Star Wars: Every Movie & TV Show Ranked Worst To Best
How does The Book of Boba Fett fare amongst the other adventures from a galaxy far, far away?
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 So this is a big one. With so many movies, TV shows and holiday specials, the Star Wars canon is only going to get bigger from here on out.
00:09 And this franchise means something different to everyone, which makes a list like this ranking everything a truly imposing task.
00:18 Because I'm not going to please anyone. Hell, I might not even please half of you.
00:21 Quite simply, we aren't going to agree on everything here. And you know what? I'd have it no other way.
00:26 As long as the criticism is in good faith, I genuinely can't wait to see what people would chop and change compared to the order that we've listed on here.
00:33 And that's because, no matter what, I think we can all agree that Star Wars, it's bloody good, isn't it?
00:39 So with that in mind, I'm Josh from WhatCulture.com and this is Star Wars, every movie and TV show ranked worst to best.
00:46 Number 22, Star Wars Holiday Special.
00:49 There are a few Star Wars projects that are outright bad, but the Holiday Special is sadly one of them.
00:54 To call it a travesty would be an understatement.
00:57 In fact, it's such a vilified work of temporary insanity that George Lucas once famously said that he'd smash every copy with a sledgehammer if he had the chance.
01:07 Directed by Stephen Binder, the 1978 TV special takes place just after the events of A New Hope,
01:13 and follows Han Solo and Chewbacca as they race to visit the Wookiee's family whilst being pursued by the Empire.
01:19 With its atrociously cheap sets and painfully uncomfortable performances, the Holiday Special really is as bad as it sounds.
01:27 Featuring nonsense sing-alongs, heart-formed characters, and the poor introduction of future franchise legend, Boba Fett.
01:34 Number 21, The Ewoks Spin-offs.
01:36 If there were any characters in the Star Wars universe who didn't need their own spin-offs,
01:40 it probably would have to be the Ewoks who were first introduced in Return of the Jedi.
01:45 But in yet another spell of madness, Lucasfilm thought the idea showed promise,
01:50 so an animated series titled Ewoks and two made-for-TV movies, those being Caravan of Courage and The Battle of Endor,
01:57 were released between 1985 and 1986.
02:01 And sadly again, aside from the Holiday Special, Star Wars as a franchise has never been more empty or meritless than this.
02:08 Number 20, Droids.
02:10 Droids, also known as The Adventures of C-3PO and R2-D2, was originally aired with his companion series, Ewoks,
02:17 and only just manages to rank higher than that misfire because it includes Anthony Daniels.
02:22 With the same dull humor and technically unimpressive aesthetic,
02:25 Droids is yet another wonky attempt to make a kids' TV show by people who seem to have never interacted with a child,
02:32 or Star Wars, before in their lives.
02:36 In attempting to tell audiences what 3PO and R2 were up to between the fall of the Republic and the birth of the Empire,
02:41 the thankfully short-lived series takes much of the magic out of their development,
02:46 so much so that it's occasionally kinda sad to watch.
02:49 Number 19, Star Wars The Clone Wars.
02:52 This intriguing animated movie was released in 2008 as the feature-length pilot to the upcoming Clone Wars TV show,
02:59 and despite some inescapable flaws, remains a landmark installment for the franchise's most recent era.
03:05 Introducing fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano to the saga as the Padawan Learner of Anakin,
03:09 the movie follows the pair as they engage in the early stages of the eponymous war,
03:13 and are eventually called in to help Jabba the Hutt find his missing son.
03:17 Split into shifting segments though, The Clone Wars is choppy and seemingly unfinished,
03:22 watching like three different episodes spliced together,
03:25 but it does well to set the table for things to come, especially where the war and characters are concerned.
03:30 From this point on, things would never be the same again,
03:33 and Star Wars fans are still reaping the benefits of the stage it's set.
03:37 Number 18, Attack of the Clones.
