Saga The Definitive Thread to Rank All Star Wars Films (in terms of Your Favorite), TPM to TROS

Oops, I saw your post on the previous page and didn't realize it was your girlfriend's ranking lol. Looking at your actual ranking it appears that I'm actually the bigger PT fan. In any case thanks for the compliment.

 

My new ranking after this year's rewatch:

1. Attack of the Clones (5/5)
2. Revenge of the Sith (5/5)
3. A New Hope (5/5)
4. The Phantom Menace (5/5)
5. The Empire Strikes Back (5/5)
6. Return of the Jedi (4.5/5)
7. The Rise of Skywalker (1.5/5)
8. The Last Jedi (1.5/5)
9. The Force Awakens (1/5)

 

1. Empire Strikes Back
   
2. Return of the Jedi
3. A New Hope
4. Rogue One
5. The Force Awakens
6. Solo
7. The Last Jedi
8. Revenge of the Sith
9. Clone Wars (2008)
   
10. The Phantom Menace
11. Rise of Skywalker
12. Attack of the Clones

 

Well... i guess this is my list as well. identical.

 

Looks like AOTC and ANH moved up considerably while TESB took a hit. Has your appreciation for these episodes changed a lot recently?

 

Yeah, both AOTC and ANH really clicked with me this time for some reason. I think it's because of the political themes in Clones and that it seems like the most "Lucas" of any of the films. It's not afraid to be weird and it pays homage to so many different genres and movies. Not really sure about ANH -- I just liked it way more this rewatch. A masterclass in world-building I think.

Still love Empire, but I made a conscious effort to be as critical as possible about all of the movies this time and so Empire and Jedi stuck out a bit as not being Lucas-directed -- I really grew to love his directing in the first 4 films this time around. Next rewatch, my ranking will change again, I'm sure. I'm always rooting for Jedi to move up but the pacing in the first two acts gets me.

 

1. Empire Strikes Back
I love the battle of Hoth, and the relationship build with Leia and Han. And all the plot twists were amazing, such as Vader is Luke's father. And I like that it just isn't a remake of a New Hope and they don't have destroy the empire again if this movie was't like this the Star Wars franchise wouldn't of been successful, and I just love this movie.

2. A New Hope
3. Return of the Jedi
4. Revenge of the Sith
5. Attack of the Clones

(Tied for last)
6. Phantom Menace, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, Rise of Skywalker

(No overall opinion on)
7. Rogue One, Solo

 

it’s kinda mostly in flux, but rn I would say:
1. ROTS
2. AOTC
3. ESB
4. ANH
5. ROTJ
6. TPM
7. TLJ
8. TFA
9. TROS

with the caveat that 1-6 are really all pretty close to one another.

 

1. TESB
2. TLJ
3. ROTJ
4. TFA
5. TROS
6. ANH
7. AOTC
8. TPM
9. ROTS

 

1. The Phantom Menace

the one I’ve watched the most recently. My favourite aspect of Star Wars is that it seems like documentary footage from a galaxy far far away, and this is my favourite example of it. It’s the most visually innovative sequel to Star Wars with CGI that is better than most movies today not because it’s more photorealistic but because of design. It begins to show the stuff that was referred to in the original trilogy. It invents new planets and cultures and adds to Tatooine’s culture. All of the prequels costume and environment design inspired me as a kid and this movie mutated Star Wars into that.

“Midi-chlorians are a microscopic life form that resides in all living cells.”

2. Revenge of the Sith

The movie where Obi-Wan duels Darth Vader and Darth falls into a volcano. This one was scary to watch as a kid, George Lucas combining sound track, sound effects, dialogue as sound effects, and visuals to create intense tragedy for all the senses.

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”

3. A New Hope

This would have been the first Star Wars movie I watched but I was so young I’m not sure if my memories are of my first viewing. We had the DVD with the special edition and the theatrical version and I always wanted to watch the special edition with the rats and spaceships in Mos Eisley. The section from the Lars homestead to the Falcon jumping to hyperspace was my favourite. This movie is breezes by when I watch it. It’s interesting to watch from the perspective of it being the very first Star Wars movie, written to have the effect of finding one episode of a serial you haven’t seen. Or from the perspective of having seen the first three episodes of the serial.

