Every Star – As “The Mandalorian and Grogu” hits theaters May 22, a full ranking of all 12 “Star Wars” films—spanning the Skywalker saga and major spinoffs—places “The Empire Strikes Back” at No. 1 and “The Phantom Menace” at No. 12, with each entry judged on its character
For fans, the timing is simple: “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is set to hit movie theaters on May 22, and the franchise’s constant pull—be it a lightsaber duel or a space-travel emergency—doesn’t ease up.
This time. the story follows the armored warrior and Baby Yoda from Disney+’s “The Mandalorian. ” with Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver starring. If you want to fill the gap between showings. the streaming service also carries all 11 previous “Star Wars” films—covering the nine-chapter Skywalker Saga. plus a couple of spinoffs.
So which “Star Wars” movie hits hardest? Here’s the ranking of all 12 films.
12. ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ (1999)
George Lucas’ prequels get a bad rap for a reason. and this one is where the criticism is hardest to shrug off. It can feel like a two-hour setup—Anakin Skywalker is immaculately conceived. there are midichlorians and the Force to sort through. and the pod-race set piece can start to wear thin after repeat hits. Darth Maul shows up as the coolest guy in the movie. but he’s in it for all of three minutes.
Trade negotiations don’t exactly kick off a sci-fi adventure with momentum, and Jar Jar Binks is a problem too. Still. the film does set up the political atmosphere that leads to the Empire and introduces Anakin as the chosen one meant to bring balance to the Force—just not in the way anybody expects.
11. ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ (2002)
The film leans into sleek special effects so strongly that it can drown out the rougher. more chaotic energy of Lucas’ original movies. The central romance between Hayden Christensen’s Anakin and Natalie Portman’s Padmé also doesn’t land; they have ZERO chemistry as doomed lovers.
There’s a picnic in the middle of the movie, battle monsters on Geonosis, and then they get married at the end—yet even a modicum of real romance doesn’t show up. When Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi is around, though, “Clones” can work well.
The chase after Zam Wesell and the discovery of the Republic’s clone army on the rainy planet Kamino are key moments. The ranking still comes with a blunt reminder: Stormtroopers > clone troopers.
10. ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)
“Rise” is described as a sequel that leans heavily on returning faces and familiar elements. even as it makes room for comparatively little storytelling or fun from new characters. Little Babu Frik is singled out with real affection. but the overall film is framed as a film that sacrifices good storytelling to pay homage.
Rey (Daisy Ridley). Finn (John Boyega). and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) lead the ragtag Resistance as Emperor Palpatine returns (Ian McDiarmid). The focus is clouded by logic fumbles and a messy third-trilogy structure. even as the evolving relationship between Rey and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is said to go some interesting places.
Director J.J. Abrams’ “Skywalker” is also framed as a tribute to General Leia Organa (the late Carrie Fisher), and the influence of returning characters is emphasized. Hardcore fans will find plenty to love, but as a finale, “Rise” is judged to crash and burn.
9. ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
This prequel is considered the closest in tone. story. and theme to the original trilogy. Anakin finally reaches his full turn to the dark side. but the film still seems whiplash-y in how quickly he moves from a broody. anti-authoritarian kid to a child-killing figure described as the baddest man in the galaxy.
Padmé’s death from a broken heart is also called a little much. Still, the lightsaber battle between Yoda and Senator Palpatine/Darth Sidious/Emperor is treated as a highlight, and Order 66 is framed as heartbreaking.
Obi-Wan and Anakin’s violent brawl on Mustafar is described as arguably the most hellacious in any “Star Wars” film. For those who miss the two mortal enemies, the Disney+ “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series is referenced as the rematch to watch.
8. ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (2016)
For its first standalone outing, “Rogue One” blends the old and the new. The Rebel Alliance is portrayed freaking out about the construction of the Empire’s mighty Death Star. while the story also opens out into a war-movie structure that digs into battlefields on land and in space.
Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) leads a squad of armed misfits to steal the Death Star plans, but the droid is singled out as the best character in the bunch. K-2SO is repeatedly praised as way cooler than C-3PO.
The Empire is depicted as full of bickering bureaucrats, which can be fun to watch even if it’s bad for building the Death Star in a timely manner. Darth Vader’s on-screen entrances are described as power walks that both undermine his icon status and cement it at the same time.
Fan service is criticized for going too far—particularly a CGI character that’s said to be as distracting as Jar Jar—though the movie is also said to introduce “neato supporting aliens,” including Admiral Raddus, described as a military mashup of Patton, Churchill, and a lobster.
7. ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ (2026)
More a compressed season of “The Mandalorian” than a conventional “Star Wars” movie, the ranking frames the film as big-hearted and centered on the hunt for Imperial war lords.
The story places the Mando (Pedro Pascal) and his adopted apprentice Grogu on a mission to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s son Rotta (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) while getting on the bad side of the Hutt crime family.
There are aliens and beasts “aplenty,” and the film includes quite a few callbacks to the original “Star Wars” trilogy. At the same time, it’s said to try stylistic tricks meant to make it stand out—even when some don’t exactly fly.
Mando is described as going John Wick on robots and Stormtroopers, while Grogu gets a long showcase to strut his small stuff. The ranking also emphasizes that it’s a rare “Star Wars” outing that’s proudly a relationship movie rather than a big old-fashioned epic.
6. ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ (2018)
A young Han Solo movie doesn’t sound like a great idea at first, but the ranking says “Solo” works once you see it. The film is described as mostly free of lightsabers, Jedi, and Rebels, and as a “Star Wars” take on an Indiana Jones jam.
