When it comes to the Star Wars franchise, there is no denying that CGI has played an increasingly important role in the films. From the early days of practical effects and puppetry to the more recent films with their advanced CGI technology, every Star Wars film has had its fair share of computer-generated imagery.
But which Star Wars movie has the most CGI? Let’s take a closer look.
The Prequel Trilogy
The prequel trilogy, consisting of “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones,” and “Revenge of the Sith,” was released between 1999 and 2005 and heavily relied on CGI. In fact, these movies are often criticized for their overuse of computer-generated effects.
One of the most notable examples is the character Jar Jar Binks, who was entirely created using CGI. The Gungan army in “The Phantom Menace” and the epic battle scenes in “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” also heavily relied on computer-generated imagery.
“Attack of the Clones”
Out of all three prequel movies, “Attack of the Clones” has been noted as having the most CGI. This movie’s opening scene alone features a massive space battle with countless droids and ships, all created using CGI.
Additionally, much of this film takes place on Coruscant, a bustling city planet that required extensive use of computer-generated backgrounds and set pieces.
The Sequel Trilogy
The sequel trilogy consists of “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and “The Rise of Skywalker.” These movies were released between 2015 and 2019 and made use of both practical effects and modern CGI technology.
While these movies do have their fair share of computer-generated imagery, they also rely heavily on practical effects. For example, BB-8 from “The Force Awakens” was an actual working robot on set, and the Porgs from “The Last Jedi” were puppets.
“The Last Jedi”
Out of all three sequel movies, “The Last Jedi” has been noted as having the most CGI. This movie features an epic space battle scene between the Resistance and the First Order, which required extensive use of computer-generated effects.
Additionally, this movie featured several new creatures that were entirely created using CGI, including the Fathiers and the Vulptices.
The Original Trilogy
Finally, we come to the original trilogy: “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and “Return of the Jedi.” These movies were released between 1977 and 1983 and relied heavily on practical effects and puppetry.
While these movies do feature some computer-generated imagery (such as the Death Star plans in “A New Hope”), it is minimal compared to later Star Wars films.
No Clear Winner
When it comes down to it, there is no clear winner for which Star Wars movie has the most CGI. While the prequel trilogy heavily relied on computer-generated effects, each film in the franchise has had its fair share of CGI.
Ultimately, what matters most is how well these effects are integrated into each movie’s story and overall aesthetic. And with advancements in technology continuing to push the boundaries of what is possible on screen, it will be interesting to see how future Star Wars films make use of CGI.
