From The Phantom Menace to The Empire Strikes Back - Every Star Wars movie RANKED

For many Star Wars fans, the franchise is not simply a series of movies, television shows, comic books, video games and merchandise - it is a religion.

The fanaticism over the Star Wars movie franchise started in 1977 with A New Hope and from there, creator George Lucas would go on to helm six movies in total in the series.

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Lucas rather handily included a clause in his initial contract for the movie that entitled him to profits from all merchandise sold. His earnings from Star Wars make him the richest movie celebrity on Earth with a reported current wealth of $5.5 billion.

In total, the movies in the Star Wars universe have grossed over $10bn, which makes it the second-highest-grossing film franchise in history.

The first three movies - A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, all became phenomenons etched into the cultural zeitgeist.

The prequel trilogy - The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith -  is generally considered to be a disappointment among Star Wars fanatics, though reception to the films has been more kind in recent years.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released in 2015 and took the franchise back to its best, with fans and critics praising the new storyline and characters while also the homages to the original trilogy.

That was followed by undoubtedly the most polarising movie in the series, The Last Jedi, while The Rise of Skywalker rounded off the sequel trilogy.

Two standalone movies have been produced so far - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story. The former received critical acclaim, while the latter was a box office bomb for Disney.

The Stars Was universe expanded with shows Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka, with a dozen new films also in development.

Star Wars movies ranked

1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

3.96 (4391)

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Darth Vader (James Earl Jones & David Prowse) sets out to quell the rebellion against The Empire. The rebels have a base on the ice planet Hoth. When Imperial troops arrive to destroy the rebels, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) flee to Cloud City, where they are captured by Vader. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) travels to the planet Dagobah, where he is trained in the Force by the Jedi master Yoda.

Directed by: Irvin Kershner
Stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford

2. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

3.82 (3773)

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

After rescuing Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from Jabba the Hutt, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) completes his Jedi training with Yoda. The Emperor builds a new Death Star, and this time oversees its construction. Luke confronts Darth Vader (James Earl Jones & David Prowse) and the Emperor, while his friends, including Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) on the moon of Endor, with the help of the Ewoks, take on the Imperial forces.

Directed by: Richard Marquand
Stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford

3. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

3.82 (4448)

Star Wars (1977)

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) works the land with his aunt and uncle on the planet Tatooine. When they are killed by Imperial troops, Luke joins a group of rebels fighting the Emperor's tyranny and the evil Darth Vader (James Earl Jones & David Prowse). Luke, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and the other rebels attempt to destroy the Death Star, the Emperor's new weapon.

Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford

4. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

3.71 (3649)

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The Clone Wars rage to their zenith when Chancellor Palpatine is kidnapped by General Grievous, a now-famous Jedi slayer. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi fight as brothers in this fight to save him, and they have a final showdown with the Separatist leader, Count Dooku. But when the Jedi Council finally finds a way to bring the Clone Wars to an end and restore peace to the galaxy, they ignore the fact that Anakin is slowly turning against the Jedi Council when faced with a choice between Obi-Wan and his secret wife Padmé, whom he saw die in a vision. The mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious strikes hard for one last time and all events lead to the first Star Wars movie from 1977 as George Lucas closes the final chapter in his story.

Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman

5. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

3.67 (2311)

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Thirty years after the victory over the Galactic Empire, there is a new threat: the evil Kylo Ren and the First Order. Stormtrooper Finn defects to the Resistance, crashes on desert planet Jakku and meets Rey here. She has a droid that contains important secret information about the location of the last remaining Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker. The duo teams up with Han Solo to ensure the resistance gets their hands on this information.

Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Stars: John Boyega, Daisy Ridley and Harrison Ford

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

3.51 (1639)

Rogue One (2016)

The film is set before Episode IV - A New Hope. Galen Erso is an esteemed scientist from the newly established Galactic Empire. His genius was critical to the technological development of the Death Star. Though he is opposed to the Empire, he sees no option but to cooperate. He still manages to sabotage the Empire's plans and make his actions known to the resistance. On this, a quirky group of rebels tries to carry out a desperate mission. He wants to steal the plans for Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor's rule.

Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Stars: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna and Ben Mendelsohn

7. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi

3.30 (1573)

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

Taking her first steps into a vast world, Rey continues her epic journey with Finn, Poe and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the saga. Rey is apprenticed to Luke Skywalker on Ahch-To. Luke, meanwhile, must deal with a crisis of faith. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares for the coming battle with The First Order and takes them to new places in the galaxy, including a casino city where the upper class resides.

Directed by: Rian Johnson
Stars: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Mark Hamill

8. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

3.27 (3141)

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Padmé Amidala, who has finished her tenure as Queen of Naboo and is now serving in the Senate, narrowly escapes an attempt on her life twice. Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi's apprentice Anakin is tasked with protecting her, and something beautiful begins to bloom between the two. Meanwhile, Obi Wan investigates the links between the assassination attempts, a separatist movement led by former Jedi Count Dooku, and the building of a clone army on a remote planet.

Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman

9. Solo: A Star Wars Story

3.25 (980)

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

'Solo: A Star Wars Story' follows the adventures of young smuggler Han Solo before he joins the resistance. He works for the Empire with his mentor Tobias Beckett. Through a series of challenging adventures in a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future copilot Chewbacca. Together, they encounter infamous gambler Lando Calrissian on a journey that will set the course for one of the most unlikely heroes of the Star Wars saga.

Directed by: Ron Howard
Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson and Emilia Clarke

10. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

3.23 (3339)

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

When the evil Trade Federation plans to conquer the peaceful planet of Naboo, Jedi warrior Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi must try to prevent it. They get help from the young Queen Amidala, and the Gungan Jar Jar Binks. During their adventure, they end up on the planet Tatooine, where they encounter the young Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan see in him a possible Jedi, and want to train him.

Directed by: George Lucas
Stars: Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman

11. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

3.07 (1198)

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

A year after the events of 'The Last Jedi', the confrontation between the resistance and the First Order takes place for the last time. Who will emerge victorious? In addition to the battle, Rey and associates must also face their personal demons and past. As the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its peak, old acquaintances join the fray.

Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Stars: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Mark Hamill