“...He has too much of his father in him.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

4. Attack of the Clones

Placing very close to A New Hope. I love the dialogue scenes in this movie, and the acting from the CGI characters. Jar Jar’s gulp is a personal favourite. The planet Kamino is wonderful, Taun We and Lama Su and Jango Fett, and clone children tapping on consoles. Geonosis, Count Dooku, Poggle the lesser, San Hill, Wat Tambor. This movie is very disturbing in a still under the surface way, a vibe that parallels its central character Anakin.

“If you spent as much time practicing your saber techniques as you did your wit, you'd rival Master Yoda as a swordsman.”

“I thought I already did.”

5. Return of the Jedi

The scene where Luke takes his father’s mask off and the celebration and cremation is sad and cathartic.
This is a movie about closing of circles, there’s three scenes that deal with teaching about death. There’s lots of great creatures. It’s influence on the expanded universe and subsequent films was great.

“Twilight is upon me and soon night must fall. That is the way of things ... the way of the Force.”

6. The Empire Strikes Back

just because it’s last for me doesn’t mean it’s not awesome. My favourite part is when Luke meets Yoda.

“feel like what!”

 

Episode III: The filming, the locations, the emotion, the score. George really didn't leave anything on the table with this entry.
I remember watching the midnight showing and having to be at work within hours after it.
I didn't care!. I loved it!.
The emotional feeling this film left me with was something else.
Hayden looking more comfortable in the role. As well as his relationship with Ewan very apparent.
Ian Mcdiarmid was in top form. Having lots of fun with the role even after hours of makeup.
The visuals were some of the best. The Opera house stands out as one my favorites.
The final duel and "Battle of the Heroes" gets me everytime.

Episode I: A very heated entry it seems but I'm not ashamed to admit it swaps with Episode III at times.
The one that started it all.
Many say it should have started with the Clone Wars, but when you watch II-VI, you need a reference for what exactly they were fighting for.
The bright colors, people going about their business, the Jedi complacent....yes, their downfall....but the point is. The galaxy was in a far better place than what it was going to turn into and this entry gives you a reference point.
Qui-Gon Jinn: A one entry charecter, but one that builds a hell of a legacy. Instantly turned into my favorite.
Darth Sidious/Palpatine: IMO this was his prime entry. The darkness and evil he showed was never portrayed like it was here.
Yes, Order 66 but something about his portrayal here was very good.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: The old experience Obi-Wan we all knew, was a young sorta still inexperienced Padawan here. Another example to help ANH seem so far from TPM.
I will always stick up for TPM. It has it's slow scenes, but overall, it's the example point of what was worth fighting for.

Episode IV: The first of them all.
It definitely seems boring. Especially after Episode III, but it's probably the fastest moving Star Wars film in terms of pacing. Never giving you time to get bored.
Plus my favorite species the Jawas are I'm this.

 

For less complication, I'm only ranking the 9 films of the Skywalker Saga.

1 or 2 I like the Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker the best, depending on which one I'm viewing at the time. Love Ben's character, seeing him and Rey conflicted, Ben Redeemed, water symbology, loved stylistically stunning visuals, horseback riding, seafaring, crystal foxes, nuns and porgs, green milk, D.J, Casino Royale, Hyperspace Skipping, Ben/Hux rivalry, Ren slamming a general into the ceiling, Snoke/Ben/Rey/Praetorian Guard Throneroom Fight, Just about everything Poe did and said in those two films, Finn facing off with Phasma, Palpatine attempting self sacrifice for his nefarious ends, New Force Abilities shown not just implied like Jedi Healing and Connection and object grabbing from a distance, and Projection of your essence from a distant planet to make someone think your there, All Walkers firing on Luke, Han visiting Ben, Luke raising the X-Wing, Yoda visiting Luke, and so much more. And Lando. And Rose. Finn's heroism willingness to sacrifice his life for the resistance cause.

