Henry Walker
Star Wars: Episode III returns to theaters this April for the first time in 20 years!
Lucasfilm is preparing for a massive celebration as it sets a date to re-release a beloved Star Wars film. However, you may be shocked to hear that it came out before so many of us were even born!
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith first debuted in theaters 20 years ago, on May 19, 2005. It was the final film in George Lucas’s Prequel Trilogy, which began in 1999 with Episode I: The Phantom Menace and continued in 2002 with the release of Episode II: Attack of the Clones. While this particular trilogy wasn’t received as well by audiences, most fans agree that this finale stuck the landing, providing a perfect segway into the Original Trilogy. To celebrate this classic film’s twentieth anniversary, Lucasfilm is re-releasing Revenge of the Sith in select theaters across the country, allowing fans to relive this iconic cinematic experience!
The film centers around a younger Anakin Skywalker as he is slowly turned to the dark side by the soon to be emperor, Sheev Palpatine. Anakin balances an abundance of things, including a secret family, a friendship with his Jedi master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his Jedi duties all at once, stressing him out so much that he turns to the Sith who ultimately corrupts him. The movie contains dramatic heart-to-heart moments and epic lightsaber duels, with an iconic battle of heroes over a river of lava. Revenge of the Sith doesn’t disappoint when it comes to excitement, and it perfectly balances the plot with the action. This balance even earned the film an 80% “Certified Fresh” score according to Rotten Tomatoes. See their full ranking of each Star Wars movie here.
CAST AND STORY
Revenge of the Sith included a phenomenal cast starring actors such as Hayden Christenson and Ewan McGregor. The supporting cast was formed by Natalie Portman, Ian McDirmid, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jimmy Smits. Anthony Daniels and Frank Oz returned for this film as well to reprise their roles as C-3PO and Master Yoda, respectively. The film also provided a glimpse into the future of the franchise with actors like Genevieve O’Reilly, Joel Edgerton, and Bonnie Piesse. They would later return in the 2022 series Andor and Obi-Wan Kenobi as Mon Mothma and Owen and Beru Lars respectively. This cast had amazing chemistry and allowed for some of the most dynamic Star Wars sequences of all time. Fans should remember McGregor’s heartbreaking performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi, delivering beautiful and iconic lines such as, “It’s over, Anakin. I have the high ground.” and “You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.” The screenwriters for this movie were true geniuses, creating some of the most iconic and memorable lines in cinema history. Palpatine’s famous line, “The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural,” was incredible, and even made a return in Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker! Each actor put 110% of effort into their performances and delivered lines crafted by the most talented writers in Hollywood.
OVERALL VISUAL EFFECT
The visual effects for Revenge of the Sith are outstanding and create some of the most memorable parts of the film. As far as the imagery is concerned, the duel over Mustafar has it all! What could possibly be better than a laser sword battle over a river of glowing red lava?! The film used both visual and practical effects, though it was one of the more influential movies and set the modern precedent for VFX shots. Without Episode III, the techniques for VFX and its blending with “real-time” filming wouldn’t be possible for many movies today! Examples of movies and shows that use these strategies include The Mandalorian (2019), the Avatar films (2009 – Present), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Like other films such as Jurassic Park (1993) or The Matrix (1999), Revenge of the Sith paved a way forward for VFX and computer generated visuals that continue to influence cinema and film-making to this day.
THE ICONIC SCORE
Any fan of Star Wars or even movies in general should recognize the name John Williams. Known for his high movie scores, Williams has driven the Star Wars franchise since its beginning in 1977. His iconic Main Title floods the screen as the opening monologue rolls. As we continue, we hear the sweet notes of Princess Leia’s Theme and are charmed by the upbeat sounds of the Cantina Band. Soon Williams has us on the edge of our seats as The Last Battle unfolds. His other iconic Star Wars themes include The Imperial March, Yoda’s Theme, Luke and Leia, The Emperor, Victory Celebration / End Title, Duel of the Fates, Across the Stars, Rey’s Theme, The Spark, and The Rise of Skywalker. Revenge of the Sith has an outstanding soundtrack, helping us escape far, far away to get lost in a fantastical story. From The Battle Over Coruscant, to Anakin vs Obi-Wan, to Battle of the Heroes, this may be one of Williams’ greatest cinematic composing accomplishments of all time!