03:39 Attack of the Clones is the most disappointing of the prequel trilogy,
03:42 because its highs are so bloody high, but good lord are its lows low.
03:47 For one thing, this was the prequel that featured the epic Battle of Geonosis,
03:51 the introduction of the Clone Army, as well as Anakin and Obi-Wan clashing with the nefarious Count Dooku.
03:56 In terms of world-building and character development,
03:58 it's great to revisit Attack of the Clones and realize just how much of it really adds to the Skywalker saga,
04:04 bringing Anakin's darkness out and allowing the galaxy to get one step closer to war.
04:08 The problem with all of this though, and much of the prequel trilogy in general, is the execution,
04:14 which comes complete with a laughably bad script, atrocious performances,
04:18 and a central romance between Anakin and Padme that borders on unforgivable.
04:22 The groundwork is there, setting up big things, but it's seriously kinda hard to get through it at times.
04:28 #17. Resistance
04:30 One of the more underrated additions to the franchise, Resistance is set before the events of the sequel trilogy,
04:35 and follows the Rebels as they spy on the looming threat of the First Order.
04:39 With sharp visuals and a terrific voice cast, such as sequel star Oscar Isaac,
04:43 the two-season exploration of the New Republic and the inner workings of the Rebel Alliance
04:48 makes for both engaging and easily digestible fun for the whole family.
04:52 It's not particularly challenging, and suffers in part due to its lack of necessity
04:57 to the overall story of the films, but Resistance is basically what Ewoks and Droids tried to do in the 80s,
05:03 be an exciting kid-friendly adventure show with heart, soul, and wit.
05:08 #16. Visions
05:10 Visions is unlike anything else Star Wars has ever produced.
05:14 Currently consisting of one season and nine episodes, it's an anime anthology series that's not canon,
05:20 but nonetheless is totally in keeping with the legacy of the franchise.
05:24 Each episode of Visions forms its own story, produced by seven different Japanese animation studios,
05:30 giving free reign on what stories they wanted to tell, and how they used the franchise's mythology.
05:35 The final results of this experimental mission are to die for,
05:39 thanks in large part to its stunning visual appeal,
05:42 and powerful stories that are both unique and recognizable to long-time fans.
05:46 It may not be the Star Wars that fans know and love,
05:49 but Visions' fresh take on the galaxy far, far away is impossible not to fall for.
05:54 #15. The Phantom Menace
05:56 The Phantom Menace definitely, definitely has its issues, many of them glaring.
06:02 There's the introduction of Jar Jar Binks, Young Anakin's many cringeworthy lines,
06:06 and the heavy-handed politics of the Republic's worldbuilding.
06:09 But there are more virtues to the prequel trilogy's debut than you may remember.
06:14 Amongst them, the strong performances and chemistry of Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson,
06:18 the development of the Jedi Council, and John Williams' epic score.
06:22 Then, of course, there's the film's highlight, The Jewel of the Fates,
06:26 in which Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn clash with the silent villain Darth Maul,
06:30 setting the stage for the chaotic war between light and dark that colours the entire saga.
06:35 Its high points might not be enough to overcome its subtle-as-a-rock storytelling,
06:39 strangely convoluted mythology, or tacky humour,
06:42 but The Phantom Menace is far from being an all-out failure just because of them.
06:46 #14. The Book of Boba Fett
06:48 The most recent series to be added to Star Wars' back catalogue,
06:51 The Book of Boba Fett acts as a thrilling lore-heavy continuation
06:55 of several major plotlines set up in its groundbreaking predecessor, The Mandalorian.
07:00 Most enjoyably, though, is the way the show has finally given Boba Fett a chance to live up
07:04 to his massively overhyped legacy,
07:06 portraying him with the steely determination and general toughness that he's always deserved.
