I’m a huge Star Wars fan, but the best movie isn’t one of the classics—and it’s streaming on Disney+

I consider myself a part of many fandoms. Some come from my childhood, some from college and now as a young adult, but they all mean something to me on some level. It turns out that one of them is Star Wars.

For years, I have loved Star Wars franchise, mainly because I grew up with these films. But I must admit that the best Star Wars the cinema is not one of the classics of the 1970s and 1980s. No, it’s actually a rather new model and it’s time you give it the praise it deserves.

Rogue One is by far the best Star Wars movie

It’s simply unbeatable

Credit: Lucasfilm

So listen to me.

What are my credentials for saying this? Really, none, except for the fact that I grew up watching the entire franchise, as I’m sure most people reading this article did. I’m a fan whose brother was obsessed with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and whose father meticulously quoted Yoda as if he were real. I was raised on Star Warsboth the Star Wars movies and TV shows.

So I have to admit that I watched the first films several times, the prequel films several times, and of course, the subsequent films. And they’re all awesome. Trust me. They are. But for me, Thief One, otherwise known as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, is the best film in the series.

You can’t really top some of the iconic moments that have cemented themselves in cinematic history since the originals, like the legendary reveal of Darth Vader being Luke’s father, Han and Leia’s romantic exchange, and, of course, the epic lightsaber battles that occur in both the original films and the prequels.

But I think what makes Thief One the best Star Wars is that it’s the perfect film that takes place in the Star Wars universe, with a plot that matters without trying to be anything else. It does not aim to become bigger than it originally was: the story of a group of rebels who begins the entire history of A new hope thanks to what they did.

The characters make it even more captivating

My favorites come from here!

I think what really stands out Thief One these are the memorable characters. One of them was so memorable and beloved that Disney created a critically acclaimed TV show about the character. That’s how you know they were good.

But it wasn’t just about well-written characters with complex backstories and interesting comedic elements. They were friendly. I feel like I’m a lot Star Wars the characters fall into an unsympathetic trap.

There are a lot of likeable and memorable characters, but I’m not entirely sure their stories are as fleshed out, so it’s much easier to see their flaws. Honestly, I think a big reason fans didn’t like Rey as much was because her story didn’t seem as well told. They tried to make her bigger than she needed to be – her original story, of just being a random girl with the Force who had no connection to anything else, seemed much more original than her being a granddaughter of Palpatine.

This is what makes Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones), the main protagonist of Thief Oneso good. Yes, she’s the daughter of an Imperial scientist, but she doesn’t have any powers, secret abilities, or anything like that. She is a rebel who aims to help and is very human and imperfect but tries her best. These traits are found in every character we meet Thief Oneincluding Cassian Andor (Diego Luna).​​​​​​​

The action and special effects are top notch

The BEST blaster fights

Credit: Lucasfilm

I know for a fact that the following films took a bad rhythm in their action. It didn’t seem as well choreographed or as well executed as the special effects in the previous films. But with Thief One? It never looks like that.

I honestly believe it’s because the movie is more grounded in war than epic space battles and the movement of things with the force is constant. It’s about a group of humans and droids trying to work together to end the Empire. Most of them don’t really have powers, which leads to some really well-done sequences that feel real in a way where even we could relate to them.

Sure, there’s that epic final scene of Darth Vader destroying and killing everyone with his skills and strength, but it doesn’t feel pushed into the story. It feels authentically integrated into the storyline and done in a way that shows its power and how it connects to the overall story. This is an effective way to use this kind of power.

War focused action with a little hint of those special effects made this that much better.

The original films are always great, but this isn’t my favorite

Jyn and Cassian have my heart

I’m not saying I don’t like the original. Star Wars movies because it’s not. I love the originals and sequels with great passion. There’s a reason why most Star Wars board and card games center around these characters – we love them because we grew up with them.

From a theatrical perspective, with its captivating story, well-developed characters, and impressive effects, Rogue One stands out as the supreme leader of the series. I really can’t find anything wrong with this film in the grand chronology of Star Wars universe, and honestly, I wish we had more movies like this.

Based Star Wars it’s so much more accessible, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why Thief One is successful. As much as we love powers, the Force, and epic lightsaber battles, we’d all probably be like Jyn or Cassian, rebels trying to fight for the greater good. And I think it’s beautiful.

Either way, we’ll still have lots of new stuff Star Wars content soon, including a Darth Maul show, apparently. Maybe something new will surpass Thief One. But for now, I doubt it. And if you haven’t seen Thief Oneyou should check it out on Disney+.

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