Star Wars: Ranking All The Villains In The Prequel Trilogy – Screen Rant

Until Disneys sequel trilogy came along,Star Wars fansfailed to realize just how much imagination went into George Lucas prequels. They were pretty much universally maligned. However, one of the things the prequel trilogy has always been appreciated for is all the cool new Star Wars baddies it introduced.

There are a few rotten apples, as there always are (except in the original trilogy, of course), but the prequels were pretty dependable for villains. From Boba Fetts equally badass father to a Sith Lord with a double-bladed lightsaber who looks like the lipstick demon from Insidious, well be ranking all the villains in the Star Warsprequel trilogy.

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As the used-goods store proprietor who enslaved an eight-year-old boy and his mother, Watto is a pretty bad guy. But hes also, unfortunately, a pretty bad character. He was created with some of the earliest CGI technologies, so his look is bland and dated. Plus, his over-the-top, offensive mix of Eastern European and Italian accents is grating.

And thats not even the worst part. Hes also a hovering collection of ethnic stereotypes of both Jews and Arabs that many fans have rightly called out as anti-Semitic. The only thing about this character thats kind of cool is his ability to resist Jedi mind tricks.

As the Viceroy of the Trade Federation threatening to invade Naboo, Nute Gunray was the evil mastermind behind the most boring part of The Phantom Menace. The movie has far too many disputes about trade. Trade is not the aspect of the Star Wars universe that fans wanted to be fleshed out.

And when trade disputes interrupt Liam Neeson as a Jedi fighting a Sith Lord with a double-bladed lightsaber, its even more infuriating. Gunray was just a stepping stone to more dangerous, more important villains. Anakin slays Gunray on Mustafar at the end of Revenge of the Sith with basically no effort.

When Jango Fett was hired to assassinate Padm Amidala, he subcontracted the job to Zam Wesell, a fellow bounty hunter. Unfortunately for Wesell, Anakin and Obi-Wan had a watchful eye on Padm. Wesell sent in a couple of space worms to kill her, but Anakin spotted them and slashed them down with his lightsaber just in time.

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Then, he and Obi-Wan chased her across the Coruscant skyline to get some information about Padms would-be killer. George Lucas was inspired by Ridley Scotts seminal sci-fi neo-noir Blade Runner in the gorgeous design of Coruscant, and thats most evident in this scene.

The podracing set piece is one of the saving graces of The Phantom Menace. No matter what you think of the movie as a whole, its hard to deny that the podrace is a visceral thrill-ride. The visual effects are groundbreaking, the tracking shots are breathtaking, and the actual conflict at the center of the race is interesting.

Qui-Gon has placed a bet with Watto: if Anakin wins, hell have to free him. When Anakins closest rival, Sebulba, sabotages his podracer, it gives the sequence a dramatic crux. And the fact that Anakin manages to win anyway proves that he really is the chosen one.

Boba Fetts father had armor and a jetpack just like him, except his was purple where Bobas is green. This is a perfect case of if it aint broke, dont fix it. Boba Fett was cool in the original trilogy. Darth Vader had to tell him to tone down his violence, which is telling. George Lucas killed him off unceremoniously in Return of the Jedi because he didnt realize how popular hed become among fans.

He didnt make that mistake again, giving his father and clone template Jango, plenty of action in the prequels. His decapitation scene is both thrilling and heartbreaking.

Christopher Lee brought the same degree of delightful theatrical menace to Count Dooku a.k.a. Darth Tyranus that he brought to the role of Count Dracula in Hammers horror classics all those decades ago. The opening sequence from Revenge of the Sith is one of the most thrilling in the entire saga, as Anakin and Obi-Wan infiltrate a Separatist ship to liberate a captured Chancellor Palpatine.

There, they get into a lightsaber duel with Dooku. Anakin severs both of Dookus hands and he surrenders. But, encouraged by Palpatine, Anakin begins his path towards the dark side of the Force by mercilessly decapitating Dooku.

Armed with the lightsabers of the Jedi Knights hes killed, General Grievous is one of the most aesthetically interesting villains in the prequel trilogy. Hes mostly cybernetic, having lost everything other than his beating heart in a starship accident, and he has a skull-like head and four lightsaber-wielding metallic limbs. The character is also a brilliant pastiche of classical mustache-twirling baddie.

Fun fact about Grievous: After Gary Oldman dropped out of voicing the character, the producers held open auditions and Matthew Wood, an audio technician working on the movie, submitted his own under a fake name (to avoid bias). He ended up landing the role.

Anakin Skywalker doesnt become one of the prequel trilogys villains until thelast act of its final chapter, Revenge of the Sith. But when he does, he really cements himself as a bad guy. Palpatine seduces Anakin to the dark side of the Force by telling him about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis, and then Anakin promptly chooses to save the would-be Emperor over Mace Windu.

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He slaughters the Jedi younglings, hemurders the Separatists, he strangles Padm, and he fights Obi-Wan, all before havingeachof his limbs lopped off and being confined to a mechanical suit for the rest of his life.

Darth Mauls appearance from the red-and-black pattern on his face to the demonic horns on his head is arguably even more terrifying than Vaders. His double-bladed lightsaber makes him stand out, while his animalistic determination to kill is truly disturbing.

And Maul doesnt just look cool. Like all great villains, he pushes the hero, Obi-Wan Kenobi, to the end of his emotional journey. By killing Qui-Gon Jinn, Maul provides Obi-Wan with a do-or-die moment to finish what his mentor couldnt. When he acts recklessly out of anger in pursuit of revenge, Obi-Wan ends up hanging from a bottomless pit. Only when he focuses and channels the Force is he able to defeat Maul and avenge his fallen Master.

Palpatine was a major villain in every Star Wars trilogy. He took over the Galactic Senate and corrupted Anakin Skywalker in the prequels, he pulled Darth Vaders puppet-strings and led the Empire in the original trilogy, and he was retconned as the mastermind behind Supreme Leader Snoke in the sequel trilogy.

The prequels gave Ian McDiarmid the best chance to explore this character. He plays the deceptively meek, mild-mannered politician with an air of campiness, and plays the all-powerful, manipulative Sith Lord with a snarling menace. Its really mesmerizing. And he became the source of endless iconic quotes and moments.

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Ben Sherlock writes about movies, TV, and comics for Screen Rant and CBR. He also directs short films (when he has the money), performs standup comedy filled with pop culture references, and bores people with Star Wars trivia.

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Star Wars: Ranking All The Villains In The Prequel Trilogy - Screen Rant

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