Star Wars Films and Shows Ranked, Anonymously

Star Wars needs no introduction.  As one of the biggest and longest media franchises of all time, it’s fair to expect that the quality will vary across the many movies and films.  Thus, Time Warner has taken it upon itself to present its ranking for these individual entries.  Given the many different opinions shared, each project was ranked from 1 to 10 by various members.  This was then averaged out to give a ranking that forgoes as much personal bias as possible.  With that said, this is the Time Warner Ranking of the 18 movies and shows in the Star Wars franchise.

18). Star Wars : Resistance – 4.5/10

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Easily the most forgotten project under Disney’s tenure with the franchise.  This show takes place within the sequel era of Star Wars, and that’s really all that could be said of this show.  While it could have done a lot to flesh out the world of the sequels, much like The Clone Wars did for the prequels, this show instead focuses on simple stories, characters, and action that ranks among the most inconsequential additions to Star Wars.  So inconsequential in fact, the show was cancelled after only 2 seasons.

17). Star Wars : Attack of the Clones – 5/10

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Episode 2 is not without merit, but this film has more problems than strengths.  On top of a rather confusing narrative, the acting and dialogue is easily the worst in the series.  The ‘iconic’ romance between Anakin and Padme easily being the most cringe-inducing part of the film (which at least provided excellent meme material).   Even the action, something the other prequel films excelled at, is rather dull.  While duel-wielding Anakin is cool, the duel with Dooku is otherwise obscure, with poor choreography and an unremarkable setting.  Still, the soundtrack is great, and certain scenes like Anakin on the speeder, Yoda VS. Dooku, and the Battle of Geonosis provide some entertainment value.

16). Star Wars : The Rise of Skywalker – 5.5/10

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Of all the Star Wars films, everything seemed to go against the finale of the Skywalker Saga.  The death of Carrie Fischer, change in directors and writers, as well as the controversial reception of Episode 8 gave this film a near impossible task.  Unfortunately, the results left a lot to be desired.  Plot points like Palpatine’s resurrection and motives are confusing at best, and characters outside of Rey and Kylo aren’t interesting.  Even the soundtrack isn’t remarkable, as it primarily reuses many old pieces from movies past.  Once again, there are strong moments, such as the action, and hearing the voices of Jedi from throughout the series.  Carrie Fischer’s inclusion, while at times disjointed, is commendable.  Overall, it’s easily the weakest of the sequel trilogy, and a disappointing end to the Skywalker Saga.

15). Star Wars : The Phantom Menace – 5.75/10

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From a disappointing end, to a disappointing beginning(technically), Episode 1’s strengths and weaknesses have only become more pronounced as the years have gone on.  To this day, it still has one of the best lightsaber duels, with Qui-gon and Obi-wan against Darth Maul.  The various unique worlds and life-forms, while distracting today, still have fascinating designs.  In addition, the look into the various cultures of the galaxy provided for great scenes and plot lines for the series to later explore.  Still, its flaws are quite prominent.  While the Jedi are supposed to not rely on emotion, the wooden acting is quite distracting.  Jar Jar Binks and Midichlorians, well, the less that’s said, the better.

14). Star Wars : The Bad Batch – 6/10

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It’s almost unfair to have The Bad Batch on this list, given it’s only had one season.  Still, that doesn’t mean it can’t be critiqued, and points of strength and weakness can be addressed for future seasons.  The start and end of the season are strong, and it feels like an excellent transition from the prequel era to the original era.  All of the characters have distinct personalities, but this doesn’t make them one dimensional.  The animation is fantastic, with some environments looking strangely realistic.  Still, the middle section of this season often meanders, and can be quite repetitive.  In many ways, it’s like the first two seasons of The Clone Wars, not bad, but clearly trying to find its footing.

13/12). Star Wars : The Last Jedi – 6.25/10

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Divisive doesn’t even begin to describe the reception to Episode 8.  Even to this day, Rian Johnson’s addition to the sequel trilogy still sees debates, and even heated arguments of the films quality.

The Last Jedi is really a film of very high highs, but incredibly low lows.  The cinematography, acting, and soundtrack is simply amazing.  Kylo Ren’s arc in the film is easily the best part of the film, and his journey out of the shadow of Darth Vader and into his own man was one of the most appealing aspects of this film.  In addition, the way the Force was expanded upon was simply fascinating.  This was the first film since Episode 5 which really made it feel like the Force was something that only had a surface level understanding of.

On the other hand, the story and characterization can be strangely convoluted.  Finn’s arc as a former storm trooper is practically forgotten and the Canto Bite subplot adds very little outside of basic socio-political commentary.  The First Order chase and Holdo’s plan is easily the worst aspect.  This partly comes from giving Poe a strange arc, where neither he or Holdo are entirely right or wrong.  Luke’s characterization is incredibly divisive.  While the redemption arc is well written, what makes or breaks it is the moment he contemplates killing Ben in his sleep.  To some, this flies completely in the face of his arc in the original trilogy.  For others, it’s in character for someone who displayed impulsive behavior during said trilogy.

