Star Wars: Every movie in the Skywalker Saga, ranked from worst to best

1. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

If there’s one thing that most Star Wars fans can agree on, it’s that The Empire Strikes Back is one of the strongest — if not the strongest — installments in the Skywalker Saga. The middle man between A New Hope, which sets up the original trilogy, and Return of the Jedi, which brings it to an uplifting close, The Empire Strikes Back arguably has the highest stakes of the three films.

For one, Episode V is when Luke truly begins to master his Jedi powers, seeking out the eccentric Master Yoda on the planet Dagobah to do so. Luke does a lot of growing up in the film, and his time with Yoda consists of some of the greatest scenes in the saga.

While Luke is off learning to wield the Force, his friends find themselves in a precarious situation running from the Empire. And this storyline gives fans some of the best banter between Han, Leia, Chewie, and Lando, all of whom became fan favorites after this movie (if they weren’t already following A New Hope).

The Empire Strikes Back also gives us the “I am your father” twist that, while somewhat predictable, is still one of the biggest and most important moments in Star Wars history.

Action, humor, suspense — The Empire Strikes Back has everything we love about Star Wars and more, so it’s no surprise it’s No. 1 on the list. And sure, it’s a close call between this film and Return of the Jedi — but we’re more inclined to go with this crazy film with all of its amazing twists and cliffhangers.

What’s your number one movie in the Skywalker Saga? What’s your least favorite? Sound off in the comments below.