I consider myself part of many fandoms. Some are from my childhood, others from college, and now, as a young adult, but they all mean something to me on some level. One of those just happens to be Star Wars.

For years, I have adored the Star Wars franchise, mainly because I grew up on those movies. But I must admit, the best Star Wars film isn’t one of the classics from the 1970s and 1980s. No, it’s actually a rather new one—and it’s time you gave it the praise it deserves.

Rogue One is the best Star Wars movie by far

It simply can’t be beaten

Credit: Lucasfilm

So hear me out.

What are my credentials to say this? Really, none except for the fact that I grew up watching the entire franchise, as I’m sure most people reading this article did. I am a fan whose brother was obsessed with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and whose father would meticulously quote Yoda as if he were real. I was raised on Star Wars, both the Star Wars movies and TV shows.

So I must admit that I’ve watched the first movies a few times, the prequel films many times, and, of course, the sequel movies. And they’re all great. Trust me. They are. But to me, Rogue One, otherwise known as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is the best film in the series.

You can’t really surpass some of the iconic moments that have cemented themselves into movie history from the originals, such as the legendary reveal of Darth Vader being Luke’s father, Han and Leia’s love exchange, and, of course, the epic lightsaber fights that happen in both the original films and the prequels.

But I think what makes Rogue One the best Star Wars film is that it’s the perfect movie set in the Star Wars universe, with a plot that matters without trying to be anything else. It doesn’t aim to become bigger than it originally was—a story about a group of rebels who begin the entire story of A New Hope thanks to what they did.

The characters make it so much more enthralling

My favorite ones come from here!

I think what really stands out in Rogue One is the memorable characters. One was so memorable and beloved that Disney created a critically acclaimed TV show about the character. That’s how you know they were good.

But they weren’t just well-written characters with complex backstories and interesting comedic bits. They were likable. I feel like a lot of Star Wars characters fall into an unlikable trap.

There are plenty of characters who are likable and memorable, but I’m not entirely sure their stories are as fleshed out, so we see their flaws much more easily. I honestly think a big reason fans didn’t like Rey as much was that her story didn’t feel as well-told. They tried to make her bigger than she needed to be—her original story, of just being a random girl with the Force who had no connection to anything else, felt a lot more original than her being a granddaughter of Palpatine.

That’s what makes Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones), the main protagonist of Rogue One, so good. Yes, she is the daughter of an Imperial scientist, but she doesn’t have any powers, secret abilities, or anything like that. She’s a rebel who aims to help and is very human and flawed but does her best. Those traits are carried out throughout every character we meet in Rogue One, including Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).​​​​​​​

The action and special effects are top-tier

The BEST blaster fights

Credit: Lucasfilm

I know for a fact that the sequel films fell into a bad rhythm with their action. It didn’t feel as well-choreographed or as well-executed as the special effects in previous films. But with Rogue One? It never feels like that.

I honestly believe it’s because the movie is more grounded in war than in epic space battles and moving things with the force all the time. It’s about a group of humans and droids who are trying to work together to bring an end to the Empire. Most of them don’t really have powers, and that leads to some really well-done sequences that feel real in ways where even we could relate to them.

Of course, there’s that epic final scene of Darth Vader basically destroying and killing everyone with his skills and the force, but that doesn’t feel pushed into the story. That feels authentically woven into the storyline and done in a way that shows his power and how it connects to the overall story. That’s an effective way to use that kind of power.

War-focused action with a little hint of those special effects made this so much better.

The original films are still great, but just not my favorite

Jyn and Cassian have my heart

I’m not saying I don’t love the original Star Wars movies because that is not the case. I love the originals and the sequels with a heavy passion. There’s a reason why most Star Wars board and card games are centered around those characters—we love them because we grew up with them.

From a theatrical perspective, with its compelling story, well-developed characters, and impressive effects, Rogue One stands out as the supreme leader of the series. I genuinely cannot find a fault in this film within the grand timeline of the Star Wars universe, and honestly, I wish we got more of movies like this.

Grounded Star Wars feels so much more relatable, and I think that’s a big reason why Rogue One is successful. As much as we love the powers and the Force and epic lightsaber fights, we would all most likely be like Jyn or Cassian, rebels trying to fight for the greater good. And I think that’s beautiful.

Either way, we’ll still be getting plenty of new Star Wars content soon, including a Darth Maul show, apparently. Maybe something new will surpass Rogue One. But for now, I doubt it. And if you haven’t seen Rogue One, you should check it out on Disney+.

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