3 Revenge of The Sith. What don't I like about this film? Spectacular opening space battle, the most fast and furious lightsaber battle of the franchise at the end between anakin and obi-wan, we get to see Anakin's transition to Vader, Tragedy done so well, General Grievous is just cool, can't get enough of the 'its treason then ' spin and take three Jedi Masters out in 5 seconds scene, Order 66 done so well and explains so much, Padme buried with Japor Snippet, and so much more.

4 The Force Awakens. Right from the amazingly cool opening scene there is SO much to like about this film! Chewie We're home, It's true all of it the Force the Jedi everything scene, BB-8 is so neat, Ren such a good villain, torch passes to new generation, flamethrower, Poe (need I say more?) Rey and Finn's friendship, Han and Leia didn't "just live happily ever after" like they did in the EU, and that Resistance theme music! Wow! Plus everything feels as grungy and lived in as it does in the PT and OT.

5 Return of the Jedi. My favorite of the OT. Love Vader's Redemption, Emporer's first death, "Now witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battlestation. You may fire at will commander" "That blast came from the death star", "our cruisers cant repel firepower of that magnitude", etc Jabba the Hutt's max rebo band Special Edition Doo Mee Wang" music gets me every time, love Jabba, Jabba's death so satisfying, love Ewok/ Empire asymmetrical warfare, etc, etc, etc

6 The Empire Strikes Back. The Movie that got me back being interested in Star Wars again, love the cliffhanger ending, Boba Fett, Lobot, Lando, Cloud City, Yoda the MAN, Force training on Dagobah, finding lost Luke in the snow, the Battle of Hoth, Han/Leia romance, C-3PO is the funniest he ever is in any movie in this one, (with the exception of maybe the rise of skywalker (bobba frick is my oldest friend ROTFL!)

7.I loved Attack of the Clones so much I saw it three times at the movies and watch it twice in a row one day when I owned it on VHS.
I love nearly EVERYTHING about Clones from the static clean hallways of the Kaminoans to Dex to the beautiful Jedi Archives and Jocosta Nu's refusal to believe the archives could possibly be missing any records, to the arena scene, to Jango fett's scenes, to Mace and Obi-Wan fighting back to back, to Anakin's and Padme's forbidden romance, to Yoda and Dooku's duel, to Palpatine's Machiavellian political maneuverings, one of the things i like about TPM as well.

8. A New Hope. A hands down classic, vI love the cantina scene, Han Solo, The Death Star run and trash compactor scene, Obi-Wan in his golden years, Luke starting his heroes journey as a whiny farmboy, , the Battle of Yavin 4, the beauty of Yavin 4, Princess Leia a strong female character, the droids Artoo and Threepio, and just about everything else about the film.

9.I love TPM. I love Jar Jar Binks. I love how stunning the TPM visuals are, love Duel of the Fates Music and battle of Naboo, especially the Maul/Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan duel, love TPM opening scenes as some of the best opening scenes in the franchise, love PODRACING, BABY! Love origin story of Anakin, love Padme's subterfuge.


So there you have it, my ranking. I love them all. But thats the order in which I have come to currently like them.

 

I won't give comments on all of these... but I will say that I have a tiny bit more appreciation for some of the PT after how poorly the end of the ST turned out.... I still think everything released since the OT except for Rogue One is somewhat mediocre... but at least the PT had some interesting ideas behind it. Didn't rank solo because I've only seen it once.

Anyways:

1 - TESB
2- Rogue One
3 - ANH
4- ROTJ


5 - ROTS
6 - TFA


7 - TPM
8 - TROS
9 - AOTC
10 - TLJ


I would like to congratulate TLJ for being so bad that it finally displaced AOTC. AOTC may be bad, but it didn't single handedly ruin the 3rd movie of the trilogy it was part of. AOTC had been at the bottom of my list for a LONG time.

