The time has come… This feels long overdue, but better late than never, right?
Welcome to the first ever Hyperlane Network ranking. This list will include 12 movies: Each episodic movie, Solo, Rogue One, and The Clone Wars Movie. You can read through this whole thing, if you wish. Or, because I’m just now realizing how long this post is about to be, you could just scroll through and look at the numbers in wonder at how in the world I came up with this list. And I wouldn’t blame you.
Now, why is it so important that I’ve defined “Before Re-Watching?” Well, if I’m being 100% transparent, it’s been a few months since I’ve last watched a Star Wars movie, and that was The Clone Wars Movie. For some of these movies, it’s been years. I wrestled with how to start this blog off for the past couple days, and at first, it seemed obvious… Review and discuss the three original trilogy movies.
However, I then thought that perhaps I may be a little too impatient to watch through each of those movies, gather my thoughts, and write out a well thought-out review on all of them before I even open this page up. So, what can I open up with, then? Blind rankings (and by blind, I mean “haven’t seen in a few years or more and definitely need a refresher”). Why the hell not? And, in case you were wondering… yes, there will be a fresh, new ranking out after I re-watch all 12 movies an have published full reviews on every single one. And I can’t wait.
But until then, we’ll have these premature rankings based off my terrible memory and my love for Star Wars. So we’ll see what happens.
# 12
The Clone Wars Movie
I’m still always surprised when I’m reminded of the difference in quality storytelling between this movie and it’s tv show counterpart. I’m part of the generation that grew up on The Clone Wars, so, unlike some, I don’t hate this movie. It was our introduction to a certain padawan that’s now widely considered one of the best characters of the franchise, and little 8-year-old me was entertained enough by it’s action and simple story beats.
Looking back at it now, I can still say it wasn’t a terrible experience, but it sure doesn’t do much. The dialogue was straight up awkward at times, and at this point, the animation style was yet to be refined. And man does it show. Turned out, Dave Filoni knew what he was doing with this movie, though we just didn’t know it yet. A lot of the foundations of the relationship dynamics we see throughout the show are laid right here.
This is a movie that had too safe a plot, and felt rushed and under-funded… But it was an ugly seed that grew into a magnificent tree. And for that, it deserves some credit.
# 11
Attack of the Clones
Alright, let’s get the bad out of the way. Attack of the Clones shares a lot of the flaws that are apparent in the rest of the prequels, but I think it’s just accentuated in this movie. Anakin and Padme’s love story is… tragic. And not the good kind of tragic. It was poor and hard to watch. This movie is filled with corny dialogue and unintentional (and some intentional) goofiness that really holds this movie back. I even find myself physically cringing at Anakin and Padme’s love arc.
But credit where credit is due… John William’s score, well, throughout this whole franchise, yes, but especially during the Anakin and Padme scenes in this movie is just so, damn, good. Not to discredit the Kamino sequence, the Battle of Geonosis and Christopher Lee being an amazing actor, but those things alone don’t quite save the movie. Now, throw the music on top of these things, and this becomes a bearable, albeit clunky watch with bad dialogue and s-tier music.
#10
The Last Jedi
I might think a bit more highly of the sequels than many Star Wars fans these days, but I’m not crazy. The Last Jedi is… weird. If you just take it as a stand-alone movie, it’s actually quite flattering. A fallen hero’s redemption. The “someone can come from nowhere” notion. The whole frenemy dynamic between Rey and Kylo… There was so much here that should’ve been great. Not to mention just how cinematically stunning the movie is. Regardless of how you might feel about this movie, this (and all the sequels for that matter) are some of the most beautifully shot on-screen products of all time. And that’s a hill I will die on.
But here’s the thing: It’s not great. There’s a pretty decent story wrapped up in this film, but it got thrown into the midst of trilogy with not much direction to begin with and just shattered any idea of a consistent plot. Some things carried over from The Force Awakens better than others, sure. But it seems like every question that TFA asked, TLJ either ignored or answered wrong. And that’s a glaring problem when TFA left us with so many questions.
Look, I’m not going to blame Rian Johnson for ‘ruining Star Wars.’ From what I know, he was just handed Episode XIII without asking for it, and made his movie that wasn’t actually meant to be Episode XIII. So I’m not here to blame him or knock his work. However, I still hold that this is the movie that changed everything for the worse.
