Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

PG

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2h 16m

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Action

Fantasy

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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: 25th Anniversary Re-Release Featurette - Screenvision

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Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace: Trailer 1

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52%

Tomatometer

241 Reviews

59%

Audience Score

250,000+ Ratings

Experience the heroic action and unforgettable adventures of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. See the first fateful steps in the journey of Anakin Skywalker. Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discover nine-year-old Anakin, who is unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith. After the feature, fans will also get a special first look at Star Wars: The Acolyte series coming to Disney+ June 2024.

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Critics Consensus

Burdened by exposition and populated with stock characters, The Phantom Menace gets the Star Wars prequels off to a bumpy -- albeit visually dazzling -- start.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

The dialogue isn't the issue; the acting isn't really the issue; nor is it any single annoying character... There's no sense of wonder. No yearning. No spirit.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 20, 2019

Full Review

Evan Williams

The Australian

Everything in Phantom Menace exists in a bright noisy vacuum.

Dec 15, 2015

Full Review

Joe Holleman

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The movie is fun, for the most part, and several scenes are as good or better than anything Lucas created in the original films. The human characters, however, are not nearly as interesting as those in the earlier episodes.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 14, 2015

Full Review

Akhil Arora

AkhilArora.com

The Phantom Menace fails on virtually every front. It features curiosities like Anakin’s implied virgin birth, [Liam] Neeson running around calling him “the chosen one”, and spouting nonsense about midi-chlorians (unnecessary exposition about the Force).

May 31, 2024

Full Review

Eric Marchen

Untitled Movie Podcast

John Williams delivers one of his best scores.

Rated: 3/5

May 16, 2024

Full Review

Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

An erratic but entertaining prequel.

Rated: 3/5

May 4, 2024

Full Review

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Xander G

I personally feel like it depends on what type of person you are when it comes to enjoying this film. If you are a kid or you like movies with great visuals and action then you would really like this film. Me and my friends went to go see this film for the 25th anniversary, two of them had never even seen the film and we all really enjoyed the movie. However, even with all of the pros there are still some cons. The acting is not the greatest and most of the time the acting just feels lifeless. If you want the audience to relate and care about the characters then you have to make them seem real, not like robots repeating a script. While there was a main objective and a threat in the film the threat did not feel like a real threat. The villains were not intimidating and you cant help but laugh at the villains. In conclusion, the average person or most people would enjoy this film but Star Wars fans and critics would not enjoy. This film is more enjoyable if you are younger, a casual viewer or if you simply appreciate the director's "George Lucas" vision. It is worth checking out, this film is very divisive so you will either like it or you will not, there is not much in between.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Silver H

40% The ending fight scene between Darth Maul, Qui, and Obiwan was really the only good part.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Abel T

It's fine that really it

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

Full Review

Gavinwithay 2

There is a lot of Good with this film, the final battle/lightsaber duel, Obi one kenobi’s character arc, Qui gon jinn’s wisdom however the movie fails to properly set up the sequel and spends too much time on sub plots. Still love jar jar binks though.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/29/24

Full Review

Charlie M

In some ways it expands the universe well, but the script is so clunky, and it manages to be ridiculously juvenile and extremely tedious at the same time. Also some silly prequel exposition.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/28/24

Full Review

Honest D

Don't bother. Watch the first three, Rogue One, Andor or the Mandalorians first season instead.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/21/24

Full Review

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George Lucas

Director

Liam Neeson

Qui-Gon Jinn

Ewan McGregor

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman

Queen Amidala

Jake Lloyd

Anakin Skywalker

Pernilla August

Shmi Skywalker

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“Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong” About… Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: 25th Anniversary Re-Release Featurette - Screenvision

1:58

Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace: Trailer 1

2:12

Preview: Rotten Tomatoes is Wrong About... Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

11:12

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Experience the heroic action and unforgettable adventures of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. See the first fateful steps in the journey of Anakin Skywalker. Stranded on the desert planet Tatooine after rescuing young Queen Amidala from the impending invasion of Naboo, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discover nine-year-old Anakin, who is unusually strong in the Force. Anakin wins a thrilling Podrace and with it his freedom as he leaves his home to be trained as a Jedi. The heroes return to Naboo where Anakin and the Queen face massive invasion forces while the two Jedi contend with a deadly foe named Darth Maul. Only then do they realize the invasion is merely the first step in a sinister scheme by the re-emergent forces of darkness known as the Sith. After the feature, fans will also get a special first look at Star Wars: The Acolyte series coming to Disney+ June 2024.

Director: George Lucas
Producer: Rick McCallum
Screenwriter: George Lucas
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Lucasfilm Ltd.
Rating: PG (Sci-Fi Violence|Sci-Fi Action)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1999, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 3, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $452.0M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby EX, Dolby SR, SDDS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1), Digital Projection

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