Despite being one of the most controversial films in the Star Wars franchise, it has once again proven to be one of the highest-grossing movies of all time.
In 1999, after a 16-year absence, George Lucas and his team returned to the galaxy far, far away to tell the highly anticipated origin story of Darth Vader and the tragic downfall of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprentice to the Dark Side.
It could be argued that The Phantom Menace was not only the most highly-anticipated Star Wars project, but also the biggest cultural event in history at the time, possibly even surpassing Marvel movies.
After its release in cinemas, the reception of the film was not entirely positive. Even to this day, its scores on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and audiences remain united at 52%, deeming it ‘rotten’ and reflecting the sharp divide that still exists decades later.
Despite their well-documented and debated flaws, there seems to be a growing appreciation for the prequels. In fact, some argue that their affection for these films is higher than ever before. After all, can any other lightsaber battle compare to the intensity of Duel of the Fates? And be honest, do you still find yourself quoting, “Now this is podracing!”on a regular basis?
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Episode I was re-released in cinemas this past weekend. The film’s worldwide earnings of $15 million contributed to a significant increase in its box office performance, securing a spot in the top 50 highest-grossing movies of all time with a total of $1.041 billion in revenue. Despite briefly losing its place to newer releases like Alice in Wonderland and Zootopia, Episode I has now reclaimed its position among the top earners.
Despite falling behind The Fall Guy with $28.5 million, it still managed to secure the second spot on the domestic chart, surpassing Challengers ($7.6m), Tarot ($6.5m), and Godzilla x Kong ($4.56m).
It is interesting to note that 25 years ago, STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE received less than favorable reviews. However, this past weekend, the film was re-released and managed to earn $8M, placing it at #2 in the domestic box office. This is a remarkable achievement that not many films or franchises could accomplish. It goes to show the enduring popularity and success of this franchise, as one user pointed out.
Despite this, The Force Awakens holds the title of the most successful Star Wars movie, bringing in a massive $2.064 billion. It is followed by The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker, and Rogue One with earnings of $1.3 billion, $1.07 billion, and $1.05 billion respectively.
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