The Complete Star Wars Franchise Ranked

  This is it, “Star Wars” month is officially over, and what better way to cap the month then to rank every single installment in the series. I'll be counting down every Movie and TV show, and arranging them in my own personal order of "Least Loved" to "Most Loved". By extent, this isn't meant to be an objective ranking, as these instalments will be placed simply by my feelings of them. Lastly, I'll split this into 2 parts - first a ranking of all the different "Star Wars" shows, then a ranking of all the "Star Wars" Movies, ... so with that said ... let's do this.

 

All 18 "Star Wars" shows ranked ...  

 

#18 The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The one shining contribution is the introduction of Boba Fett, who absolutely shines when on screen. However, it's just not enough to compensate for this specials lack of fun, painfully boring scenes, un-imaginative premise, and lack of attention to being both a holiday special, or for that matter, a "Star Wars" special. Even the novelty of a full cast reunion isn't enough to recommend this stinker. While this special has apparently ... and rather impressively ... gained fans, I personally wouldn't ask for it in my Christmas stocking. 

 

 

#17 Star Wars: Ewoks (1985-1986)

Do you want any more Ewoks ... well, here's a cartoon show weather you asked for it or not. As far as children's TV shows are concerned, "Star Wars Ewoks" is perfectly harmless. Thanks to its cute cast and imaginative setting, the show is honestly quiet charming on some level, but at the same time it's obviously not that out of the box either. I truthfully wouldn't even recommend it unless you’re a die-hard fan that needs to watch everything under the "Star Wars" banner.

 

 

#16 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2023)

Squarely aimed at the Pre-School demographic ... so it's not going to reach as wide an audience as other "Star Wars" media, nor will it rank as high among my favorites ... but for its intended audience ... this is still a perfectly good show. The characters are sweet, it's bright and colorful, there's decent morals for kids, and a great deal of energy. It may not reach new highs for what children can watch and learn from, but like I said, it's still a perfectly good program for its intended audience, and may bring a new generation up on the franchise. 

 

 #15 Star Wars: Resistance (2018-2020) 

Time for another kid-friendly program, weather you asked for it or not. While "Resistance" lacks the same gripping stories, menacing villains, thrilling action, and compelling characters of other "Star Wars" offerings, it at least compensated with a refreshingly simple premise, layered setting, and featured a unique art style that stands apart from other programs. While this wasn't a series to take home, or even think back on, it was still passable for all it aimed to be. It's a case where a show didn't need to exist, and certainly didn't have any staying power ... but I can't write it off as anything terrible either ... just not one I can recommend.

 

 #14 Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017-2018)

This female centered mini-series plays out like a collection of deleted scenes from other shows or movies, and while it’s nothing demanding, it's still perfectly harmless, as well as cute, and a cool excuse to bring all the "Star Wars" girls together in one program. Actually, seeing all the "Star Wars" girls grouped together has me wondering if they'll be the equivalent of the Disney Princesses for a new generation. It’s an easy collection to watch, just as easy to forget, but if you’re a fan of these characters, it might be worth a quick peak.

 

 

#13 Star Wars: The Acolyte (2024)

It took a while to finally get a live-action series set years before the events of the movies ... with new characters and possibilities to explore ... but unfortunately, "The Acolyte" didn't fully live-up to its potential, and just felt like something disposable and inconsequential. While there was certainly surface-level enjoyment, with decent lightsaber action and so-forth, the righting, narrative focus and even character motivations were a complete mess. What's worse, this series approach of seeing things from a different point of view results in the unapologetic sin of glorifying its murderous villains, and also vilifying the heroic Jedi ... not good. 

#12 Star Wars: Droids (1985-1986)

Here it is, the very first animated "Star Wars" TV series, and certainly a dated, but still charming program of it's time. While I wouldn't call it anything too special or even highly recommended, its by no-means awful, and even resonates with me as the very first "Star Wars" production I owned on physical media. Anthony Daniels still brings the character C-3PO to life with lots of charm, and even his friendship with R2-D2 is still just as great as ever. Unfortunately, the show is still average, lacking any real excitement, or effective universe building, and in the long run ... it's certainly nostalgic, but only provides a handful of worthwhile episodes.

