Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
PG

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Every saga has a beginning.

1999 • 136 min • Adventure · Action · Science Fiction

Synopsis

Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.

Our family guide

Best from age 7
67
Movie Knight Score
16050 reviews
  • 67 Reviewers · 9 · 75%
  • 66 Audience · 16041 · 25%

Two Jedi knights discover a gifted boy on a desert planet while protecting a young queen. They uncover a dark plot to destabilize the galaxy, leading to a thrilling showdown between good and evil.

Violence & peril
5/10
Language
1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
0/10
Romance & sensuality
1/10
Scary moments
4/10

Heads up

  • Space battles and laser sword fights
  • Some alien creatures might be intense for younger viewers
  • The villain can be quite menacing

What it models well

  • Courage and heroism
  • Mentorship and guidance
  • Belief in oneself

Talk about it after

  • The responsibilities of leadership
  • The nature of good versus evil
  • How choices can shape a destiny

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

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Top billed cast

Director: George Lucas • Crew: George Lucas

Trailers & clips

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Escape Otoh Gunga - Official Clip

Anakin Wins Podrace - Official Clip

Remastered Trailer

Behind the Scenes

Freedom of Naboo (Celebration Parade)

Bloopers Outtakes Gag Reel

Story Featurette

Reviewer notes

Recommended

I decided to watch these films **chronologically** for my first time ever watching this franchise.. And honestly? I actually kinda enjoyed this one and it was a pretty solid introduction to the franchise for me! To be honest however it was kinda confusing and did feel kinda weird at first.. But i don't really mind that and still found this film very enjoyable. Would definitely recommend.

Recommended

Hmmm. I watched this again recently hoping that it wasn't as mediocre as I had thought first time around. Sadly, not. The opening scenes are great: a good fight with lots of action and lightsabres; then it descends into a sort of cross between "Ben Hur" and "The Golden Child" with some pantomime thrown in too. The film is clearly designed to be part one of another trilogy and as such spends way too much of it's ti...

Not recommended

MORE REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/ Rewatching it before OBI-WAN KENOBI. Even ignoring the lack of narrative impact of THE PHANTOM MENACE in Luke Skywalker's journey, it still doesn't work for me. The climactic lightsaber fight and the podracing are cool, but the terrible dialogue, awful editing, Jar Jar, and the f****** midi-chlorians ruin the whole thing. I'm not as annoyed by Anakin as others, t...

Not recommended

So I watched this at a midnight screening when it was released (the first time midnight screenings happened...). The blast of horns for John Willams' score occurred and the title scrawl happened, droidikas appeared - I had a buzz going. But that buzz got less and less as the film wore on. Jar Jar appeared...and then Anakin trying to crack onto Padme...Darth Maul appeared and I got excited, but the dialogue...

Recommended

A huge drop off the original trilogy. I still like it, mind. I do have split feelings about <em>'Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'</em> though. One positive is the casting, which is well done. Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor are strong choices to enter the franchise, I enjoyed both of them. Jake Lloyd does a fine job in his role, while the likes of Terence Stamp, Samuel L. Jackson and Keira Knightley ...

Not recommended

This is a terrible, terrible movie. I'm amazed that A) Lucas made a film like this, knowing how beloved the franchise was, and B) that the franchise remained so beloved after this had come out... It introduced Maul though, who is my favourite _Star Wars_ character. So points on that one. _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._

Recommended

***Solid return of the franchise after 16 years, highlighted by Liam Neeson*** A Jedi Knight & his apprentice (Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor) escape a blockade with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks, and the handmaiden of Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman). Upon damaging their vessel, they find sanctuary on a planet where they meet a slave boy, a gifted pilot and engineer, who may be the prophesied “Chosen On...

Recommended

Frankly, this film is terrible, and the producers were obviously banking on the original Star Wars coming back all excited, and didn't bother come up with a good story. What's wrong? Well -- (1) The virtuous Obiwan Kenobi talks an admiring young boy to participate in a dangerous race so that he can bet on the boy and win the money he needs for his mission. Sounds like the later movie HUNGER GAMES, excep...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

If it were the first "Star Wars" movie, "The Phantom Menace" would be hailed as a visionary breakthrough. But this is the fourth movie of the famous series, and we think we know the territory; many of the early reviews have been blase, paying lip service to the visuals and wondering why the characters aren't better developed. How quickly do we grow accustomed to wonders. I am reminded of the Isaac Asimov story "Ni...

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Gallery

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Details

TMDB audience
6.6/10 (16,041)
Age rating
PG
Status
Released
Budget
$115,000,000
Box office
$1,046,515,409
Franchise
Star Wars Collection
Official site
www.starwars.com

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