---
title: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace"
year: 1999
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace"
fi1m_id: "star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace"
imdb_id: "tt0120915"
tmdb_id: 1893
wikidata_id: "Q165713"
fi1m_score: 52
critics_score: 56
critics_reviews: 6
published: "2026-09-14"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:21.320039+00:00"
region: "PE"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Directed by George Lucas · 2h 16m · Adventure, Action, Science Fiction

## Identity

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace
- **IMDb ID:** tt0120915
- **TMDB ID:** 1893
- **Wikidata ID:** Q165713
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120915/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1893, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q165713

**Fi1m score: 52** · Critics 56 from 6 reviews

*In a sentence:* The podrace is exciting enough to make the next conversation feel like a punishment

> George Lucas’s space adventure has fine action and a dispiriting amount of explanation. Liam Neeson and John Williams help, but neither can make the stiff conversations worth sitting through.

## Synopsis

George Lucas’s science-fiction adventure follows Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). Their stories unfold among unfamiliar creatures, cities and landscapes, with action that includes an escape from Otoh Gunga and a podrace. Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) also enter the story, alongside Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) and Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August). Anthony Daniels provides the voice of C-3PO, Kenny Baker plays R2-D2, and Frank Oz voices Yoda.

## Review

George Lucas’s *Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace* is a disappointment, despite some exciting action and considerable visual invention. It wants to introduce a galaxy full of people and creatures, but spends so long explaining things that the adventure repeatedly stalls. Lucas the writer gives his actors dialogue that sounds difficult to say with any conviction. At 136 minutes, there is ample time to notice how rarely anyone seems pleased to be talking to anyone else.

Liam Neeson gives Qui-Gon Jinn a calm authority, speaking the explanatory dialogue as though somebody might reasonably need to hear it. He makes the character good company, which is more useful here than another creature or another impressive view. Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala are much less engaging, though the stiffness belongs at least partly to Lucas’s writing and direction. Their exchanges seldom reveal enough temperament to make us anticipate the next one.

Jake Lloyd has a harder job still as Anakin Skywalker, because Lucas places so much importance on a child without giving him enough interesting things to say. The performance can be wearing, but blaming the child for the dialogue would conveniently excuse the adult who wrote and directed it. Ahmed Best’s Jar Jar Binks at least provides a different rhythm. The broad comedy grows tiresome through repetition, and it is asked to supply more warmth than it can manage.

Gavin Bocquet’s production design gives Coruscant the scale of a city worth exploring, and the otherworldly settings keep offering something new to inspect. David Tattersall’s cinematography is less consistently helpful to the people occupying them. In the busier images, faces struggle to hold our attention against all the surrounding visual activity. The effects work is often impressive, but admiring the surroundings becomes a distraction when a scene needs us to listen to somebody.

Paul Martin Smith and Ben Burtt’s editing works much better in the podrace, where movement supplies an urgency missing from so many conversations. We were thrilled by it. The speed and danger gave us a reason to care about Anakin that did not require another explanation. It is a substantial pleasure, though the contrast makes the sluggish stretches elsewhere harder to excuse.

John Williams is another reason to stay with it. His music for the lightsaber duel, *Duel of the Fates*, gives the fighting a gravity that the dialogue has struggled to establish. The sequence can be enjoyed without untangling every preceding explanation, which is a relief. Williams provides a sense of danger and consequence, and the action is strong enough to deserve the music.

Space adventures need companions whose company is worth keeping between the dangerous bits, and Neeson cannot do that job for the entire cast. Lucas’s direction too often leaves the others stranded in solemn exchanges or broad comedy, with little chance to establish a personality. The race and the duel are good enough to explain the film’s defenders, but they do not make the intervening stretches rewarding. Approach it only if an elaborate action sequence is worth a long wait.

*Fi1m score 52, published 14 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on The Phantom Menace is mixed, with praise clustering around its visual invention and individual action sequences rather than its storytelling. The pod race and lightsaber duel repeatedly emerge as highlights, while the imagined worlds and cityscapes impress even some disappointed critics. The more enthusiastic reviews find lively family escapism and a recognisable sense of adventure. Several others acknowledge the technical achievement but find little emotional warmth behind it.

Reservations centre on heavy exposition, tangled plotting, stiff performances and digital effects that overwhelm the actors. The spread is wide: The Telegraph celebrates Lucas’s inventiveness and welcomes Jar Jar Binks, while The Guardian finds the film boring, its acting poor and Jar Jar irritating. Even the effects divide opinion, admired for their scope but criticised elsewhere for visual clutter and lack of weight. The central disagreement is how much those spectacles compensate for the weaknesses in character and story.

## Straight answers

**Is Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace worth watching?**

*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* is a disappointment we cannot recommend, and we scored it 52. The podrace and the lightsaber duel are exciting, and Liam Neeson and John Williams's music help, but the stiff, explanatory conversations between them stall the adventure for long stretches. Approach it only if one elaborate action sequence is worth a long wait.

**How long is Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, and what is it rated?**

*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* runs 2h 16m. It is an adventure and action film.

**Where can I watch Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace in Peru?**

*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* is streaming on Disney+ in Peru. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace compare to Return of the Jedi?**

*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* is the weaker of the two; [*Return of the Jedi*](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi) is the better evening despite its own flaws. The earlier film has a thin romance and overindulged Ewoks, but it is good fun when its creatures and chases have room. The later one has the finer set pieces yet buries them in stiff explanation.

**Do you need to have seen the other Star Wars films before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace?**

*Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* is the first chapter in story order and needs no earlier viewing to follow. It was made after the original films, so knowing them adds recognition rather than understanding. As a starting point it is a poor advertisement for the series, since the sluggish conversations outnumber the strong action.

