Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
As the Clone Wars reach a desperate climax, a Jedi's internal struggle against the dark side leads to a transformation that will reshape the galaxy forever.
The story
Three years after the start of the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Knight Anakin Skywalker lead a mission to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from the cyborg Separatist commander General Grievous. After infiltrating Grievous's flagship in Coruscant's orbit, Obi-Wan and Anakin battle the Sith Lord Count Dooku, whom Anakin disarms and then executes at Palpatine's insistence. Grievous escapes the damaged ship before Obi-Wan and Anakin crash-land it on Coruscant. Anakin reunites with his wife, Padmé Amidala, who tells him she is pregnant. Soon after, Anakin is haunted by visions of Padmé dying in childbirth, similar to the vision he had of his mother before her death.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Three years after the start of the Clone Wars, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Knight Anakin Skywalker lead a mission to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from the cyborg Separatist commander General Grievous. After infiltrating Grievous's flagship in Coruscant's orbit, Obi-Wan and Anakin battle the Sith Lord Count Dooku, whom Anakin disarms and then executes at Palpatine's insistence. Grievous escapes the damaged ship before Obi-Wan and Anakin crash-land it on Coruscant. Anakin reunites with his wife, Padmé Amidala, who tells him she is pregnant. Soon after, Anakin is haunted by visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. Palpatine appoints Anakin to the Jedi Council as his representative, but the Council refuses to make him a Jedi Master. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan travels to Utapau and battles Grievous, ultimately killing him. Palpatine tempts Anakin with the dark side, promising it can save Padmé's life. Anakin deduces Palpatine is the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. When Mace Windu confronts Palpatine, Anakin intervenes to save Sidious, and is subsequently branded as Darth Vader. Sidious issues Order 66, leading to the massacre of the Jedi. On the volcanic planet Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Vader engage in a final duel, where Obi-Wan defeats Vader and severs his limbs. Padmé gives birth to twins, Luke and Leia, and dies shortly after. Sidious recovers the mutilated Vader, who is encased in a life-support suit. The film ends with the birth of the Galactic Empire and the separation of the twins.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 140
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George Lucas
- Writers
- George Lucas · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ewan McGregor · Obi-Wan Kenobi; Hayden Christensen · Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader; Natalie Portman · Padmé Amidala; Ian McDiarmid · Palpatine / Darth Sidious; Samuel L. Jackson · Mace Windu; Anthony Daniels · C-3PO; Kenny Baker · R2-D2; Frank Oz · Yoda; Christopher Lee · Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus
- Genres
- epic space opera; adventure; science fiction
- Themes
- fall from grace; fear; sacrifice; corruption
- Tone and mood
- dark; mature; tragic
- Premise and plot tags
- space opera; war; political intrigue
- Source material / true-story basis
- Star Wars film series
- Franchise connections
- Star Wars
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, with praise for the mature themes, darker tone, emotional depth, soundtrack and action sequences, although some criticism was reserved towards Lucas's screenplay; most considered it the best installment of the prequel trilogy.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 40
- Awards and nominations
- People's Choice Awards · Favorite Motion Picture · Won; People's Choice Awards · Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture · Won; Hollywood Film Festival · Hollywood Movie of the Year · Won; Empire Awards · Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film · Won; Empire Awards · Scene of the Year (The birth of Vader) · Won; Teen Choice Award · Choice Movie – Action · Won; Saturn Award · Best Science Fiction Film · Won; Saturn Award · Best Music · Won; MTV Movie Awards · Best Villain · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was the first Star Wars film to receive a PG-13 rating.; It features a record-breaking 2,151 shots that use special effects.; The film's title is a reference to the original title of Return of the Jedi, 'Revenge of the Jedi'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…