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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment magazine in the UK“, NZCasinoClub ranked each Star Wars Movie by analysing worldwide box office totals and online ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Letterboxd, and Meta Critic.
Lightsabers ignited, X-wings soaring, and the Force thrumming through the air – Star Wars is a universe that has captivated audiences for generations. But with a galaxy of films spanning decades, one question remains: which Star Wars movie reigns supreme in the hearts of fans?
Fear not, padawans! This blog post is your Death Star-busting guide to the most popular Star Wars movies, ranked from the outer rim to Coruscant. Prepare to dive into a heated debate, where droids clash with Jedi, and Prequel memes battle Original Trilogy nostalgia.
So, whether you’re a seasoned Rebel pilot or a young Padawan just discovering the Force, buckle up and get ready for a hyperspace journey through the most beloved Star Wars films. May the ranking be with you!
The research, conducted by casino experts NZCasinoClub, ranked each instalment (from 1977 to 2019) by analysing worldwide box office totals (accounting for inflation) and online ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, Letterboxd, and Meta Critic to calculate an overall popularity index score out of 100 for each film.
| Rank | Star Wars Films | Worldwide Box Office ($) | Rotten Tomatoes – Tomatometer (1-100%) | Rotten Tomatoes – Audience Score (1-100%) | IMDb (1-10*) | Letterboxd (0-5*) | Meta Critic Metascore (1-100) | Meta Critic User Score (1-10) | Final Total |
| 1 | A New Hope (1977) | 1,668,979,715 | 93 | 96 | 8.6 | 4.2 | 90 | 8.8 | 91 |
| 2 | The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | 920,818,947 | 94 | 97 | 8.7 | 4.4 | 82 | 9 | 85 |
| 3 | Return of the Jedi (1983) | 881,336,578 | 83 | 94 | 8.3 | 4 | 58 | 8.4 | 77 |
| 4 | The Force Awakens (2015) | 1,013,038,487 | 93 | 83 | 7.8 | 3.4 | 80 | 6.7 | 76 |
| 5 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) | 566,337,792 | 84 | 87 | 7.8 | 3.7 | 65 | 7.6 | 71 |
| 6 | Revenge of the Sith (2005) | 555,871,502 | 79 | 66 | 7.6 | 3.7 | 68 | 7.9 | 68 |
| 7 | The Last Jedi (2017) | 633,360,465 | 91 | 42 | 6.9 | 3 | 84 | 4.1 | 61 |
| 8 | Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) | 478,336,236 | 69 | 63 | 6.9 | 2.9 | 62 | 6.1 | 59 |
| 9 | The Phantom Menace (1999) | 846,224,377 | 52 | 59 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 51 | 6.2 | 57 |
| 10 | Attack of the Clones (2002) | 500,999,845 | 66 | 56 | 6.6 | 2.7 | 54 | 6.1 | 55 |
| 11 | The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | 515,202,891 | 52 | 86 | 6.5 | 2.4 | 53 | 4.6 | 54 |
| 12 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) | 639,662,411 | 18 | 40 | 5.9 | 2.7 | 35 | 5.6 | 43 |
A New Hope (1977), which introduces cinemagoers to Luke Skywalker as he begins his hero’s journey to learn “The Force” and rescue Princess Leia, has been crowned the most popular Star Wars film. Not only does this instalment have the highest worldwide box office in the franchise – $1,668,979,715 (£1,323,741,414) when accounting for inflation – but the movie also has the highest Metacritic score, 90/100, and its rating is never lower than the second highest score across all the review sites that were measured. Therefore, A New Hope (1977) achieves a final popularity index score of 91/100, making it the most popular Star Wars film of all time.
A New Hope (1977) blasts onto the scene with farmboy Luke Skywalker yearning for adventure on the dusty desert planet Tatooine. He stumbles upon a hidden message from Princess Leia, a rebel captured by the evil Darth Vader and the tyrannical Galactic Empire. Thrust into a galaxy far, far away, Luke joins forces with a gruff smuggler named Han Solo, his loyal Wookiee copilot Chewbacca, and two charming droids, C-3PO and R2-D2.
Together, they embark on a daring rescue mission to save Leia from the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon. Along the way, they face Imperial stormtroopers, encounter wise Jedi Ben Kenobi (Obi-Wan), and witness Princess Leia’s fiery defiance under Vader’s interrogation.
Luke, learning the ways of the Force, confronts his destiny in a thrilling lightsaber duel with Vader. The Rebellion launches a desperate attack on the Death Star, with thrilling dogfights and iconic trench runs culminating in a last-minute shot that explodes the menacing space station.
A New Hope, with its timeless story of good versus evil, thrilling space battles, and unforgettable characters, cemented Star Wars as a pop culture phenomenon, forever igniting a love for galactic adventures in the hearts of fans worldwide.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) receives a silver medal as the second most popular instalment. The film introduces cinemagoers to iconic characters, including the beloved Jedi master Yoda, as Luke learns to master his skills and battle the notorious Darth Vader. With this exciting plot in mind, it’s no surprise that The Empire Strikes Back (1980) has the highest ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 97/100 Audience Score and 94/100 on the Tomatometer. That plus the third highest box office takings of the 12 films that were measured ($920,818,947) give the movie the second highest popularity index score of 84.74/100.
