(Photo Credit: Lucasfilm)
As the Star Wars film franchise expands with the upcoming theatrical debut of The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, we’ve ranked the top five worst Star Wars movies. The rankings are based on each movie’s current Tomatometer ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
The list consists mostly of prequel movies and one movie from Daisy Ridley’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. Interestingly, this list doesn’t include 2018’s sci-fi prequel Solo: A Star Wars Story, which was one of the franchise’s most divisive movies. It currently holds a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is slightly higher than the RT scores of all five movies on the list.
What are the 5 worst Star Wars movies according to Rotten Tomatoes?
5) Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones served as the second installment of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy. The 2002 movie currently holds an approval rating 62%, based on 323 reviews. It was Hayden Christensen’s first time playing Anakin Skywalker, which initially wasn’t well-received by fans. Some critics felt that he lacked chemistry with Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala. Meanwhile, many critics also blamed Lucas’ direction and script for the film’s dull dialogue and uninspired story. Most critics felt that the massive action sequences were prioritized more at the expense of the film’s characters.
4) Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu
The Mandalorian and Grogu movie is Lucasfilm’s first movie release in nearly seven years, after J.J. Abrams‘ blockbuster Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Ahead of its U.S. theatrical release, early reviews for the Pedro Pascal-led film have finally arrived online. So far, it has already garnered a 60% RT score, based on 97 reviews. Most critics expressed their disappointment over the film’s underwhelming story, which felt more episodic than cinematic. Despite the titular duo’s endearing bond, some critics just weren’t impressed with its lackluster standalone story.
3) Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Next up on the list is Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, which was the first installment in Lucas’ prequel trilogy. It currently has a 54% RT score, based on 290 reviews. Upon its release, the 1999 movie greatly divided critics and fans. Despite being a box office success, the film was heavily criticized for its stiff dialogue and messy narrative.
2) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Despite being one of the Star Wars franchise’s highest-grossing movies, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker is currently the second-lowest-rated installment to date. It has an approval rating of 51%, based on 522 reviews. The movie was widely panned by critics because of its disappointing plot choices and heavy reliance on nostalgia. Despite being a visual spectacle, many weren’t satisfied with how the creative team handled some of the sequel trilogy’s fan-favorite characters.
1) Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni’s first animated movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, was negatively received by critics when it first debuted in 2008. It only garnered an 18% RT score, based on 170 reviews. Most critics felt that the film’s visuals and animation weren’t made for the big screen. Many critics and fans also criticized Ahsoka Tano’s introduction in the film, calling the character an annoying addition to the franchise. Filoni was able to redeem himself with the film’s sequel TV show, where Ahsoka eventually evolved into one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
Originally reported by Maggie Dela Paz for ComingSoon.