While most critics and supporters describe it as a subversive masterpiece, most fans and audiences see it as pretentious and mean-spirited.  But, like with most extremes, the reality of this film’s quality is really that of a mixed bag.

13/12). Star Wars : Rebels – 6.25/10

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Much like The Last Jedi, the sequel series to The Clone Wars is a show of high highs, and low lows.  Rebels has some of the most fascinating concepts in Star Wars,  such as the Veil of the Force.  Emotional episodes such as Twilight of the Apprentice show one of the most emotional confrontations with Ahsoka and Vader.  Thrawn, a popular character from the Legends continuity, is re-canonized in this show, bringing back one of the most unique Star Wars villains.

Like The Clone Wars, the first two seasons are mostly unremarkable.  Unlike that show, however, Rebels lasts only 4 seasons.  In addition, Rebels takes much longer to really get going and make the most of its ideas and concepts.  Still, seeing what life under the Empire is like, and following up on some of The Clone Wars bests elements, make this worth checking out.

11/10/9). Star Wars : The Book of Boba Fett – 6.75/10

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The Book of Boba Fett is a strange case, much like its titular character.  Despite being a popular character, not much was known about Boba Fett.  The Prequels and Clone Wars gave audiences his origin. Still, most of this fierce bounty hunter’s life is shrouded in mystery.  When seeing him again in The Mandalorian, many wondered how he escaped the Sarlac Pitt and what he’d been up to since then.

Unfortunately, The Book of Boba Fett haphazardly delivers a story with mixed priorities.  It says a lot that the two best episodes focus on Din Djarin, Luke, and Grogu, and barely have Boba himself in it.  That’s not to say the rest of the show is terrible.  It’s just unremarkable, and for a character whose strength was in his mystique, it didn’t quite give him a story that seemed appropriate for the character.

11/10/9). Solo : A Star Wars Story – 6.75/10

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Although it’s the worst performing Star Wars film at the box office, Solo is far from a bad film.  Despite going through heavy production issues, the film manages to come together to tell a fun, albeit unimportant story.  Some questions are answered, that were never questions in the first place.  Other questions that were never asked were answered in ways that were fun and unexpected.  Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover are excellent choices as young Han and Lando respectively, and both give it their all.  Some characters, like Lando’s robot assistant are annoying, and the surprise reveal of Darth Maul didn’t add much to the franchise in the grand scheme of things.  Still, it’s a perfectly harmless film.

11/10/9). Star Wars : Revenge of the Sith – 6.75/10

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What’s easily considered the best of the prequels, Revenge of the Sith has some of the best aspects of the series.  From the best soundtrack in the series, alongside some of the most impactful scenes in the series.  The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin, as well as Yoda and Palpatine are epic, climactic, and charged with emotion when considering the relationship of these characters.  Scenes like Order 66 have become crucial scenes in the greater mythos.  Many stories since this film have been influenced by this story.

That said, it still suffers from many of the problems of the prequels.  Poor dialogue, wooden acting(far better here), and overuse of CGI, distract from many of the high points of the film.  If going purely off of the story and characterization, Revenge of the Sith would likely be much higher.  But, the film’s technical flaws hold it back from true greatness(Outside of all the memes, of course).

8). Obi-Wan Kenobi – 7/10

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Going directly from Revenge of the Sith to this series creates the perfect transition from the two most iconic eras of Star Wars.  Obi-Wan’s arc is effectively a better version of Luke from The Last Jedi.  Haunted by his failure with Anakin, a jaded Obi-Wan is called back into action to save a young Leia.  This eventually culminates in a climactic rematch between Obi-Wan, and the now anger consumed Darth Vader.  There is a cinematic quality to this film, and that’s both a blessing and a curse.

While the beginning and end sections of the series are strong, the middle section meanders hard.  Reva, a character who starts off with some potential, retreads the same tired trope of a dark side user turning back to the light.  In addition, certain action sequences, notably the chase segment in the first episode with Leia, are notably poor.  It’s uncertain if it would make much of a difference, but one can’t help but wonder how this story would fare as a film rather than a miniseries.

7). Star Wars : The Clone Wars – 7.25/10

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The Clone Wars is one of the most beloved parts of Star Wars.  Not only did it repair the perception of the prequels, but it introduced many beloved characters and concepts.  Ahsoka, Rex, Cad Bane, and more got their start here.  The Mandalorian can trace its roots back to this show, as Mandalore, Bo Katan, and the Darksaber first appeared here.  Many story arcs such as the Seige of Mandalore, The Inhibitor Chip, and the Maul story line stand as some of Star Wars’ best.

The animation is stellar, and the action is incredible.  The show also isn’t afraid to get dark, as it dives into tactics, ideas of politics, war, and even has a high body count.  Of course, the clones are the highlight of the show.  Despite all being similar and sharing the same voice, all of them have distinct personalities.  This makes their eventual fate that much more heartbreaking.

