Every Star Wars Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

9. The Phantom Menace

Commonly lambasted as the worst Star Wars movie (ignoring The Clones Wars, which is just a jumped-up TV pilot), The Phantom Menace isn't quite deserving of that title, but that's just about the only scant praise it's worthy of.

Episode I was perhaps the most hyped movie of all time prior to its release (and even now, few films match it for pre-release anticipation), so it always had a difficult task to live up to expectations. However, that doesn't account for it being such a flat, boring, underwhelming mess of a film.

The film is saved by the Duel of the Fates, the epic, 2-on-1 lightsaber fight that is one of the series' very best. It might be more focused on dazzling choreography rather than the emotional intensity of those in the originals, but there's a balletic beauty to the scene, and it's as surprising as it is engrossing.

There's also John Williams' stunning score, which stands as some of his best work in the saga. The Podrace, too, is an impressive sequence, but it's not enough to make up for galactic trade agreements, midi-chlorians, cringe-worthy dialogue, Jar Jar Binks, and Ani.