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May the 4th be with you! To celebrate the holiest day on any padawan’s calendar, Deadline film critic Pete Hammond has ranked every Star Wars film from worst to best, including the controversial George Lucas-helmed prequel trilogy, Episodes I-III, and the two standalone films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Scroll below to see images from the films, our rankings, and the logic behind them.
Also: Do you agree with these picks? Let us know in the comments below.
11. ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
Dir. Ron Howard, starring Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in an epic action-adventure that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
10. ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson & Natalie Portman
Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force as the long-dormant Sith resurface.
9. ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman & Ewan McGregor
Ten years after meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army.
8. ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman & Ewan McGregor
Three years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan pursues a new threat, while Anakin is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.
7. ‘Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker’
Dir. J.J. Abrams, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Anthony Daniels, Lupita Nyong’o and Domhnall Gleeson.
In the riveting conclusion of the landmark Skywalker saga, new legends will be born-and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.
6. ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Dir. Gareth Edwards, starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna & Alan Tudyk
In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.
5. ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’
Dir. Richard Marquand, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke attempts to pull Darth Vader back from the dark side.
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Dir. J.J. Abrams, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill & Carrie Fisher
As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.
3. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Dir. Rian Johnson, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver & Oscar Isaac
The Star Wars saga continues as new heroes and galactic legends go on an epic adventure, unlocking mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Photo : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
11. ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
Dir. Ron Howard, starring Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in an epic action-adventure that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
10. ‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson & Natalie Portman
Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force as the long-dormant Sith resurface.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
9. ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman & Ewan McGregor
Ten years after meeting, Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala, while Obi-Wan Kenobi discovers a secret clone army.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
8. ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’
Dir. George Lucas, starring Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman & Ewan McGregor
Three years into the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan pursues a new threat, while Anakin is lured by Chancellor Palpatine into a sinister plot to rule the galaxy.
Photo : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Lucasfilm/Everett Collection
7. ‘Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker’
Dir. J.J. Abrams, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Anthony Daniels, Lupita Nyong’o and Domhnall Gleeson.
In the riveting conclusion of the landmark Skywalker saga, new legends will be born-and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
6. ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’
Dir. Gareth Edwards, starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna & Alan Tudyk
In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
5. ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi’
Dir. Richard Marquand, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher
After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebels attempt to destroy the second Death Star, while Luke attempts to pull Darth Vader back from the dark side.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Dir. J.J. Abrams, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill & Carrie Fisher
As a new threat to the galaxy rises, Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, must join Han Solo and Chewbacca to search for the one hope of restoring peace.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
3. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Dir. Rian Johnson, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver & Oscar Isaac
The Star Wars saga continues as new heroes and galactic legends go on an epic adventure, unlocking mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
Photo : Disney/LucasFilm
2. ‘Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back’
Dir. Irvin Kershner, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams & Anthony Daniels
After the Rebels are overpowered by the Empire, Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training with Yoda, while his friends are pursued across the galaxy by Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett.
1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Dir. George Lucas, starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness and Anthony Daniels
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire’s world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.