 

Changed my mind recently after some thought.

1. TESB
2. ANH
3. TLJ
4. ROTS
5. ROTJ
6. AOTC
7. TFA
8. TROS
9. TPM

 

1 - 6.) Star Wars Episodes I-VI as a single unit
7 - 8.) Rogue One / The Last Jedi
9.) Solo
10.) The Force Awakens
11.) The Rise of Skywalker

 

GREAT
Star wars 6 The Return of the Jedi
Star wars 5 The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars 3 The Revenge of the Sith
Rogue One : A Star Wars Story

GOOD
Star wars 4 A New Hope
Star Wars 7 The Force Awakens
Star Wars 2 The Attack of the Clones
Star wars 1 The Phantom Menace
Solo : A Star Wars Story

MILD
Star Wars 8 The Last Jedi
Star Wars 9 The Rise of the Skywalker

 

Darkslayer's Star Wars Film Rankings

1) Revenge of the Sith (10/10) - A masterpiece of a movie and one of my two personal favorite films of all time. I have a hard time imagining anything topping it. If George's ST ever gets made that might have a shot.



2) Return of the Jedi (10/10) - One of my 5 favorite films of all time. It amazingly ties up both the prequel and original trilogies, a crazy feat considering the prequels hadn't even yet been made when it came out. And now with the Siege of Mandalore and The Clone Wars added in, the emotional resonance of this movie is even stronger. Also, the Battle of Endor is the most epic space battle in movie history IMO



3) Attack of the Clones (10/10) - Another masterpiece and used to be my favorite film when I was younger. The only reason it dropped is because as I have gotten older I appreciated the darkness of ROTS more. The political intrigue is great and the action amazing. One of my 10 favorite films of all-time.



4) The Phantom Menace (10/10) - I love TPM, my only beef is that I wish we had gotten MORE films set in this time period, so it doesn't feel as fleshed out as the Clone Wars period covered in AOTC and ROTS. I do always get a huge grin when I press play on this one though - it's the beginning! One of my 15 favorite films of all-time.



5) The Empire Strikes Back (10/10) - This one has shifted over time. Before the Disney era, I viewed it as a step below the other 5 Lucas entries. However, I have grown to appreciate it a lot more as I have gotten older. The slow pace still has it relatively low in my rankings, but make no mistake, I really enjoy it. Again, in my top 15 films of all time.



6) Rogue One (10/10) - In my view, this film is the one true gem of the Disney era (at least as far as films go, the shows have been pretty awesome). It adhered to everything George set up in his original mythology AND added to it. Bolstered by the fact that it made the already amazing ANH even better. Also in my top 15 films.



7) A New Hope (10/10) - Made even better by Rogue One and the prequel trilogy, this movie continues the stories of 2 of the 3 remaining main characters of the PT and fleshes out the OT big 3 while giving incredible character moments and a gripping score. In my top 20 films.



8) Solo (8/10) - Aside from one out-of-character moment for Han and some weird writing for Lando, I really enjoyed Solo a lot more than I expected to when it was first announced. Alden Ehrenreich didn't make me forget about Harrison Ford, but he put a great new spin on Han - it wasn't the same, but it was a good take so I embrace it all the same! Add in this being Chewie's best movie, Donald Glover's Lando, a bunch of terrific action sequences and exposure to the Star Wars underworld, a fun score, and THAT FREAKING CAMEO, Disney has given me another very solid Star Wars film. While it doesn't quite measure up to the original 6 and Rogue One, it's pretty dang close.



9) The Last Jedi (5/10) - I have a lot of respect for the risks taken in this film. However, nearly all of them did not work for me (I am going off of the Lucas 6 when forming my opinions). So although the film was much more entertaining than its predecessor because of its unpredictability and definitely had some awesome Star Wars-y moments, it doesn't even come close to the first seven films on my list. However, it's not a bad film either to me (I consider it a good movie but a bad Star Wars movie). It's just kinda there. At least it gives a lot to talk about.



