The Star Wars prequel trilogy is one of the more controversial entries into the Star Wars film canon. Upon their release, they were often mocked or given grudging praise at best, with many critics and fans viewing them as overindulgent films that lacked the same polish and impact as the original trilogy.
However, opinion has shifted over time, with some fans coming to believe that the prequels, although not perfect, are films with their own merits that are a valuable part of the franchise. Anyone will still admit they have plenty of flaws, with their writing and certain performances being common criticisms, but they also have their strengths.
10 They Have Some Of The Best Fight Scenes In The Franchise
One thing widely-appreciated about the prequel trilogy is the quality of its fight scenes. The lightsaber duels in films like A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back are beloved and powerful, but are held back by the stunt work and choreography of the time.
In the prequels, the fight scenes reach a higher level of intensity. The props are durable, the cinematography has improved, and most of the cast underwent high levels of stunt training. As a result, bouts like Obi-Wan's fight with Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, and Anakin and Obi-Wan's fateful duel in Revenge of the Sith are some of the most beloved in the franchise.
9 They Introduced A Beloved Era
For a long time, the story of Star Wars was the story of the Galactic Civil War, the galaxy-spanning conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. The Clone Wars were simply a throwaway reference, an old conflict that Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had fought in while young.
The prequel trilogy thrusts the Clone Wars to the forefront, and it has since become one of the most popular eras in the entire Star Wars franchise. The final conflict of the Galactic Republic, with heroic Jedi fighting on the front lines across the galaxy, has opened the series up to a plethora of new stories. Without the prequels, there would be no beloved works like Republic Commando or Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
8 They Explore Obi-Wan's Character
Obi-Wan Kenobi has been a fan-favourite character ever since A New Hope, where he serves as Luke's Jedi mentor and takes part in the first lightsaber fight ever put to film. Although beloved, Obi-Wan receives little exploration or character development in the original trilogy, a less important character than Luke, Han, or Leia.
In the prequels, Obi-Wan is one of the three main characters and the one who drives much of the action. Fans get a chance to look at the other sides of his character, from an inexperienced Padawan to one of the finest Jedi the Order has ever produced, and his characterization in the prequels has made him one of the franchise's most popular characters.
7 The Galaxy Feels Diverse And Alien
One of the more controversial choices in the prequels is the heavy use of CGI - despite also making use of practical effects - giving a radically different look and feel than the original trilogy. In the eyes of many, the CGI feels dated and fake compared to the more robust practical effects of the original films.
However, the CGI does have one advantage: the galaxy and its planets feel truly different from one another. They feel fantastical and unlike any place on earth, unlike the deserts and forests of the original trilogy. The different planets visited in the prequels, from Mustafar to Coruscant to Utapau, serve to make the galaxy feel truly large and diverse.
6 The Cast Has A Truly Impressive Pedigree
By the time of the prequels, Star Wars was the biggest franchise on the planet, beloved by nearly everyone with even a passing interest in films. As such, compared to the relatively unknown actors who made up the main cast of the original films, the prequels have their choice of big and impressive names.
As such, the prequels have a genuinely impressive cast list. Popular and successful actors like Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel L. Jackson all star in the prequels, giving beloved and entertaining performances. In the eyes of some, these performances are enough to make up for some of the trilogy's issues.
5 They Give The Chance To See Hundreds Of Jedi At Once
One of the central parts of Star Wars has always been the Jedi Order, the community of peacekeepers who are one part monk and one part laser sword-armed samurai. They captured the hearts of audiences even during the original trilogy, set in a time when the Jedi are vastly weakened and the audience never see more than one or two in the same scene.
The prequels take place in a very different galaxy, one where the Jedi are a powerful and active force. As such, there is far more opportunity for fans to see two, four, or hundreds of Jedi all active at the same time - such as in the climax of Attack of the Clones. This not only serves as major fan wish fulfillment but proves right the reputation of the Jedi in the original films.
4 Epic Set Pieces Abound
Along with the fight scenes, the prequels have a number of set pieces that fans love. Advances in technology, particularly CGI, allowed for higher-paced and grander-scoped sequences than the already-impressive efforts of the original films.
One of the most iconic examples is the podracing scene from The Phantom Menace, a sequence that was widely beloved even with the more tepid reaction to the rest of the film. However, the entire trilogy has space battles, chase scenes, and other high-octane sequences that have yet to be beaten in the series.
3 They Provide Context For The Galaxy
Famously, Star Wars begins with its fourth episode, showing the galaxy in media res within the grip of the Galactic Empire. There are vague references to the old Republic and the events that took place before the events of A New Hope, but they are few and far between, with the focus being firmly on the present.
The prequels do a reasonable job of taking the information given in the original trilogy and expanding on it, giving the backstory of the galaxy and several characters. There are some widely-decried plot holes and inconsistencies, but overall, the two trilogies together create a coherent story of a galaxy's fall to fascism and eventual liberation.
2 They Introduced Several Fan-Favorite Characters
One of the more enduringly popular aspects of the prequels is the characters. While the prequels have the infamous Jar-Jar Binks, they also manage to introduce a great many characters who fans appreciate far more.
Characters like Qui-Gon Jinn and Mace Windu have a popularity that far exceeds their screen time in the franchise, and even returning characters like Sheev Palpatine are made vastly more popular by their expanded roles. When fans discuss what they like about the prequels, characters like these often garner a mention.
1 The Music Is Still Incredible
The music of Star Wars has always been beloved, with its opening theme being one of the most iconic pieces of film score ever made. John Williams' work on the franchise is considered some of the finest in his career - with a lot of stiff competition in that area.
Williams returned for the prequels, and his score is as good in those films as it is in the original. Pieces like "Duel of the Fates," "Battle of the Heroes," and "Across the Stars" join "The Imperial March" and "The Force Theme" as some of Star Wars' most popular pieces of music, giving genuine weight and poignancy to many scenes.