What is the Longest Star Wars Movie? An Exploration of the Lengthiest Film in the Space Opera Franchise

An Overview of the Longest Star Wars Movie

The Star Wars franchise is one of the most iconic and beloved franchises in cinematic history. From its first theatrical release in 1977, Star Wars has spawned an entire universe filled with captivating stories and characters that have enthralled audiences for generations. With nine main installments and numerous spin-offs and animated features, the franchise has become a global phenomenon.

But which Star Wars movie is the longest? The answer may surprise you – the longest Star Wars movie is the 2019 installment, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This installment clocked in at a whopping two hours and twenty-two minutes, making it the longest Star Wars movie ever released.

Exploring the Lengthiest Star Wars Film

To understand why Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the longest Star Wars movie, we must first examine the runtimes of all the other films in the franchise. Below is a list of the runtimes of each Star Wars movie, starting with the original 1977 film:

• Star Wars (1977): 121 minutes
• The Empire Strikes Back (1980): 124 minutes
• Return of the Jedi (1983): 131 minutes
• The Phantom Menace (1999): 136 minutes
• Attack of the Clones (2002): 142 minutes
• Revenge of the Sith (2005): 140 minutes
• The Force Awakens (2015): 135 minutes
• The Last Jedi (2017): 152 minutes
• The Rise of Skywalker (2019): 142 minutes

As we can see, the longest Star Wars movie is The Last Jedi, followed closely by The Rise of Skywalker. However, when we look at the average runtime of all nine films in the franchise, we see that The Rise of Skywalker is actually the longest movie in the series. The average runtime of all nine films comes to exactly 137 minutes, meaning that The Rise of Skywalker clocks in at just over five minutes longer than the average.

A Comparison of the Runtime of All Star Wars Films

Now that we know which Star Wars movie is the longest, let’s take a look at how the runtimes of each movie compare. Below is a ranking of all nine films in the franchise from shortest to longest:

1. Star Wars (1977)
2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. Return of the Jedi (1983)
4. The Phantom Menace (1999)
5. Attack of the Clones (2002)
6. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
7. The Force Awakens (2015)
8. The Last Jedi (2017)
9. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

As we can see, the original trilogy (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) are the shortest movies in the series, while the prequel trilogy (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith) and the sequel trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker) are slightly longer. This is likely due to the fact that the more recent films have more complex visual effects, as well as more detailed characters and storylines.

Investigating the Length of the Star Wars Saga

Now that we know which Star Wars movie is the longest, let’s take a closer look at the length of each trilogy. Below is a comparison of the average runtime of each trilogy:

• Original Trilogy: 122 minutes
• Prequel Trilogy: 138 minutes
• Sequel Trilogy: 141 minutes

As we can see, the original trilogy is the shortest of the three trilogies, while the prequel and sequel trilogies are both slightly longer. This is likely due to the fact that the more recent films have more complex visual effects, as well as more detailed characters and storylines.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the longest Star Wars movie is the 2019 installment, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This installment clocks in at a whopping two hours and twenty-two minutes, making it the longest Star Wars movie ever released. When we compare the average runtime of all nine films in the franchise, we see that The Rise of Skywalker is actually the longest movie in the series, clocking in at just over five minutes longer than the average. Finally, when we compare the average runtime of each trilogy, we see that the original trilogy is the shortest, while the prequel and sequel trilogies are both slightly longer.

Ultimately, the length of the longest Star Wars movie is a testament to the scope of the franchise and the epic storytelling that has captivated audiences for decades. As we look ahead to the future of the franchise, it will be interesting to see if any of the upcoming films top The Rise of Skywalker in terms of length.