The Empire Strikes Back (1980) picks up three years after the Rebellion’s victory over the Death Star. The echoes of celebration fade as the Galactic Empire relentlessly hunts down the scattered Rebel forces. Our heroes, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, find themselves scattered across the galaxy.
Luke seeks Jedi training from the ancient Yoda on the swamp planet Dagobah, facing both physical and mental challenges to master the Force. Han Solo and Leia, meanwhile, are pursued by bounty hunters, culminating in a tense standoff in Cloud City, controlled by Han’s former friend Lando Calrissian.
As tensions rise, Darth Vader reveals a shocking truth to Luke, shattering his world and sending him reeling. Luke, tempted by the dark side, faces Vader in a lightsaber duel that ends in tragedy, severing his hand and leaving him clinging to life.
Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, Leia escapes, and the Rebels flee Cloud City, their spirits crushed and their future uncertain. The Empire Strikes Back delivers a darker, more complex story, challenging our heroes and leaving audiences heartbroken as the first trilogy takes a dramatic turn towards uncertainty.
In third place, Return of the Jedi (1983) has something to excite everyone, including Luke Skywalker’s epic battles with Jabba the Hut and Darth Vader. The final instalment of the original Star Wars trilogy ranks in third place on IMDb, with a respectable score of 8.3/10 and a similar 4/5 on Letterboxd, giving the film a popularity index score of 77/100.
In Return of the Jedi (1983), the saga reaches its thrilling climax. A year has passed since the Empire dealt the Rebels a crippling blow at Cloud City. Luke Skywalker, his confidence shaken but resolve strong, seeks to become a Jedi Master and confront Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Han Solo has been frozen in carbonite, Princess Leia leads a desperate mission to rescue him, and the Rebel Alliance hatches a daring plan to destroy the second Death Star – the Empire’s even more fearsome weapon.
Luke travels to Tatooine and confronts Jabba the Hutt, the vile crime lord holding Han captive. In a thrilling display of newfound skill, he rescues Han and Leia, leaving Jabba’s palace in flames. Their reunion is short-lived, however, as Luke journeys to Endor, the forest moon where the Rebels are preparing to attack the Death Star. He faces his ultimate test: confronting Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, battling the seductive lure of the dark side while striving to redeem his father.
Meanwhile, on Endor, the Rebels face a fierce battle against the Empire’s ground forces. Han Solo and Leia lead a charge against the shield generator protecting the Death Star, a desperate mission mirroring Luke’s internal struggle against the dark side. In a heart-wrenching confrontation, Luke faces Vader and Palpatine, his lightsaber flashing against their dark power. His unwavering belief in good forces Vader to make a dramatic choice, turning against the Emperor and sacrificing himself to save Luke.
With Vader redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, the Rebels destroy the Death Star, dealing a crippling blow to the Empire. The galaxy erupts in celebration as the heroes are hailed as saviors. Return of the Jedi concludes the original trilogy with a sense of triumph and closure, but also with a bittersweet reflection on the sacrifices made and the lessons learned. The Force lives on, its legacy forever etched in the hearts of heroes and fans alike.
The Force Awakens (2015) is the fourth most popular film in the franchise. Exploring the epic journey of Rey, an intergalactic scavenger-turned-Jedi, this instalment made the second highest amount in its worldwide box office, totalling an inflation adjusted $1,013,038,487 (£866,436,622). The Force Awakens (2015) also has the second highest Tomatometer rating, 93/100, resulting in a popularity index score of 76/100.
In fifth place is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Taking place a week before A New Hope (1977), the film follows a group of resistance fighters as they embark on a quest to steal the plans to the Death Star. Overall, Rogue One (2016) receives a final popularity index score of 71/100, with the fourth highest Tomatometer rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 84/100.
The sixth most popular film in the Star Wars franchise, Revenge of the Sith (2005), is the only prequel to make it into the most popular list. In the movie, Anakin is lured by evil forces and, embracing the Dark Side, battles the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. With a Meta Critic User Score of 8.9 and 7.6 on IMDb, Revenge of the Sith (2005) has a popularity index score of 68/100.
Star Wars is a beloved franchise with devoted fans worldwide. This study has ranked the top six most popular films, considering worldwide box office and cross-referencing multiple online ratings, including Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb.
The original trilogy dominates the top three most popular films, with A New Hope (1977) coming out on top, suggesting audiences still look back on the classics with nostalgia and appreciation for films recognised as cinematic masterpieces.
Star Wars is an ongoing franchise with multiple films reported to be released in 2026 and 2027. However, Star Wars television series are currently enjoying the limelight, as Disney’s Ashoka (2023) boasts a Rotten Tomato score of 87/100 after releasing only three episodes.
-Adam Parker at NZCasinoClub
NZCasinoClub is a New Zealand online casino expert with free play options for multiple popular games.
· Box Office Mojo
· Rotten Tomatoes
· IMDb
· Letterboxd
· Meta Critic
· The NumbersThe Most Popular Star Wars Movies Ranked
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