Revenge of the Sith was released in theaters on Thursday,May 19,2005 (the same day that the first episode of the prequel trilogyThe Phantom Menace was released in 1999), and premiered (out of competition) on the 2005 Cannes FestivalMay 15. The film was generally positively received by critics, especially in comparison to the two previous prequels. It broke several box office records in its opening week and went on to earn over US $800 million worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing movie of 2005 behindHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.It is the secondStar Wars film which used a high-definitiondigital 24 frame system for most of the movie's live-action scenes. The film was re-released in the Blu-ray format inSeptember of2011. OnNovember 12,2019, the film was included with the launch ofDisney+. OnApril 25,2025, it was re-released in theaters for its 20th anniversary for one week only; the re-release was also presented in 4DX for the first time.
War! The Republic is crumblingunder attacks by the ruthlessSith Lord, Count Dooku.There are heroes on both sides.Evil is everywhere.In a stunning move, thefiendish droid leader, GeneralGrievous, has swept into theRepublic capital and kidnappedChancellor Palpatine, leader ofthe Galactic Senate.As the Separatist Droid Armyattempts to flee the besiegedcapital with their valuablehostage, two Jedi Knights lead adesperate mission to rescue thecaptive Chancellor....
As theSeparatist Droid Army attempts to escape the Galactic capital, a massive space battle erupts, into which raceJedi MasterObi-Wan Kenobi and his formerpadawan, nowJedi KnightAnakin Skywalker, leading a mission to rescue the Chancellor. TheJedi fight through the Separatist armada. In the process, Obi-Wan'sinterceptor is damaged bybuzz droids and hisastromech,R4-P17, is destroyed. Anakin attempts to shoot thedroids off, though succeeds only in blasting apart the wing of his former Master's vessel. Obi-Wan tells Anakin to hold his fire as he's not helping. Anakin agrees it was a bad idea. Obi-Wan tells Anakin to go on and rescue the Chancellor, but Anakin says he won't leave without Obi-Wan. Anakin uses one of his fighter wings to knock some of the buzz droids off Obi-Wan's fighter, but one manages to crawl onto Anakin's ship although it is quickly disabled byR2-D2. As they approach Grievous's flagship, theInvisible Hand, Obi-Wan reminds Anakin their shields are still up, so Anakin breaks formation and attacks a shield generator, knocking out the shields on the docking bay of the ship. The destruction of it activates the ship' emergency breach door, which quickly begins closing. The two Jedi crash-land just before the door slams closed.
Anakin and Obi-Wan make their way through the flagship, using theirlightsabers to fight through an army of droids. Meanwhile, R2-D2 aids them from the hangar bay while simultaneously incinerating a pair ofsuper battle droids, using fuel and his thrusters.
Rescuing the chancellor
"I sense great fear in you, Skywalker. You have hate. You have anger. But you don't use them."
The Jedi reach the top, finding the captive Chancellor Palpatine. They are confronted byCountDooku himself, with Obi-Wan telling Anakin that they will fight Dooku together, and an intenselightsaber duel ensues. The Jedi throw the Count off guard, by converting from basic attacks to more skilled tactics. During the battle, Obi-Wan is rendered unconscious when Dooku usesthe Force to hold him in mid-air by the throat before hurling him against a railing.
While Obi-Wan lays injured, Anakin continues the battle and is repeatedly taunted by Dooku. Using his anger, Anakin taps into thedark side of the Force and gets the better of the duel. He severs both of Dooku's hands, rendering him incapable of defending himself, and then holds him at blade point with both his own lightsaber and Dooku's weapon. Palpatine encourages Anakin to kill Dooku, much to the shock of the latter who looks at the Chancellor pleadingly, only to be met with a sinister smile from Palpatine. At first, Anakin hesitates but Palpatine firmly insists; completely unaware of Palpatine's true intentions, Anakin viciously decapitates the helpless Dooku. His body falls to the ground and his head falls fast to the ground and rolled like a bowling ball.
TheInvisible Hand crosses paths with theVenator-class Star DestroyerGuarlara. A broadside attack begins with both ship firing their cannons, a shell from a Republic Venator destroy one of theInvisible Hand's cannons and ammo crates, causing theInvisible Hand to begin an uncontrolled descent into Coruscant. Despite Palpatine's persuasions that he should leave the unconscious Obi-Wan, Anakin carries him on his back, and maneuvers through the ship with the Chancellor. Obi-Wan later regains consciousness.
After Grievous has the bridge crew regain control of his flagship by firing the emergency booster engines, he makes certain the two Jedi and their ward are captured. Having fallen foul of aray shield trap, the three are brought to the bridge under custody, but R2 successfully creates a distraction, allowing the Jedi to retrieve their lightsabers and break free.
Grievous then sends a pair of his powerfulIG-100 MagnaGuard droids after the Jedi. Obi-Wan quickly beheads the first MagnaGuard with his blade, but the droid continues the fight, forcing Obi-Wan to slice the droid warrior apart before it deactivates. Anakin finishes off the second MagnaGuard and destroys thebattle droids attempting to drag Palpatine from the bridge. The Jedi close in on Grievous, though the wily General smashes a window with his fallen guard'selectrostaff, and is swept outside. Using a tow cable, Grievous latches himself to the ship and heads for theescape pods. Launching all other escape capsules, Grievous speeds for the safety of aTrade FederationLucrehulk-class battleship. Once again, the flagship begins to descend in free fall into Coruscant, though due to its extensive damage taken from its broadside cannon fight with the Guarlara and entering Coruscant's atmosphere, the ships hangar bay begins to weaken. After extending the ship's drag flaps, the hangar gives out and breaks off from the rest of the ship, sending them into a faster freefall. With the aid of a fewemergency firespeeders they land, hitting a control tower along on one of Coruscant's industrial landing platforms.
