Look, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the Bantha.
Ranking the Star Wars movies is essentially like trying to tell a group of friends which one of their kids is the favorite. Someone is going to leave the room crying. It’s been nearly 50 years since George Lucas first took us to Tatooine, and honestly? The "definitive" list is a total myth. Your favorite movie usually depends on whether you grew up with a plastic lightsaber in 1977, a Jar Jar Binks backpack in 1999, or a Rey Skywalker hoodie in 2015.
But here’s the thing. There is a general consensus—a sort of "Galactic Standard"—that most critics and fans eventually land on when they stop yelling at each other on Reddit. If you’re looking for a Star Wars movie rankings breakdown that actually makes sense in 2026, you have to look at more than just Rotten Tomatoes scores. You have to look at the legacy, the mess, and the magic.
The Untouchable Tier (The Top 3)
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
It's almost a cliché at this point to put Empire at number one. But it’s there for a reason. This isn't just a great Star Wars movie; it's a masterpiece of American cinema. Director Irvin Kershner did something bold: he let the bad guys win.
Think about it. Han is frozen in carbonite. Luke loses a hand and finds out his dad is basically space-Hitler. The rebels are scattered. It’s dark, it’s moody, and John Williams’ "The Imperial March" debut still gives people chills. It’s the gold standard because it proved this franchise wasn't just for kids—it was about the messy, painful process of growing up.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
The one that started it all. Sometimes people rank this lower because the effects are dated, but they're wrong. The pacing is perfect. It’s a simple fairy tale—farm boy, wizard, princess, pirate—set in space. Without the charm of Mark Hamill and the effortless cool of Harrison Ford here, nothing else exists. It’s 121 minutes of pure, unadulterated hope.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
This is the "new" entry into the top tier. For a long time, fans argued if anything could touch the Original Trilogy. Then Gareth Edwards gave us Rogue One. It’s a war movie. It’s gritty. It has arguably the best third act in the entire franchise. And that Vader hallway scene? It did more for the character’s "fear factor" in two minutes than the entire Prequel Trilogy did in six hours.
The "Good But Flawed" Middle Ground
Now we get into the weeds.
Return of the Jedi (1983) usually sits right below the greats. People love the throne room scene—the emotional climax between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor is the heart of the saga. But then you have the Ewoks. Look, I don't hate the teddy bears, but the "Teddy Bear Picnic" vibe definitely took the edge off the high-stakes rebellion for a lot of older fans.
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Then you've got The Force Awakens (2015).
It’s basically a high-budget remix of A New Hope.
It’s fun.
It’s fast.
It brought the world back to Star Wars.
But as the years have passed, its lack of original ideas has made it slide down most people's Star Wars movie rankings. It’s the cinematic equivalent of comfort food—great in the moment, but you’re hungry again an hour later.
Revenge of the Sith (2005) is the heavy hitter of the Prequels. It’s the one where George Lucas finally "stuck the landing." Yes, the dialogue is still a bit clunky (we all know the "sand" memes), but the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker’s fall is genuinely moving. The duel on Mustafar is still one of the most technical and impressive lightsaber fights ever filmed. It’s messy, but it has a soul.
The Battleground: Where the Fandom Breaks
The Last Jedi (2017)
Rian Johnson’s entry is the most divisive movie in history. Period. Critics loved it for "subverting expectations," but a massive chunk of the fanbase felt it betrayed Luke Skywalker’s character. Whether you think it’s a brilliant deconstruction or a total disaster, you can’t deny it’s a stunning-looking film. The "Holdo Maneuver" scene is objectively beautiful, even if it broke the rules of space physics.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Poor Solo. It came out at the wrong time. Fans were "Star Wars'd out" after The Last Jedi, and the movie suffered for it. Honestly? It’s a perfectly fine heist movie. Alden Ehrenreich does a solid job as a young Han, and Donald Glover is basically born to play Lando. It’s not essential, but it’s a fun Saturday afternoon watch.
The Bottom of the Holocron
We have to talk about The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
"Somehow, Palpatine returned."
That line basically sums up the problem.
It felt like a movie written by a committee trying to apologize for the previous film. It’s frantic, it’s confusing, and it ignores almost all the character development from the first two parts of the trilogy. Even the most hardcore defenders of the Sequels usually admit this one was a stumble.
And then there’s The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002).
The nostalgia for these has skyrocketed recently because the kids who grew up with them are now the ones writing the articles. But if you watch them with fresh eyes? They're tough. The political talk about trade routes in Episode I is dry as a bone, and the romance in Episode II is... well, it’s "cringe," as the kids say. They have great moments (Darth Maul, the Arena battle), but as cohesive movies, they struggle.
The Data Behind the Drama
If we look at the 2026 updated averages across platforms like IMDb and Metacritic, the hierarchy usually looks something like this:
- The S-Tier: Empire Strikes Back, A New Hope, Rogue One
- The A-Tier: Return of the Jedi, Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens
- The "It's Complicated" Tier: The Last Jedi, Solo, The Phantom Menace
- The Bottom Tier: Attack of the Clones, The Rise of Skywalker
It's worth noting that TV shows like Andor and The Mandalorian have actually started to outrank the movies in many "best of" lists. Andor in particular is currently sitting at a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, which technically makes it higher-rated than any individual film in the franchise.
Why Rankings Change Every Year
The weirdest thing about Star Wars movie rankings is that they aren't static. In 2005, everyone hated the Prequels. Now, thanks to the Clone Wars animated series filling in the gaps, people love them. We’re starting to see the same thing happen with the Sequels; as more tie-in books and shows come out, the "disaster" movies start to feel more like part of a larger, coherent puzzle.
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Also, Dave Filoni taking over as Co-President of Lucasfilm has changed the "vibe" of how we view these movies. There's a renewed focus on making everything "fit."
Actionable Steps for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning a marathon and want to see if these rankings hold up for you, don’t just watch them in order of release. Try these instead:
- The Machete Order (Modified): Watch IV, V, I, II, III, then VI. This treats the Prequels as a giant flashback before the big finale of the Original Trilogy. It keeps the "I am your father" twist intact.
- The "Rogue" Start: Start with Rogue One and go immediately into A New Hope. The transition is seamless and makes the stakes of the original film feel 10x higher.
- The Palette Cleanser: If you find yourself getting annoyed with the Prequel dialogue, watch an episode of The Clone Wars (like the Siege of Mandalore arc) between Episodes II and III. It makes the tragedy hit way harder.
At the end of the day, the best Star Wars movie is the one that makes you feel like a kid again. Whether that's a puppet Yoda or a CGI Gungan, that's between you and the Force. Just don't try to defend the "Somehow, Palpatine returned" line at a dinner party unless you're looking for a fight.