Revenge of the Sith

Revenge of the Sith
Name	Revenge of the Sith
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	George Lucas
Producer	Rick McCallum
Writer	George Lucas
Starring	Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew
Music	John Williams
Cinematography	David Tattersall
Editing	Roger Barton, Ben Burtt
Studio	Lucasfilm
Distributor	20th Century Fox
Released	2005, 5, 15, Cannes Film Festival, 2005, 5, 19, United States
Runtime	140 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$113 million
Gross	$868.4 million

Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 epic space opera film directed, written, and produced by George Lucas. It is the sixth installment in the Star Wars film series and the final chapter of the prequel trilogy, chronicling the transformation of Anakin Skywalker into the Sith Lord Darth Vader and the fall of the Galactic Republic. The film features an ensemble cast led by Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Hayden Christensen, with a score composed by John Williams.

Plot

The film opens during the final days of the Clone Wars, with Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker leading a daring rescue of Chancellor Palpatine from the Separatist leader General Grievous above Coruscant. As the Galactic Senate grants Palpatine emergency powers, Anakin is troubled by premonitions of his wife Padmé Amidala dying in childbirth and is gradually manipulated by Palpatine, who is secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. This manipulation leads Anakin to betray the Jedi Order during Operation: Knightfall, a purge executed across the galaxy by the newly created Grand Army of the Republic. The ensuing duel on Mustafar between Anakin and Obi-Wan leaves Anakin mortally wounded, leading to his reconstruction into the armored Darth Vader by Darth Sidious, while Padmé dies after giving birth to twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa.

Cast

Ewan McGregor reprises his role as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, with Hayden Christensen portraying the conflicted Anakin Skywalker. Natalie Portman returns as Padmé Amidala, the senator from Naboo. Ian McDiarmid plays the dual role of Chancellor Palpatine and his Sith alter ego Darth Sidious. The supporting Jedi are portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu and Frank Oz as the voice of Yoda. Other key performances include Christopher Lee as Count Dooku, Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, and Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker as C-3PO and R2-D2, respectively. Peter Mayhew appears as Chewbacca, and Matthew Wood provides the voice for General Grievous.

Production

Principal photography began at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney concurrently with Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, utilizing extensive blue screen and digital sets. Director George Lucas employed groundbreaking digital technology from Industrial Light & Magic to create complex sequences like the opening space battle and the volcanic duel on Mustafar. The screenplay underwent significant revisions to focus on Anakin's psychological descent, with input from writers like Tom Stoppard. Key creative collaborators included concept artist Ryan Church, costume designer Trisha Biggar, and sound designer Ben Burtt, who developed new effects for lightsaber duels and the iconic breath of Darth Vader.

Release

The world premiere was held at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2005, followed by a global theatrical release through 20th Century Fox beginning May 19. The marketing campaign included major partnerships with Lego, Hasbro, and Burger King. It was the first Star Wars film released in the IMAX format and saw subsequent home media releases on DVD and Blu-ray, including a later 3D theatrical conversion. The film's release was a major cultural event, with midnight showings attended by fans in costume across the United States and Europe.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise directed at its darker tone, visual effects, and the performances of Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGregor. It holds an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup. However, some criticism was aimed at its dialogue and the portrayal of Anakin Skywalker's turn. Commercially, it was a major success, grossing over $868 million worldwide against a $113 million budget, making it the highest-grossing film of 2005 and the second-highest-grossing in the Star Wars series at the time, after Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Legacy

The film is widely regarded as the strongest entry in the prequel trilogy and is credited with providing a crucial narrative bridge to the original 1977 film. Its depiction of Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order has been extensively expanded in subsequent media, including the animated series *The Clone Wars* and *Rebels*. Key elements like the Mustafar duel and the "Duel of the Fates" have become iconic within popular culture. The film's success reinforced the longevity of the Star Wars franchise, paving the way for the later sequel trilogy and numerous projects under Disney and Lucasfilm.

Category:2005 films Category:American films Category:Star Wars films