It tackles the underworld through the franchise’s most famous antihero. Alden Ehrenreich plays Han as idealistic, willing to go to extreme and illegal lengths to see his girlfriend again—Emilia Clarke is identified as playing her.
Han and Chewie (Joonas Suotamo) are praised as awesome together, and Han and Lando (Donald Glover) are said not to be bad either. The movie is also said to boast new creatures and crooks, and it ties into “Star Wars” past in surprising fashion.
The ranking also includes a direct note about Ryan Gosling’s upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter,” arguing this—rather than “Rogue One”—should be the template for future heroic spinoffs.
5. ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ (2017)
For viewers drawn to spectacular space battles. “The Last Jedi” is positioned as a must-watch because it brings both scale and audacity. There are porgs. bad guys with British accents snarling “Rebel scum. ” and plenty to love in writer/director Rian Johnson’s Episode VIII.
The film’s lengthy runtime is also said to demand repeat viewings, and fans have plenty to unpack. Still. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) is called the coolest he’s been since “The Empire Strikes Back.” The next-generation heroes of the Resistance are also praised for taking a big leap toward being a real rebellion like the one seen in the original trilogy.
Johnson is described as subversive in how Luke calls out his own past and challenges foundations Lucas put in place 40 years ago. A line is quoted from the film: “Good guys, bad guys. Made-up words.”
The galaxy. in this framing. is no longer a hotbed of chosen ones—where a nobody. a lowly First Order janitor. or a Resistance mechanic can save the universe—contrasting with Anakin and Luke’s days. “Last Jedi” is also described as dedicated to “our princess” Carrie Fisher. with her integral role treated as speaking volumes for the legacy of core characters played by her. Hamill. and Harrison Ford. while also pointing to the need for fresh icons to take the franchise forward.
4. ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ (1983)
The ranking argues that Ewoks aren’t that bad, and it points to an all-time high alien creature quotient once Jabba the Hutt’s crew, Admiral Ackbar, and Nien Nunb are added in.
What makes the movie special, though, is the set of satisfying conclusions. Luke says goodbye to Yoda in a touching moment. Leia finding out that Luke is her brother is called emotional without being cloying. The Rebel Alliance vs. Empire space sequence is singled out as a highlight. and Han Solo is described as less of a scoundrel than ever.
Luke and Vader’s climactic father-son throwdown is called redemptive wonder. The ranking invokes the chills around Vader tossing the Emperor down a shaft and his line to Luke: “Let me look on you with my own eyes” before he dies.
It’s treated as a perfect ending—at least until George Lucas gets rid of the Ewoks’ celebratory “Yub nub” song and replaces it by putting young Anakin in the Dead Jedi Ghost Club.
3. ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ (2015)
J.J. Abrams is said to introduce the finest characters since fans first laid eyes on Han, Luke, and Leia. Rey (Daisy Ridley) is described as wicked smart and a capable hero facing the First Order on the warpath.
John Boyega’s ex-Stormtrooper Finn and Han are described as brothers from another mother. Oscar Isaac’s pilot Poe is framed as as cool and refreshing as “a tall glass of blue milk. ” and Adam Driver’s Kylo is described as doing his best Vader impression as a maniacal villain with serious emotional issues.
The ranking says Abrams gets dangerously close to recycling old material, but uses those familiar motifs to set the stage for a mostly exciting third trilogy. The film also crafts what’s called the best final shot ever in a “Star Wars” film.
2. ‘Star Wars’ (1977)
Even the debate about whether “Han shot first” is acknowledged. the original is framed as the real deal mostly because of character moments that land fast. Luke is introduced as a whiny farmboy with big dreams. looking out over the two-sun horizon of Tatooine as he senses his destiny beyond.
Old “Ben” Kenobi’s explanation to Luke that Darth Vader “murdered” his father Anakin carries more richness when revisited later. Han cynically explains that hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster—though it’s suggested he’s trying to convince himself.
C-3PO constantly complains to R2-D2, while Artoo takes it like a champ. Leia is praised for putting on a brave face as she faces Vader and the destruction of her planet. Vader is also said to sense something is off when Luke makes his trench run on the Death Star.
The ranking argues the characters don’t need much backstory to draw people in as they begin their long journey.
1. ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
Simply, this is ranked as the best. The entry admits it might rank highly partly due to AT-ATs—Imperial Walkers described as arguably the coolest things ever stomped across a movie screen. But the ranking insists the movie works on more than surface spectacle.
Vader’s reveal to Luke that he’s the kid’s father is described as an all-time truth bomb, made even stronger when compared to Luke’s visions of the man behind the mask. Luke training with Yoda, with each getting ticked off at the other, is framed as priceless.
The film is described as being packed with scenes: Han saving Luke in the deadly cold of Hoth by warming him up in Tauntaun guts; Lando Calrissian betraying old friend Han to save his city; and Han and Leia’s “I love you/I know” exchange before the smuggler gets frozen in carbonite.
The ranking argues that among sequels, “Empire” stands out as a chapter that sends a cool sci-fi fairy tale with Arthurian overtones toward masterwork storytelling.
The list closes with a new movie now ready to join the conversation—“The Mandalorian and Grogu,” coming to theaters on May 22.
Star Wars ranking The Mandalorian and Grogu theaters May 22 Pedro Pascal Grogu Star Wars films ranked The Empire Strikes Back