Movie Review: “Star Wars”: Live action films ranked

By Dan Kilgallon

Since “Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker”, has been in theaters for several weeks now, it seems like a good time to evaluate the live action films of the storied franchise to date. Having seen these movies at least several times each, I decided to rank the films in order of worst to first, with my favorite entries ultimately being the most memorable/meaningful to me. Please enjoy my completely biased rankings of this sprawling space opera, complete with a 1-10 rating and best scene for each movie!

11. “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (1999)

Run Time: 136 min

My Rating: 3/10

Best Scene: Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) face Darth Maul (Ray Park) in a lightsaber duel beneath the palace of Naboo.

10. “Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones” (2002)

Run Time: 142 min

My Rating: 4/10

Best Scene: Mace Windu (Samuel L Jackson) arrives with hundreds of Jedi to face Count Dooku (Christoper Lee) and the droid army at the Petranaki arena on Geonosis.

9. “Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)

Run Time: 142 min

My Rating: 6.5/10

Best Scene: Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), and crew are pursued by the First Order and Knights of Ren in a long chase sequence on the desert planet of Pasaana.

8. “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018)

Run Time: 135 min

My Rating: 7/10

Best Scene: Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) join forces with Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and his team in a train raid on the planet of Vandor.

7. “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi” (1983)

Run Time: 131 min

My Rating: 8/10

Best Scene: The Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) watches as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) faces his father, Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) in the throne room of the Death Star.

6. “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” (2005)

Run Time: 140 min

My Rating: 8.5/10

Best Scene: Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) duels his former master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) on the volcanic planet of Mustafar.

5. “Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens” (2015)

Run Time: 138 min

My Rating: 9/10

Best Scene: Finn (John Boyega), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and the Resistance battle Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order on the planet of Takodana.

4. “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope” (1977)

Run Time: 121 min

My Rating: 9/10

Best Scene: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) defend their team from Stormtroopers while attempting to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the Detention Center on the Death Star

3. “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)

Run Time: 124 min

My Rating: 9.5./10

Best Scene: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and the Rebels face an Imperial army of AT-ATs during the Battle of Hoth.

2. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016)

Run Time: 133 min

My Rating: 10/10

Best Scene: Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) visits Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) at Mustafar to discuss the construction plans for the Death Star.

1. “Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi” (2017)

Run Time: 152 min

My Rating: 10/10

Best Scene: Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) appears to face Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and the First Order at the Battle of Crait.