Netflix Publishes List Ranking Star Wars Movies By Most Rented

Netflix published a ranking of the first six Star Wars movies based on DVD rentals.

Star Wars movies are not available to stream through Netflix, but the company still has a DVD rental service where the saga can be found. What’s fascinating is which of the films are the most popular based on Netflix rentals. Check out the ranking below (via DVD.com).

The biggest surprise comes in right off the bat.

1. Revenge of the Sith

I wasn’t expecting this, especially given the amount of ire the prequels seem to get, but it makes sense. People probably want to know how Darth Vader fell to the dark side. Episode III is also the darkest and most dramatic of the six films, and that kind of aesthetic is popular these days.

2. A New Hope

Of course, I expected Episode IV to be at or near the top of the list. It’s the quintessential Star Wars movie, the first of its kind, and it also introduces the characters new fans saw as aged in The Force Awakens.

3. Attack of the Clones

As a prequels fan, I’m over the moon right now. I’ve grown used to the prequels being derided by general audiences of Star Wars fans, so it fills me with glee to know that Attack of the Clones is #3 on the list of most rented Star Wars films (through Netflix, at least). This position, too, makes sense. It’s also filled with drama, with romance to boot, two genres the public loves. And it’s just so much fun to boot. Seriously, if you haven’t watched Episode II in a while because you have bad memories of it, give it another go. I didn’t used to like it either, but I’ve come to love its cheesiness, its adventure sequences, and its space operatic feel.

4. The Phantom Menace

Gasp! Another prequel movie! I’m surprised this edged out The Empire Strikes Back, which is pretty much everyone’s favorite Star Wars movie. But Episode I has attractions all its own, like Darth Maul, the origins of Anakin Skywalker, and the incomparable Liam Neeson as Qui Gon Jinn (it’s also one of my personal favorites of the saga films).

5. The Empire Strikes Back

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Here at last, the movie that is most epic and well wrought installment of the original trilogy for many a fan. Again, I’m surprised it isn’t higher up on the list, but some modern viewers may be more interested in Anakin’s story than that of his son. Alternatively, they may look first to the films billed with names they recognize, like Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson. The prequels also look more modern, too, having been filmed digitally, and some viewers may be turned off by the age of the original trilogy. Or maybe, some people like the prequels more than the original trilogy, which is perfectly valid.

That’s just me spitballing, though. The Empire Strikes Back is, like every one of the Star Wars films, incomparable, but it edges out some of the others in epic-ness for its scenes with Yoda and Darth Vader’s iconic confession to Luke.

6. Return of the Jedi

Finally, in last place comes what was for many years the last Star Wars film: Return of the Jedi. It’s curious that this film, in particular, is the least rented at Netflix given it’s the film that comes before The Force Awakens. Its position could be due to the reasons I discussed under The Empire Strikes Back heading. It’s also considered by many to be the least of the original trilogy, though “least” by no means equates to “bad.” Return of the Jedi is one of my personal favorite Star Wars films because of the scenes with Luke and his father, and the fact of Anakin Skywalker’s redemption.

Frankly, all of these movies deserve to be rented in equal amounts; but if they were, it wouldn’t give us as much to talk about.

Next: Star Wars: Bloodline Had Input From Episode VIII Director Rian Johnson

How would you rank the Star Wars films? Which one do you watch the most? Let us know in the comments below.