 

 #11 Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett (2022)

Boba Fett's personal stand-alone series noticeably struggles to ... well ... "stand alone", as most of its biggest highlights revolve around the stories and appearances of other established characters. Temera Morrison certainly shines as our favorite masked Bounty Hunter, and there's a promising set-up for his own layered, yet smaller scaled story, but the narrative either repeats itself or gets sidetracked. The result is a very mixed program that fails to deliver a complete story ... yet, undeniably features some top-tier highlights that stand out among any "Star Wars" series.  

 

 #10 Star Wars: Visions (2021-2023)

For years, I've wanted to see this series brought to life through Japanese Anime ... and here, my wish finally comes true. I loved the different animation styles on display, I loved how it broke away from familiar continuity, and it just let itself go all out with its own rules. The downside is that it's admittedly more of a cool experiment then a memorable experience, and there's too much reliance on Jedi centered stories culminating into Lightsaber duels, when there's so much more this universe can offer. Still, if your open for something different from any other content in the franchise ... this one makes for a unique offering to explore. 

 

 #9 Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022-2024)

Dave Filoni and his team of talented writers, voice cast, and stunning animators all return for yet another solid CGI animation program in the "Star Wars" universe. This time around, even with shorter stories, it expands on the universe, delivers absorbing atmosphere, and fleshes out the characters in new, compelling ways. Count Dooku in particular has always been a decent villain ... but now, with a complete origin, has become one of the most compelling of any villain in the whole franchise. Right now, this show is still in it's infancy, and could potentially rank higher depending on what may or may not come next.  

 

 #8 Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005)

The creators of this Mini-Series certainly have respect for the source material of "Star Wars", and have a lot of credible things to offer with just a small collection of shorts. While I never found the animation that appealing, it is still very impressive on both an artistic and technical level, and it also leads to some atmospheric highlights. It’s all around a competent series, worth watching, but I wouldn't call it an "experience" when compared to other animated programs. Again, definitely a good show, but not one that I think back on... at least when compared to other animated "Star Wars" offerings.

 

 #7 Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2023)

In this spin-off of "The Clone Wars" series, we get a unique first-person perspective of the changing order of the galaxy at large, and the experience is sustained by a cast of colorful troopers, each with distinct character traits, and screen appeal. Also, as a longtime fan of the original CGI show that proceeded this, it was nice to finally get both closure, and tie-ins to other established characters. While I admittedly felt this series often held-back from its full potential, the overall product is still strong, and a worthy continuation of animated "Star Wars" content.

  

 

 #6 Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Ewan McGregor returns to his signature role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, with a typically strong screen presence, as well as the novelty of bonding with a little Princes Leia, and engaging in thrilling battles with Darth Vader, all add-up to a satisfying series ... although, a number of facepalming details throughout do keep it from achieving the same level of greatness that other series have matched. While certainly a flawed show, it's also a comforting watch, and I feel it could have been stronger if it was tightened-up to be a movie, as opposed to a series.

 

 #5 Star Wars: Andor (2022)

A much-needed departure from the typical space-adventure formula, or reliance on legacy characters, or even big spectacles, and instead "Andor" shines on the things that make for a great series, including a lived-in setting, compelling human drama, practical set's, built-up tension, and proper payoffs. While the pacing burns a little slowly, and never captures my figurative "comfort-food" of the franchise, it's still never the less a mature direction for expanded "Star Wars" material, and can be listed as a generally great show outside of an established franchise.

 

 #4 Star Wars: Ashoka (2023) 

While not on the same quality of righting or presentation as "Andor", "Ashoka" still resonated with me as more enjoyable, and exceptionally comforting with the novelty of seeing most of my favorite animated characters make their transition into live-action, along with intriguing new characters, a lean toured all-out fantasy, and great potential that comes from exploring a whole new galaxy. The only thing that could have used a little more work was Ashoka herself, who was already a complete character before hand, and the show doesn't build too much on her solid foundation.   

 

 #3 Star Wars: The Mandalorian (2019-2023)

This is it, the very first live action "Star Wars" TV series, and it took viewers on an exciting walk-about through the seedy underworld, with a compelling lead (and his adorable side-kick) at the helm. While the show admittedly feels like it's holding back at times ... and regrettably had some weak ladder seasons ... it still remains among my favorites, as it's guided by a passionate team, who clearly love, and respect the source material ... as well as put a pretty penny into the shows gorgeous look. Plus, there's no shortage of white knuckled action, and western style shootouts to boot.

