Informational Article

The Phantom Menace

Star Wars The Phantom Menace is a 1999 American “space opera film” written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film released in the Star Wars saga, as the first of a three-part prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy. This was a weird way to do tings but it was done this way for technology purposes. The Phantom Menace was also Lucas' first production as director after a 22 year break.

The film follows the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, who escort and protect Queen Amidala in traveling from the planet Naboo to the planet Coruscant in the hope of finding “a peaceful end to a large-scale” trade dispute. The film also features a young Anakin Skywalker, before he became a Jedi, introduced as a young slave boy who seems to be unusually strong with the Force.

The Phantom Menace premiered in theaters on May 19, 1999. The film's premiere was accompanied by an extremely large number of Star Wars fans and a heavy amount media coverage, due to the large cultural following its first three movies. Despite mixed reviews by critics, who tended to “praise the visuals and action sequences but criticize the writing, characterization and acting,” it grossed $924.3 million worldwide during its initial run in theaters, making it the Star Wars film with the highest gross-income.