While there are now many different Star Warsmovies to choose from in terms of favorites, my heart has settled on one of the franchise's lowest-rated, and I have no shame about the fact that I continue to enjoy it thoroughly to this day. As iconic, revered, and downright historical as this franchise is, it has certainly struggled to find its footing in terms of official ratings and fandom reception over the years. With the original Star Wars trilogy being so inventive at the time, it was hard for any other Star Wars movie to truly compare.
This was especially true of the prequel Star Wars trilogy, and I was a part of the generation who grew up with these as my main Star Wars movies. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is one of the first movies I ever saw in the theater, and certainly the first one I ever remember seeing. These movies made a resounding impact on me that helped me see through the lens of hatred many others had garnered for this collection. As a result, my favorite movie is from this trilogy, and it's not the one most would expect.
Attack Of The Clones Is My Favorite Star Wars Movie
It's My Go-To When It's Time To Rewatch
While I have different Star Wars movie rankings in terms of which ones I think are the best and which ones I personally enjoy the most, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones tops the latter with ease. Much of this has to do with the fact that this movie arrived right around the time when I literally started to grasp the world around me as a very young child, and everything around me at that point was Attack of the Clones-related (kudos to my dad and my older brother). From video games to action figures, I couldn't escape it.
Looking at all nine Skywalker Saga entries and three spinoffs, we crown the best Star Wars movie in our full ranking of the galaxy far, far away.
This has given me a very personal attachment to Attack of the Clones. I thoroughly remember watching the Kamino and Geonosis sequences in particular and absolutely loving every second of it. That sweet nostalgia still hits just right whenever I revisit it. There's something so charming about this story for me in particular, where Anakin and Padmé are falling in love as the surrounding galaxy is literally collapsing into chaos - and poor Obi-Wan is stuck in the heart of it all.
Every Star Wars Movie, Ranked By Their Rotten Tomatoes Scores
Movie Title
Critic Score
Audience Score
The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
95%
97%
A New Hope (1977)
93%
96%
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
93%
84%
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
91%
41%
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
84%
87%
Return of the Jedi (1983)
82%
94%
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
80%
66%
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
69%
63%
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
65%
56%
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
52%
59%
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
51%
86%
The fact that Attack of the Clones is one of the lowest-rated Star Wars movies makes no difference to me when I sit down to watch this one. When I'm in the mood for a Star Wars movie rather than a TV show, this is the knee-jerk selection I make every time. I don't expect that to change any time soon - though, as someone whose favorite Star Wars project is The Mandalorian, the TV show's upcoming movie could prove to be a worthy challenger.
Each New Prequel Era Tie-In Makes It Even Better
The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, & More
It's a well-known fact now that prequel era tie-ins, such as the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV show, have made movies like Attack of the Clones even better in retrospect. Because of my affinity for the Kamino and Geonosis sequences, I was, of course, fascinated by and endeared to the clone troopers, which only continued more when these clones were given true names and personalities in The Clone Wars. Star Wars: The Bad Batch has carried on that legacy in recent years, proving that I'm far from the only one who experienced this.
These tie-ins have provided key context to things that happen both on and off the screen in the movies, Attack of the Clones included.
It's done more than just expand my love for this movie and the elements surrounding it, though. These tie-ins have provided key context to things that happen both on and off the screen in the movies, Attack of the Clones included. The Clone Wars introduced what's now renowned as one of the best retcons in Star Wars: the clone troopers' inhibitor chips, which caused them to follow Order 66 without any semblance of choice or control. It's tie-in materials like this that have enhanced this story in retrospect, making Attack of the Clones even more enjoyable now.
What Is Star Wars If Not Pure Fun, Chaos, & A Little Bit Of Cringe?
It's The True Spirit Of Star Wars, Honestly
Honestly, though, even if these tie-ins hadn't necessarily improved Attack of the Clones, I would still love it - because it's purely Star Wars to me. Even from its first scenes, which see Obi-Wan jumping through a window and Anakin recklessly piloting a speeder, Attack of the Clones is essentially just nonstop fun and chaotic action. The dynamic between Obi-Wan and Anakin is perfectly hilarious, and their comedic elements balance out the severity between Anakin and Padmé as their romance blossoms. Many regard the latter as "cringe-worthy", but there's precedent for that type of love story in Star Wars.
Anakin's brutal killing of the Tusken Raiders was a major stepping stone in his fall to the dark side. Why did Padmé forgive him so easily?
Some fans may not want to admit it, but the original Star Wars trilogy certainly has its fair share of cringe moments, even in a romantic sense. The Empire Strikes Back is full of chemistry between Han Solo and Leia Organa, which is put on display when Leia literally kisses her twin brother to make Han jealous in what's now become one of the franchise's most cringe-worthy moments ever. Attack of the Clones is honestly light work compared to that. Can a 19-year-old young man not be poetic about the woman he loves?
In all seriousness, there's just something so charming about Attack of the Clones that has really continued to stick with me over the years. It's like revisiting my own childhood every time I put it on again. It may not be the most loved by critics nor even by the Star Wars fandom, and it's certainly not without its flaws, but Attack of the Clones is my favorite Star Wars movie regardless - and it will continue to be, lest The Mandalorian and Grogu proves itself in 2026.
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Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala's life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
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