One of the biggest, best, and most iconic movie franchises in the history of cinema, Star Wars is a trailblazing cornerstone of pop culture that changed film and geekdom upon its initial 1977 release. The quality of the twelve theatrically released Star Wars films ranges massively, even though each has their brilliance, some do not have the same great craftsmanship as others.
Perhaps more consistently beloved by fans than critics, it is easy to go online to see wide reception to the films. A good gauge of this reception comes from IMDb, which has scores for the Star Wars franchise that fluctuate massively. So, here are all the theatrically released Star Wars movies ranked, according to IMDb.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (2008) - 5.9
The Clone Wars is a strange movie. On one hand, it is pretty awful and undoubtedly the worst of the theatrically-released movies, but it did pave the way for one of the best pieces of content in the Star Wars franchise, the Clone Wars series.
The movie garnered a 5.9 on IMDb, and it is a pretty fitting rating for its thin plot and annoying characters. It is extremely child-oriented and is hard for mature fans, or just fans over the age of 10, to enjoy to the fullest, no matter how fun for kids it is.
STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002) - 6.5
Famous for its insanely bad dialogue, cringeworthy scenes, and awful actor-to-actor chemistry, Attack Of The Clones has its fair share of issues. The Battle of Geonosis impresses, as does Ewan McGregor and John Williams' score, but apart from that, only mindless fun salvage the movie.
The film earned a 6.5, making it the (tied) lowest-rated Skywalker saga film. This is not surprising, as two certain films usually compete for the bottom spot. The prequels are beloved by some, hated by others, and Attack of the Clones is literally at the center of that.
STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999) - 6.5
The Phantom Menace suffers from the same (mostly) poor acting, bad dialogue, and awkwardness of Attack of the Clones, but is much duller. What saves it, of course, is the Duel of the Fates, both a brilliant lightsaber battle and an unbelievable piece of music.
The film sits alongside Attack of the Clones at a 6.5, and as mentioned that is not a surprise. The film made an insane amount of money and is more fondly remembered nowadays, but some older fans still feel bitter about the first follow up to the original trilogy.
SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018) - 6.9
A good, fun ride, hampered by a lack of necessity and atrocious marketing, Solo: A Star Wars Story does not deserve a lot of the hate it gets. The film is not the best thing ever, but has great stuff throughout.
The film earned a 6.9, arguably deserving more. The performances are consistently high in quality, Chewie and Han are great, Donald Glover is flawless, and it is an aesthetically pleasing film. But, while it deserves a sequel, it so far has not given much to the franchise.
STAR WARS EPISODE IX: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER (2019) - 6.9
The final chapter in the Skywalker saga and the third installment of the sequel trilogy, The Rise Of Skywalker certainly has been dividing fans. There are some glaring flaws in the film which go hand in hand with a whole lot of fun and brilliance.
The film currently sits at 6.9, but since it has only recently been released this may change. The film left so many questions unanswered, and did not sit well with critics despite its look, performances, and brilliant character dynamics. Some fans, though, seemed to gravitate to the nostalgia and entertainment value of the picture.
STAR WARS EPISODE VIII: THE LAST JEDI (2017) - 7.0
Speaking of movies that divided the fandom, The Last Jedi has done that more than any other film. A lot of the hate is undeserved and may die down in the coming years and, even though the film has some big problems, a lot of it is fantastic.
The film sits at 7.0, and the quality of filmmaking alone should place it higher. The Canto Bight portion is a waste, as were some characters, but the performances, arc continuation, brilliant twists, and challenging script alongside the beautiful look show the high quality of the movie.
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) - 7.5
The final and undeniably best entry of the prequel trilogy is Revenge of the Sith, and it is no surprise to see it where it is on this list. It has become iconic for its mass quotability, as well as it being the heartbreaking home of Order 66, and Ewan McGregor's sensational performance.
A 7.5 on IMDb fits, although like nearly all the films to this point, it could be higher. There are some terrific (hand-in-hand with some subpar) performances, alongside Star Wars' arguable best lightsaber battle, and even with some dullness involved, it is still great.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) - 7.8
The Star Wars stories kicked off to an awesome start in Rogue One. Telling the story of the group who stole the Death Star plans was a great choice by Lucasfilm/Disney.
Sitting pretty at 7.8, Rogue One has one of the best third acts of the franchise. On top of that, the look and action throughout are amazing, and that Vader scene is iconic. The film suffers from a lack of character development, but makes up for it in a plentitude of other areas.
STAR WARS EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) - 7.9
The Force Awakens was the return to Star Wars to the big screen, the first film of the new trilogy, and the beginning of a new era of Star Wars under the Disney banner. It was an indisputable success.
The film is the best non-original trilogy film according to IMDb, sitting at 7.9. It has an ensemble with no weak performance and a brilliant balance of the new and old. It is action-packed and was the perfect way to kick off the new era, even if it was a bit similar to a previous movie.
STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) - 8.3
Return of the Jedi was the beautiful end to one of cinema's greatest trilogies, and lives and will continue to live in the hearts of Star Wars fans for generations to come.
Sitting at 8.3, it rightfully falls at the bottom of the original trilogy set. It is chock full of iconography and beautiful moments, with a final shot deserving of this saga's end. The characters are great, and even if the second Death Star holds it back, the movie is still incredible.
STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE (1977) - 8.6
The movie that kicked it all of, Star Wars changed the world when it hit theatres on May 25th, 1977. The product of a brilliant mind, the film had everything, and is as infinitely rewatchable as it is immensely integral to the lives of Star Wars fans.
It sits at a phenomenal 8.6, and with terrific visuals, unbelievable effects, charming heroes, stunning music, and wondrous action, it fully deserves it. The film is one of those rare perfect films that can never be duplicated.
STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - 8.7
The Empire Strikes Back is one of the finest movies of all time, according to many Star Wars fans, and according to IMDb. It has one of the greatest, if not most referenced cinematic twists of all time, which is only one of many things that make it so remarkable.
Sitting at 8.7, it is predictable to see it top of this list. The Battle of Hoth, Luke vs Vader, Yoda, Cloud City, the characters, the moments, the quotes, all of it, every single bit of it is magnificent, and truly help make Empire the finest Star Wars movie that there is.