On Coruscant, Anakin is praised for his heroics. He meets secretly withPadmé Amidala, and they share a kiss in the shadows of theSenate office building, keeping their love secret. She reveals to him that she is pregnant with their child.
Elsewhere, Grievous, now both the political and military leader of the Separatists, arrives onUtapau, whereTrade FederationViceroyNute Gunray,GeonosianArchdukePoggle the Lesser,Techno Union head of state andForemanWat Tambor, and others on theSeparatist Council remain in hiding. The General is contacted by Darth Sidious, who gives him instructions to move the Separatist leaders to a volcanicplanet,Mustafar. He also explains that the war is almost over. Grievous is uncertain about this, given Count Dooku's death. Sidious assures him that Darth Tyranus's death and loss were necessary, for he would soon have a newSith apprentice: one far younger and more powerful.
Later, on Coruscant, Anakin awakens in a panic, covered in sweat. He reveals to Padmé that he has been dreaming about her dying in childbirth, and believing that he can't live without her, vows not to let this dream come true.
Chancellor Palpatine requests Anakin's presence, and they meet in theChancellor's office. The Senate has granted the Chancellor further emergency powers, giving him direct control of theJedi Council. Palpatine confides in Anakin his fear, distrust, and contempt of the Masters. He appoints Anakin to be his personal representative on the Council.
The High Council begrudgingly accepts Anakin's appointment, but does not grant him the rank of Master. Anakin reacts angrily at this perceived slight, but is quickly shut down byMace Windu. Ignoring his outburst, the Council goes on to discuss matters concerning the war. It is decided that Anakin will be assigned to protect the Chancellor, andYoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce theWookiees onKashyyyk. Anakin is angry and disappointed.
Obi-Wan later tells Anakin that the Council wants Anakin to report on all the Chancellor's dealings, essentially spying on him. Anakin is confused and upset, feeling torn between two friends and loyalties. Obi-Wan himself is unhappy with the situation.
The tragedy of Darth Plagueis
"Is it possible to learn this power?" "Not from a Jedi."
TheSupreme Chancellor and Anakin Skywalker in Palpatine's private viewing box at the Galaxies Opera House
At theGalaxies Opera House in theUscru District, Anakin joins Palpatine in watching theMon Calamari Aquatic Ballet performingSquid Lake. Palpatine tells Anakin Clone Intelligence has located General Grievous hiding in theUtapau system. Anakin is delighted by this news, as Grievous's capture will accelerate the war's end. Palpatine remarks that he'd question the competence of the Jedi Council if Anakin was not sent on the mission. Inviting Anakin to join him, Palpatine dismisses his aides: once they are gone, Palpatine seduces Anakin to the dark side. He also tells Anakin that the Jedi Order wishes to overthrow the Republic and that if he has suspected it, Anakin must surely have sensed it. Anakin confirms that the Jedi don't trust him, a fact that Palpatine expands to include the Senate, the Republic, and democracy as a whole. Anakin tells Palpatine that his trust in the Jedi has been shaken and Palpatine deduces Anakin's distaste for the Council's mission to spy on the Chancellor. Palpatine takes Anakin back to some of the early political lessons Palpatine tried to teach him, about how all those who gain power are afraid to lose it and that includes the Jedi. Anakin tries to defend the Jedi by saying they use their powers for good, but Palpatine argues good is only a point of view, noting that in almost every conceivable manner, including a quest for greater power, the Sith and the Jedi are exactly alike. Anakin disagrees, remarking that the Sith depend on passion for strength, thinking only of themselves, whereas the Jedi are selfless, thinking only of others.
After a brief pause in their conversation, Palpatine makes a remark about thetragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Palpatine describesDarth Plagueis as a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and wise that he could use the Force to influence themidi-chlorians to create life. Not only this, but having such power and knowledge of the dark side, Plagueis could use thistle ability to save people he cared about from death, a statement which gets Anakin's attention (which was Palpatine's desire) and Palpatine describes the dark side of the Force as a pathway to many abilities considered by some to be unnatural. When Anakin asks what happened to Darth Plagueis, Palpatine concludes that Plagueis became so powerful that all he feared was losing his power, which he eventually did. Unfortunately for Plagueis, he taught his apprentice, who happened to be Darth Sidious, all he knew: after he had, his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Palpatine notes the irony of how Plagueis could keep others from dying, but not himself. When Anakin asks if it is possible to learn the power to stop death, Palpatine simply replies, "Not from a Jedi," further alienating Anakin from the Jedi Order.
After Yoda arrives on Kashyyyk, Anakin relays the information about Grievous, explaining that a partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic packet from the Chairman of Utapau. Yoda says they should act quickly and decisively on this information. When Anakin expresses his interest in going at Palpatine's request, Mace Windu harshly tells him that the Council will decide who goes and not the Chancellor. Yoda believes that a Master with more experience is needed to confront, and defeat, Grievous. Ki-Adi-Mundi agrees and nominates Obi-Wan to go. With the nomination agreed on, the Council adjourns and Obi-Wan prepares to go to Utapau. Yoda,Luminara Unduli, andGree, along withTarfful andChewbacca defend Kashyyyk against the Corporate Alliance Tanks, Dwarf Spider droids, Droid Gunships, and legions ofbattle droids.
Obi-Wan vs. Grievous
"Army or not, you must realize… you are doomed!" "Oh, I don't think so."
Grievous twirls his four sabers as the battle commences.
Anakin walks Obi-Wan to a Jedi cruiser before he leaves. Anakin still believes he'd be needed on Utapau, and while Obi-Wan agrees, he also notes it might just be a wildBantha chase. Anakin stops Obi-Wan and tells him that he knows he's disappointed Obi-Wan and that he's not been acting very grateful for the training he received. Anakin tells him he's just been so frustrated with the Council lately, but that he does apologize. Obi-Wan calls Anakin strong and wise and tells Anakin he's very proud of him and while Obi-Wan trained him since Anakin was a boy, he calls Anakin a far greater Jedi than Obi-Wan could hope to be. But Obi-Wan encourages Anakin to be patient and that it won't be long before the Council makes Anakin aJedi Master. The two bid each other farewell and Obi-Wan leaves for Utapau. Little do they know that this is the last time they will see or speak to each other as fellow Jedi and friends.
