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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

  • 19991999
  • PGPG
  • 2h 16m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
782K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
197
10
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Anthony Daniels, Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd, Kenny Baker, Ahmed Best, and Ray Park in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Two Jedi knights uncover a wider conflict when they are sent as emissaries to the blockaded planet Naboo.
Play trailer1:34
19 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Fantasy

Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.Two Jedi escape a hostile blockade to find allies and come across a young boy who may bring balance to the Force, but the long dormant Sith resurface to claim their original glory.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
782K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
197
10
  • Director
    • George Lucas
  • Writer
    • George Lucas
  • Stars
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Liam Neeson
    • Natalie Portman
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Lucas
  • Writer
    • George Lucas
  • Stars
    • Ewan McGregor
    • Liam Neeson
    • Natalie Portman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3.9KUser reviews
    • 361Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 26 wins & 69 nominations total

    Videos19

    3D Re-release Version
    Trailer 1:34
    3D Re-release Version
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
    Trailer 1:05
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
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    Clip 4:03
    How Does Emperor Palpatine Fit Into 'The Rise of Skywalker'?
    What Happens to Obi-Wan Between Star Wars Trilogies?
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    What Happens to Obi-Wan Between Star Wars Trilogies?
    The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    Clip 3:23
    The Evolution of Anakin Skywalker
    "The Mandalorian" and the Future of 'Star Wars'
    Clip 3:05
    "The Mandalorian" and the Future of 'Star Wars'
    "Pod Race 2"
    Clip 0:26
    "Pod Race 2"
    "Pod Race 1"
    Clip 0:51
    "Pod Race 1"
    "Darth Maul 2"
    Clip 0:46
    "Darth Maul 2"
    "Darth Maul 1"
    Clip 0:41
    "Darth Maul 1"
    Star Wars
    Clip 0:57
    Star Wars
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: 3D Re-Release
    Featurette 3:12
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace: 3D Re-Release

    Photos333

    Warwick Davis, Jerome St. John Blake, and Andy Secombe in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Natalie Portman and Ian McDiarmid in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Ahmed Best in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Ewan McGregor, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Kenny Baker, and Ray Park in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Liam Neeson in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Jake Lloyd in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Natalie Portman in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
    Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Jake Lloyd, and Kenny Baker in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ewan McGregor
    Ewan McGregor
    • Obi-Wan Kenobias Obi-Wan Kenobi
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Qui-Gon Jinnas Qui-Gon Jinn
    Natalie Portman
    Natalie Portman
    • Queen Amidalaas Queen Amidala…
    Jake Lloyd
    Jake Lloyd
    • Anakin Skywalkeras Anakin Skywalker
    Ian McDiarmid
    Ian McDiarmid
    • Senator Palpatineas Senator Palpatine
    Pernilla August
    Pernilla August
    • Shmi Skywalkeras Shmi Skywalker
    Oliver Ford Davies
    Oliver Ford Davies
    • Sio Bibbleas Sio Bibble
    Hugh Quarshie
    Hugh Quarshie
    • Captain Panakaas Captain Panaka
    Ahmed Best
    Ahmed Best
    • Jar Jar Binksas Jar Jar Binks
    Anthony Daniels
    Anthony Daniels
    • C-3POas C-3PO
    • (voice)
    Kenny Baker
    Kenny Baker
    • R2-D2as R2-D2
    Frank Oz
    Frank Oz
    • Yodaas Yoda
    • (voice)
    Terence Stamp
    Terence Stamp
    • Chancellor Valorumas Chancellor Valorum
    Brian Blessed
    Brian Blessed
    • Boss Nassas Boss Nass
    • (voice)
    Andy Secombe
    Andy Secombe
    • Wattoas Watto
    • (voice)
    • (as Andrew Secombe)
    Ray Park
    Ray Park
    • Darth Maulas Darth Maul
    Lewis Macleod
    Lewis Macleod
    • Sebulbaas Sebulba
    • (voice)
    Warwick Davis
    Warwick Davis
    • Waldas Wald…
    • Director
      • George Lucas
    • Writer
      • George Lucas
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Here's Your Cheat Sheet for the 'Star Wars' Saga

    Here's Your Cheat Sheet for the 'Star Wars' Saga

    With the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, this is the perfect opportunity to recap the epic space opera audiences have enjoyed for over 40 years.
    View the Force
    Image caption not available
    8:18

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The evil Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray is planning to take over the peaceful world of Naboo. Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to confront the leaders. But not everything goes to plan. The two Jedi escape, and along with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks head to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala, but droids have already started to capture Naboo and the Queen is not safe there. Eventually, they land on Tatooine, where they become friends with a young boy known as Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon is curious about the boy, and sees a bright future for him. The group must now find a way of getting to Coruscant and to finally solve this trade dispute, but there is someone else hiding in the shadows. Are the Sith really extinct? Is the Queen really who she says she is? And what's so special about this young boy? —simon
    • r2 d2 character
    • c 3po character
    • jedi
    • torso cut in half
    • slavery
    • 358 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Fantasy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG for sci-fi action/violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Liam Neeson was so eager to be in the film that he signed on without having read the script.
    • Goofs
      Some naturalists have stated that Watto's wings weren't big enough to lift his body in flight. George Lucas explains that Watto's digestive system filled his rotund belly with helium, making Watto a blimp, not a bird.
    • Quotes

      Obi-Wan: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future.

