The Definitive Star Wars Movie Rankings, Including ’The Mandalorian and Grogu’ | Reel Reflections #2
The final ranking of the Star Wars franchise… for now
Anyone who listens to The Film Box Podcast, has read our writing over the past few years, or knows me personally knows how much I love Star Wars. The original is what got me into movies some 20 years ago and taught me that there are worlds and imaginations out there beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up watching these movies come out in my formative years. My earliest theater memory was seeing Revenge of the Sith in theaters with my dad when it came out in 2005 when I was 6-7, and while I can’t recall if it was my first Star Wars movie, I remember being excited for it as if it were my first.
Needless to say, this franchise means a lot to me.
I say all this because I’m at a weird crossroads. We've not had a new Star Wars film in 7 years. The last film we got, The Rise of Skywalker, was an utter abomination. Since that time, the franchise has dived headfirst into limited tv series with varying degrees of success. Andor proved to be one of the greatest Star Wars media ever made, a poignant look at the players behind the rebellion against the empire in an incredible 2-season run combining spy thrillers, political dramas, action, and heists. The Mandalorian season 1 represented a new direction for the saga with a classic western feel. But at the same time, shows like The Acolyte, Kenobi, Ahsoka, and the remaining seasons of The Mandalorian were rocky at best.
That brings us to today. The Mandalorian and Grogu is out now. This film serves as a pseudo-finale to the tv series with a standalone adventure of the titular pair. Next year, we’re getting Star Wars: Starfighter led by Ryan Gosling. And, for everything Star Wars has meant to me, I don’t feel excited in the least bit for these films. It’s a strange feeling. I’ve felt that excitement for every other film, the good and the bad, leading up to this moment. Maybe it’s because Mandalorian and Grogu feels so small or inconsequential. Maybe it’s because I’ve soured on things over the last few years. Maybe it’s some combination of it all.
Regardless, in honor of the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, here are my rankings of all 12 Star Wars films from worst to best:
12. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Putrid. Ugly. Uninspired. A complete and utter cash-in. Apparently the folks behind The Rise of Skywalker felt the need to give in to fan service and, as a result, created the absolute worst Star Wars film by far. Full of head-scratching character and story decisions (Somehow Palpatine returned? Hux is a rebel spy? “Killing” Chewbacca only to bring him back in the next scene? Centuries old Sith dagger lining up a map with destroyed Death Star parts only decades old? “They Fly Now”??) I mean, what were they thinking? This is a disaster of a film that deserves no one’s time and effort in watching. It’s a disservice to fans of the franchise and was mired with issues from the get-go. Don’t bother watching it.
11. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
This may be controversial, but I actually really love Attack of the Clones. It was a formative movie for me in my youth and used to watch it on repeat. So why is it so low on this list? Well, as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized the many issues with this film. Poor dialogue, bad CGI and wooden performances are abundant here. Anakin Skywalker’s “I don’t like sand” monologue has become a meme. It was made in the early days of fully computer-generated sets and you can tell. They’re just ugly. And the saving graces of the film, the geonosian arena and lightsaber fights, come way too far into the movie. It’s actually a really unique idea, utilizing the jedi as detectives looking into an assassination plot while a secret romance between a jedi and senator blooms is really cool! It’s just the execution that left a lot to be desired.
10. Solo: A Star Wars Story
Frankly, it’s been years since I watched Solo: A Star Wars Story. I don’t remember much about it. I remember a really solid cast and solid action. Contrary to public opinion, I quite like Alden Ehrenreich’s performance. But I also remember asking myself the death sentence for any blockbuster: “Why did we even make this?” Were we so hard pressed for stories that we had to explore Han Solo’s origins? It’s a well enough made movie that honestly just has little place in the Star Wars universe. Is it cool to see how Chewie and Han meet or how the Kessel run actually works? Sure. But I could’ve gone without the mystery being revealed.
9. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
This is another controversial film in the Star Wars lexicon. Some folks absolutely despise this film. Others think it’s among the best that Star Wars has to offer. Personally, I sit somewhere in the middle. I think, as a sci-fi film, it’s incredibly interesting and brings the franchise towards asking some really interesting questions about the universe and our places in it. There’s good action and epic hero moments, and Rian Johnson certainly knows how to direct a good movie. That said, I think this really doesn’t fit well in the Star Wars universe. There are too many things that break with this movie. Holdo maneuver aside, the expectation subversions that happen in this movie kind of ruin characters for the rest of the trilogy. Fan backlash was so intense that Disney decided pivot solely to fan service going forward. Beyond that, the choices to kill Snoke and Phasma, as well as give Luke a sacrificial death, left the final film with very little to explore, and not allowing Finn to sacrifice himself in a total character 180 that would’ve felt incredibly earned is a head scratcher.
8. The Mandalorian and Grogu
Inoffensive. Harmless. Largely inconsequential. That’s how I would describe the latest entry into the Star Wars saga. The Mandalorian and Grogu do little to advance the stories of either The Mandalorian or Grogu, instead waving action set pieces and Grogu gimmicks like shiny toys at an audience for over 2 hours. Some of this film has promise. Ludwig Göransson absolutely crushes yet again with a monumental score blending traditional orchestral music, synth beats, and classic woodwinds familiar to the tv series. The planets, specifically Shakari, are incredibly cool-looking. It reminded me of Blade Runner in its neon-soaked futuristic city vibe. And some of the technical filmmaking looked great. Scenes with Grogu’s puppeteering are quite nice. That said, I just don’t understand why this is a movie. The story is half-baked; performances are all over the place, and dialogue seems written specifically to provide explicit backstory detail to audiences as if they’ve never seen a Star Wars film before. And by the end no one significantly changes or has real character development. If it didn’t exist, it wouldn’t have mattered in the slightest.
7. Episode VII: The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens is a fun movie. No doubt about it. J.J. Abrams knows how to direct a sci-fi film. Being the first Star Wars movie since Revenge of the Sith had audiences of all generations hyped for the return of their beloved franchise. I remember being there opening night and loving the film. Seeing Han and Chewie return to the Millenium Falcon gave me chills. There are great new characters with interesting backstories. But, at the heart of the film, it’s a complete retread of the original Star Wars. The First Order is the Empire. The Resistance is the Rebellion. Starkiller Base is The Death Star. There’s literally a trench run, and a major mentor character sacrifices himself. It’s just a total retread of what worked before. There were so many unique areas to take this movie, but instead it felt totally rehashed and unoriginal.
6. Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
This may come as a shock to many. By all regards, The Phantom Menace is among the most reviled in Star Wars fandom. My fiancé refuses to watch it because she says it’s boring and my podcast co-host hates it. The introduction of Jar Jar Binks and other kid-friendly elements left others with a sour taste in the 16-year gap between this film’s release and Return of the Jedi. But for me personally, I see this as the last bastion of technical filmmaking of the franchise before the headfirst dive into the digital landscape. The Phantom Menace was largely shot on location or in practical sets using film cameras with comparatively much fewer digital environments than the films that came after it. After this film, the franchise switched to digital cameras and green-screen environments that feel far less real. The action was epic, the music was captivating, and the performances were engaging. At the time, the trade dispute storyline was a topic of much debate, but in 2026 it’s quite poignant given current world events. I really like The Phantom Menace, and I’m proud of it. We did a whole podcast episode on it; you can listen to that here.
5. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
The capstone to one of the most epic trilogies ever made, 1983’s Return of the Jedi, did not disappoint. This was an incredibly formative movie for me. Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth Vader each have proper conclusions to their stories. The opening 30 minutes in Jabba’s palace are electric. There’s a lot to love about Return of the Jedi. Is it a perfect movie? Certainly not. The tone at times is rather unbalanced between the kid-friendly Ewoks and the rest of the film determining the fate of the universe. Building a second Death Star is also kind of lame and uninspiring. But that doesn’t matter when everything else is so good.
4. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Revenge of the Sith is easily the best of the prequel trilogy. There’s so much to love: epic action, great heroes and villains, a good story, and some of the best music in the entire franchise. Yes, there are plenty of memes that came out of this movie. Yes, it can be a little goofy and uneven at times. But where this one differs from Return of the Jedi is the pure wall-to-wall action. Starting in media res with the space battle over coruscant into a lightsaber fight is a great choice, and there are 4 separate lightsaber duels throughout. The dynamic between Hayden Christenson and Ewan McGregor comes full circle, and both deliver really good performances. Christenson’s ability to show a wide range of Anakin’s emotions just through his looks and without words is amazing. And once Order 66 happens, the movie goes to another level. We also did a podcast on this movie to celebrate its 20th anniversary; check it out here.
3. Rogue One
The most unique of the Star Wars films, Rogue One tells the story of what happens just before the lead-up to the original 1977 film and how the rebels stole the Death Star plans. There’s only one lightsaber in the film that comes in epic fashion at the very end of the film. And yet, the things that director Gareth Edwards and writers Tony Gilroy and Chris Weitz accomplished are truly incredible. Every character here is compelling, and you come to care about them despite their fate at the end of the film. The decision to kill them all off is bold and shows the stakes for the rebellion. This is the type of movie that properly fleshes out the deeper lore of Star Wars in a way that’s fresh and unique. Plus, you still get great action set pieces, espionage, and great locations that feel properly Star Wars.
2. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
What else can you say about this one. Quality-wise, Empire Strikes Back may be the best made film of the franchise. There’s a great story that feels like a proper middle point in the story of Han, Luke and Leia. Each are learning more about themselves and their personal growth is great. This film also has some of the most unique locations of the franchise between the snow planet Hoth, the swamp world of Dagobah and Bespin’s city in the clouds. Lando Calrissian is a great addition to the franchise thanks to Billy Dee Williams’ charismatic performance, and the introduction of Yoda and the expansion of Luke’s jedi training is really engaging. Plus, it’s a movie where the good guys lose at the end. That’s a bold choice that really paid off. Everything about Empire Strikes Back is great. It’s not only one of the best Star Wars movies ever made, but also one of the best films ever made period.
1. Episode IV: A New Hope
This is my personal favorite film of the franchise. The original Star Wars was the movie that got me into movies. It made me think deeper about what movies could be and tapped into my imagination at an early age. The Binary Sunset, Mos Eisley Spaceport, Escaping the Death Star, Obi-Wan vs. Vader, and the Trench Run. It transported me to a world I didn’t even know was possible and haven’t ever left. Han, Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, Vader, and Obi-Wan are all great characters that feel unique to each other. But what fascinates me most is the technical filmmaking of it all. Special effects company Industrial Light and Magic had to invent new ways to film the visual effects, and George Lucas insisted on getting his vision on screen despite myriad issues in production. It’s amazing this film even got made. But from the moment it came out, it changed the film landscape forever, and for that, I will forever be grateful.
Physical Media Highlight
For this week’s physical media highlight, I am going appropriately Star Wars by showing off my collection of films from the franchise. I just picked up the ‘Star Wars The Complete Saga’ blu-ray box set from a local tag sale for $1.50, an absolute steal. Beyond that, I also own the original trilogy box set plus The Phantom Menace on VHS and the entire franchise on DVD as well as the Gendy Tartakovsky miniseries, the Clone Wars animated movie, Spaceballs on DVD (WHICH COUNTS) and a box set of the Family Guy Star Wars parodies. The only film I don’t own is Solo: A Star Wars Story, which I didn’t even realize until writing this. Goes to show how memorable it was. The DVD’s are noteworthy because they’re the only place currently you can watch the original theatrical cuts of the original trilogy at home. It’s not available on streaming or Blu-Ray/4k anywhere. Hopefully that changes with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars coming next year. They’ve just restored the original theatrical print, so I am hoping they release a 4k of the theatrical cut.
The Film Box
This week on The Film Box, we continued Medieval May by taking a look back at one of the most iconic parody films of all time, 1975’s Monty Python and The Holy Grail. It was a great conversation, and we shared a lot of laughs chatting about all the hilarious bits from the movie. Give it a listen here!
Thanks for reading this week’s Reel Reflections! We’ll see you next week, and as always, watch something great!