We’ve gone through each Star Wars movie’s current Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes to see which five installments have come out on top. With the upcoming theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Lucasfilm’s epic space opera franchise now has twelve movies to its name.
Despite the anticipation surrounding The Mandalorian and Grogu, it failed to make the list. Early reviews from critics resulted in the Pedro Pascal-led spin-off receiving a current RT score of 60%.
What are the top 5 best Star Wars movies according to Rotten Tomatoes?
5) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Lucasfilm’s first standalone Star Wars movie was a successful gamble for the iconic franchise, grossing over a billion at the global box office. 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has a Fresh score of 84%, based on 459 reviews. Director Gareth Edwards was praised by critics for the film’s stunning visuals, incredible action pieces, and darker tone. Critics and fans were also impressed by the main cast’s performances, which effectively highlighted the film’s grounded storytelling. The Felicity Jones and Diego Luna prequel movie was also commended for its bold but beautifully tragic ending sequence.
4) Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi served as the second installment of Daisy Ridley’s sequel trilogy. The movie debuted with an impressive 91% RT score, based on 483 reviews. Despite the initial negative reaction from the fandom, director Rian Johnson was praised by many critics for the film’s shocking twists, daring plot choices, and heavy themes, which included killing off unexpected characters. The movie also garnered recognition for its striking visuals and cinematography, leading to an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.
3) Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens was the movie that successfully revived the film franchise, grossing over $2 billion at the global box office. Apart from being a blockbuster success, it was also an instant hit with critics. It currently holds a 93% approval rating, based on 447 reviews. Most critics and fans commended the film’s introduction of Ridley’s Rey, Oscar Isaac’s Poe, John Boyega’s Finn, and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, who all delivered strong performances. Fans were also delighted with the return of many beloved characters from the original Star Wars trilogy (Han Solo, General Leia, Luke Skywalker). The movie was also praised for its thrilling, fast-paced action sequences and witty dialogue.
2) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Next up on the list is Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, which currently has an RT score of 93%. Even though it’s technically tied with The Force Awakens, the 1980 sequel is deservedly ranked higher because it has impressively stood the test of time longer than the 2015 film. During its initial theatrical run, the film earned mixed reviews from critics and fans who were divided over the story’s much darker and emotional tone than A New Hope. Later on, the Mark Hamill sequel eventually received the proper recognition it deserved and is now widely considered a cinematic masterpiece. In addition to featuring one of the franchise’s most iconic scenes, the movie was also celebrated for its groundbreaking special effects, unforgettable action scenes, and grander scale.
1) Star Wars: A New Hope
Naturally, the movie that started it all is in first place. 1977’s Star Wars (which was later given the subtitle Episode IV – A New Hope) has a stellar 94% RT score. The main trio’s undeniable chemistry, a great performance by Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the film’s brilliant sci-fi action drew wide acclaim from critics. Its special effects were groundbreaking at the time, as was its stellar world-building, with George Lucas able to transport viewers to a new galaxy like no filmmaker before him. The Death Star trench run sequence remains a highlight to this day, as it still thrills fans new and old alike.
