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Hollywood studios guess the success of their tentpole blockbusters ground on their opening weekend box office physique . But the true sucker of a pic ’s success is whether or not it stands the mental testing of fourth dimension . If audiences are still revisit it after four decades , like the originalStar Warstrilogy ( although those picture never had a job on their opening move weekend ) , then the filmmakers must have done something right .
Not everyStar Warsmovie is a timeless gem like the original three . There are someStar Warsfilms that stuck the landing place and can be enjoyed over and over again , likeRevenge of the Sith , and others that do n’t hold together as a cohesive story , likeThe Rise of Skywalker .
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)
The final chapter of the continuation trilogy , The acclivity of Skywalker , does n’t hold together as a cohesive story , let alone the culmination of the entire “ Skywalker saga . ” It ’s always neat to see Billy Dee Williams in the role of Lando Calrissian , and the movie has some thrilling miniature outcome . But , ultimately , the plot of ground has too many MacGuffins and too piffling system of logic to stick the landing .
The final battle is a bad , tacky mess of CGI that fails to link up on an emotional level ; Ben Solo ’s salvation is entirely unearned ; and the “ Rey Skywalker ” ending has no bearing on the core themes of the saga .
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The movie that kill the “ Anthology ” sub - series , Solo : A Star Wars Story , was the first box office turkey in the franchise ’s history . It ’s a finely made infinite risky venture with some fun exercise set - pieces , but this mediocre , middle - of - the - route sci - fi action mechanism blockbuster does n’t go the extra mile to warrant rewatches . Solosquanders an opportunity to do a full - blownStar Warswestern with an administrator - pleasing by - the - numbers approach .
The Han Solo descent movie also squanders an chance to search Han in full antihero musical mode . The script give him a generic “ hero ’s journey ” arc ahead of the much more subversive and unique hero ’s journey that awaits him in the events of the original trilogy . Solois more of an origin story for his things , like his jacket and his dice ( and , in one off-the-wall episode , his last name ) , which does n’t link on an aroused level beyond trivial nostalgia .
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)
Arguably the frail prequel movie , Attack of the Clonesis let down by its sonorous - handed enactment of Anakin walking the line between the light and sullen sides . He endure from one extreme as a traditional agonist to another extreme as a remorseless mass murderer .
Ewan McGregor ’s Obi - Wan is always watchable , Padmé get in on quite a little of the natural action , andJango Fett is an awesome side villain , butAttack of the Clonesgets too bogged down in unresolved closed book to revisit on a steady ground .
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
The middle chapter of the continuation trilogy , Rian Johnson’sThe Last Jedi , is gorgeous to look at , thanks to dazzle filming and masterfully craft optic effects , but it ’s dragged down by a bloated runtime and a meandering 2d act .
This movie has one of the dim chase ever put on film between the Resistance chugging along and the First Order postdate them , always just out of reach . WhetherThe Last Jedi ’s bitter , cynical , defeatist Luke Skywalker is mischaracterized or not , it ’s not a lot of fun to keep an eye on a childhood sub give up the fight against evil .
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
The first of many wildly polarizingStar Warsmovies , The Phantom Menace , is dragged down by trade disputes and Senate hearings . But it’sa keen origin floor for Anakin , introducing the boy who would be Vader as a apparently incorruptible niggling child .
Qui - Gon Jinn is perhaps the most memorable one - moving picture character in the saga , andThe Phantom Menacehas a few standout successiveness , like the podrace and the “ Duel of the Fates , ” that fans always get a kick out of .
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
J.J. Abrams ’ initialStar Warssequel , The Force Awakens , was criticized for broadly speaking redo the 1977 pilot instead of explore new character archetypes and narrative theoretical account . The rebadged Rebels / Empire / Death Star plot line made the galaxy ’s timeline sense inconsistent with account retell itself after just a few years .
But , despite its narrative trip-up , The Force Awakensis still a net ton of fun , with a generous portion of optic - popping action sequences . It ’s always a delight to see Harrison Ford as Han and Carrie Fisher as Leia , even if the divorce storyline feels like a betrayal of the characters ’ bequest .
Rogue One (2016)
The first “ Anthology ” movie , Rogue One , has some muddled storytelling in the first and second acts . But this shaky plotting is redeemed with a cast of exciting newfangled characters and a jaw - miss third act that builds to a shocking ending .
The finale ofRogue One – which kills off every major protagonist in straightaway succession – was unheard of in the franchise - drive modern megahit landscape painting . Rogue Onealso has some of the franchise ’s most breathtaking Vader activity ( peculiarly the climactic hallway massacre , which can be revisited countless times and remains just as effective ) .
Return Of The Jedi (1983)
payoff of the Jediis wide regarded to be the weakest first appearance in the original trilogy , but it ’s up against two of the greatest pic ever made – it ’s still a timeless chef-d’oeuvre in its own right . The last movie in the original trilogy hash over the Death Star storyline long before J.J. Abrams did . But George Lucas made it work inJedi , because he kick upstairs the stakes with a shield generator to destroy and a lightsaber duel in the throne room .
Jedihas hatful of highlighting : the speeder motorcycle Salmon P. Chase , Yoda ’s refreshingly understate death scene , the whole opening human action at Jabba ’s castle . This movie ends the saga perfectly with Vader sacrifice himself to save his alienated son from the Emperor ’s wrath . The infamous Sith Lord is n’t redeemed for decades of wickedness , but Luke ’s impression that there ’s still serious in his father is formalise .
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
The third and finalStar Warsprequel is well the strong entry in the trilogy . retaliation of the Sithstill has its own geological fault , like gammon - fisted political commentary and a disappointingly mundane arc for Padmé , but it ’s a rivetingStar Warsadventure withEwan McGregor ’s Obi - Wan in top form .
Revenge of the Sithis jam - pack with dramatic set - pieces thatStar Warsfans can enjoy time and time again , from the opening space battle to the volatile climactic duel between Obi - Wan and his fallen apprentice .
Star Wars (1977)
Lucas ’ original chef-d’oeuvre is still a high bench mark for adventures across a galaxy far , far off . 1977’sStar Warsis a perfectly constructed archetypal story that still tempt new multiplication of filmmakers to this sidereal day .
The narrative of a vivid - eyed farm boy leaving his humble beginnings behind to join the Rebels ’ war against the Empire , and his journey toward control the Force and blowing up the Death Star , will never get sure-enough .