The Star Wars franchise attained global popularity and critical acclaim thanks to the original trilogy’s success. However, the prequel era of the franchise failed to achieve the same level of reverence, with the first installment The Phantom Menace, proving to be extremely divisive and becoming the most hated entry.
Decades after The Phantom Menace premiered, The Acolyte was released to similarly divisive reactions. In the process, The Acolyte became the most hated television series set in the Star Wars universe. While the show’s reputation is unlikely to improve, the film has managed to redeem itself in the eyes of fans, and here is what they had to say.
Most Hated Star Wars Movie The Phantom Menace Continues to Redeem Itself Among Fans
The Phantom Menace flew into the theaters in 1999, marking the start of the prequels era. Star Wars creator George Lucas returned to the franchise and directed the movie, which received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. As a result, The Phantom Menace became the most divisive film in the space opera saga.
Despite the initially negative reactions, the film has managed to achieve appreciation from the fans. In 2024, the film completed twenty-five years and was re-released in theaters. As a result, more and more fans came to appreciate The Phantom Menace.
On Reddit, user @Nature_man_76 shared their experience of revisiting the film in theaters. The user praised the film, admitting their love for The Phantom Menace and its various aspects in the following words:
This movie holds a special place for me. I was a fan before this came out but it was the first one I was able to see in theaters.
The user made the above statement, highlighting the movie’s lightsaber duels as some of the best in the franchise. Following the user’s comments, other fans also shared their appreciation for the movie.
Most fans agreed that The Phantom Menace was a much better movie than it gets the credit for. However, some users admitted that increasing Anakin’s age and making him a teenager would have solved many of the film’s issues. Nonetheless, it is safe to say that the movie enjoys a much better standing in the fandom than before.
Most Hated Star Wars Series The Acolyte Canceled After One Season
Since the release of The Phantom Menace, no other entry in the franchise has received as polarizing reactions as the film aside from The Acolyte. Created by Leslye Headland, the series premiered in June 2024, receiving mixed reviews from fans and critics.
The series was heavily criticized for its storytelling and pacing issues, with reactions turning increasingly negative as the season progressed. Furthermore, the season 1 finale also failed to stick the landing despite setting up a potential second installment.
In August 2024, the series was reportedly canceled after just one season. The first season finale had set up potential storylines for season 2, including cameos from Darth Plageuis and Master Yoda, furthering its connections to the franchise’s overall lore.
Ultimately, it seems like The Acolyte‘s standing among the fanbase won’t be improving anytime soon, especially since the series will not get a second chance to impress the fandom. Hence, it is safe to say that the show’s fate contrasts that of The Phantom Menace, which managed to redeem itself.
The Star Wars movies and shows are streaming on Disney+.