07:11 The show is still in its infancy, so it has some key problems currently weighing it down,
07:16 from its struggles to actually keep Boba involved in the action, to its too-clean TV aesthetic,
07:21 but it's already got more than enough twists, turns, and long-awaited character interactions
07:25 to give it a strong start and a bright future.
07:28 #13. The Rise of Skywalker
07:31 As the final chapter of the Skywalker saga, The Rise of Skywalker had a lot riding on its shoulders,
07:36 and for the most part, it kinda squandered its potential.
07:40 Despite some bright spots found in the bracing duels between Rey and Kylo Ren,
07:43 and its striking visual flair, the movie offers up a barrage of unwanted twists,
07:48 such as the sudden return of Emperor Palpatine and nonsensical character motivations.
07:53 But still, there is a lot to love in here. It's clear that the cast still really care about this
07:58 material, and J.J. Abrams is trying his hardest to wrap up a sequel trilogy that clearly had
08:04 loads of holes poked into it. It's not quite as divisive as its predecessor, but The Rise
08:09 of Skywalker certainly has as many haters as it does fans.
08:13 #12. Solo
08:15 One of the more underrated installments of the Star Wars saga, Solo's main issue stems from just
08:20 how safe and arguably unneeded it is. But even then, its visual extravagance and exciting action
08:26 does make it a worthwhile watch. Casting as Soso Alden Ehrenreich as the eponymous smuggler and
08:32 emerging galactic hero, the prequel sheds light on Han's fun pre-Rebel days, the origins of his
08:38 relationship with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, and his famously speedy Kessel Run originally
08:43 teased in A New Hope. It's genuinely enjoyable stuff as well, managing to pack enough action
08:48 and gorgeous effects into the mix to overcome the issues with its predictable on-the-nose drama.
08:54 Yes, poring over the vast Star Wars catalogue Solo does feel like the biggest cash grab it's
08:58 ever clutched for, but it's far from the all-out failure that many wished to paint it as.
09:03 #11. The Bad Batch
09:04 The unexpected but welcome sequel to The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch follows a group of mutated
09:10 clones who survive Order 66 with their minds intact, and set out as hidden guns for hire in
09:15 a world far removed from the one they once fought for. With awe-inspiring animation,
09:20 it's already proven itself to be a magnificent addition to the canon. The voice work of D.
09:25 Bradley Baker, mixed with the tightly plotted writing that effortlessly continues several
09:29 major storylines set up in both The Clone Wars and Rebels, has made The Bad Batch yet another
09:34 chronic success for Star Wars' animated landscape. And that's without getting into the richly
09:39 envisioned clone protagonists, all of whom, especially Hunter, Omega and Crosshair,
09:43 are surely some of the most colourful characters the franchise has ever produced.
09:48 Bring on the future of this show!
09:50 #10. The Mandalorian
09:52 The Star Wars series that nobody knew they needed, The Mandalorian is about to enter
09:57 its third season and cement itself as a classic of the franchise. Thanks in large part to its
10:02 infusion of Mandalorian mythology, heavily influenced by the works of TV shows like The
10:06 Clone Wars and Rebels, and gripping action sequences, the series has hit new highs with
10:11 each episode, and two seasons in seems to have single-handedly ushered in a new great era
10:16 for the franchise's fans. Its clean production and slight overindulgence on fan service has
10:22 dampened things at times, sure, but The Mandalorian is still modern Star Wars at its best.