 

 #2 Star Wars: Rebels (2014 - 2018)

Following up on "The Clone Wars", "Rebels" proves that "Star Wars" still has more fresh ideas, and fun space adventures to offer. With a completely original cast of colorful characters (as well as some familiar favorites like Darth Vader, Ahsoka, Rex and Maul), a brisk pace, awesome battle scenes, and even a subtle sense of hummer, this show accomplished the unthinkable, and stands as yet another great entry in the ever expanding "Star Wars" saga. At times, the show got side-lined with less engaging filler episodes, but the characters remained consistently appealing, and I feel like they helped elevate even the sub-par episodes.

 

 #1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 – 2014) (2020) 

Despite some unfinished episodes, this was still a surprisingly good show that managed to hold its own in the "Star Wars" franchise. The characters stood tall with the best of what the movies offered, the stories were captivating, the animation was beautifully detailed, the action jaw-dropping, and as a whole, this show really stands as a nice gem among all the different "Star Wars" spin-offs and even some of the movies. Truthfully, along with the "Knights of the Old Republic" video games, and the original movie trilogy, I find this show to be one of the definitive chapters in the “Star Wars” saga ... and my personal favorite.   

 

All 14 "Star Wars" Movies ranked ...

 

#14 Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984)

At times, this live-action Ewok spin-off can be charming, and rather nostalgic, as it was actually the first thing I ever saw in the "Star Wars" series ... even before I saw the original trilogy. However, it’s also dated, annoying, and meanders at times. A lot of the creatures and locations are cool to look at, but the acting is as wooden as it's forest setting, and the story is average. "Caravan of Courage" stands as a great children's adventure film, but probably best reserved for the little kids, and the young at heart ... or those determined to watch every installment in the franchise.

 

 

#13 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The ninth episode in this epic saga aims high to be a grand, triumphant curtain call, and ... it certainly works as a consistently entertaining Sci-Fi adventure, with lots of moving set-pieces ... but it fails as an effective final chapter on almost every level. The narrative is clunky, and it's far too reliant of repeating the formulas of previous films without taking any creative risks in the story. In the end, this final chapter turned its own trilogy into a house of cards, leaving us all to wonder what the point of the whole thing was.

 

 

#12 Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985)

A surprisingly Darker, livelier and more action-packed film then the first live action Ewok movie, and kind of recommendable for what it is. The story is more exciting, there's an expanded fantasy setting, and the acting is a lot better ... especially with Walter Brimley leading the charge with a simple, yet genuine performance. It may not reach the same heights as many of the theatrical "Star Wars" movies, but in regards to all the TV movies and spin-offs, this is actually one of the better small-scaled offerings.

 

 

#11 Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) 

As a pilot episode to my favorite "Star Wars" TV show, it works fine, and dose a good job introducing us to these new characters. It's actually something to saver, as this is the only theatrical "Star Wars" movie to feature some of my favorite characters like Ahsoka and Captain Rex. Plus, there's plenty of entertaining moments. Unfortunately, as a theatrical movie, it ultimately loses itself with a paper-thin story, wooden animation, and one too many noisy action scenes. The film relay should have just been a 4-part episode in the TV show, but as it is ... I can't help but really like this film on the level of a devoted fan of its counterpart TV series.

#10 Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)  

Oh boy ... time for a hot take ... obviously, this isn't one of my absolute favorite films in the series, but I don't think it's as terrible as it's reputation would suggest. It's gorgeously filmed, action packed, featuring some of the best character performances, and is unafraid to take chances, "The Last Jedi" may almost be too ambitious for its own good. Regrettably, for all its strengths, it's also a rather unbalanced film at times. Both the tone and pacing are inconsistent, there's ponderous detours, and some of the films daring risks don't always pay off. Still, it conveys some solid material, and its departure from a predictable formula make it a mixed, yet memorable entry in the series.