**What should I watch after Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace?**

After *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace*, try [*Flash Gordon*](https://film.one/film/flash-gordon) (1980, Fi1m 70): For colourful space spectacle with less solemnity and a healthier sense of nonsense. Then [*Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind*](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind) (1984, Fi1m 85): For imaginary landscapes whose inhabitants give us reasons to care about them; and [*The Fifth Element*](https://film.one/film/the-fifth-element) (1997, Fi1m 73): For crowded future cities, peculiar creatures and performers allowed to have fun.

**What order should I watch the Star Wars films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Star Wars, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/star-wars) lists them in. *Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace* is number 4 of the 9 Star Wars titles on Fi1m; before it comes [*Return of the Jedi*](https://film.one/film/return-of-the-jedi) and after it [*Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones*](https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-ii-attack-of-the-clones). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md)

### Reviews we read (11)

- **The Telegraph**, Andrew O'Hagan (90/100, inferred): The critic praises the film as one of the most deliriously inventive in years, highlighting George Lucas's genius for adventure narrative and spectacular visual effects. Jar-Jar Binks is singled out as a new star who will soon be as loved as Winnie-the-Pooh. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/star-wars-episode-phantom-menace-review-daring-beautiful/)
- **Total Film** (75/100, inferred): The review calls it fantastic fluffy fun-for-all-the-family escapism worth the hype for most viewers, highlighting the pod race, visuals, and action sequences while noting it falls short of being a masterpiece and has flaws in plotting and acting direction. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace-review/)
- **Empire**, Colin Kennedy (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the film undermined by its choice to introduce a young, whiny Anakin Skywalker and excessive exposition, but praises the visual design on Coruscant, the pod race, the lightsaber duel with Duel of the Fates, and Liam Neeson's performance as Qui-Gon. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/star-wars-episode-phantom-menace-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (10/100, inferred): The critic finds the film boring and disappointing, criticizing the uniformly bad acting and irritating characters like Jar Jar Binks. It prioritizes FX and merchandise over any real effort to engage the audience with story or characters. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/1999/jul/16/11)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan: The prequel is a considerable letdown that is serviceable but noticeably lacking in warmth and humor, and ponderous from a dramatic point of view. Its visual strengths are real and considerable, especially in creating other worlds and cityscapes. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-18-ca-38249-story.html)
- **Sight and Sound**, Andrew O'Hehir: The critic finds the film a lost opportunity with leaden visuals, a tangled story full of expository waffle, offensive stereotypes, and lacking narrative coherence, though praising the battle sequences and lightsaber duel. It suffers by comparison to the original Star Wars. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/star-wars-episode-i-phantom-menace-archive-review-leaden-looks-laboured-quest)
- **Slant Magazine**, Calum Marsh: The critic calls the film a cold and lifeless unique disaster overwhelmed by excessive digital effects and visual busyness, with incoherent action and ridiculous elements like Jar Jar Binks that make it an unforgettable awful cash grab. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck: The critic praises the brilliant technical achievement and dazzling special effects in the pod race and lightsaber duel but criticizes the film for lacking emotional resonance, featuring an underdeveloped story focused on merchandising, and relying on silly humor and uncharismatic performances. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/star-wars-phantom-menace-review-752675/)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin: The film sustains the gee-whiz spirit of the series and offers a swashbuckling extragalactic getaway with plausible illusions and lively space beings. It is a happy surprise that stays busy and viewer-friendly in its exotic settings. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/19/movies/film-review-in-the-beginning-the-future.html)
- **Den of Geek**, N P (3/5): The film retains its original faults including a boring pace, first-draft screenplay feel and cartoonish CGI effects that lack weight. It excels in its two standout set pieces, the podrace and the climactic lightsaber duel, along with John Williams' score. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace-3d-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (40/100, inferred): The critic finds the plot incomprehensible and the dialogue stilted, with live actors overshadowed by excessive CGI effects and creatures. He singles out the visual spectacle and effects work for entertainment value while noting the story fails to engage. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/star-wars-episode-1-the-phantom-menace-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** George Lucas
- **Director:** George Lucas
- **Writer:** George Lucas
- **Cinematography:** David Tattersall
- **Editor:** Ben Burtt, Paul Martin Smith
- **Music:** John Williams
- **Production design:** Gavin Bocquet
- **Costume design:** Trisha Biggar
- **Producer:** Rick McCallum
- **Cast:** Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn; Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi; Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala; Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker; Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine; Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker; Oliver Ford Davies as Governor Sio Bibble; Hugh Quarshie as Captain Panaka
- **Runtime:** 2h 16m
- **First release (the US):** 16 May 1999
- **Genres:** Adventure, Action, Science Fiction
- **Part of:** [Star Wars](https://film.one/collections/star-wars.md) · 4 of 9
- **Budget:** $115 million
- **Box office:** $1.05 billion
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3kyYFHdRsM

## Where to watch in Peru

- Disney+: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-14.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IL, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, UA, US, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2000: Best Sound (nominated); Best Sound Editing (nominated); Best Visual Effects (nominated)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 1999: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Thief of Bagdad* (1940): For strange creatures, palace intrigue and adventure that remembers to enjoy itself.
- *The Hidden Fortress* (1958): For an adventure that gives its bickering travellers personalities worth following.
- *Flash Gordon* (1980), Fi1m 70: For colourful space spectacle with less solemnity and a healthier sense of nonsense. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/flash-gordon.md)
- *Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind* (1984), Fi1m 85: For imaginary landscapes whose inhabitants give us reasons to care about them. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/warriors-of-the-wind.md)
- *The Fifth Element* (1997), Fi1m 73: For crowded future cities, peculiar creatures and performers allowed to have fun. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-fifth-element.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/star-wars-episode-i-the-phantom-menace