Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic 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.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Videos
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Qui-Gon Jinn
as Obi-Wan Kenobi
as Queen Amidala/Padme
as Anakin Skywalker
as Sen.Palpatine/Darth Sidious
as Darth Maul
as Mace Windu
as Shmi Skywalker
as C-3PO
as Chancellor Finis Valorum
as Boss Nass
as Watto
as Capt. Tarpals
as Ric Olie
as Sache
as Jar Jar Binks
as Yoda
as Captain Panaka
as Ric Olie
as Sio Biddle
as Bail Organa
as R2-D2
as Wald/Gimy Man/Spectator
as Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi
as Kitster
as Bravo 5 Fighter Pilot
as Jira
as Seek
as Rabe
as Yane
as Eirtae
as Sabe
as Adi Gallia
as Rune Haako
as Bravo 2 Fighter Pilot
as Bravo 3 Fighter Pilot
as Palace Guard
as Fode-Beed--Beed's Head
as Fode-Beed--Fode's Head
as Saesee Tinn
as Even Piell
as Aks Moe
as TC-3
as Power Droid/Sebulba
as Princess Ellie
as General Ceel
as Plo Koon/Bib Fortuna/Sil Unch
as Royal Naboo Pilot
as Amee
as Melee
as Eeth Koth
News & Interviews for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Critic Reviews for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
All Critics (217) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (119) | Rotten (98) | DVD (21)
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.
What I can't comprehend is why the political details had to be so tedious and abstract. Will the kids of our nation and the world truly be titillated by trade wars and the spectacle of a do-nothing Senate?
Look, I wanted to love The Phantom Menace, too. I was an adolescent boy and would enjoy being one again for a couple of hours. But the movie has a way of deflating all but the most delusional of hopes.
Mr. Lucas is not without a certain technocratic sagacity, but I don't think he's communicating even with the young as astutely as he once did.
Character and personality take a back seat on this ride.
"Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace" got dismissive reviews in 1999, and it deserves the same today. But you probably know that.
Audience Reviews for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
This movie is terrible
Super Reviewer
Phantom is a frustrating watch, however there are elements worth admiring: its ambition plot, Williams' score, the art direction, and the iconic duel with Darth Maul.
Super Reviewer
Filled with horrific dialogue, laughable characters, a laughable plot, ad really no interesting stakes during this film, "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" is not at all what I wanted from a film that is supposed to be the huge opening to the segue into the fantastic Original Trilogy. The positives include the score, the sound effects, and most of the visual effects, which provide some great eye candy for audiences, but if that's all the film has, then what the hell is the film's purpose? It does helm one of the best lightsaber battles in the franchise and there are a few fun fan service moments, but I don't have anything else nice to say, and I could rant for days, so I am stopping here. This film is a complete mess in every way, but it still could have been worse.
Super Reviewer
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Quotes
| Qui-Gon Jinn: | Battle Droids? |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi: | It's an invasion Army. |
| Qui-Gon Jinn: | This is an odd play for the Trade Federation. You got to warn the Naboo incontact Chancellor valorum. Let's split up. Stow aboard separate ships and meet down on the planet. |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi: | You were right about one thing master. The negotiations were short. |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi: | How do you think this trade viceroyalty of the Chancellor's demands? |
| Qui-Gon Jinn: | These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short. |
| Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi: | They are still coming through! |
| Rune Haako: | This is impossible! |
| Darth Maul: | At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge. |