I know Disney had no plan coming out of TFA, but that movie still asked good questions that could have been answered well. And they just weren’t. TLJ was a beautifully done and beautifully shot movie, that got made at the wrong time, with the wrong characters (looking at you, hermit Luke), ultimately resulting in a scar that has yet to fully heal.
#9
The Rise of Skywalker
Now, I debated about where to put this movie, and it switched a few times, being as low as 11, and even as high as 7. But I think it finally landed in a fair spot (for now). Man, where to start… Well, it’s always seemed clear to me this was J.J. Abram’s attempt to stitch back together what Rian Johnson broke about what J.J. Abrams originally had in mind when putting together TFA.
Needless to say, most of it didn’t land. And it just ended up being really disappointing, because this a technically great movie. Meaning, of all the Star Wars movies on this list, I think this one has the best VFX, the best sound design, and all the makings of an unforgettable cinematic experience. And these things (and some really good moments I’ll mention in a second) are what has it not at 11 in the first place, and what almost got this even higher on the list. But The Rise of Skywalker lacks one major thing… Heart.
TRoS feels like J.J. Abrams and the rest of the team scrambling to find a conclusion the whole time. There are logic problems, major plot points that are just glanced over by a single line (no need to expand on that one), and Rey Palpa-Sky-tine-walker? Ah, forget it.
Anyway, there are some really cool moments and elements scattered throughout the film. We had Dark Side Rey, Kylo’s refurbished mask, Han helping Kylo turn back to Ben (and, hot take: the lightsaber fight on top of Death Star was actually really dope), and the cloning concept was a pretty cool idea that just got no attention at all. However, all of it is so quickly overshadowed by the obvious panic, carelessness, and lack of heart (not to mention the glaring absence of Anakin) that was put into creating this movie. And what a shame that is.
#8
The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace was my favorite Star Wars movie as a kid, and definitely my favorite Lego Star Wars level. After re-watching it in theaters for it’s 25th anniversary, though, I was unfortunately underwhelmed. I still enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong, but I think the novelty it had for me as a kid just wasn’t there anymore. It was poorly paced and kinda… boring? It didn’t lack it’s moments, and I actually really enjoyed the pod race sequence, despite many saying it was too long. But when it wasn’t in the middle of a “moment,” it was just seemed like a shell of a movie.
However, the bottom line: these moments were enough to hold this movie afloat in my eyes. Darth Maul’s introduction to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan and the whole Duel of the Fates battle will forever be an all-time great cinema moment. John Williams’ score does wonders (as always). Liam Neeson’s and Jake Lloyd’s acting really elevated the film. There were a lot of things that went right with this movie, but it just got jumbled up with a bunch of things that went wrong with this movie, making for what’s overall a half-baked but fun adventure.
I could never dislike this movie, though, because it’s been such a big part of my life for so long. It serves as the origin story of this franchise that I’ve fallen in love with. The political intrigue is fascinating (as it is throughout the entirety of the prequels, really), Darth Maul is one of the coolest characters to ever appear on screen, and story-wise, this is a pretty well-written base to launch the prequels off of. It’s just behind a mess of a production that still has its charm, but has perhaps worn off a little bit for me.
#7
A New Hope
Ah yes, the original. I know this is a hot take. But after a lot of deliberating with myself over this, I just can’t put it higher. The movies higher on the list are ones I just enjoy far too much.
My Star Wars journey started when I was 8 years old. The year was 2008. My dad had seen all of the original trilogy in theaters, and being just a few years removed from Revenge of the Sith, he jumped at the opportunity to have a Star Wars marathon including the new trilogy while my mom was couch-bound with sickness. So every night that week, we gathered in our living room and watched a Star Wars movie in release order, until we got through all six. And from that, stemmed a passion for the franchise.
However, after that first marathon, A New Hope stuck with me the least. And to this day (not that I’ve actually counted), I believe it’s my least-watched Star Wars movie. I’ll get the bad out of the way first. The reason ANH is this low on the list is because, quite frankly, the movie is poorly acted (Alec Guinness aside), poorly choreographed, and the visuals and sound just come off as kinda cheesy. That’s by no fault of its own; I recognize how much of a feat it was to achieve the visual effects that ANH had for the late 70s.
Call me spoiled, but having grown up in an age of film where CGI and animation are able to create stunning, near-realistic effects (though not so much the past few years for whatever reason), looking back on a movie from the 70s that relies so heavy on the novelty of these ground-breaking effects… Well, it just isn’t so groundbreaking to watch in 2024. But enough of this downer talk.