IMPACT ON CINEMA AND POP CULTURE
Star Wars was revolutionary in the film industry when it first released in 1977, and its influence has lasted for almost 50 years. When the franchise relaunched with The Phantom Menace in 1999, all sorts of people, including those who weren’t fans, were excited to see what would come next. While the first two prequel films were received with harsh backlash and criticism, they were certainly glad to have stuck with Lucasfilm through 2005 for this amazing finale. According to Brian Egan, Harrison’s band director and an avid fan of the franchise, “Revenge of the Sith was divisive because the shift to the Disney era of Star Wars frustrated a large amount of people, but so many others loved the cool transition into A New Hope.” Before Disney made Rogue One in 2016, Episode III was the most comprehensive bridge in the gap between the events of the prequel films and the original trilogy. “I loved how it helped expand the universe and it was great to see Anakin’s gradual descent to the dark side,” Egan commented. Revenge of the Sith shows how even the best of people in the world can fall victim to the force they claim to fight against. The deception of the Sith order had many real-world parallels, and fans enjoyed seeing this idea brought to life within the Star Wars galaxy.
Quite a few students at Harrison also had opinions on Episode III and its impact on pop culture and their lives. When asked for her input, sophomore Gwynevere Hill detailed how Revenge of the Sith was a very impactful movie for her and how she shares fond memories with her family watching it. “It was a movie my dad and I would watch together on weekends and led to great bonding moments and the series’ eventual introduction to my now Star Wars obsessed little brother,” Hill responded. This film is worth even more than its stunning visuals and masterful camera shots, providing sentimental value for so many viewers.
Apart from the personal memories this film has created, it also has formed pop culture and helped establish the high expectations we have for cinema today. Another Harrison student explained, “This 100% shaped culture, as you have people quoting the movies left and right, ‘Hello There’, ‘It’s over Anakin! I have the high ground!’, ‘I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire!’, ‘Your new Empire?’” The Star Wars films and Revenge of the Sith in particular have certainly created some of the most frequently used pop culture references, and they have defined what it means to be a fan of the franchise.
FUTURE OF STAR WARS
Without a major film release in the past year, Lucasfilm has had trouble captivating fans with new Star Wars content. Many series have received mixed feedback from the fanbase including series like Ahsoka, The Bad Batch, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Other shows like The Acolyte and The Book of Boba Fett were considered some of the lowest points of the franchise, with the latter facing backlash by fans who considered it a Mandalorian season 2.5, and the former being instantly cancelled after being deemed one of the worst overall productions in Star Wars history!
Despite these impediments in the franchise’s reputation, Lucasfilm has had several hits over the past six years, including the likes of Andor, The Mandalorian, and The Clone Wars. Now the studio is undoubtedly back on track with an impressive slate recently revealed at the Star Wars Celebration 2025 convention this April. As of this writing, Andor season 2 was just released on Disney Plus with an astonishing 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes for its first three episodes. There is plenty on the horizon for fans to look forward to, including Visions: Volume 3, Maul: Shadow Lord, and Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling!
Revenge of the Sith was an epic addition to the franchise when it was released 20 years ago, and its influence is still relevant today as one of the most beloved Star Wars films of all time. Its re-release this April allows fans to relive one of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time. For many, it may be the perfect bridge to cross over into a fresh era of awesome Star Wars material, providing hope for some skeptical fans. Whether Episode III shaped your life or just made you smile, it is indubitably one of the greatest works of cinematic art and is the absolute embodiment of the Star Wars community.