May the 4th be with you, reader!
Now that International Star Wars Day is once again on a Thursday, I felt a great urge to celebrate in this blog of mine. Since I've already ranked the Star Wars movies a few years ago, I figured that this time I'd add the television shows to the mix. I really wanted to do a ranking of EVERY movie and series in the franchise, but alas - I have yet to watch the Clone Wars, Rebels and Bad Batch shows (one day, I intend to). But having been a fan of the franchise from childhood and having seen a vast majority of it, here is my ranking of (nearly) every movie and TV show in the franchise.
17. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
"The desert is merciless. It takes everything from you"
Based on the little that I have seen of the Clone Wars series, it's pretty decent (and I've heard it gets really good towards the end). The Clone Wars movie, on the other hand, is not decent. It is, in fact, quite bad. I saw it in the theaters when I was nine years old, and I still found the humor annoyingly childish. The plot didn't do much, and all in all, there just wasn't much anything to like. When ranking, comparing and analyzing the intriguing tapestry of the Star Wars franchise, I often like to forget of this one's existence, as it just doesn't seem to fit in.
16. Tales of the Jedi (2022-Present)
I have a bad feeling about this - "this" meaning the reaction of fellow Star Wars fans to some of my unpopular opinions. And here comes the perhaps hottest take of them all: of this 17-point ranking, my #17 pick was the only iteration of the movies and TV shows in this franchise that I consider to be downright bad. Now, I know, the internet tells us that true fans should show their love for the franchise by hating about 90 per cent of it, with the logic that everything that doesn't reach the golden standard of the original trilogy is automatically terrible and childhood-ruining.
Now, I do admit that there are many subpar and disappointing-in-relation-to-expectations instalments in the franchise. But in general, Star Wars tends to be enjoyable more often than not. For example, let's look at Tales of the Jedi, the 6-episode animated series released on Disney Plus last year. The structure is a bit incoherent and there's nothing mind-blowing, but it's a fun and entertaining addition to the universe - we get to see intriguing material such as Count Dooku's (Corey Burton) journey to villainhood, Ashoka Tano's (Ashley Eckstein) origin story and a prelude to the Clone Wars.
15. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
"I have a bad feeling about this"
By the standards of Star Wars episodes, the six 'classics' that existed already in my childhood, the earliest of the prequels is quite poor. The silly and childish humor often goes way beyond good measure, and some of the plotlines are quite boring. However, there's a lot that the film does right, and its reputation is way over-tarnished by the fans whose expectations were way too high after decades of anticipation.
The presence of exhilerating sequences like the Pod Race, soundtrack pieces like John Williams' Duel of the Fates, and the Oscar-nominated visuals make it sure that there's a lot to like in this deeply flawed yet quite re-watchable prequel.
14. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
This series from last year was never going to be a massive game-changer, but it succeeded in what it was very likely meant to be: a solid franchise addition, letting Ewan McGregor return to the role of Obi-Wan while building a bridge between the prequels and the original trilogy. Some of the plotlines were weak and a tad pointless, but the highlights made it worth it: in addition to McGregor's triumphant return, these include child actress Vivien Lyra Blair's fantastic performance as a young Princess Leia, as well as the emotionally gut-punching dialogue moments of the final episode.
13. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere"
While it retains many of Episode I's flaws, I do see the second prequel as a semi-significant step into a better direction. Many aspects are improved upon while some things remain the same, and this contrast is clear when looking at the two main storylines; Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Padme's (Natalie Portman) plotline is filled with cliché writing and a woeful lack of chemistry between the actors, while Obi-Wan's adventurous storyline feels like pure Star Wars in a fashion that was somewhat missing from Episode I's atmosphere. Get some, take some, I suppose.
12. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
"I have a really good feeling about this!"
There's not too much substance to this Han Solo origin story - a testament to this is the lack of memorability in the side characters who weren't familiar from previous films. When you think of how memorable the major characters in most Star Wars projects are, it's quite startling when you start to think of how little you remember of the characters in this one. I remember that there was a maybe-good-guy / maybe-bad-guy played by Woody Harrelson, a generic femme fatale -type played by Emilia Clarke, et cetera - no idea on what their names were.
However, as an easter-egg-filled extravaganza, it's very fun. Alden Ehrenreich is a decent Han Solo, while Donald Glover is nothing short of magnificent as a young Lando Calrissian. When you don't take the film too seriously, it works wonders as a connection-filled backstory, with excellent fan service like finding out how Han Solo got his signature vest, how he met Chewbacca (played here by Finland's own Joonas Suotamo!), and why he's called 'Solo' in the first place.
