When "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" premiered on May 19, 1999, it was greeted with an unprecedented level of fevered anticipation, surpassing even the most hyped movies before or since. This wasn't just any movie; it marked the return of the legendary "Star Wars" franchise after a hiatus of a generation. Moreover, it promised to be the first installment of a prequel trilogy that would chronicle the tragic tale of Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight destined to descend into darkness as Darth Vader.
Despite the breathless buildup and sky-high expectations (or perhaps, ironically, because of them), by the end of that summer, the consensus was overwhelmingly negative. "The Phantom Menace" was widely regarded as a colossal disappointment at best and a calamitous embarrassment at worst. Some criticized George Lucas's decision to kick off the story with a precocious nine-year-old Anakin (Jake Lloyd), who seemed out of place in the larger "Star Wars" universe. Others lambasted the slapstick antics and pidgin English of Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), hyped as the first-ever CG main character in a live-action movie, who became a polarizing figure among fans.
Despite its abysmal reputation, the film's financial prospects remained unaffected. It grossed a staggering $431 million domestically and $924 million worldwide, proving that even negative reviews couldn't dent its popularity. Over time, however, the negativity surrounding "The Phantom Menace" seemed to fade. Along with "Attack of the Clones" in 2002 and "Revenge of the Sith" in 2005, the film has been reclaimed by a new generation of fans who first encountered the prequel trilogy as children. In fact, according to multiple sources, "The Phantom Menace" has now been rehabilitated to the extent that it's the most viewed "Star Wars" movie on streaming platforms worldwide.
"The Phantom Menace" opens with a young Anakin living as a slave on the desolate planet of Tatooine. Among the familiar faces from the "Star Wars" universe are Ewan McGregor as the young and eager Obi-Wan Kenobi, who would later guide Luke Skywalker to the ways of the Force; Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine, who would eventually ascend to the throne as the Galactic Emperor and seduce an adult Anakin to the Dark Side; and the stalwart droids R2-D2 and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), who embark on their adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
In addition to these iconic characters, "The Phantom Menace" introduces several new faces played by renowned movie stars. Liam Neeson stars as Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan's Jedi Master; Natalie Portman portrays Padmé Amidala, the young queen of Naboo and Anakin's future wife; and Samuel L. Jackson takes on the role of Mace Windu, a powerful Jedi Master and prominent member of the Jedi Council.
And then there's Jar Jar, a character who became emblematic of both the film's detractors and its defenders. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of "The Phantom Menace," three Variety staffers with diverse histories with the film gathered to watch it again and share their thoughts on Gungans, podraces, lightsaber battles, and what — if anything — has changed about the movie after a quarter