Obi-Wan arrives inPau City on Utapau, and begins his search for General Grievous, riding avaractyl namedBoga. He finds Grievous on the Tenth Level. After Obi-Wan dispatches the droids around Grievous, the two engage in single combat. Grievous's arms split in half, allowing him to use four lightsabers at once. Obi-Wan quickly cuts off the lower halves of the General's hands, helping to even out the odds a little. During the battle, theThird Systems Army arrives under the command ofCC-2224 "Cody." Obi-Wan manages to catch Grievous off guard and uses the Force to push the fiendish droid general into the ceiling. Grievous drops his remaining two lightsabers and attempts to flee on hiswheel bike, while Obi-Wan pursues onBoga. During the chase, Obi-Wan drops his lightsaber, whichCommander Cody happens to find during the massive battle against the droids.
On Coruscant, Anakin tells Palpatine that General Grievous has been found on Utapau. Anakin insists he should be on Utapau as well. Their conversation shifts to Palpatine's knowledge of the Force and dark side, both of which he learned from his mentor (Plagueis), much to the shock of Anakin who starts to become wary of the Chancellor. After Palpatine tells him that the dark side can save Padme from death, Anakin realizes that Palpatine is in fact Darth Sidious, the latter of which Palpatine confirms (This revelation means that Palpatine as Sidious engineered theInvasion of Naboo and War, betrayed and caused the deaths of Plagueis and Dooku, and has been deceiving the Jedi and Republic). Anakin ignites his lightsaber and threatens to kill Palpatine, but then decides to expose his deception and identity to the Jedi Council. He is still concerned with saving his wife, and believes only Palpatine's knowledge will ensure this.
Obi-Wan continues to chase General Grievous on Utapau. He catches up with the General and jumps onto his wheel bike. Using Grievous's electrostaff, he manages to destabilize the speeder, and it goes into a spin. Both Obi-Wan and Grievous are thrown off as the speeder topples over the edge of Grievous's secret landing platform. Grievous then draws hisblaster, though it is knocked from his hand by Obi-Wan, now wielding the electrostaff. He knocks Grievous down, and a brawl ensues, during which Kenobi tears open the General's chest plates, revealing his living organs. Enraged, Grievous repeatedly hits Obi-Wan and then picks up the helpless Jedi and throws him over the edge. Obi-Wan barely manages to hang on and momentarily dangles for his life. As Grievous moves in for the kill, Obi-Wan uses the Force to retrieve the General's blaster and fires at Grievous's exposed organs. He hits, and they burst into flames. With his eyes flaming, Grievous falls to the floor, dead.
Sidious revealed
"In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you're under arrest, Chancellor." "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" "The Senate will decide your fate." "Iam the Senate!" "Not yet." "It's treason, then."
Palpatine finally reveals his identity as the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious.
Anakin returns to the Jedi Temple and approaches Windu who tells Anakin that they have just been informed that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous and so they are going to go to the Senate to ensure that Chancellor Palpatine gives back his emergency powers. However, Anakin reveals that Palpatine is a Sith Lord and is not likely to give up his powers, a statement which shocks Windu and stops him dead in his tracks. Anakin confirms what he just said and says he believes Palpatine is the one they have been looking for. When Windu asks how Anakin knows this, he tells Windu that Palpatine knows the ways of the Force and has been trained to use the dark side and that he is absolutely sure. Windu says their worst fears have now been realized and that if the Jedi Order is to survive, they must move quickly. Anakin warns Windu that Palpatine is very powerful and they'll need his help to arrest Palpatine, but Windu urges him to stay out of it as he senses much fear in Anakin and it could cloud his judgment. Windu also adds that if what Anakin says is true then Anakin will have gained his trust but for now, he wants Anakin to wait in the Council Chambers until he returns. Masters Windu,Kit Fisto,Agen Kolar, andSaesee Tiin board agunship and head to Palpatine's office.
Sitting in theCouncil Chambers, remembering Palpatine's promise of stopping death and the dreams of Padmé dying in childbirth, Anakin ruminates over his decision: in his mind, he hears Palpatine's voice saying that if the Jedi kill him, any chance of saving Padmé will be lost. Finally, he leaves and rushes after the four Jedi.
Windu and the three other Jedi Masters arrive at Chancellor Palpatine's office. Windu declares Palpatine is under arrest and the Masters ignite their lightsabers. Sidious pulls a lightsaber from his sleeve and hurls himself at the Jedi with a screeching war cry. Kolar is the first to die, run through the chest and as Kolar's life is ending due to the wound, Sidious turns and slices Tiin's torso. A few seconds later, with more effort from Sidious, Fisto is slain, killed by a slash across the gut. Only Windu remains, alone against the Dark Lord.
Rise of Lord Vader
"The Force is strong with you. A powerful Sith you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth… Vader."
Sidious and Windu continue the fight, dueling fiercely. The fight appears to be even early on, but Windu gradually gains ground, slowly driving the Sith Lord out of the Chancellor's antechamber and into the office proper. Shortly after the two shatter a large glass window, Windu delivers a kick to Sidious, leading to Sidious falling down and losing his lightsaber. Anakin arrives just as Windu holds Sidious at blade point. Windu declares Sidious has lost, but the Sith Lord then unleashes a torrent ofForce lightning. However, Windu deflects it with his blade, casting much of the energy back into Sidious' body. Sidious becomes hideously deformed; his face becomes deathly pale and sagged, his teeth become yellow and rotten, his fingernails become long and dirty, and his eyes turn burning yellow with blood-red rims. He then ends his assault, claiming he is too weak to fight on. As Windu is deciding to kill Sidious, Anakin argues that Palpatine must stand trial: Windu disregards this, stating Sidious's control over the Senate and courts make him too dangerous to be left alive. Anakin is finally forced to choose between the Jedi Order or Padmé. As Windu is about to deliver the killing blow, Anakin betrays Windu and cuts off his sword arm. Sidious, cackling with glee, tortures and blasts the shocked Windu out of the window, sending him plunging to his death hundreds of stories below.
