Nearly 50 years after George Lucas unleashed the original Star Wars, no franchise has shaped modern blockbusters quite like it. The saga now spans the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, two anthology spinoffs and, as of this year, The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019. That return did not go well: it sits dead last on my list, while The Empire Strikes Back still reigns supreme at the top.
This ranking covers the 12 live-action theatrical films. But one note before we start: the best Star Wars of all might not be a movie. Andor, which topped my list of the best TV series of 2025, may be the best thing to ever come out of the Star Wars universe, with writing, performances and craft that put most of these films to shame. Here’s every Star Wars movie, ranked.
Quick list:
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars (1977)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)
12. THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU (2026)
When it was announced that the first theatrical Star Wars film in seven years would be The Mandalorian and Grogu, the fandom’s response was less thunderous anticipation than a collective, deeply confused: huh? The series found genuine popularity on Disney+, but its more recent seasons left even plenty of diehards with a sour taste.
The magic has been force-drained from the Star Wars universe with The Mandalorian and Grogu, a dreadful non-starter that fails in almost every capacity to actually pass as a “movie”. Lacking in wonder, horribly written, and full of flat characters and bad CGI monsters, this direct-to-theaters slop sets a new low bar for George Lucas’ signature property.▶ Watch on Disney+ · Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
11. STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
The low point of the Skywalker Saga’s first six episodes. Attack of the Clones has the franchise’s most painful romance, with Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman stuck reciting sand-based pickup lines, and an over-reliance on early digital effects that has aged like milk. Watching Yoda finally pick up a lightsaber is a goofy thrill and the arena finale has its moments, but this one grates like sand does Anakin.Rent or buy on Amazon
10. STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019)
If the central tenet of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi was to kill the past to make way for the future, The Rise of Skywalker is all about bringing the dead back to life. After the divisive middle entry to this new Disney-helmed trilogy, The Force Awakens director J. J.
The Star Wars series as we know it comes to a close in a clunky and almost-kinda-maybe satisfying fashion, but not without its shortcomings. The force may not be strongest with Abrams attempt to wrap up the Skywalker saga, amd some of the characters certainly get the short end of the stick because of it, but fans will still probably find themselves seduced even by its dark side, so long as they don’t search their feelings too much.▶ Watch on Disney+ · Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
9. STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999)
Sixteen years after Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace arrived buried under trade disputes, midi-chlorians and Jar Jar Binks. Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor bring real gravitas, the podrace is a genuine thrill, and the Duel of the Fates showdown with Ray Park’s Darth Maul is one of the saga’s best lightsaber fights. Everything in between is a stiff, joyless slog.Rent or buy on Amazon
8. SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018)
A famously troubled production (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller were replaced mid-shoot by Ron Howard) left Solo feeling a little anonymous, but it’s a far more entertaining heist movie than its reputation suggests. Alden Ehrenreich has the unenviable task of playing young Han, Donald Glover is a delight as Lando, and the train heist is a terrific set piece. Disposable, sure, but breezy, good-looking fun.Rent or buy on Amazon
7. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015)
A long time ago in 1977, Star Wars (back then there was no ‘A New Hope’ to it) struck a cultural nerve, resonating like a tuning fork to the farthest reaches of the known galaxy. Just ask all those people caught on the news praising Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.
J.J. Abrams’ employment of nostalgia, character camaraderie and practical effects in Star Wars: The Force Awakens helps right the ship wronged by the George Lucas’ prequels, though it’s still not entirely fulfilling as a standalone story. Falling somewhere in the middle ground between the two trilogies, Star Wars 7 is a kessel run’s distance from amazing but could prove a necessary building block upon which the incoming sequels can add depth of character and story.▶ Watch on Disney+ · Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
6. STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (2017)
Star Wars is and always has been an underdog story. An action-packed intergalactic odyssey about small legions of rebels rising against seemingly insurmountable adversaries, Star Wars is rooted in an idea of hope against all odds, and you don’t need C3P0 on hand to butt in for that calculation.
