The “best” movie in each of the Star Wars trilogies are good for very different reasons, and they actually have a pattern to them. While some may consider the “best” Star Wars movie to be subjective, there are some objective facts that show which movie is strongest with the Force in each trilogy. Each trilogy in the Skywalker Saga also has a divisive movie in it which left audiences torn back when they released. Return of the Jedi left some disappointed with the strange Ewok ending, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones was criticized because of the romance between Anakin and Padmé, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi needs no further introduction.
While each of the trilogies has a film that divided audiences, they also have one that united them. The Empire Strikes Back has long been considered the best Star Wars film—not just in the original trilogy, but overall. Similarly, both fans and critics agree that Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is the strongest film in the prequels. Meanwhile, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the only sequel to not generate a massive backlash from the fans. There is a pattern behind why each of the best films in the trilogies succeeded in the climate they were released in—and why they still succeed today.
Every Star Wars Trilogy's Best Movie Is Different
There is an interesting pattern to the best film in each Star Wars trilogy. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is the third film in the prequels, The Empire Strikes Back is the second in the originals, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the first in the sequels. It is almost as if the trilogies are counting down when it comes to their strongest films, but the difference in why they are considered the best is also surprising. The Empire Strikes Back was notably darker than its predecessor, and viewers were thrilled at the shocking and unexpected reveal that Darth Vader was in fact Luke Skywalker's father.
Like The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith went darker than any Star Wars film before, setting itself apart from the rest of the prequels. The difference in tone between Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and Revenge of the Sith is day and night, and audiences appreciated how Lucas dropped the silliness of Jar Jar in favor of a more grown-up Star Wars experience. On the other hand, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the outlier of the group since it wasn’t overly dark. But given there is little difference between Force Awakens and A New Hope, it clearly flourished because of its appeal to nostalgie
Why Each Trilogy's Best Movie Makes Sense
Trial and error is the main reason why each of the movies succeeded. The Empire Strikes Back learned from its predecessor and subverted expectations by not giving the film a typical happy ending. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith realized that showing the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire would be gruesome, but chose to face that darkness nonetheless. And Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought the feel of the original Star Wars film back to audiences after it had been absent in the theaters for decades, with a genius marketing strategy revolving around avoiding spoilers. Overall, it makes sense why each Star Wars trilogy’s best movie succeeded; each gave viewers what they were looking for.