After 20 years, Star Wars “Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” is re-released in theaters across America. The beloved movie returned April 25, 2025, promoting the film for its upcoming release date anniversary on May 19. Filming began on June 30, 2003, and took a total of 21 months before George Lucas’ Revenge of the Sith made its debut, marking the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise.
Ethan Klassen, ‘27, watched Revenge of the Sith in theaters with his family for its re-release.
“Revenge of the Sith is one of my favorite movies of all time,” Klassen said. “Seeing its re-release in theaters was an incredible experience I will never forget.”
After its short six-day return, the film brought in $43.18 million worldwide, grossing $891 million globally since its original release. Now ranked second on charts for bringing in $25 million on its first weekend back, the film is only out-ranked by The Accountant 2 starring Ben Affleck.
Following the success of his first three films, director George Lucas began his continuation of a galaxy far far away. “Episode I – The Phantom Menace” premiered in theaters May 19, 1999, starring Jake Lloyd as a young Anakin Skywalker, a new addition to the Star Wars universe as Luke Skywalker’s father. After being taken in by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and said to be the chosen one, Anakin is trained in the ways of the Force and mentored by Kenobi after the death of his own master, Qui-Gon Jinn.
“Episode II – Attack of the Clones” stars Hayden Christensen as a teenage Anakin well along his Jedi journey of bringing balance to the Force. Proficient in dueling and a powerful warrior, Skywalker struggles with emotional immaturity, making rash decisions and showing his dark side after the death of his mother.
The third movie in the prequel trilogy, “Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” follows a matured Anakin Skywalker, a strong and passionate Jedi trained under his master Obi-Wan Kenobi and carrying out his duties as a knight of the council during a time of war. Haunted by dreams of his wife Padme Amidala’s death, Skywalker turns to a supposed friend for help. Palpatine, the chancellor and dominant politician, prepared young Skywalker from the very beginning, leading him down a path of power, blinded by revenge, all to save his wife’s life. Anakin performs acts under the new name of Darth Vader, betraying the Jedi and becoming a Sith. Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman reprise their roles in this film as Skywalker’s mentor and wife, facing a once good Jedi gone rogue.
The movie finally climaxes with a duel between an angry Anakin and a sorrowful Kenobi. Once a father and brother figure, Kenobi defeats Anakin and leaves him for dead, leading to Anakin’s transformation into Darth Vader as seen in the earlier movies. A heartbroken and pregnant Padme gives birth to twins Luke and Leia before passing away. The twins are separated and kept secret for their protection, where they would live their lives leading up to the events of “Episode IV – A New Hope.”
This third installment brought back fan favorite characters from the previous two films.
The movie’s intense fights and detailed choreography brought fans an experience like no other, showing George Lucas’ brilliance without the restraints of early 90s technology. His visions and ideas were endless, but Star Wars was not made without help. Lucas partnered with Rick McCallum for productions, Steven Spielberg for visual effects and John Williams for music, composing unforgettable and iconic scenes for movies 1-9. With an original budget of $113 million, less than its two predecessors in the trilogy, this movie far exceeded any expectations.
After being criticized for his acting ability, Hayden Christensen reprised his role as Anakin with hopes to change the dislike surrounding his character. Christensen has overcome the years of disrespect and hostility, becoming an icon of the Star Wars franchise. Taking into account all the hate, this movie still became a generational fan favorite. Iconic lines quickly became ingrained in the brains of fans. From “Hello there” and “It’s treason then” to “You were my brother, Anakin, I loved you.” This movie’s success cannot be sourced without its pop culture relevance. From 2005 until now, lines have been quoted by Star Wars fans of all generations.
Star Wars Celebration for 2025 took place in Tokyo, Japan, on April 18-20. With over 100,000 attendees traveling from more that 100 countries to experience the event, expectations of announcements and exhibits were shown to be high. Panels included highly favored actors and celebrities such as Hayden Christensen, Ryan Gosling, Jon Favreau, Rosario Dawson and even director George Lucas.
Fans were also given the opportunity to watch the original trilogy with live instrumentals, hearing music from “Episode IV – A New Hope”, “Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” and “Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.” New Star Wars merchandise and collectibles were a big part of the advertising, invigorating fans and immersing them in the widely loved trilogy. New shows and movies will be released to continue the Star Wars legacy, adding to the original stories and incorporating more characters.
Star Wars Celebration Announcements:
New movie Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling
New animated series Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord
New short apart of the animated Visions series: The Ninth Jedi
New movie: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Amidst all the publicity of Star Wars, Lucasfilm Animation or Lucasfilm Ltd is also celebrating its 20th anniversary after the company’s foundation in 2005. With its first major production being “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” in 2008, along with Episode III, this subdivision of Lucasfilm produced some of Star Wars’ most beloved projects. Lucasfilm began in 1971, first producing American Graffiti in 1973, a renowned success, profiting over $140 million worldwide. The pressure was on for Lucas, and his next movie would not disappoint.
Star Wars “Episode IV – A New Hope,” released in 1977, revolutionized both pop culture and the film industry. An instantaneous hit, the use of real models made the production more like an art than a movie. Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, Star Wars was everywhere. Its legacy would only continue to grow over its 47-year existence.
Junior Caleb Eldridge has been a part of the Star Wars fan base since childhood, admiring the original trilogy and the prequels.
“Star Wars has been a part of my life for years. It’s one of the first things I remember watching,” Eldridge said. “I love all the things that George Lucas created in that universe: the characters, the planets and the wonderful story. I hope Star Wars continues to bring that same feeling to many others.”
With multiple anniversaries, celebrations, new announcements, Disney nights and May the Fourth, fans can only hope that this means a new era for Star Wars. Desperate for change, these past few months have made the future of the saga very bright as producers try and revitalize the franchise. As master Yoda once said, “Do or do not, there is no try.” May the force be with you all!
To check out more Star Wars news, visit the official Star Wars website.
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