Anakin is horrified by his actions, yet he knows now there is no turning back now that he betrayed the Jedi. He pledges allegiance to Sidious, in return for the Dark Lord's power to stop death, in the hope of saving his beloved wife. Sidious takes Anakin as his Sith apprentice, bestowing upon him theSith name "Darth Vader." Sidious instructs Vader launchOperation: Knightfall, to ensure the so-called Jedi Rebellion is crushed, and then wipe out the Separatist Council on theMustafar system, before declaring that "Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy."
Vader leads the501st Legion to the Jedi Temple. He and the clones rampage through the Temple, cutting down every Jedi that crosses his path, including swordsmasterCin Drallig and even theyounglings hiding out in the Council Chamber.
SenatorBail Organa arrives at the flaming Temple to witness the slaughter of a youngPadawan namedZett Jukassa by a squad of troopers led by CommanderAppo. Organa, horrified, flees the scene and departs Coruscant in theTantive III, in an attempt to make contact with any surviving Jedi.
Both Obi-Wan and Yoda survive Order 66 and are picked up by Senator Organa, having evaded pursuit. The Jedi decide to return to Coruscant to recalibrate theJedi beacon calling for all Jedi to return to Coruscant, knowing that it's really a trap set by Darth Sidious. Kenobi hopes to instead warn any surviving Jedi to stay away from the Temple.
Following the attack on the Jedi Temple, Vader returns to Padmé at the Senate Apartment Complex, from where the smoke rising from the wrecked Temple can be seen. He tells her the Jedi have tried to take over the Republic, and there are traitors in the Senate. He asks for her loyalty to the Chancellor, then tells her that he will go to the Mustafar system, where the remaining Separatists have gathered, to end the war.
Through a hologram, Sidious informs the Separatist Council that Vader would take care of them once he arrived, though the council is unaware that Sidious had betrayed them and truly sent Vader to kill them.
Birth of the Empire
"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."
Vader arrives on Mustafar and is greeted byViceroy Gunray, but the Sith apprentice quickly traps the Separatist Council in the bunker. He slaughters Poggle the Lesser,Rune Haako,Po Nudo, and Wat Tambor among others. He leaves Gunray until last, slicing the Neimoidian across the chest even as he pleads for his life. It is at this point that the first physical manifestation of the dark side in Vader begins to show itself, as his irises turn a pallid yellow, the rest of his eyes taking on a bright crimson hue.
The Senate holds a special session where Palpatine tells them of the "plot of the Jedi to overthrow the Senate," but that it was foiled. Amidst thunderous applause, he informs the Senate that the surviving Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. He then states that "in order to ensure the security and continued stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the firstGalactic Empire," which Palpatine describes as creating a safe and secure society. As the majority of the Senate screams their approval, Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa, who are shocked at the result, simply look around and Padmé can only remark "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause."
In the meantime, Obi-Wan and Yoda go to the Jedi Temple, slaying several clones and walking in disbelief through the carnage. Yoda notices that several of their fellow Jedi were cut down by a foe wielding a lightsaber. They recalibrate the Temple's signal to warn all surviving Jedi to keep away from the Temple, but then Obi-Wan, wanting to know the truth, checks the security hologram recordings. To his horror, one recording shows Vader dueling Younglings and then kneeling before Sidious. Yoda says they must destroy the Sith, but Obi-Wan is reluctant to kill Anakin and wants to go after the Emperor instead. Yoda, however, states that Obi-Wan is not strong enough to face Sidious and that Anakin is gone, "consumed" by Vader. Yoda sets out to confront Sidious, telling Obi-Wan to "use his feelings" to find Vader.
Following Yoda's advice, Obi-Wan visits Padmé asking where Anakin is and tells her that he has turned to the dark side and killed many Jedi in the temple, and also that everyone was deceived by Sidious who was behind everything which includes the war. Despite her anguish, Padmé refuses to reveal where her husband has gone. Obi-Wan deduces that Padmé is carrying Anakin's child, who already knew the two had been together all along and apologizes to her for what he had no choice to do before leaving. On Mustafar, Vader surveys the violent landscape around him and weeps over his recent acts of violence; knowing he cannot turn back from the influence of Darth Sidious.
Later, Padmé leaves Coruscant in her star skiff, departing for Mustafar to find her husband and the truth. Unknown to her, Obi-Wan secretly stows away aboard the ship just before it takes off.
Battle of the heroes
"You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!" "I hate you!" "You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you!"
Darth Sidious andYoda, masters ofthe Force, battle each other.
The star skiff lands on Mustafar, and Padmé is greeted by a smiling Vader. Padmé reveals her conversation with Obi-Wan; he tells her it is only lies but does not deny the accusations. Padmé also tells him Obi-Wan knew about them together, wanting to help them & begs him to run away with her to raise their child in peace. Vader, mad with power, claims that they no longer have to run away and he can overthrow Palpatine so that the two of them can rule the galaxy together. Padmé, realizing how much her husband has changed, backs away in horror and tearfully begs him to stop, insisting she still loves him.
