Every Star Wars Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
1. The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back is the sequel that gives us the (now slightly cliched) notion of follow-up instalments going darker, while dispelling the myth of there being no good sequels. It's a film that builds upon everything established in Star Wars, in ways that keep a lot of what made that film so great while moving everything forwards and delivering an even more epic feel.
After realising his vision with the first film, George Lucas brought in more help on this one: Lawrence Kasdan came in to oversee the final drafts of the script, and Ivan Kershner boarded the movie as director. Both saw the potential in making something more serious and adult, and helped to push through that vision despite misgivings from Lucas.
This is a film that really tests its characters by splitting them up, a risky move given how well they worked together in the first, but one that pays dividends. It continues the hero's journey while also subverting it, has moments of romance and humour juxtaposed with real stakes and emotional heft, and is the best written Star Wars film to date.
It's also one of the best looking, with Kershner and cinematographer Peter Suschitzky creating a dark, moody aesthetic, with icy blues, fiery oranges, and a classic cinematic feel. And, of course, there's that twist. Everyone knows it by now, but it's a saga-defining moment that changes everything; it's a moment of crushing tragedy, of darkness and foreboding, and yet despite all this, the film still finds a glimmer of hope to end on.
How would you rank the Star Wars movies? Let us know down in the comments.