoaster and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie the whole time. This is a 9.1/10
4. “The Phantom Menace” – I have always loved this movie as a way to “start” the series and the prequel trilogy. It shows young Anakin and his depth with the Force and intelligence. It shows the beginning of Palpatine’s rule and his two-faced acting. It shows Palpatine’s fear of Qui-Gon’s trust in the Force and his need for him to be gone. The plot of him sending Maul to kill Qui-Gon then Obi-Wan killing him in grief of his Master’s death was amazing just because it makes you think what could have been for Anakin if Jinn didn’t die. Qui-Gon Jinn was the master Anakin needed and Palpatine knew that, which just makes this plot so much better. It sets up the future movies perfectly. 9.5/10
3. “Return of the Jedi” – This movie was the finale to the original trilogy, where we see the heroes finally back on top. The depth and plot in this movie was amazing. The thrills and fights in this movie were impeccable. Sidious trying to make Luke kill Vader and have him take Vader’s place. Darth Vader seeing this happen and see his son in pain from Palpatine. Vader stepping in to stop Palpatine from hurting his son more. Vader killing Palpatine and turning back to the light side. Luke seeing who his father is and watching him die. What a way to end the movie. 9.5/10
2. “The Empire Strikes Back” – This movie is always said to be the best of the saga and I would agree if the next movie didn’t exist. But, this movie is amazing. Luke and the gang are being attacked on Hoth and forced to run away and split up. Luke Skywaker goes to find Yoda because he knows it is up to him to end the Empire, but he can only do it with a little green frog’s help. Yoda training him sets it up perfectly for the final duel between Luke and Vader. Luke loses his hand and Vader pities him, revealing that he is Luke’s father. Wow. 9.8/10
1. “Revenge of the Sith” – I could talk forever about this movie. It returning to theaters only increased my love for this movie. From beginning to end, this movie is action packed and keeps you interested. You see in depth Anakin turning from light to dark. His dream of losing Padme in childbirth to then searching for a way to stop it shows the beginning of the end. After gaining Palpatine’s trust and knowledge, he realizes Palpatine is the Sith Lord they have been searching for. He reports it to Mace Windu to gain the council’s trust, to then unintentionally kill Mace Windu and fall to the oppression of Palpatine. He fulfills his role of killing Viceroy Gunray to then be face-to-face with Padme and his old Master in the best fight scene in all of Star Wars. The best choreography and acting in the whole series are seen in this fight, and the final scene of Obi Wan and Anakin is gut-wrenchingly sad. This movie cannot be anything less than a 10/10.