Still, this show has its flaws.  Certain arcs like the Martez sisters, Droid arc, and any Jar Jar arcs, are underwhelming.  The first two seasons, while not bad, are mostly just okay, and can often be tonally inconsistent.  Still, The Clone Wars stands as a gem in the Star Wars catalog, and the fact it was brought back on Disney+ to be properly concluded goes to show how beloved it is.

6). Star Wars : The Force Awakens – 7.5/10

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Time and hindsight hasn’t been king to The Force Awakens.  It’s clear that poor planning and storytelling was the downfall of the sequel trilogy.  As such, the mysteries and ideas presented here are disappointing now.  That said, this is easily one of the most re-watchable Star Wars films.  The pacing of this film is brilliant, the action moments are fast and visceral, but moments of exposition and emotion are slow and take time.  The most gut-wrenching scene in this entire trilogy is between Han and Kylo Ren.  Even today, it still stands as one of the most tense moments in all of the franchise.

Still, the biggest weakness of this film, is its originality.  With the exception of Finn, most of the new characters emulate the original heroes of the original trilogy.  The plot itself, as long pointed out, is essentially a re-imagining of A New Hope.  The effects and acting are better, and the pacing is great, but the story is simply just okay.

5/4/3). Star Wars : Return of the Jedi – 7.75/10

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The conclusion of the original trilogy may be the weakest one, but it still remains a favorite to many today.  This in large part comes to the emotional conclusion of Luke and Vader’s story.  The final duel between father and son stands as one of the best in Star Wars, and the assault on the second Death Star still remains one of the series best space battles.  Once reaching the ending, one can’t help but feel warmed up by the conclusion of a six film saga, that many would argue should’ve remained the definitive ending.

Still, Return of the Jedi has notable problems.  Han Solo doesn’t have much to work with as a character, the Jabba’s palace section goes on for much longer than it needs to, and the Ewoks add a level of cuteness that many would argue takes away from the series nature of the conflict.  Many also point out how ridiculous it is that a woodland civilization could manage to give the Empire a difficult time.  Still, it’s a well made film that ends on a high note.

5/4/3). The Mandalorian – 7.75/10

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The hit Disney+ show that fans and critics agree is one of the best things to come out of the Disney era of Star Wars.  The Mandalorian continues five years from Return of the Jedi, following a post-Empire society.  Of course, the highlight of the series is the relationship between Din Djarin and Grogu.  The parental bond Din shares with his foundling set a new trend for Star Wars, that of a grizzled loner who learns to open up with a youth of importance.  This trend the show started, has yet to be topped.

In addition, the way the galaxy is explored in a post-Empire time is fascinating.  Seeing the culture of bounty hunters, the disorder as the New Republic tries to form, and the remnants of the Empire create the sense that perhaps there was some good to come out of the Empire.  Still, their villainous tendencies show they are not the best party for leading the galaxy.  While most Disney Star Wars projects seem to be met with more hesitancy these days, The Mandalorian is the sole exception, and it rightfully earned its highly regarded status, and has shown that this is the way Disney needs to go.

5/4/3). Rogue One : A Star Wars Story – 7.75/10

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The first major non-Skywalker related Star Wars project by Disney still remains one of their best.  Rogue One takes a minor part of A New Hope’s story and expands upon it in a unique way.  While the characters aren’t particularly interesting, the plot and expansion of the original trilogy era is fascinating.  This film really puts the WAR in Star Wars, with the final third of the film being an epic military conflict, with strategies, sacrifice, and the best space battle in the series.  This is then followed up by one of many amazing Darth Vader scenes that have seemingly become a staple in many Disney projects involving the character.

Of all the Disney Era films, it’s the one that has aged the best, and the upcoming Andor series is highly anticipated as it looks to follow-up on what made Rogue One such a daring Star Wars story.

2). Star Wars : A New Hope – 8.5/10

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The one that started it all.  A New Hope may not necessarily have the best effects or acting compared to the rest of the series, but its strength is in its simplicity.  Embracing the idea of the hero’s journey, A New Hope creates a compelling world and fills it with simple, but charming characters that have since become icons of cinema.  The soundtrack is still one of the best in the series. The scene of Luke looking out to the twin suns is one of the most wondrous in all of cinematic history, the music a large reason why.

The films pacing and editing are also of fantastic quality.  Everything the viewer needs to know about the world and the characters is delivered in a concise manner.  This allows the viewer to get more into the story and connect to them as the story progresses.

It’s simple, it’s effective, and it’s still one of the best.  But, only one could really top it.

1). Star Wars : The Empire Strikes Back – 8.75/10

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The Empire Strikes Back is about as perfect a sequel as one could get.  The story and galaxy is expanded, and a level of moral complexity is added with the iconic twist with Darth Vader.  Iconic characters like Yoda and Lando are introduced, both of whom have become fan favorites.  The first confrontation between Luke and Vader stands as the series finest.  The choreography, staging, lighting, and use of music paint how truly outmatched Luke is, and shows how unstoppable a force Vader seems.  Most flaws with the film tend to come down to personal preference or nitpicking.

This was the film that showed that Star Wars was here to stay, and that there is something truly special about this galaxy far, far away.

Check out all of these on Disney+.