      Qui-Gon Jinn: But not at the expense of the moment.

    • Crazy credits
      Jabba The Hutt - Himself
    • Alternate versions
      The 2011 Blu-ray version replaces the Yoda puppet with a computer generated Yoda.
    • Connections
      Edited into Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

    User reviews3.9K

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Greed can be a very powerful ally.
    Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace is written, produced and directed by George Lucas and stars Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd and Ian McDiarmid. The fourth film released in the Star Wars franchise, it is, however, the first of three prequels that lead up to Star Wars that was released in 1977. Plot basically follows Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Neeson) and his apprentice padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor), who escort and protect Queen Amidala (Portman) from Naboo to Coruscant in the hope of finding peace as an interplanetary trade dispute starts to boil over. During the journey the party stops over at Tatooine and encounter a young boy named Anakin Skywalker. The Jedi feel the force is strong with young Skywalker and enlist him into the group with the intention of training him to become a Jedi Knight. Meanwhile, as hostilities escalate in the galaxy, the mysterious Sith is moving into the equation.

    The most anticipated movie of all time arrived in 1999, hyped into the stratosphere, the fanfare and bunting stretched from Hollywood to the far corners of the cinema loving world. Perhaps unsurprisingly? The Phantom Menace failed to meet the expectation of Star Wars fans and critics alike. That the film in box office receipts alone made almost $930 million, has, tended to be forgotten. But that's not to say the film deserved such rich financial rewards, because all told it didn't. It's not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a fun movie experience, and in retrospect it can be said that Lucas and co learnt from the film to make the next two film's in the series better. Mistakes were made, for sure, but for action and intrigue the film scores points well enough.

    On a personal note, I was one of the fans who came out of the cinema after watching it the first time and hated it. So whilst I wasn't one of the "fans" who at the time accused Lucas of ruining childhood memories, I was suitably annoyed to stay away from the film for over ten years. After the prequel trilogy had run its course, I was often asked by some film loving friends to give "Menace" another go. Their argument was that free of hype and expectation, "Menace" can really be enjoyed as a sort of popcorn and beer sci-fi blockbuster. And they were right. Watching it sparkle in HD and disassociating it with those golden memories of 77, 80 and 83, it has much to enjoy. Sure the old problems still exist, dodgy acting (why is McGregor playing it so fey?), Binks (aargh), fart gags (really Mr. Lucas? Really?), close to the knuckle racial stereotyping and the absence of a Hans Solo type to stir the blood of both sexes. While of course the writing is borderline tepid, full of a need to explain things and prove itself as a reason to exist. So yes, full of flaws (many others exist for different people of course), but the whizz bangery of the action and set pieces keep it, to my mind, far away from stinker status.

    The pod race, a souped up extension to Return of the Jedi's speed-biker pursuits, is one of the series' highlights, as is the showdown between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Darth Maul (Ray Park), a superbly cool villain with an even cooler double ended light sabre. The latter of which is excellently scored by John Williams and features top notch choreography. The battles widen the eyes and the ears, notably the Droid army versus the Gungan's, and there's a whole host of new creatures and aliens to get acquainted with (check out those underwater beasties). The charge of CGI overkill is a fair one, and this issue is a more prominent problem in standard HD, never mind the Blu-ray, as the non human characters look too obviously CGI next to the human's. Which is just another reason to pick apart what's wrong with the Phantom Menace. But why do that? Sit back, relax, munch some snacks and sip that beer, it's not that bad a movie experience. Honestly. 7/10
    helpful•36
    24
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Feb 15, 2011

    FAQ24

    • How do the Gungans lose their shield generator in the droid battle? When the generator is hit the shield is still active until it explodes so how did the droids do that if as we see the shield blocks all laser fire even from the tanks?
    • When does this take place in the Star Wars timeline?
    • What is 'Phantom Menace' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 19, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Lucasfilm Ltd. [United States]
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Sanskrit
    • Also known as
      • Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
    • Filming locations
      • Sidi Bouhlel, Bouhlel Sdada, Tunisia
    • Production company
      • Lucasfilm
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $115,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $474,544,677
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $64,820,970
      • May 23, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,027,082,707
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 16 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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