5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (157 points)
Well, has there ever been a more divisive Star Wars movie? Upon its release Star Wars: The Last Jedi was showered with praise from critics (myself included) and was set to be hailed as one of the best Star Wars movies ever made. And then people saw it. Some liked it, some thought it was fine, and a very vocal minority HATED it. Some hated it to the point of launching a petition to have it stricken from canon. Can you even imagine that? What’s interesting about Star Wars: The Last Jedi is that it topped three of our writer’s lists, which is more than the next two entries in the list. The first of which didn’t top any lists…
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (168 points)
Besting Rian Johnson’s eighth outing in the galaxy far, far away by just nine points is J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which again finds itself in fourth place in the Flickering Myth rankings. This writer felt that the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi would affect the film’s placing in the rankings, but the writing staff disagreed! While it didn’t top any writer’s lists, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was high enough across the board that it was only six points off taking third place.
3. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (174 points)
However third place again belongs to Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. A wonderful beginning in Jabba’s Palace, Luke’s final visit to Dagobah and an epic finale across land, spaceship and space, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi really is a perfect denouement to the Original Trilogy. Although, people still haven’t quite got over the Ewoks…
2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (206 points)
Easily clearing Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi however is our first taste of George Lucas’ space opera, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The film topped four of our writer’s lists (one more than Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which shows just how divisive that film was!), Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is a tremendous single-shot movie. Had there been no more movies in this franchise, “Star Wars” would still be considered an underrated classic. But even though it cleared Return of the Jedi by nearly thirty points, this list only belonged to one movie
1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (233 points)
Twenty-five writers voted in this 2017 edition of Ranking the Star Wars Universe, and Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back topped seventeen of their lists. With that kind of voting, one has to wonder if any film will ever dethrone the much-beloved Irvin Kershner film! The battle on Hoth, the introduction of Yoda, Luke’s showdown with Vader, Cloud City. There’s so much to love in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, and it’s easy to see why it’s top of our list for a second year running.
Originally published December 29, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.