10:27 #9. Revenge of the Sith
10:29 Revenge of the Sith suffers from many of the same flaws as the rest of the prequels,
10:33 most notably a melodramatic script, emphasised by atrocious acting and rushed payoffs. But,
10:40 and it is a big but, aside from its detours into ridiculousness and meme-ability,
10:45 it's actually pretty damn good. Especially the second half. Between some really,
10:50 really good performances like Ewan McGregor's, the haunting execution of the Order 66 sequence,
10:56 and the way that it leans into the good vs evil theme of the saga, there is so much to love in
11:01 this movie. It's not perfect, few movies are, but Revenge of the Sith captures the magic and
11:06 darkness of the Star Wars saga almost as well as the originals, only with more CGI Yoda and
11:12 coughing cyborgs who never live up to their potential. Also, who could possibly hate the
11:16 final duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin? It makes the movie better whether you initially liked it
11:22 or not. #8. Rebels
11:24 Set several years before the events of A New Hope, Rebels ran for four seasons and 75 episodes,
11:29 and shed some revealing light on the early years of the original Rebel Alliance and the effects
11:34 the fall of the Republic had on the galaxy. Uniquely animated to suit the original Star
11:39 Wars concept art by Ralph McQuarrie, Rebels never shies away from the darkest recesses of the saga,
11:45 but with its light humour and endearing gaggle of anti-heroes, makes itself fun for the whole
11:50 family as well as top-tier Star Wars through and through. #7. The Force Awakens
11:55 In terms of story, it's tough to argue that The Force Awakens is mostly a rehash of the
11:59 original trilogy. You know, an orphan with a forgotten past is thrust into an intergalactic
12:04 war and finds their true calling as a Jedi Knight. But whilst its plot is derivative and sets in
12:09 motion a story that leaves the events of the previous six movies a little bit forgotten,
12:13 there is still so much to love about the first chapter of the sequel trilogy. For one thing,
12:18 there's the characters, including troubled survivor Rey, roguish fighter pilot Poe,
12:23 former stormtrooper Finn, and conflicted antagonist Kylo Ren, all of whom work well
12:28 with legacy characters such as Han and Leia. Even with its divisive cliffhanger and predictable
12:33 story, The Force Awakens is heaps of fun, and captures the spirit of the franchise's message
12:38 and characters beautifully. It's aged very well and deserves a major reappraisal. #6. Return of
12:45 the Jedi The most common complaint levelled towards Return of the Jedi is that it's a
12:48 little bit too silly, especially when compared to its two classic predecessors. Ewoks and the
12:54 cartoonish Battle of Endor notwithstanding though, the final chapter of the original trilogy might
12:59 actually be the darkest of the three films, thanks in large part to Jabba the Hutt's general vileness
13:05 and Luke Skywalker's final clash with his soon-to-be-redeemed father. But it's not all bleak,
13:11 instead striking a rewarding balance between the saga's heavier twists and its exciting sense of
13:16 wonder and adventure. Even in its lesser moments, there's something here for everyone to enjoy.
13:22 Return of the Jedi brings the trilogy to a fantastic conclusion, all told,
13:26 tying up loose ends and riveting character arcs with violent and heartwarming payoffs to spare.
13:32 #5. The Last Jedi Without question the most divisive addition
13:35 to Star Wars' mighty back catalogue, The Last Jedi followed on from the cliffhanger of The Force
13:40 Awakens, as Rey seeks a reclusive Luke's guidance on honing her skills as a Jedi.
13:46 Directed by Rian Johnson, The Last Jedi digs deep into the characters at its centre more intensely
13:51 than any Star Wars vehicle before or since. As Luke grapples with the results of his regrettable
13:56 actions, Rey struggles to control her mysterious powers, and Kylo Ren seesaws between villainy
14:02 and anti-hero. On top of that, it's also the most visually beautiful chapter of the entire saga,
14:07 rich with vibrant colour, impressive set pieces, and a final act showdown between Luke and Kylo
14:12 that's one of the best scenes in the franchise. It's not flawless, of course, I mean Leia travelling
14:17 through space is a little bit silly, whilst the Finn and Rose subplot does feel like directionless
14:22 filler, but it's a daring adventure that takes risks and makes them work much better than expected.