11. The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
I actually ended up enjoying this opinion-splitting Disney Plus series quite a bit. It starts out a bit slow and the last episode is a bit quite anti-climactic, but the juicy middle section got so much better than I would've expected. Many have criticized the series for crossing over and essentially becoming season 2.5 of The Mandalorian halfway through, but I for one deeply enjoyed this structural playfulness: when you have multiple TV shows taking place in the same universe, why not have some fun with it?
The episodes that cross over with The Mandalorian are an absolute blast, especially the epic tie-ins to larger Star Wars lore in the penultimate episode. The Book of Boba Fett was far from perfect, but a delightful surprise for a series that I didn't expect much from.
10. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
"I got a bad feeling about this"
I know, this is a controversially high ranking for this generally-disliked film. While I agree with much of the criticism that the final instalment of the Skywalker Saga got, and I see it as the easily weakest chapter in the sequel trilogy, it still has to be noted that there's a lot that the film does right, and the sheer scale of events and overall Return of the Jedi-esque dramatic scope have to put it above more forgettable and optional franchise additions like Solo: A Star Wars Story or The Book of Boba Fett.
Yes, the film's atmosphere is a playing-it-too-safe blend of nostalgia and tropes, but more than anyone, I blame the toxic hate group known as the Star Wars fandom on the internet for this. After Episode VII was crucified for being too similar to the original trilogy and Episode VIII was criticized for not feeling like Star Wars due to its more experimental direction, what could've they possibly done? After the Star Wars fans made it clear that they will mercilessly hate anything that isn't the original trilogy, I can't really blame the filmmakers for taking a compromise-route with the trilogy's culmination.
But, like I said, there's still a lot to like here. Many of the character archs conclude with a neat bow, some of the moments of closure for the original cast are truly touching, and there is some serious fist-pump-worthy adrenaline to the film's large-scale climax, even if it is a tad predictable. It may be among the lesser iterations of the nine 'Episodes', but that's a high standard to be compared on to begin with.
9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
"I have a bad feeling about th..."
I have somewhat of a love-hate relationship to Rogue One; it's a thoroughly decent film, but I don't like the way in which it gets overrated by those ever-so-lovely Star Wars fans. The same people who hate the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy, the Disney Plus shows and pretty much everything with a ridiculous amount, always lift this up as an "actually&rarely good" Star Wars film, because of its down-to-earth and semi-realistic storytelling. Realism and down-to-earth was never the #1 thing I looked for in my STAR WARS films (you know, the franchise about heroes on epic space adventures), so I never really got why taking no risks and having a smaller scope somehow makes this into an A-tier Star Wars film.
That being said, it is an all-in-all decent one, with solid action sequences and nice tie-ins to the events of the original trilogy. The main bunch of heroes isn't as memorable as the main cast of the Skywalker Saga, but still infinitely more interesting than the generic ensemble of Solo, for example. For me, Rogue One is nothing mind-blowing, but a very worthwhile addition to the Star Wars world all the same.
8. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
"Oh, I have a bad feeling about this"
Ah, the last and easily best instalment of the prequel trilogy. A part of me would like to rank Revenge of the Sith even higher, because its highlights are among some of the highlights in all of Star Wars. Still, I have to give some minus points for the inescapable fact that many of the prequel trilogy's imperfections do carry on to this film, even if they are less present here. Acting and dialogue aren't the biggest priorities in Star Wars films, but when they are downright poor as is often the case in this film, it does take its toll.
But, the positives - oh Lord. Anakin's journey to the Dark Side and the fall of the Jedi Order are the most intriguing aspects of the prequel trilogy, and they come to life in a truly gripping and haunting fashion. The Shakespearean lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan is one for the ages.
7. Andor (2022-Present)
Speaking of Star Wars successfully showing off its darker side, this series that had its debut on Disney Plus last year was infinitely better than I expected. With its storytelling divided into interesting few-episode segments, the themes finally nailing the 'war' part of 'Star Wars', and elements like visual effects and soundtrack being just as remarkable as the franchise deserves, there's quite simply a lot to love here.
Also, the season 1 finale tugged my heartstrings to a major degree - after multiple episodes of dark themes and a full-scope look at the evils of the empire, we get an emotionally charged climax that truly makes one appreciate the idea of the Rebel Alliance, making the events of the original trilogy feel even more heroic than they already were.
6. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
"I have a bad feeling about this" (spoken by BB-8 in binary)
Another opinion-dividing instalment that I will always get behind, the reception to The Last Jedi was terribly muddled by internet fans (with the hate boosted by Russian bots and other campaigns to wear the film's reputation down due to culture wars). With all of that left behind, what you get is a damn good Star Wars movie. Not perfect, but among the better ones for sure.
