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For over four decennium , the world has been captivated by the world of a beetleweed far , far away as depict in theStar Warsfranchise . Whether you align yourselves with the light side or the dark side , the Jedi or the Sith , the Resistance or the First Order , it ’s not voiceless to get sweep up in the adventure that go on within the Skywalker saga , as well as the series ' standalone films .
With the ninth and final motion-picture show in the Skywalker saga due out in just a few days , now pit the perfect clip to look back on theStar Warsfranchise as a whole . Here , we ’re looking at how the picture ' runtimes have evolved over sentence , from shortest to longest .
A New Hope - 121 minutes
As awesome as it might sound , the very first film in theStar Warssaga was barely two hours long . It ’s both a refreshing realization , but also deserving note if only for the rice beer of observing how much more complex the films have become since this first freeing .
Even still , with its tight runtime of 121 minute , A New Hopemanaged toestablish the universe of a Galax urceolata far , far away;introduce our three heroes in Luke Skywalker , Leia Organa , and Han Solo , and our villain in Darth Vader ; and make a reason worth root for in the Rebel Alliance ’s cause against the Empire .
Empire Strikes Back - 124 minutes
The 2d picture show in the Skywalker saga , the universally adoredEmpire Strikes Back , only clock in at just a few minutes longer than the motion-picture show that started it all . ButEmpiretakes the plot and relationship established inA New Hopeand rick them totally on their head , undermine all expectation and producing more discrete storylines than its forerunner .
Empirealso introduces iconic characters to theStar Warsuniverse , including Billy Dee Williams ' lovable scoundrel Lando Calrissian and everyone ’s favorite 900 - year - old Muppet , Yoda .
Return of the Jedi - 131 minutes
The first film in the saga with the obligation of wrapping up a trilogy of stories , Return of the Jediis just barely longer than the previous two films in the original trilogy , clocking in at 131 minute .
yield of the Jediis the more battle - gruelling film out of the first three in the saga , but it also sport plenty of heart and humour on Endor with the Ewoks , as well as romance in Han and Leia ’s blossoming relationship , and repurchase in Vader ’s heroic sacrifice .
Rogue One - 133 minutes
Thefirst of the motion picture to divergefrom the independent narrative of the Skywalker saga , Rogue One : A Star Wars Storywas an experimentation forStar Warsin every potential way , even though it come in just barely longer than the last original film at 133 minutes .
A true war movie more than any of its predecessors had been , Rogue Onecrams its 133 - second runtime with as many battle fit and military planning scene as potential , leading to a comparatively brisk runtime that sill manages to feel to a fault long .
Solo - 135 minutes
The next standalone film , Solo : A Star Wars Story , remains a red-hot push offspring among fan , give its second-rate performance and the difficulties that occurred during its production . But in line withRogue One , Solo ’s fun heist movie vibe make its 135 - minute runtime utterly breeze by .
Featuring Alden Ehrenreich doing the good he perchance could in stepping into Harrison Ford ’s fabulously turgid place , and Donald Glover as a Book of Revelation as the young Lando Calrissian , Solois a film that deserves so much better than what it get .
The Phantom Menace - 136 minutes
We ’re going to be honorable here : The Phantom Menace ’s 136 - minute runtime , though middle of the route in terms of length for the saga , might just feel the longest out of all the movies on this list . The movie is to a great extent weighted down by some bizarre succession , including adventures in Otoh Gunga .
But nothing strains the attention brace or enjoyability of this moving picture quite in the elbow room the bizarrely long and absurdly detailed podracing sequence does . The motion picture also represents the first real introduction of political science into the saga , something that only increase the snooze broker .
The Force Awakens - 138 minutes
The first film of the subsequence trilogy , The Force Awakens , may have been heavily thematically inspired by the original trilogy , but it took a varlet from the prequel trilogy ’s Book when it came to embrace a longer runtime .
Clocking in at 138 minutes , the film efficiently acquaint fan both old and new to the new world orderliness of the galaxy ; offers key sixth sense to new major players Rey , Kylo Ren , and Finn ; and feature welcome returns of beloved characters like Han and Leia . But then there are sequences , like the Rathtar and Kanjiklub thrashing , that could easy have been move out for the sake of speed things up a little .
Revenge of the Sith - 140 minutes
The third and final film in the prequel trilogy , Revenge of the Sith , had some of the heaviest lifting to do in the history of the saga . The film was responsible for depicting the demise of the Jedi Order , the fall of Anakin Skywalker , and the ascending of Darth Vader and the Empire from what Anakin and Palpatine left behind .
Clocking in at 140 minutes , the film deal to fit in everything it needs to - and more . Once again , the political science turn up to be the least well - written part of the motion picture , though they are perhaps more necessary here give the creation of the Empire .
Attack of the Clones - 142 minutes
somewhat longer than both other picture show in the prequel trilogy , Attack of the Clonescomes in with a runtime of 142 moment . But lamentably , more than any other plastic film in the entireStar Warssaga , much of this photographic film is a full dullard .
Whether in its exploration of politics , or its grueling attack to make the consultation care about Anakin and Padme ’s naive new romance , Attack of the Clonesflounders . It ’s not until the final act , and the culminating fight that unifies all the Jedi against a common foeman , that the film really feels like it ’s moving at a good pace .
The Rise of Skywalker - 142 minutes
Though we may not know what ’s in store for us in the final film in the Skywalker saga , we do cognize this : The acclivity of Skywalkeris posed to come in as the second - longest film in dealership account , just slimly longer thanAttack of the Clonesby a few seconds .
The outlook are gamy for this film , as it represents not only the conclusion of the sequel trilogy , but the nine - motion picture series that is the Skywalker saga . Who will rise ? Who will fall ? Will the light side or dark side sovereignty supreme ? We do n’t know . But we ’ll have 142 minutes to find out .
