We’ve been obsessed with it for over 40 years. It holds the Guinness World Record for “most successful film merchandising franchise” of all time. It fundamentally changed what a Hollywood blockbuster is. And we don’t even want to know how many people have Jar Jar Binks tattoos.

Star Wars is arguably the biggest pop culture phenomenon this planet has ever seen - but, like a poignant two-sun Tatooine sunset, its epic 43-year-long saga has drawn to a close.

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker marks the definitive end of the Skywalker saga.

Now most of us have seen how it ends, here are the best Star Wars movies in the galaxy. So far…

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12. Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

Before Solo and Rogue One, there was this: the first ever Star Wars spin-off film. The made-for-TV Christmas special is an insane combination of 70s-tastic music performed by the band Jefferson Starship, baffling comedy skits, and circus juggling. It stars the original cast, and introduces us to Chewbacca’s family – including his son, Lumpy. It was so awful it has never been rebroadcast and never released on home video, but rumour has it that bootleg copies can be sourced from certain fans who have gone to the Dark Side. It’s still better than The Phantom Menace, though.

11. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

The Last Jedi gave us the most adorable addition to the Star Wars universe: Porgs. But the new, feathered creatures actually ended up in the film to save cash. The Irish island of Skellig Michael, where Luke’s Ach-to scenes were filmed, is home to a protected puffin species which couldn’t be moved for the sake of shooting. Using CGI to turn them into Porgs was simpler and less expensive than having to edit out each bird completely.

10. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

The Phantom Menace is a film loved by younger Star Wars viewers but derided by those who wanted a pure old-school Star Wars experience. The good is that the pod racing sequence is fantastic and frenetic and Darth Maul is a fantastic villain. The bad is that the rest of the movie is a boring mix of politics and midichlorian mumbling. Oh, and did we mention Jar-Jar?

9. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

After the animosity towards Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode - The Phantom Menace, the character’s role was diminished and his comic lines cut down for this second movie in the prequel trilogy. Much to many fans’ relief. However, the controversial character did have a significant part to play in the making of the movie. The working title of the film was Jar Jar’s Big Adventure. Perhaps it’ll be reused for a future Star Wars anthology spinoff.

8. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker

This is it, the end of Star Wars as we know it. The Rise of Skywalker is the final instalment in the nine-film Skywalker saga. Directed by JJ Abrams, it's a fitting end to the franchise (say some) and a movie that panders too much to the Star Wars fans and plays it safe (says others). It probably won't ever rank top, but this is a bombastic movie with a task that's near impossible.

7. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Solo, which stars Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, ten years before the events of A New Hope, may have been the first Star Wars movie to be considered a box office flop (not helped by the fact it is one of the most expensive movies ever made.) But the film’s writer, Jon Kasdan, has spoken out that he would like to see Han Solo partner with Jabba The Hutt in a future sequel. Now, the casting question we have to have answered: WHO would star as a sexy, young Jabba?

6. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

One of the most anticipated movies in human history, The Force Awakens brought the Skywalker saga back to the big screen, thirty years after the events of Return Of The Jedi. It also introduced us to new heroes Rey and Finn. His trooper name, FN-2187, refers not only to Princess Leia's cell in the first Star Wars, but also to ‘21-87’ - a 1964 short film that mentions a ‘Force’, and inspired George Lucas’s creation of the Star Wars universe.

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