The storyline with Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Luke (Mark Hamill) is powerful and impactful in its slow, character-driven pace. Adam Driver knocks it out of the park in his complex villain role of Kylo Ren. Many of the film's plotlines and themes show a new and even experimental direction for the franchise, while still feeling like true Star Wars at its core (the ending scene will always give me goosebumps, as it hits the very core of what the franchise is all about).
5. The Mandalorian (2019-Present)
Ah, the best of the Star Wars TV shows. I do have to admit that I haven't yet seen the newly released third season of The Mandalorian, because my student budget wouldn't enjoy paying for Disney Plus throughout the calendar year - I'll get around to it eventually. But based on the first two seasons, The Mandalorian is a fantastic addition to the franchise, sticking out of the crowd with the oddball dynamic of its main characters and the video-game-style storytelling.
The debut season was decent, but the second season exceeded all expectations. The feel of adventure, which has always been a cornerstone of Star Wars, was on full overdrive throughout the season, with the journey of the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu going into so many interesting directions. Interesting villains, neat visuals, memorable side characters, connections to the larger Star Wars canon, a strong emotional core amidst the cynical beginnings - it's all there.
4. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
"I got a a bad feeling about this"
When teenage Veikko Hoffman heard that they're making a new Star Wars trilogy, he was hesitant. Right up until the teaser trailer was released, and it blew him away - the film looked so good, that skepticism turned into excitement. Some time later, he went to see Episode VII in the cinema, which was a downright magical experience - he had spent so much time watching the six pre-existing Star Wars films, thinking that that would always be it, that it was cathartic to sit in the movie theater, watching the yellow text crawl to the backdrop of John Williams' legendary score.
Thankfully, the movie itself was magnificent. While I do see why some people criticized it for being too close-to-home and similar to the original trilogy, I don't personally see it as being so close that it would be a problem. It plays with nostalgia in a warm and cozy way, while simultaneously introducing a new generation of heroes and villains, tastefully mixing old and new while retaining the franchise's atmosphere. And that ending scene is one for the ages.
3. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
"I have a bad feeling about this"
I just keep having an endless supply of unpopular Star Wars opinions, and here's one of the biggest ones. I want to make it clear that while almost no one would put the beloved Episode V this low (most rankings have it at #1, or at the very least, #2), this does not mean that I consider the film overrated or especially flawed. The Empire Strikes Back is a great sequel, a great science fiction flick, and a great adventure film. I simply like the other two instalments of the original trilogy even a tad better.
But that doesn't take away from Episode V's awesomeness. There's romance, there's lore, there are exciting battle sequences and a multitude of cliffhangers leading up to the trilogy's climax. There are legendary lines of dialogue, insane plot twists, and fascinating instances of worldbuilding. The film is just darker-than-the-original enough to feel edgy and more mature, while still retaining the not-too-serious atmosphere. A beloved classic for good reason.
2. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
"R2, I have a bad feeling about this"
Not many would put Return of the Jedi ahead of The Empire Strikes Back, although I'm not completely alone with this take - my mother has always listed this as her favorite Star Wars, which goes to show how good movie taste is engrained in our family. But, yeah. The reasons why Episode VI is often seen as the weakest instalment of the original trilogy are reasons that I see but don't mind too much, because once again, Star Wars is a fun and entertaining adventure trilogy that really shouldn't be judged on the standards of Oscar-winning dramas.
And that is why I love Return of the Jedi so much - it hits pretty much all of the franchise's core strengths, or the elements that I consider to be the most important cornerstones of Star Wars, with perfection. The large-scale good-versus-evil heroics, the compelling sense of adventure, the 'awww yiss' payoffs and moments of epicness, the poetic power dynamics - this fun and climactic instalment is pure Star Wars.
1. Star Wars (1977)
"I have a very bad feeling about this"
It's funny when you think about it - in a franchise that has spawned into multiple film trilogies, spin-off stories and television shows, spanning a massive timeline, the very best instalment is the sweet and simple debut work. While I appreciate the deeper themes and complex worldbuilding seen in various other Star Wars projects, nothing in the franchise is quite as good as just how perfect of a neat adventure film the original Star Wars (also known as Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope) is.
This imaginative masterpiece created a world so interesting that people keep wanting more and more decades later, and even when thinking of it outside the franchise and as a film of its own, Star Wars makes it into my top 10 favorite movies of all time, because it is the perfect adventure flick in my books. The pacing is just right, the course of events has no boring points, and the entertainment levels ensure infinite re-watch value. Add to that recipe one banger of a cast, and an all-timer score by the one and only John Williams, and you have a true icon of cinema on your hands.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for a post requested by my friend Emma - the top 10 scenes from The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023).
6/10 decent stuff mate
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