Midichlorians level reporting mild. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a mixed bag that explores new emotional and intellectual territory for a Star Wars property while hedging in an unfortunate number of unnecessary subplots and iffy, prequel-inducing CG set-pieces, where characters make rash decisions and the narrative doesn’t always make sense when you scratch beneath the surface. Lacking the chills of its predecessor, ‘The Last Jedi can be brainier in spots and is certainly more morally ambitious, remaining a sharp technical marksman across the board, even if it’s a bit of an overall comedown for this devoted fan.▶ Watch on Disney+ · Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
5. STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
The best of the prequels by a wide margin, and the one where George Lucas finally delivers the tragedy he’d spent two movies building toward. Ewan McGregor carries the film as Obi-Wan, Ian McDiarmid devours every inch of the Senate, and Order 66 is genuinely haunting. The romance dialogue still clunks, but the duel on Mustafar is a gut-punch, and the film has aged into something close to a meme-powered classic.Rent or buy on Amazon
4. RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)
Return of the Jedi is two great movies wrapped around a frustrating one. The rescue at Jabba’s palace is terrific, a grimy, gloriously weird opening act, and the three-way finale, cutting between the space battle, the ground war and Luke facing down Vader and the Emperor, is Star Wars at its most operatic. In between, the film completely neuters Han Solo, the saga’s best character, turning him into a punchline who spends the Battle of Endor getting upstaged by teddy bears. Still, Ian McDiarmid’s cackling Emperor and Vader’s redemption are too good to ignore.Rent or buy on Amazon
3. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016)
Many Bothans may have died recovering the plans to the second Death Star but nabbing the blueprints to the original moon-sized, planet-destroying weapon was no cake walk either. Just ask Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones ably commanding), the unlikely leader of a ragtag group of anti-heroes tasked with the improbable task of securing said plans in Gareth Edwards’ reverent and darkly-tinted Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
There’s no getting around it, Rogue One’s clunky script leaves something to be desired but wowing visual glamor, classic Star Wars feel, a darker nature and that killer third act (and final scene) more than make up for screenwriting shortcomings.▶ Watch on Disney+ · Rent or buy on Amazon · Read the full review
2. STAR WARS (1977)
The one that started it all, and still the purest dose of movie magic in the saga. George Lucas mashed up Flash Gordon serials, samurai films and World War II dogfights into a space opera that changed blockbusters forever. Mark Hamill’s farm boy, Harrison Ford’s scoundrel and Carrie Fisher’s take-no-guff princess make an instantly iconic trio, and the Death Star trench run still rules. Nearly 50 years later, it’s as fun as ever.Rent or buy on Amazon
1. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)
The gold standard for sequels, and the best Star Wars movie ever made. Irvin Kershner takes George Lucas’ playground and darkens it, splitting our heroes between the frozen battlefields of Hoth, the treachery of Cloud City and the swamps of Dagobah, where Frank Oz turns a puppet named Yoda into a philosopher. The Han and Leia romance crackles, John Williams’ Imperial March is born, and the father reveal remains the most famous twist in movie history. A masterpiece that ends on a cliffhanger and somehow still feels complete.Rent or buy on Amazon
How to Watch the Star Wars Movies in Order
There are two ways to watch Star Wars, and each has its fans. Release order is the way most of us first experienced the saga, and it’s the best choice for newcomers: it protects the original trilogy’s biggest surprises and lets you watch the effects and storytelling evolve. Chronological order follows the timeline of the galaxy far, far away, which works better on a rewatch once you already know the twists.
Release order:
- Star Wars (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One (2016)
- The Last Jedi (2017)
- Solo (2018)
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)
Chronological order:
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Solo (2018)
- Rogue One (2016)
- Star Wars (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)
- The Force Awakens (2015)
- The Last Jedi (2017)
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Adding Andor? It works best right before Rogue One, which picks up where the series leaves off.
FAQ
What is the best Star Wars movie?
By my ranking, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the best Star Wars movie, followed by the original Star Wars (1977) and Rogue One (2016).
What is the worst Star Wars movie?
The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) sits at the bottom of my ranking, just below Attack of the Clones.
How many Star Wars movies are there?
There are 12 live-action theatrical Star Wars movies: the nine Skywalker Saga episodes, Rogue One, Solo and The Mandalorian and Grogu.
What order should I watch the Star Wars movies in?
Release order (starting with the 1977 original) is best for first-timers, since it preserves the original trilogy’s big reveals. Chronological order starts with The Phantom Menace and works better on a rewatch. Both orders are listed in full above.
Is Andor better than the Star Wars movies?
In my book, yes. Andor topped my list of the best TV series of 2025 and may be the best thing to ever come out of the Star Wars universe.
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By: Matt Oakes
Started blogging about film in college when the university paper wouldn’t have him. Dislikes your consensus film Twitter favorites. Devotee of horror movies that make him die a little inside. Catches films at festivals when he can. Proud SFCS and OFCS member and Tomatometer-approved critic. Editor-in-chief of Silver Screen Riot.
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