14:27 #4. Rogue One Yep, that's right I guess,
14:31 the one without any Jedi and a large ensemble of never-before-seen characters is, in fact,
14:36 one of the best Star Wars projects of all time. Yet another story to take place before the events
14:41 of A New Hope, Rogue One follows a group of mismatched rebel soldiers as they risk everything
14:46 to steal the Death Star plans from a highly protected Imperial planet. Visually gorgeous
14:51 and rife with subtle tragic characters, we really wish had more time, the prequel saw us thanks to
14:56 its avoidance of formula. There's no prophecies here or super-powered beings battling for the
15:01 galaxy, just everyday people with an eclectic set of skills willing to fight for what they believe
15:07 in. Rogue One is epic, harrowing and unpredictable stuff, it makes the events of the original
15:12 trilogy that much richer to revisit. It really is that great.
15:17 #3. The Clone Wars The best Star Wars show on offer,
15:21 The Clone Wars is the franchise's most expansive and eye-opening descent into the complexities and
15:26 inner workings of the galaxy, confidently shedding light on its politics, the Jedi Order and the
15:31 turmoil of conflict. Focusing on a wide variety of characters during the titular war, the seven
15:38 season series told stories about rookie clones, one-off Jedi, bounty hunters, behind-the-scenes
15:43 political betrayal and more, with each development adding a new layer of brilliance to the saga's
15:48 impressive world-building. Aside from its stunning animation, epic battles and endless supply of
15:54 engrossing characters though, The Clone Wars' true power came from how it explored the downfall
15:58 of Anakin Skywalker, his padawan Ahsoka and his master Obi-Wan. The Clone Wars is such a
16:04 rewarding experience, mixing the franchise's humour, darkness and heartbreak together perfectly
16:10 that there's only two things on this list that can beat it.
16:13 #2. A New Hope It all started here, with an orphan
16:17 farmer called Luke Skywalker who escaped from his mundane existence and, along with a princess,
16:22 an infamous smuggler, a wookie, two droids and a weathered Jedi Master, became the face of a war
16:28 without end. Undeniably one of cinema's most important cultural landmarks, A New Hope gave
16:33 birth to the modern blockbuster, and set in motion the lives of a group of fantastical characters
16:38 who continue to shape pop culture and the entire Star Wars franchise to this day.
16:43 Yeah, there are aspects of the space opera that haven't aged well, from some of the special
16:47 effects to the lacklustre lightsaber duels, but watching it some 40 years later, it's impossible
16:52 to not be gripped by George Lucas' vision and the innovation taking place on screen. From here,
16:58 the Star Wars saga would go bigger, but it would never be this important and unique ever again.
17:03 #1. The Empire Strikes Back In the end, there could only be one,
17:08 couldn't there? As obvious a pick as it may be, there's few who can argue against The Empire
17:12 Strikes Back being the pinnacle of the franchise. Taking what was set up in A New Hope, the second
17:18 chapter of the original trilogy finds our assorted heroes stretched thin in a galaxy torn apart by
17:23 war, as Luke Skywalker hunts down the elusive Jedi legend Yoda in an attempt to master his still
17:29 emerging power. With more epic action and emotion than its predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back
17:34 continues to be the gold standard of Star Wars, bursting to life as a thrilling war movie, an
17:40 engaging tale of good vs evil, and a blockbuster that dares to hurt its characters and shock
17:45 audiences with its secrets. From the duel between Luke and Darth Vader that culminates in a
17:49 devastating twist, to the loss of Han Solo and the opening battle of Hoth, Star Wars has never
17:54 been more sure of itself or flawless as it was with The Empire Strikes Back.
18:00 So that's our list, like I said at the beginning this is a big one and I really wanna know what
18:04 you guys think down in the comments below, what's your ranking, what do you think of this one,
18:08 and am I dumb for putting The Last Jedi at number 5? Hey, maybe I am. While you're down there as
18:12 well could you please give us a like, share, subscribe and head over to What Culture Star
18:15 Wars for more lists and news like this every single day. Even if you don't though, I've been
18:19 Josh, thanks so much for watching, and I'll see you soon.