As she pleads, Obi-Wan steps out onto the star skiff's boarding ramp. Upon seeing him, Vader becomes enraged and accuses Padmé betraying him for Obi-Wan. Without even allowing her a chance to explain herself, he beginsForce-choking her. Obi-Wan intervenes and demands Vader to release Padmé, but Vader still chokes her unconscious. Turning his anger on Obi-Wan, Vader accuses him of turning his wife against him, but Obi-Wan retorts that Vader has done that himself and let himself be twisted by Sidious' lies, becoming a Sith. Vader refuses to listen and rants that he has brought order to his "new empire." Obi-Wan, unable to believe what he is hearing, prepares to fight. Vader fumes that those who are against him are his enemies and engages Obi-Wan in aferocious duel between Master and Apprentice.
Obi-Wan and his fallen apprentice battling onMustafar.
In theChancellor's office within theImperial Senate Building, Yoda confronts Palpatine. He tells him that he knows of Anakin's turning, while addressing him as his Sith name. Sidious uses Force Lightning to push the Jedi Master backwards into a pillar. Obi-Wan and Vader battle over the bridge and enter theKlegger Corp Mining Facility, making their way through the hallways. Returning toCoruscant, Sidious tells Yoda that the Jedi will be no more. The Jedi master stands up and pushes him backwards past the desk. They engage in anintense battle using their lightsabers and Force abilities. At the Mustafarian Mining Complex, Obi-Wan and Vader battle in the conference room on the desk. Vader attempts to force choke the Jedi Master with the enabled lightsaber. Obi-Wan loses it after getting kicked in the stomach, but he retrieves it. Yoda resumes fighting Sidious until they are taken theGalactic Senate Chamber, the heart of the Senate. Vader is still battling Obi-Wan, who is on the defensive. They fight at the command center with the dead Separatist leaders on the floor. A missed slash from Vader's lightsaber damages a computer console, deactivating the facility's shields. As the door opens, Obi-Wan and Vader exit the mining facility and head outside. At the Galactic Senate Chamber, Sidious hurls Senate pods at Yoda, and the effort to avoid them exhausts the Jedi Master. Sidious then blasts Yoda with Force Lightning, causing the Jedi master to lose his lightsaber. With the last of his strength, Yoda redirects it back at him, but this causes an explosion that throws both himself and Sidious over the edge of the pod.
Obi-Wan and Vader's battle continue on as they tip-toe across some pipes. A Mustafarianmining droid briefly passes by them. The pair jump onto a bridge and walk onto some large stalks. At the same time, lava begins to erupt towards Vader and Obi-Wan, forcing them to take cover from raining debris. The lava cuts off a collection arm attached to the main structure. Sidious is able to hold on to a senate pod, while Yoda falls to the senate floor leaving his cloak behind. With Bail Organa's help, Yoda flees the Senate Building, intending to go into exile. Back on Mustafar, the rest of the battle resumes. Obi-Wan and Vader ride the collection arm down the lava river below, which falls over a molten waterfall. Abandoning the arm, Obi-Wan leaps onto a hovering mining platform below, with Vader pursuing him back up the lava river atop a collection droid. Obi-Wan appeals to his old friend one last time, but Vader still refuses to see reason, forcing Obi-Wan to accept that his student, friend, and brother is corrupted beyond redemption.
After fending off another attack from Vader, Obi-Wan disengages as the platform nears the shore of the lava river, leaping up onto the black sand bank. Obi-Wan warns Vader that he now holds an unassailable position, but Vader, enraged and bloodthirsty, yells "You underestimate my power!" and foolishly leaps up to kill his old Master the same way Obi-Wan ended Maul. With a swift sweep of his blade, Obi-Wan slices off Vader's left arm and legs. Vader tumbles down the embankment and rolls to a stop at the edge of the river of lava.
As Obi-Wan watches, Vader, helpless and now fully consumed by the dark side, tries in vain to pull his crippled, smoking body up the embankment with his one remaining mechanical arm. Obi-Wan is overcome with disgust and sadness at the pitiful fate of "The Chosen One," and is reduced nearly to tears. He angrily shouts that Vader has failed in his life and destiny, and has hurt all those who loved him, including Obi-Wan himself. All Vader can do is scream in pain and powerless rage, cursing his former friend and Master. The lava below Vader then ignites his leg, setting him on fire, horribly burning and disfiguring him, with Obi-Wan turning away from the terror, unwilling to kill him. After briefly staring at the charred, mutilated figure that was once Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan turns and walks away, taking Anakin's dropped lightsaber with him. He returns to the star skiff and leaves the planet with the unconscious Padmé and her droids. Obi-Wan feels guilt for failing Anakin & Padmé's happiness.
Birth and rebirth
"Obi-Wan, there is good in him. I know...I know there is… still…"
―Padmé Amidala to Obi-Wan Kenobi as her final words.[3]
Sidious arrives on Mustafar with a group ofshock troopers led by CommanderThire. They rescue Darth Vader from the edge of death using a stasis pod and Sith medicines held in the Emperor'sshuttle.
On the isolated asteroidPolis Massa, Yoda meditates and hears the spirit voice ofQui-Gon Jinn. The voice tells him that there is a way to merge with the Force and retain consciousness after death. In order to learn this power, Yoda declares himself an apprentice to the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn.
The remains of Vader's limbs are retrofitted withprosthetics.
Obi-Wan arrives at Polis Massa with Padmé, who is given emergency medical treatment by the facility's droids. She is dying, having lost the will to live. Themedical droids work to save her babies—she has twins, much to the surprise of Bail Organa, Obi-Wan, and Yoda. A boy and a girl are born. In her last few dying breaths, Padmé gives them the names "Luke" and "Leia."
As his children are born, Vader is being rebuilt at theGrand Republic Medical Facility on Coruscant. Vader is given new legs, a new arm, mechanized lungs, and other "replacement parts." He is dressed inblack armor, a face mask is sealed tightly, and his helmet is fitted. Darth Vader begins to breathe through his mask. Most, if not the entire surgery is carried out in true dark-side form, with Vader wide awake and apparently unanesthetized, leaving him moaning, screaming, and writhing in excruciating agony.