Even if I can’t watch a 70s movie through the lens of someone who saw it for the first time in 1977, I can recognize the great things it did for cinema as whole, and the great story this movie tells. This is the very foundation of what I believe is the greatest story ever told in cinema, and it did so all while providing ground-breaking ideas in how movies are produced.
For everything that doesn’t quite land for me, the legacy that this movie left, both for the movie industry and for cinematic storytelling, is incomparable. That could never be taken away from this film. I may not be entranced by A New Hope, but it is every bit deserving of its rightful place in cinema history.
#6
Rogue One
Now, let me first say that I thoroughly enjoyed Rogue One. It was an entertaining, action-packed, and occasionally hilarious heist film. The way it works right into A Hew Hope is so perfect. And I’d be amiss not to mention the hallway scene. Vader’s presence is as great as it probably’s ever been in this movie. Krennic was great, it was awesome to see Tarkin on screen again, and the Battle of Scarif was colored by intensity, emotion, and desperation that was brought out so well by director Gareth Edwards.
Where this movie falls short for me, is with its ensemble of protagonists. Aside from Donnie Yen’s character, and K-2SO, I just found the protagonists basic and uninteresting, to be harsh. I simply didn’t get hooked on any of them, except the droid, which I think is problematic.
However, the movie that was built around these rather bland characters was just so good. I ended up not really caring that these characters were “meh”, because I was still entertained by the antagonists, the world, and the story that were so prevalent here. Overall, this is a great watch and a great extension of the Episode IV story. I just wish the main protagonists would’ve given me more.
#5
Solo
Solo is the most underrated Star Wars film, point blank period. It was nothing short of a great movie. I know it got some flack for it’s lack of relevancy to the Skywalker Saga, but to that I say: who cares? The Skywalker Saga might be the heart of the Star Wars universe, but the galaxy is so much bigger than that.
This was an all-around awesome look at Han’s backstory. It establishes his relationships that crop up in the original trilogy (Chewy and Lando) really well, tying a nice bow on “oh, so that’s how they met.” Woody Harrelson is always a joy to see on screen, and that is no different here, playing Tobias Beckett. And there was a really convincing story between Beckett and Solo, too. I truly do believe that Han Solo is who he is in A New Hope because of his experiences with Beckett and his crew, and, generally, throughout this whole movie.
And let’s not forget Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn. I was tentative when they introduced Qi’ra as this love interest for Han, thinking it would disrupt what we know about Han and Leia’s story. But thankfully, it didn’t, and it recovered SO nicely. I’ll save the lengthiness for the Solo Reveiw, but needless to say, she quickly became one of my favorite characters by the end of the movie, and it left me wanting to know more about her story.
There is really only one major gripe I have with this movie. I wish it was longer. For what it ended up being, it had a fine runtime. I just say this because this movie loved to tease me with something really interesting, to then just roll right over it in a few minutes. And I just wish we had more. Particularly, I’m remembering the Mimban Campaign and whatever happened with Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn at the end… Spending a little more time in each of those moments would’ve made for an even more satisfying watch.
Regardless, this was probably my second-favorite Star Wars theater experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and have seen it plenty of times since. It’s just a shame that it came out when it did, it’s low box office numbers rendering it a “flop.” Because this is a damn good movie that truly deserves more love than it gets.
#4
The Empire Strikes Back
Yes, I have this movie at four. Also yes, this is the most iconic movie of the franchise. While iconic might not correlate to personal favorite, The Empire Strikes Back is still the first movie I think of when I think of Star Wars. Someone says “Star Wars,” and I think of Hoth, AT-ATs, Luke and Yoda, Bespin, Lando, “I am your father,” Han getting frozen in carbonite, all of that. The Empire Strikes Back IS Star Wars.
The reason it’s not at number one is, well first, for reasons that you’ll read when we get to the number one spot. But also that it kinda falls into the same drawbacks as A New Hope, with VFX and sound design that just don’t measure up to what I’ve grown up with my whole life.
The reason this doesn’t take a BIGGER hit for it is because 1) it tells an even BETTER story with even MORE iconic scenes, and 2) the production did take a step up. It’s like A New Hope was Star Wars’ rookie season, and then eveything about their game just got a little bit better with a second season (movie). The acting was better, the VFX were more bearable, the sound design took a step up. It all just felt nicer.
