View the Collection: Part of the Collection: Star Wars Saga

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Critics Consensus

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones benefits from an increased emphasis on thrilling action, although they're once again undercut by ponderous plot points and underdeveloped characters.

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 253

56%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 853,878

Where to watch

Rate And Review

User image

Tap to review this movie

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you get your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMC (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Cinemark (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal (Coming Soon)

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Bought somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Videos

View All Videos (1)

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Photos

View All Photos (17)

Movie Info

The second prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy takes place ten years after the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace. Now 20, young Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is an apprentice to respected Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Unusually powerful in the Force, Anakin is also impatient, arrogant, and headstrong -- causing his mentor a great deal of concern. The pair are ordered to protect Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), the former queen of the planet Naboo, now representing her world in the Galactic Senate. Someone is trying to assassinate her on the eve of a vote enabling Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) to build a military force that will safeguard against a growing separatist movement led by mysterious former Jedi Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). After another attempt on Padme's life, Obi-Wan and Anakin separate. The young Jedi and Padme fall in love as he escorts her first to the security of Naboo and then to his home world of Tatooine, where the fate of his mother leads him to commit an ominous atrocity. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan travels to the secretive planet Kamino and the asteroid-ringed world of Geonosis, following bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) and his son, Boba (Daniel Logan), who are involved in an operation to create a massive army of clones. A vicious battle ensues between the clones and Jedi on one side and Dooku's droids on the other, but who is really pulling the strings in this galactic conflict? In late 2002, the movie was released in IMAX theaters as Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience, with a pared-down running time of 120 minutes in order to meet the technical requirements of the large-screen format. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast

Hayden Christensen
as Anakin Skywalker
Natalie Portman
as Padmé Amidala
Ewan McGregor
as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Samuel L. Jackson
as Mace Windu
Christopher Lee
as Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
Frank Oz
as Yoda
Ian McDiarmid
as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Pernilla August
as Shmi Skywalker
Temuera Morrison
as Jango Fett
Jimmy Smits
as Bail Organa
Ahmed Best
as Jar Jar Binks
Anthony Daniels
as C-3PO
Jack Thompson
as Cliegg Lars
Leeanna Walsman
as Zam Wesell
Ron Falk
as Dexter Jettster
Rose Byrne
as Dormé
Oliver Ford Davies
as Sio Bibble
Jay Lagai'aia
as Captain Typho
Andrew Secombe
as Watto
Kenny Baker
as R2-D2
Silas Carson
as Nute Gunray
Daniel Logan
as Boba Fett
Graeme Blundell
as Ruwee Naberrie
David Bowers (II)
as Mas Amedda
Ayesha Dharker
as Ayesha Dharker
Matt Doran
as Elan Sleazebaggano
Joel Edgerton
as Owen Lars
Claudia Karvan
as Sola Naberrie
Alethea McGrath
as Jocasta Nu
Trisha Noble
as Jobal Naberrie
Rena Owen
as Taun We
Anthony Phelan
as Lama Su
Susie Porter
as Hermione Bagwa
Matt Sloan
as Plo Koon
Steve John Shepherd
as Naboo Lieutenant
View All

News & Interviews for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Prequels vs. Star Wars Sequels: Which Trilogy Is Better?
12 Movie- and TV-Tied Video Games We Can’t Wait to Play
All Star Wars Movies Ranked Worst to Best By Tomatometer
View All

Critic Reviews for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

All Critics (253) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (165) | Rotten (88)

  • His characters, as is now his norm, are plastic puppets, even in the confectionary love scenes. Most of their dialogue is so doughy that it could be spooned into comic-strip balloons. Lucas simply has no interest in these people.

    April 11, 2016 | Full Review…

    Stanley Kauffmann

    The New Republic
    Top Critic

  • The technical wizardry of the action scenes are ultimately more important than the story and reason enough for nonbelievers to see and enjoy the movie.

    December 14, 2015 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Joe Williams

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Top Critic

  • Attack Of The Clones lacks the light heart of the "old" trilogy but this deliberate throwback to matinee movie serials is still fun.

    November 16, 2015 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…

    Rob Lowing

    Sydney Morning Herald
    Top Critic

  • Allowing for some dull moments, this movie has considerable visual style.

    November 16, 2015 | Full Review…

    David Denby

    New Yorker
    Top Critic

  • Lucas' obsession with digital technology has obliterated the saga's last remnants of human purpose and turned his once mesmerizing space opera into a pure, dehumanized cartoon.

    November 16, 2015 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Jack Mathews

    New York Daily News
    Top Critic

  • In lieu of a proper climax, Attack Of The Clones ends with a tantalizing cliffhanger for the next episode, but Lucas' lumbering series is presenting fewer and fewer reasons to tune in.

    November 16, 2015 | Full Review…

    Scott Tobias

    AV Club
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (253)

Audience Reviews for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

  • Dec 30, 2019
    I'm not a diehard Star Wars fan. I've seen all the movies, seen them all more than once even, and I have my opinions, but when I see the way people talk about Star Wars online, I can't really find myself behaving the way that "true fans" or whathaveyou do. That being said, I think that the majority of the Star Wars films have been pretty good. The notable exception to this, for me at least, is the prequels. And yes you can include the animated Clone Wars movie that they made in that era too. These four movies, again, for me, are all bad. But even amongst them, there is still a ranking in my mind, and in that list, at the very bottom sits Attack of the Clones. Yes it is this movie which holds the title, of the very worst Star Wars theatrical release of all time.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 22, 2016
    This was George Lucas's attempt to appease the fans for what he did in Episode I. Despite the film being better, it still felt a little flat. The story deepened a bit and Ewan McGregor still turned in a very strong performance as Obi Wan Kenobi, but Hayden Christensen's performance as Anakin Skywalker seemed very "emo" and whiny. Maybe this was the director and the script's fault, but Christensen turned many (including myself) off to this character. Best part of the film is the Count Dooku lightsaber duel at the end of the film. Many did NOT see it coming and it was pretty enjoyable.
    Patrick W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 26, 2016
    Attack of the Clones is singlehandley saved by a stunningly spectacular final act that is both thrilling and fun. The rest of the film slogs with horrible pacing, wooden acting and a tonally confused script that never reaches the heights it wants to achieve.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 14, 2016
    Lacking the exciting action that would make it great and the undercooked characters that couldn't fill in the roles they were supposed to play, Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones is another disappointment from George Lucas.
    Jonathan W Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Quotes

View All Quotes

Movie & TV guides