With Padmé's final breath, she maintains that there is still good in Anakin. She dies still believing in the man she loved, before his violent acts against theJedi Order and theSeparatist Council. Obi-Wan watches her go sadly.
Vader is raised to a standing position, his surgery complete. Vader begins to speak through hisvocabulator to the Emperor, asking about Padmé. Sidious, seeking to cut Vader's last tie to his old life and permanently cement the dark side in his heart, lies to Vader, telling him that he accidentally killed his wife while Force choking her. With his last shred of hope and love now gone and his mind broken by the realization that he himself killed the person he wanted to save, Vader rips himself free of the operating table and unleashes a powerful scream of rage, shame, and grief through the Force, shattering the droids and equipment. Vader screams "Nooo!" in anger and despair, while the Emperor looks on with an evil grin.
On board theTantive III, docked atNaboo, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail Organa sit at a conference table. They agree to preserve Padmé's pregnant appearance, thus faking the children's deaths. For their own safety, Luke and Leia will be split up in hopes that the Sith will not sense their presence. Leia will be adopted by Bail Organa, and Luke would be sent to his father'sstep family onTatooine. Obi-Wan and Yoda will watch and wait until the time is ready for the Skywalker children to do their part. Yoda tells Obi-Wan to study the technique Qui-Gon learned to achieve immortality.
On Naboo, Padmé's funeral takes place in a solemn ceremony inTheed. Her hands clasp thejapor snippet given to her by Anakin following his departure from Tatooine somethirteen years ago. To protect her children, her body appears to still be pregnant.
In a deleted scene, Yoda travels toDagobah to begin his self-imposed exile, which he partly owes as penance for his failure to defeat Sidious.
OnAlderaan, the infant Leia is brought by Bail Organa to his wife,QueenBreha.
On Tatooine, Obi-Wan brings Luke to his new family: his uncle,Owen, and his aunt,Beru. Obi-Wan leaves on aneopie, heading to his exile in theJundland Wastes. As the movie and prequel trilogy ends, Owen and Beru, holding the infant Luke, look out to the horizon and watch the setting of Tatooine's twin suns.
Development
One piece of concept art Lucas approved for use as a starship in the film was described as a "Republic Clone Sky Fighter", but the ship ultimately was not included in the film. The design was later reused years later for theStar Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative, much to the joy of its creator,Warren Fu. Fu is also notable for creating the concept art for the "Droid General" character who evolved into Grievous. One of his previous Grievous designs was used for the MagnaGuards.[4]
Revenge of the Sith charity premieres took place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Miami on Thursday,May 12,2005; and onMay 13, 2005, there were two additional charity premiere screenings in George Lucas's hometown of Modesto. On that same day, an episode ofMTV'sTotal Request Live aired promoting the movie, featuring a performance from the bandGood Charlotte.[7] The film's official premiere was at the Cannes Film Festival (out of competition) on May 15, 2005. It was released in most other countries on May 19. It was predicted that the premiere ofRevenge of the Sith would cost the US economy approximately $627 million USD because of employees who would take the day off or report in sick.[8]
Due to its dark undertones, disaster scenes and violent nature (mainly the scene where Anakin is burned alive in a rather graphic and realistic manner, as well as Dooku's decapitation and Grievous' internal organs being burned out),Revenge of the Sith is the firstStar Wars film to receive aPG-13 rating from theMPAA. All previously released films in the series were rated PG. In contrast,A New Hope was originally rated G, but its rating was deliberately pushed up in order to attract a broader audience and because of the addition of Owen and Beru Lars' remains.
Continuity
In the DVD commentary forRevenge of the Sith, Lucas makes an offhand comment regarding theDeath Star seen in the final moments of the film. He explains that it was exactly the same one as seen inA New Hope, and goes on to say that it would be "a bit of a stretch," but explains that due to "union disputes and supply problems," it took 19 years to build. Thecanon novelTarkin byJames Luceno, set five years afterRevenge of the Sith, explores some aspects of the construction of the Death Star. The bookCatalyst: A Rogue One Novel, also written by James Luceno, went into more detail about how the Republic secretly began the project and how it continued to expand under the Empire's direction.Thrawn andThrawn: Treason also show some aspects of the production and supply issues of the Death Star. The movieRogue One: A Star Wars Story sheds further light on the construction of the Death Star, as it depicts how theRebel Alliance came to have theDeath Star plans.
Within the Legends continuity,Kevin J. Anderson's novelsJedi Search andChampions of the Force explain that a prototype Death Star was built in preparation for the construction of the first Death Star inA New Hope. These conflicting accounts were retconned inThe New Essential Chronology, which stated that the former was a testbed prototype for thesuperlaser to be installed on the latter. TheChronology also mentions the fact that in order to ensure protection from sabotage, the construction site was moved to various locations throughout the nineteen-year gap betweenRevenge of the Sith andA New Hope, indicating that there were various attempts by unknown persons to disable or even destroy the massive battle station, a theory supported by a line fromA New Hope where Vader proclaims that "There will be no one to stop us this time" in regard to the Death Star and its plans. The another Legends novelsThe Dark Nest Trilogy, written byTroy Denning, explore the continuity pieces about the holographic recordings of Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan in R2's memory banks. Although theSkywalker family saga comes full circle,Luke Skywalker andLeia Organa still don't know their mother's identity, but Luke has stumbled on a memory of R2-D2's that contains her image, even he watches a hologram of Anakin Force-choking Padmé, as well as his and Leia's birth. Denning shows Artoo's desire to hide these recordings from Luke – no doubt feeling he will learn something hurtful – while couching it in the fact that the astromech droid has developed quirks in his circuitry.
The Legends video gameStar Wars: The Force Unleashed revealed that Galen Marek greatly damaged the Death Star while infiltrating the station to rescue Rebel leaders. This was held to be a partial explanation for why it took so long to build the Death Star as well as Vader's line "There will be no one to stop us this time."