The Empire Strikes Back is possibly the most iconic movie ever made, and I love it for that. It also takes a step up in execution from A New Hope, and I love it for that too. And finally, it continues the greatest cinematic story ever told without missing a beat, even improving upon its predecessor. And I love it for that, too. An A+ movie if I’ve ever seen one.
#3
Revenge of the Sith
I know what many of you must be thinking. ‘If Revenge of the Sith is this high, how is it not one or two?’ Well, it was number two… until I actually started writing my reasoning for the next film on this list. That said, this movie just delivers, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it still suffers from the same cheesiness that befell the previous two prequel movies, but there are so many great things here that it becomes an easy oversight in my ability to enjoy this movie.
I’m a sucker for emotional intensity, and man, does this movie come through on that front. Of course, there’s the gripe that Anakin’s turn was a bit too stark, and not that I disagree, but it’s once he turns that this movie really switches on and becomes a great watch. Who can resist quoting every line they can from Obi-Wan and Anakin’s duel on Mustafar? One thing’s for certain… “You will try.”
I’ll save the long paragraphs for the review (all the reviews will be linked at the bottom of the page as they come out), but man… this is forever a classic. A 10/10 watching experience, even with it’s flaws.
#2
The Force Awakens
As I stated in the RotS section above, this was behind Revenge until I actually started writing this here. The sequels might not have gone how much of anyone hoped (to put it quite lightly). And because of that, I think this movie gets a bad rap.
I’ve heard the criticisms for The Force Awakens, and while I can agree that they’re mostly valid, this ranking here is more about the experience for me. TFA was my first Star Wars theater experience. As a 2000 baby, I kinda just missed the cutoff to be part of the prequel generation. When TFA came out, I remember how stoked I was. I saw it in theaters maybe six times. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but what Star Wars movie has ever been?
I’m a fan of the youtuber Star Wars Theory, and think he’s had such an overwhelmingly positive impact on the Star Wars community, especially as of late. One of the only fans who have put themselves out on the internet that I think TRULY loves Star Wars, the way he is unafraid to like or dislike something, even if it’s against the grain, and the way he genuinely hopes for the best for Star Wars, which is more than I can say about a lot of fans on both sides of the fan spectrum. (Apologies for the shameless plug.)
All that to say, he did a stream/interview with Stuart Beattie, the writer of the original Obi-Wan Kenobi script, back when it was going to be a movie. Beattie said that one of his colleagues had told him that Star Wars is “delight.” When you leave the theater after a brand new Star Wars movie, you feel delighted. When I watched The Force Awakens in theaters at 16 years old, I was delighted. Unfortunately, what came after was a mess. But for two years, I was a delighted Star Wars fan.
I got a little sidetracked here, but, as I’ve mentioned you’ll be able to read my more in-depth thoughts about all these movies when I get around to the reviews. The bottom line is that yes, there are things to dislike about this movie, but the biggest gripes about it just didn’t apply to me. I had been a Star Wars fan for 7 or 8 years at that point. And for someone like me who was getting to watch a Star Wars movie in theaters for the first time… It did not disappoint.
#1
Return of the Jedi
Ok, that thing I just said about “what Star Wars movie has ever been perfect?” Well, that could be challenged by this one right here. Ok, perfect might be stretch. It’s not the perfect movie. But it is the perfect ending.
I’ve already said it a few times in this article, and I’ll say it here, now that we’re at the OT’s conclusion. The story of Anakin Skywalker is the greatest piece of cinematic storytelling of all time. And the biggest reason for that is this movie right here. Return of the Jedi holds a very special place in my heart, and quite honestly became a big driver of the moral standard I hold for myself now.
Vader finding redemption and coming back to the light after everything, Luke never giving up hope that even just the slightest glimmer of light can change a man even as evil as Vader… This is the ultimate ‘good will trump all in the face of evil’ story. And not to mention, Mark Hamill’s acting took yet another step in this movie, as did the cinematography, the VFX, and the sound design. This is easily the best looking, best sounding, and best acted of the three original trilogy movies, and it does that while pulling off the greatest conclusion to one of the greatest stories ever told on screen.
An absolutely beautiful final movie to conclude the story of Anakin Skywalker, and perhaps also the most impactful one in my life to this day. This is the movie that makes me say, “Thank you, George.”
Star Wars movie reviews:
Stay tuned! Reviews for all these movies are coming soon, and will be listed right here when they come!