10) The Force Awakens (1/10) - In my opinion, this a truly bad live action Star Wars movie. It PLAGIARIZED the original film just because the filmmakers were nostalgic and afraid to take risks. There was stuff I liked, such as Daisy Ridley's Rey and Harrison Ford. However. just as ROTS will likely never end up being topped for me, TFA will most likely never be ranked above anything. I think it's both a bad movie and a bad Star Wars movie.



11) The Rise of Skywalker (1/10) - Did I say TFA would never be topped as my least favorite Star Wars film when I wrote my above review 3 years ago? Well shockingly, think again! The Rise of Skywalker is not only a bad movie, not only a bad Star Wars movie, but also a big "**** you" to the audience and to longtime fans of the franchise. I have never felt like a director was TRYING to flip me off through the movie screen, but that's what happens when you completely undermine the first 6 movies (the prophesy and Palpatine come to mind in particular). I just HOPE LFL never manage to make a film lower than TROS on my rankings. My least favorite theater experience ever.



Just to reflect, it's kind of interesting how my rankings have changed in the 3 years since I last posted them in one of these threads. I absolutely LOVE The Empire Strikes Back now for instance. Solo slipped a bit. And there's one even lower than TFA. I guess you really do never know how your tastes are going to change - keep an open mind with the GFFA!

As always, these are just my opinions. I'm not trying to force them on to anyone, but I do have the right to express them. I hope I have done so fairly. Ultimately all the movies (except TROS) have aspects I enjoy and Star Wars is my favorite film franchise bar none!

 

1-5.A New Hope -> The Last Jedi (I see it all as one big story now)

6.Solo (cute little spin-off)

7.The Phantom Menace (dumb, but fun, especially when viewed on its own)

8.Revenge of the Sith (did what it had to do to wrap up the PT)

9.Attack of the Clones (at least this gave us TCW)

10.Rogue One (pointless edgelord fan service)

11.The Rise of Skywalker (just a huge mess, can’t even watch it now)

 

ESB
ROTS
ROTJ/TLJ
ANH
TFA
AOTC
TPM
TROS

 

After a couple of trips back through the saga and stand-alones, The Force Awakens has cemented itself as my all-time favorite movie. Also, Kylo Ren's revelation in The Rise of Skywalker that embracing the light and giving without seeking personal gain made saving someone from death possible and proving that he was stronger than Darth Vader by turning away from the dark side in time to save Rey, was beautifully executed.

My updated--and pretty firm--rankings:
1. The Force Awakens
2. The Rise of Skywalker
3. The Last Jedi
4. A New Hope
5. Rogue One
6. Revenge of the Sith
7. The Empire Strikes Back
8. The Phantom Menace
9. Attack of the Clones
10. Return of the Jedi
11. Solo

 

^"Stronger than Vader"? Uh, there's this film called Return of the Jedi that had Vader/ Anakin turn away from the dark side and sacrifice himself to save someone he loved. That's in no way unique to Kylo Ren, much less something that makes him "stronger".

 

You're right. Rey's actual quote in the The Force Awakens is "you're afraid... that you'll never be as strong as Darth Vader." And so Ben proceeded to prove that he was, in fact, as strong as Darth Vader. I apologize and appreciate the correction.

 

New Rankings:

1. TESB
2. RotJ
3. ANH
4. AotC
5. RO
6. RotS
7. TPM
8. S
9. TLJ
10. TFA
11. TRoS

 

My boomer friend’s ranking:

1.Return of the Jedi
2.Star Wars
3.The Empire Strikes Back
4.The Force Awakens
5.The Last Jedi
6.The Rise of Skywalker
7.Rogue One
8.Solo
9.The Phantom Menace
10.Revenge of the Sith
11.Attack of the Clones

very boomer-y, as you can see.

 

Interesting. I'm borderline boomer ('65) and that's very close to my own ranking. OT above all, R1, Solo, ST, PT. The only thing I'd dispute with your friend's list is R1, which should be almost as highly ranked as the OT.