All 9 Star Wars Movies Ranked from Best to Worst

In celebration of and in a fair share of trepidation of the upcoming December 20, 2019 release of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, Brad thought it was time to compose his list of the Stars Wars movies ranked from best to worst, including Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and Rogue One. Having seen multiple lists before, Brad was tired of not seeing a list with which he personally agreed. Feeling strongly about Star Wars, he felt like he needed to get his opinion out there in the outskirts of the internet.

A key part of reading any list is understanding where the author is coming from. Brad considers himself an above average Star Wars fan, however he is aware that there are many FAR more knowledgeable and invested fans out there. However he has spent a large portion of his earlier youth daydreaming about being a Jedi, which he thinks adds some qualification. He has seen each of the movies in the list at least twice. While he has not read an extensive portion of the Star Wars extended universe creations he did grow up being aware of several aspects of the extended universe, including the characters Jacen and Jaina Solo, Ben Skywalker, Mara Jade, and Admiral Thrawn. He has seen bits and pieces of the Clone Wars TV show but refuses to believe Darth Maul can be alive. .

Brad’s list will rate the films based on their overall greatness and watchability, giving priority to originality and at the same time what he calls ‘meshiness’ of the films with regard to each other, since the films are meant to be a cohesive story. Also, Brad REALLY likes lightsaber battles. The size of the pop culture effect that each film has had is less taken into account, because A New Hope via introducing the Star Wars universe and Empire Strikes Back via the quote “No, I am your father” would obviously place each in the top 1 and 2 spots. However, this doesn’t mean that you enjoy watching that installment the most.

Without further ado, here is the super-ultimate-best-ever list of Star Wars films ranked. LAST DISCLAIMER: Brad is not including Solo: A Star Wars Story as he has only seen this movie once…

9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

It was 2015 and Christmas fast approaching. What more could a Star Wars fan ask for than the newest installment of a series that he thought he had sadly seen the last of after Revenge of the Sith. Moreover, J.J. Abrams, a huge Star Wars fan and the second-coming of Steven Spielberg despite Spielberg still being alive, was directing. What could go wrong? Nearly everything apparently. The biggest fault lies with J.J. Abrams for deciding to pay homage to the fantasy story of his youth rather than create an entirely original piece of artwork that would both fit nicely in and continue the story previously told. It was a large task to accomplish, but he was chosen for a reason. Instead, he rewound things rather than forging ahead. I can’t necessarily blame him, but I just wish he had thought about it twice before creating a modern day retelling of A New Hope (Don’t worry J.J., I was one of the few who loved Lost from beginning to end!). From the Starkiller base nostalgically named after Luke Skywalker’s original surname that seemed too much like the Death Star and far too powerful to have been built so quickly, to the inexplicable return of Han Solo to a life of space smuggling and comic relief, to The First Order and its sorry replication of the Empire, this movie was unoriginal in all the wrong ways. The only redeeming factors about the movie are 1) it’s still got the Star Wars name so I’m forced to like it somewhat 2) it looks pretty and there is lightsaber battling 3) Rey and Ben Solo I do enjoy (though they are overshadowed by the catastrophe that is Finn/John Boyega’s heavy breathing, we get it, you were running and you’re out of breath). Star Wars: The Force Awakens should have given both new and old Star Wars fans a new hope for the future, yet it fell flat. But at least it made a lot of money.

8. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

I really had a hard time separating The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens. I almost placed them in a tie for last. But ties are no fun. Not having been given much original content and momentum to work with, Rian Johnson had quite the task to try to make something original out of the new trilogy of films. I will give him points for at least trying to be original at certain points, and I do believe that the death of Snoke and ensuing lightsaber battle and final stand-off on Crait were well done, however the rest of the attempts at originality just do not fit. From the Hunger Games transplant that is lavender-haired Vice Admiral Holdo to the pointless escapades of Finn (ugh) and Rose (a decent character) on the casino planet of Canto Bight to the force saving of Leia after being ejected from the Resistance’s ship (yes, I understand that it COULD happen, but still no!) Rian Johnson took some swings for the fence with this one but he missed more than he connected. Also, I forgot about the nothing-to-see-here-just-killing off-Luke-Skywalker passing of Luke Skywalker. Definitely no! When all is said and done this film felt like a movie that was catering to an audience of casual, I-don’t-care-what happens-it’s-still-Star-Wars fans. If you were pleased with this movie, you probably won’t agree with the rest of the list..

7. Star Wars: Attack of The Clone Wars

Ok, there are few movies that a giant Geonosian lightsaber battle involving the near entirety of the Jedi Order and a mouth watering Yoda / Count Dooku lightsaber battle can’t completely correct. The Attack of the Clone Wars is one of them. While I could certainly rewatch the closing lightsaber battles in this film more than nearly any other scenes in the film series, these great action moments don’t revive the rest of the movie, which is plagued even more so than the other prequel films by shabby dialogue and a poorly acted romance between Christensen’s Anakin and Portman’s Padme. Add in the nebulous development of the Separatist portion of the plot and we have a confusing jumble of things going on. Having said that, at least it provided original content…and those lightsaber battles.

6. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

So, it’s 1999 and the world is about to end in 6 months. What more could you want other than a new Star Wars installment. I was much younger when this film came out, but I still had a blooming affinity for the Star Wars universe. I’m sure that my dad looks at The Phantom Menace just like I look at The Force Awakens, however there is a BIG difference between the two. The Phantom Menace is ORIGINAL. George Lucas not only started the task of explaining how episodes 4, 5, 6 came to be but rather than putting together something that felt safe, he gave us something new. Sure, Jar Jar Binks was only cool because I was young and now he looks way out of place. Sure, an army of droids isn’t that interesting. But the introduction of the world of the Prequels was more exciting than it was detrimental, at least when looking back in the long run. Darth Maul remains one of the best villains in the series (I still choose to believe he is gone despite what The Clone Wars TV show and Solo: A Star Wars Story say) and Duel of Fates is possibly the most epic battle song ever. The final light saber battle alone brings this one into contention because it was so epic.

5. Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi

The original final installment, Return of the Jedi had been my personal favorite Star Wars movie for the majority of my youth. What a fitting end to an epic story. With many memorable moments to remember from the rescue of Han and Leia from Jabba’s palace to the final showdown between Luke and the Emperor and return of Darth Vader from the dark side this movie brought the feel good moments. The only thing that drags it down is the seemingly incomprehensible incompetency of the Empire’s troops on Endor suffering such losses to the far inferior force of the Ewoks. While I enjoyed the fuzzy creatures as a young boy and still enjoy them now, it just doesn’t make much sense. However, had the series ended here it would have been a satisfying ending. Seeing the force ghosts of Yoda, Obi Wan, and Anakin at the end brings me to tears of sad-happy every time (you’ll see that I easily am brought to tears by the end of this).

4. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

If most people could use one word to describe this movie it would probably be “iconic.” Perhaps the single greatest move quote ever “No, I am your father” too commonly mistaken as “Luke, I am your father” comes from this movie. And a great moment it was. I had a really hard time deciding how to rank the original trilogy movies and much like the first two installments of the sequel trilogy I considered placing them all in a tie. But ties are no fun. The Empire Strikes back has a different feel than the other two Star Wars originals as it is the connector of the three but it still lands with a bang. Introducing great original locations like Hoth and Bespin along with raising the stakes by freezing Han Solo in carbonite and pushing Luke one step closer to becoming his father having his hand sabered off. Add in the introduction of the best character of all, Yoda, and the two-dimensional Lando Calrissian and you have a compelling cast. But really, the reveal by Darth Vader at the end is second to none in stand alone movie moments and hoists this film near the top of the list.

3. Star Wars: A New Hope

The one that started it all. Who would’ve known that A New Hope would create such a splendid world to enthrall movie-goers for years to come and suck up a large portion of my life 30 years later. George Lucas took an age old plot line of good versus evil and imbued it with an addictive outerspace feel. Star Trek was first but Star Wars is best. It set the stage with the likes of Luke, Han, and Leia as well as Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi. It introduced the lightsaber, the coolest movie weapon ever. It invited us to enjoy the celebration after the destruction of the Death Star with one of the happiest scenes in film showing Luke, Han, Leia and the others receiving their awards at the end. The happiness still makes my eyes water whenever I see it. All of these things come together to make a film that doesn’t really need explaining why it’s near the top.

2. Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith

I’m sure that some original trilogy die-hards were just as disappointed in the prequel trilogy as I am in the sequel trilogy, but I have to state how I feel, and I feel that Revenge of the Sith is an underrated piece of storytelling and entertainment. Sure, there are many dialogue gaffes like “younglings” and “the high ground” as well as the obvious WAY overused special effects, however the good outweighs the bad in my eyes after rewatching it. George Lucas had a vision (though a fairly non-constant and changing vision) when he originally created Star Wars and tying together episodes 1 and 2 and 4, 5, 6 was a monumental task in my eyes. And yet I left feeling satisfied and moved by how the story unfolded. Mace Windu’s demise felt well done (though Kit Fisto and the rest of the bunch should have lasted at least a LITTLE longer), Anakin’s turning to the darkside felt believable (regardless of Hayden’s acting chops), and Obi Wan losing Anakin felt too real. Couple that with some of the coolest lightsaber battles between Mace/Palpatine, Yoda/Palpatine, and Obi Wan/Anakin this film was full of both the action and story that I wanted.

1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

There is a reason it’s called Rogue ONE and that’s because it is number one. Yes, the best of all the Star Wars movies. Call it blasphemy. Call it whatever you want, but Rogue One was the perfect blend of new and old. I had an inkling of how great it was the first time I watched it, but watching it again makes it all the more clear. It’s surprising especially for someone like me because there are NO lightsaber battles in this one. I don’t even know who directed this one, but whoever directed it did a great job and J.J. Abrams would do well to take note. Adeptly sinking into the biggest plot hole of the original trilogy (why the Death Star was constructed SO poorly), the movie introduced a band of characters all well played by their respective actresses/actors in a storytelling where the plot was bigger than the characters. The motivation of the characters felt real and there was a familiar feeling to the atmosphere that felt like home despite no returning characters. The best part of the movie is the ending, which now gets me to tears every time I see it. And most of all SPOILER ALERT: the ending can’t be ruined because everyone dies, it’s final. It’s perfect. No one will ever be Darth-Mauled back to life. Right?…Right!