All 13 Star Wars Movies (Including The Mandalorian and Grogu), Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes Score

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What began as a series of movies has become a huge franchise. After nearly 50 years, it’s remarkable to see how much it’s expanded – with 13 films now available, alongside its popular TV shows, games, comics, and books.

As a big Star Wars fan, I always get excited about each new movie, wondering how it will change things for the franchise and how we, the audience, will react. It’s tough to predict which films will be remembered fondly and which won’t, but Rotten Tomatoes does a great job of showing us which Star Wars movies really resonated with people and which ones didn’t quite hit the mark.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a Proof of Concept More Than a Film

The movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars feels incomplete because it was originally intended as the beginning of a larger story. While it effectively introduces key characters like Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka Tano during the Clone Wars era, it doesn’t stand out as a particularly strong film on its own.

While technically a film, Star Wars: The Clone Wars doesn’t quite succeed as a movie. The characters and voice actors were much more effective in the animated TV series, and the film feels like a stepping stone to that show—which likely explains its poor 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Tried to Do Too Much and Accomplished Very Little

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker aimed to address criticisms of The Last Jedi and deliver a satisfying conclusion to the sequel trilogy. With J.J. Abrams, who directed The Force Awakens, back at the helm, many expected a powerful finale. Unfortunately, the film felt rushed and unresolved, undoing some of the better aspects of its predecessor and leaving many plot points hanging.

The Rise of Skywalker faced immense pressure as the final film in the saga, and many fans were disappointed with how it ended. While there’s still a chance future installments could improve its reputation, for now, it remains critically unpopular, with a low approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace Was a Rocky Return For a Beloved Franchise

The goal of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was to show how Anakin Skywalker began his journey as a boy and eventually became a Jedi, ultimately falling to the Dark Side. However, this storyline wasn’t substantial enough to fill a two-hour film, which contributed to the movie’s initial struggles with audiences.

While the lightsaber duel with Darth Maul was exciting, The Phantom Menace wasn’t considered one of the strongest Star Wars films. Though additional content released over the years has improved its reputation, the original film’s 54% score on Rotten Tomatoes feels accurate.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Has a Lot of Flash But Little Substance

With The Mandalorian and Grogu, Din Djarin and Grogu made their feature film debut, delivering the exciting action and engaging conversations fans expected. The story follows the pair as they team up with the New Republic to combat dangerous outlaws threatening the galaxy.

Though it delivers some exciting action scenes that will please existing fans, the film relies too heavily on catering to them and doesn’t offer much beyond that. It’s a decent introduction for new viewers, but ultimately doesn’t add much to the overall story, which likely explains its average 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones Had a Lot on Its Plate

As a huge Star Wars fan, I always thought Attack of the Clones was a crucial piece of the puzzle – it’s where Anakin and Padmé actually fall in love! But the road to that romance was pretty twisty. What started as a simple attempt to solve a murder quickly blew up into a massive conspiracy, revealing a secret clone army and hinting at a war that was brewing beneath the surface of the Republic. It really sets the stage for everything that happens later!

While Attack of the Clones has an interesting premise – a political thriller where heroes trying to prevent war inadvertently help start it – the movie feels slow and drawn out. Its long runtime and weak dialogue mean the plot doesn’t move quickly enough, and it lacks enough action to fully engage viewers, which is reflected in its 62% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Captures the Spirit of Star Wars

After a change in directors, Solo: A Star Wars Movie turned out to be an unexpected heist film set in the Star Wars universe. While it didn’t quite live up to expectations, it was still enjoyable to see the beginnings of Han Solo’s story, particularly thanks to the performances of Alden Ehrenreich as Han and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian.

While not a fantastic film, Solo captures the adventurous spirit that makes the Star Wars universe so enjoyable. The story jumps around a bit, but the exciting action sequences are captivating, which likely explains its 69% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Ended the Jedi Order With a Bang

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith started with a sense of foreboding, as fans knew it would depict Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader and the downfall of the Jedi Order through Order 66. This film avoided much of the criticism leveled at the previous prequel movies, largely because it focused on delivering a satisfying and impactful conclusion to the saga.

The lightsaber duel was truly spectacular and remains a highlight of the entire Star Wars saga. However, like previous installments, the movie suffers from being a bit too long and relies heavily on computer-generated imagery, resulting in a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi Was the Franchise’s First Big Finale

Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi finished the story begun in the original Star Wars trilogy. The film shows Luke Skywalker, now a skilled Jedi, facing his father and teaming up with his friends to prevent a powerful weapon from falling into the wrong hands. The movie builds suspense right from the start with the daring rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, and it all leads to an epic and memorable showdown between father and son.

Return of the Jedi delivered a satisfying conclusion to the original trilogy, offering a clear sense of victory despite later additions to the Star Wars saga. While the Ewoks weren’t everyone’s favorite part, it was still a strong final chapter, earning an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Told an Emotional War Story

While Star Wars films are always exciting, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the first to really show the gritty reality and destruction of war. The film follows the team responsible for stealing the plans to the Death Star and is now considered one of the best Star Wars movies in recent years.

Rogue One is a compelling film with strong acting and an intense ending. While it’s generally well-received – earning an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes – its heavy focus on war might not appeal to everyone, resulting in a slightly lower rating compared to other Star Wars movies.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Tried to Tell a Grand Story and Divided a Fanbase

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is famously one of the most controversial films in the entire Star Wars series, and it’s easy to see why. It attempted to redefine established Star Wars traditions, and while it introduced some interesting new concepts, they weren’t fully developed.

Rian Johnson aimed to create a Star Wars story that felt both familiar and fresh. The film was well-made and captured the epic scope of Star Wars, earning it a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

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2026-05-22 05:12