Star Wars: Coast to Coast
What do fans consider the all-time greatest Star Wars movie? The answer depends on what part of the country you’re in.
Photo: 20th Century Fox
On December 20, Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Rise of Skywalker will open in theaters, ending a trilogy that started with The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. And with that, the House That George Built will come to an end (for now), hopefully leaving longtime fans with a proper send-off.
Over the last four decades, feelings regarding the franchise and particular episodes from the assorted trilogies have shifted as new attitudes and insights lead fans to discover the older movies with a fresh set of ideas and eyes. For example, those who were once burned by The Phantom Menace might now have kids who look upon Episode I as a perfect kiddie movie. And some Gen Xers who loathed Ewoks have a new appreciation for them after enduring Jar Jar.
Love for each of the episodes appears to vary widely, however, from region to region. What is considered an unacceptable chapter in droid drama in California might be regarded a masterpiece in Florida. A franchise favorite in Georgia might be considered a disappointment in Washington. A surprisingly wide range of different views, thoughts, and misgivings about each of the individual Star Wars chapters exists across the US.
Here’s an episode-by-episode look at how each individual Star Wars episode is perceived by fans in every part of the country.
NOTE: On the maps featured below, blue represents upvotes, while red represents downvotes. The darker blue a region is, the more positively they feel about the movie in question — the darker red it is, the more negatively they feel.
The Prequel Trilogy Becomes Southern Tradition
Photo: Ranker
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Twenty years ago, before you could call up a theater to reserve seats for a screening, fans would have to stand in line for days for the chance to see a movie as highly anticipated as Phantom Menace was in 1999. But thanks to Jar Jar Binks, the irritating antics of a young Anakin Skywalker, and bloated storyline regarding intergalactic politics, it is safe to say that fan disappointment after the film’s release was as palpable as the Force itself.
Two decades later, and Phantom Menace divides a country almost down the middle. The Mountain, Southwest, and West Coast regions still nurse a grudge, while the East Coast and Midwest seem to be more forgiving of the controversial prequel. And in the South, Episode I is downright beloved.
Photo: Ranker
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
In 2002, as Anakin and Padme romped down green, grassy hills and talked about their mutual dislike for sand, audiences grew impatient with the franchise, looking for fewer romantic picnic scenes and more lightsaber battles.
As the years passed, more and more fans began to appreciate a fightin’ Yoda, especially in the South. Every other region sees Episode II as mediocre at best, and downright disgraceful at worst. But once again, fans living below the Mason-Dixon line prove to be the prequels’ biggest supporters.
Photo: Ranker
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Southern hospitality continues to stand strong in support of the final installment in the prequel series, though this time the South is not the only region to feel positively about the movie — Revenge of the Sith got a decent reception in the Midwest, as well. However, negative reviews poured in from the Mountain region, the West Coast, and the Northeast.
Everyone Still Adores the Original
Episode IV: A New Hope
The movie that started it all remains one of the most beloved entries in the entire franchise, bringing the entire nation together in its open adoration for the 1977 classic.
Everyone adores the movie, though it appears some areas love it more than others — the hard-to-please Mountain region is slightly less enthused about their love for A New Hope.
Photo: Ranker
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
And the love fest continues with Empire, as the entire nation falls in line to adore the darkest chapter in the franchise. As Han and Leia declare their love for each other (sort of) and Luke continues his Jedi training, everyone from coast to coast agrees this chapter is among the best in the saga.
Photo: Ranker
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Blame the adorable little Ewoks and their happy “Yub Nub” song for the mixed emotions surrounding Jedi. While no region is completely against Episode VI, there’s no denying that there’s some ambivalence about the chapter’s upbeat story, especially in the Mountain region.
In a majority of the United States, the “final” chapter to the space saga is well liked, even beloved.
Photo: Ranker
Photo: Ranker
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
The Disney era of Star Wars movies began with Episode VII and the introduction of a new allies (Rey, Finn, Poe) along with old familiar faces (Han, Leia, Luke). Three decades after the fall of the Empire, the First Order has emerged as a new threat to the universe, this time led by Han and Leia’s son, Ben Solo, a.k.a. Kylo Ren.
Most Americans were happy with the continuation of their favorite sci-fi saga from the ‘70s — except on the West Coast, that is, where California, Oregon, and Washington apparently had strong negative feelings.
Photo: Ranker
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
The return of Luke Skywalker and Yoda, along with the introduction of Rose and the Porgs, apparently provoked a mixed reaction. The West Coast is divided on Episode VIII, while the Northeast is even less enthused. But the Mountain region, the South, the Southwest, and most of Middle America are happy with The Last Jedi.
And now for the most popular entry of the bunch …
Photo: Ranker
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The entire nation agrees that the standalone offshoot tale about getting the plans for the Death Star is a solid, if not superb entry in this epic franchise.
At the end of the day, Episodes IV through VIII remain the most beloved throughout the United States, with the outstanding exception of Rogue One. Less beloved is the prequel series, which may still need a little time to gain more cross-country appreciation.
Main takeaways:
Southern states like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kentucky are unwavering in their appreciation of the franchise as a whole.
The Mountain/Central region of the United States is by far the harshest on the entire franchise. The region, which includes Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Nebraska, and the Dakotas, hates the prequel trilogy the most. They go a little easier on A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Force Awakens.
Attack of the Clones is the only episode that’s disliked by a majority of readers in the Midwest. All other parts of the Star Wars franchise are enjoyed by the region, including Phantom Menace.
The Phantom Menace is the most widely beloved episode of the prequel trilogy, though it’s not a very high bar — it’s only approved of by 50% of the United States.
In the prequel trilogy, Attack of the Clones is the least liked.
When it comes to the original trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back is America’s favorite.
Of the Disney-era trilogy (or what exists of it so far), The Force Awakens is the most beloved.