 

 #9 Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones (2002) 

There are some noteworthy highlights, and even some improvements over the last film, mostly in regards to the action, excitement on display, and even some cool villains. Unfortunately, this instalment still ranks lower, for its frequently boring pace, mixed performances, and the film sadly favors set-up over an engaging experience. With all that said, I still look back on this movie fondly as the last "Star Wars" movie of my childhood (by that, I mean the last I saw before I graduated from elementary school).

 

 

#8 Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

An unnecessary, but perfectly welcome little adventure in the "Star Wars" cannon, largely thanks to its charismatic cast, nostalgic tie-ins and a refreshing sense of "fun" that really allows us to just escape into this universe. Its only real short comings are occasional murky lighting, a script that's a bit safe to a fault, and there's a noticeable lack of villains - minus one epic cameo. While I feel this spin-off would have worked better as a mini-series, it still works as a bonus prequel for one of my favorite characters.

 

 

#7 Star Wars 1: The Phantom Menace (1999)

I still have some nostalgia reserved for what was once considered the black sheep of the series. There are some good effects on display, suitable adventure highlights, memorable new locations, some of John Williams best music, and arguably one of the greatest light-saber duels of the whole franchise. Despite reservations with a slow middle-act, so-so characters, and wasted villain, the film remains in a comfortable middle ground where it's not one of my absolute favorites, but still one that I have fondness reserved for.

 

 

#6 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Not only did the Force awaken in this film, it was also a revival of old school "Star Wars", with a great sense of outer-space adventure, the return of practical effects laced with state-of-the-art CGI, and of course a reunion of our favorite original cast. However, there's just enough new twists, energy, hummer, and a powerhouse new cast of intriguing new characters, which allow the film to stand on its own ... as well as stand tall, and strong as one of my personal favorite installments in the whole film series.

 

 

#5 Star Wars 4: A New Hope (1977)

It's the cinematic achievement that launched a mega franchise, and started it all. However, I can't help but feel that its only real strength is just "being the first", along with an abundance of nostalgia, because otherwise ... I just don't think it's quite on par with some of its successors. Still, it’s the classic Sci-Fi adventure we all grew up with, and even though it’s over 40 years old, the engaging story, relate-able characters, detailed sets, break-out visuals, and boundless imagination behind this film are still just as great, timeless and inspiring as ever.

 

 #4 Star Wars 3: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

While the overall execution of this movie wasn't without its short-comings ... it's still all around one of the best stories in all of "Star Wars". The performances are stronger, the music is larger than life, the action is exiting, most of the special effects hold-up, the mythology is further explored, there's emotional highlights, and there was clear effort given to make this conclusion to the prequel trilogy something really special. In my opinion, "Revenge of the Sith" is far from perfect, but better then what most people give it credit for.

 

 

#3 Star Wars 5: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 

Squeals don't get any more inspiring than this, we all know it, and it remains the unbeaten classic all these years later. While it’s not my absolute favorite in the series, "Empire Strikes Back" absolutely has a secure spot among the best of the saga. It introduced us to the breakout character of Yoda, has darker plot threads, strong character development, a tight script, brought bounty hunters into the galaxy, and features some highly improved action scenes – most notably that stunning battle on Hoth. Throw in arguably the most famous plot twist in film history, and you have a near perfect franchise instalment.

 

 #2 Rouge One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

The first stand-alone "Star Wars" anthology movie hit all the right notes, expanded upon the universe, broke the narrative formula, while still staying rooted in familiar grounds, thrilled me with one of the franchises most epic finales, and has the courage to deliver one of the franchises most emotionally impact-full endings. I honestly didn't set high expectations for this film, but it's grown on me over the years, and has some how found a comfortable place among my favorite films in the series. Despite a rough first act, "Rouge One" not only delivers, it opened the door for countless new possibilities.

 

 #1 Star Wars 6: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Here it is, the "Star Wars" movie that just seems to have it all ... internal human struggles, a sinister ensemble of classic villains, memorable creature effects, rousing action highlights, the most epic three-way climax of the whole saga, and above all ... I feel "Return of the Jedi" has the most emotionally satisfying conclusion to any film in the franchise. Despite not being as tightly constructed as its predecessor, you just can’t beat the on-screen conflicts between Luke and Vader, which land "Return of the Jedi" as my personal favorite entry in the entire "Star Wars" movie saga.

 

Thanks for reading my ranking ... and continue to enjoy whatever "Star Wars" content you love!