Adaptations and tie-in media
Anovelization of the film was written byMatthew Stover. It includes much more dialogue than the movie. The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin is lengthened and is much more exaggerated. It also contains many references toExpanded Universe characters, such asRaith Sienar orGarm Bel Iblis, for example, and some details, like the wayShaak Ti meets her fate, and CaptainNeeda's appearance at the Battle of Coruscant differ from their movie counterparts. Aside from Anakin and Obi-Wan's duel, however, the final act is very compressed, especially in comparison to the opening space battle, which encompasses the first third of the book.
Avideo game based on the film was released onMay 5, 2005, two weeks before the film. The game followed the movie's storyline, for the most part, integrating scenes from the movie. However, many sections of the game featured cut scenes from the movie or entirely new scenes for the game. The style of the game was mostly lightsaber combat and fighting as Obi-Wan or Anakin/Vader. One unique and popular aspect of the game was that it included an alternate ending, which functioned as such to both the game and the movie, which involved Obi-Wan warning Vader about having the high ground, to which Vader leaps and dodges Obi-Wan's attemptedMou kei and subsequently stabs his former master in the back, killing him. After his death, Vader kicks Obi-Wan's lifeless corpse down the black sand bank, grins, and walks off, as Palpatine arrives on Mustafar to congratulate Vader on his victory. Vader proceeds towards Sidious' docked shuttle, and the new emperor declares the galaxy to belong to the both of them and gives Vader his new, red-bladed lightsaber. After quickly examining his new lightsaber, Vader ignites it and impales his Sith master, declaring the galaxy to belong only to him.
The film'ssoundtrack was released by Sony Classical onMay 3, 2005—more than two weeks before the release of the film. The music was composed and conducted byJohn Williams, and performed by theLondon Symphony Orchestra andLondon Voices. A music video titledA Hero Falls was created for the film's theme "Battle of the Heroes," featuring footage from the film.
Home video
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released on DVD onNovember 1,2005 (in Canada and the United States). The DVD was a two-disc set that has picture and sound mastered from the original digital source material. It includes a new full-length documentary as well as two featurettes, one which explores the prophecy of Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One, the other looking at the movie's stunts. The 15-part web documentary series "Making Episode III" and a playableXbox demo ofStar Wars: Battlefront II (which was released simultaneously with the DVD) were also included in the set.
The release was the firstStar Wars film (and the first major film of all time) never to be widely released on VHS (for example, itwas released on VHS in Australia). This caused some backlash from fans collecting both the DVD and VHS versions, who complained that their VHS set was not complete without Episode III. Both the DVD and VHS versions had only one alteration from the film's digital theatrical cut; A straight cut replaced a wipe between the scene where Obi-Wan leaves Mustafar and the scene where Vader climbs away from the lava. (The wipe was reinstated for the Blu-ray release.)
Disc 1:
DVD Menu themes based on planets from the movie: Coruscant, Utapau, and Mustafar
Available subtitles: English
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
Commentary by writer-director George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Roger Guyett
Hip hop Yoda music video, aneaster egg containing a non-canonical musical performance by Yoda and a group of clone troopers from the 41st Elite Corps (in phase II armor) in theJedi Temple.[9] (This was the first release not to contain a secret blooper reel of footage from filming as an easter egg.) The video introduces us to a dancing Yoda, break-dancing in the Jedi Temple along with bopping clone troopers. This easter egg can be activated by putting Disc 1 in a DVD player, selecting "Options," and highlighting theTHX logo and punching in the numbers "11,"[10] "3," and "8," waiting for the pause after each number.
Disc 2:
Main DVD Menu's theme is based on theInvisible Hand
Exclusive deleted scenes with introductions by George Lucas and Rick McCallum
"Within a Minute" documentary film about the making of the Mustafar battle
"The Chosen One" featurette: George Lucas traces the myth of Darth Vader through episodes 1-6
"It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III"
A 15-part collection ofLucasfilm's Web documentaries
Star Wars: Battlefront II trailer and Xbox game demo
Wal-Mart stores included an exclusive bonus disc, entitledThe Story of Star Wars, with some copies ofRevenge of the Sith, when it arrived on DVD. As with many previousStar Wars "history" featurettes, it is hosted R2-D2 and C-3PO. Presented in full frame with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound and running an hour in total, it was originally produced and released in 2004 as a 3-disc collection for the VideoNow Color personal video player. The DVD version contains the content from the first two discs:The Story of Anakin Skywalker andThe Story of Luke Skywalker. The footage used contains no scenes fromRevenge of the Sith nor does it have the changes contained in the 2004 DVD Special Edition releases.[11]
Other retail stores gave away a few collectors items. At Target, Collectors would receive a collectors coin from the film, featuring Darth Vader on the "heads" side of the coin, and the Mustafar duel on the "tails" side of the coin. A $5 gift card was also given to the buyers of the DVD. The gift card features Vader, and has lights and sound added to it. Finally from Target, a bonus CD-Rom came with the Episode III soundtrack. At Best Buy, fans who belonged to the Rewards Zone would receive aStar Wars print by the artist Shepard Fairey.[11]
OnApril 7,2015, the Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six releasedStar Wars films. As Lucasfilm had retained digital distribution rights to Episodes I to III and V to VI, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releasedRevenge of the Sith for digital download onApril 10, 2015.[13]
Despite theWalt Disney Company's2012 purchase ofLucasfilm and the release rights to all futureStar Wars films, Fox was to retain original distribution rights toStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope, which they co-produced and co-financed, in perpetuity in all media worldwide. Fox was also to retain theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide for the franchise's five subsequent films, which Lucasfilm produced and financed independently, throughMay2020, at which time ownership was to transfer to Disney. This complex relationship between Fox and Disney, particularly in regards to Fox's perpetual rights to Episode IV, was to create an obstacle for any future boxed set comprising all nine films.[14] OnDecember 14,2017, The Walt Disney Company announced that it was acquiring most of Fox's parent company,21st Century Fox, including the film studio and all distribution rights toA New Hope.[15] OnMarch 20,2019, thedeal was officially completed.[16] OnApril 12, 2019, aBlu-ray box set containing the nine main installments of theStar Warssaga remastered in 4K was reportedly announced to be in development for a2020 release.[17]
Reception‡
In interviews, George Lucas said that George Bush was not an influence in writing the movie. Rather, he wrote the basic story outline in the 1970s during the Vietnam War, thinking of President Richard Nixon.[18] He stated at Cannes, "The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable."[19] Lucas added that in more general terms, his story represents how any democracy can turn into a dictatorship with the consent of the people, like Caesar of Rome and Napoleon I of France.[20][21]
Popular reception
In the era of the internet,Revenge of the Sith has proven to be a major source for content in internet meme culture. In particular, Kenobi's greeting to Grievous on Utapau, "hello there," has arisen to one of the most famousStar Wars memes[22] and has been referenced in official works,[23][24] even being included as Kenobi's greeting to Luke Skywalker within theObi-Wan KenobiDisney+ series, where Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprised their roles as Kenobi and Vader, respectively.[25]
Deleted scenes‡
Six deleted scenes were included on Disc 2 of the DVD:
"Grievous Slaughters Shaak Ti" - The death ofShaak Ti byGeneralGrievous on board theInvisible Hand. Deleted due to time constraints, and because the story was changed that Grievous left Shaak Ti on Coruscant alive, and she didn't die.
