In the world of Star Wars, fans are always eager to know what’s next. Whether it’s a new movie, TV show, or book, the galaxy far, far away is always expanding.
Among the many questions that fans have asked over the years is “What is the 5th Star Wars movie called? “.
Well, the answer to that question depends on how you define “5th Star Wars movie”. If you’re talking about the fifth movie in terms of release order, then it would be “The Empire Strikes Back”, which was released in 1980. However, if you’re talking about the fifth movie in terms of chronological order within the Star Wars universe, then it would be “Attack of the Clones”, which was released in 2002.
Release Order vs Chronological Order
It’s worth noting that there is a difference between release order and chronological order when it comes to watching or discussing Star Wars movies. Release order refers to the order in which the movies were originally released in theaters, while chronological order refers to the order in which events occur within the story.
For example, if you watch the movies in release order (which is how most fans experienced them), you would start with “A New Hope” (released in 1977) and end with “The Rise of Skywalker” (released in 2019). However, if you watch them in chronological order (starting with events that occurred earliest within the story), you would start with “The Phantom Menace” (released in 1999) and end with “The Rise of Skywalker”.
The Fifth Movie: The Empire Strikes Back
Now let’s take a closer look at “The Empire Strikes Back”, which is widely considered one of the best Star Wars movies ever made. Directed by Irvin Kershner and written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas, this film picks up where “A New Hope” left off and follows Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo as they fight against the evil Empire.
One of the standout elements of “The Empire Strikes Back” is its darker tone. Unlike the first movie, which had a relatively happy ending, this one ends on a down note with the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke’s father. This twist shocked audiences at the time and has since become one of the most famous moments in movie history.
Attack of the Clones: The Fifth Chronological Movie
Moving on to “Attack of the Clones”, this movie takes place 10 years after the events of “The Phantom Menace” and follows Anakin Skywalker (now played by Hayden Christensen) as he becomes a Jedi Padawan and falls in love with Padmé Amidala (played by Natalie Portman). Meanwhile, the galaxy is on the brink of war as separatist forces threaten to break away from the Republic.
While “Attack of the Clones” received mixed reviews upon its release, it’s worth noting that it contains several important moments in Star Wars lore. For example, this is where we first see the Clone Army that will eventually be used by Palpatine to take over the Republic. We also get to see more of Anakin’s character development as he struggles with his emotions and his allegiance to both Padmé and the Jedi Order.
Conclusion
So there you have it – depending on how you look at it, either “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Attack of the Clones” could be considered the fifth Star Wars movie. Regardless of which one you prefer, both films are important parts of Star Wars history and have helped shape our understanding and appreciation of this beloved franchise.
Overall, whether you’re a diehard fan or just getting into Star Wars for the first time, it’s always worth exploring the different movies and seeing how they fit into the larger narrative. With so much rich storytelling to choose from, there’s always something new to discover in the galaxy far, far away.
- Release order: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker.
- Chronological order: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Solo: A Star Wars Story (optional), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (optional), A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker.