"A Stirring in the Senate" - The First Meeting of theRebel Alliance. Deleted because it took away from the central plot of Anakin Skywalker.
"Seeds of Rebellion" - The Second Meeting of the Rebel Alliance. Deleted because it took away from the central plot of Anakin Skywalker.
"Confronting the Chancellor" - The Presentation of theDelegation of 2000 toPalpatine. Deleted because it took away from the central plot of Anakin Skywalker.
"A Plot to Destroy the Jedi?" -Mace Windu senses the destruction of theJedi Order. Deleted due to time constraints and because the point was already known.
"Exiled to Dagobah" - Yoda lands onDagobah. Deleted for fear it would clutter up the endings instead of making it just "father, mother, and the kids." Rick McCallum is quoted as saying that this was the biggest loss for him to the film and he hopes to see it on a future edition.
Other scenes were also cut from the film:
Obi-Wan visits Senator Amidala to discussAnakin, and tell her that he knows of her marriage. This scene features in the script, novel and comic book adaptation of the film, albeit differing slightly in each.
Obi-Wan selectsBoga from the othervaractyls. An animatic of this scene was put onStarWars.com in November 2007.
The Order 66 death ofMina Podia. This scene was never shot.
Another death ofShaak Ti, elaborated in the novelization: Ti is stabbed in the back by Darth Vader during his raid on theJedi Temple while she is meditating. She asks Anakin what happened to Windu,Fisto,Kolar, andTiin. Skywalker replies by stabbing her in the back (a similar death of Shaak Ti appeared inLEGO Star Wars: The Video Game).
Obi-Wan eluding theNos monster, a natural predator ofUtapau, after falling into the sinkhole on Utapau.
An ambush scene byYoda,Tarfful, andChewbacca. A Clone Walker passes by a lake. Tarfful is lying dead on Wookiee boat. The clone stares at him for a moment and a furry creature covered in mud all over comes out of the water onto the boat. The clone asks the creature if anything is there. "Wookiee good, eat Wookiee," replies the creature. The clone decides it is just a nativeKashyyyk creature and decides to leave. Immediately, Chewbacca jumps out of the water and pulls the clone underwater, killing him. Then Tarfful wakes up and the creature reveals itself to be Yoda. He tells the Wookiees to give him a second to bathe. Yoda jumps into the water and scrubs all the mud off. Yoda emerges and puts on his robes. They then continue towards the emergency escape pod.
A scene in which Yoda speaks to the voice ofQui-Gon Jinn'sspirit. Yoda dedicates himself to Qui-Gon's teachings. This scene was featured in thenovelization.
George Lucas makes a cameo appearance at theGalaxies Opera House. He is the blue-faced being, namedBaronPapanoida, seen just outside Palpatine's private box. It marks Lucas's first and only appearance in any of theStar Wars films. His three children also have cameos: Jett as a young Jedi-in-training calledZett Jukassa at theJedi Temple, his daughter Amanda as a senator calledTerr Taneel, and Katie as a blue-skinned alien senator calledChi Eekway Papanoida, visible when Palpatine arrives at the Senate after being saved by the Jedi.
Much of the crew make cameos in the film. For exampleNick Gillard, the stunt coordinator, plays a character namedCin Drallig (his name spelled backwards, omitting thek).Rick McCallum's daughterMousy plays one of the Padawans killed by Darth Vader, namedBene. Visual effects supervisorJohn Knoll played the Coruscant firefighter pilot. When Palpatine, Anakin, and Obi-Wan are falling down the elevator shaft in the beginning of the movie, it is John Knoll's hand that grabs the wire, notHayden Christensen's. Also in the movie wasJeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in theoriginal trilogy), who playedCaptainJeremoch Colton, the pilot of theCR70 corvette, and later CR90 Rebel Blockade Runner,Tantive III. This was a speaking role. A number of Lucasfilm and ILM employees also made cameo appearances on the balconies of the Galaxies Opera House, while on the stepsAnthony Daniels reprised his Episode II cameo asDannl Faytonni.
↑Depending on a DVD remote's format, some may have to push 10+ before "11." For those who cannot activate the easter egg with the former method, the bonus is title 10 on the disc.
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Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith onIndustrial Light & Magic'sofficial website(backup link)
