10 Best Characters In Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars fans thought they had seen the last of a galaxy far, far away when the original trilogy wrapped up following the release of Return of the Jedi back in 1983. However, after a 16-year hiatus, the saga returned. George Lucas announced his prequel trilogy to the world, with The Phantom Menace getting the ball rolling when it came to showing Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side.

It was a movie that certainly divided opinion, with some sold on its new makeover and others unhappy at the reliance on CGI and other visual effects. The characters, however, have all become icons, especially these ones.

10 Shmi Skywalker

Darth Vader, during the original three Star Wars movies, is a cold-blooded killer. With his all-black attire, ominous breathing and crimson lightsaber, he instantly became one of Hollywood’s most famous villains. For the prequel trilogy, however, Lucas wanted to show the character of Anakin Skywalker in a very different light.

Lucas wanted Vader to be sympathetic, so that’s why the character of Shmi Skywalker is so well-handled. Her soft approach is mirrored in her child, with their close bond proving that Vader did once have a heart. She serves her purpose when it comes to the narrative and her death in Attack of the Clones is another step in Anakin’s journey towards the dark side.

9 R2-D2

Obviously, R2-D2 is one of the best Star Wars characters. And while his charm endeared him during the original three movies, it’s his courage that makes him particularly brilliant in The Phantom Menace.

R2 wins the praise of Queen Padme Amidala by helping the good guys escape the threat of the Trade Federation. He is also a brilliant partner in crime for Anakin too when he’s whisked off into space following the battle on the planet of Naboo. R2 was always good during the first trilogy but The Phantom Menace actually evolved his character, showing he’s just as heroic as other individuals within the saga.

8 Mace Windu

Mace Windu makes his first appearance in The Phantom Menace. He’s introduced as a stern Jedi Master, one suspicious of Anakin despite Qui-Gon Jinn vouching for the former Tatooine slave. He doesn’t smile very much and it’s clear that young Skywalker will have to work extremely hard in order to win him round.

Samuel L. Jackson’s character doesn’t seem overly significant in this movie but hindsight is a wonderful thing. This film actually lays the foundations for their rocky relationship that is to follow, with Windu’s brutal treatment making Anakin feel unwanted. This was just a teaser to what would happen further down the line, with Mace’s rejection ultimately playing a big role in Skywalker’s unfortunate transformation.

7 Jar Jar Binks

Yes, Jar Jar Binks warrants an inclusion. Many fans hated the Gungan at the time of The Phantom Menace’s release but, for younger viewers, he was the perfect comic relief needed in a blockbuster that was tedious at times (even if some think he was destined for far more).

The first movie of the prequel trilogy is filled with so much political jargon, it’s easy to forget that Star Wars is actually intended for children. Jar Jar helped provide some amusing moments, while also acting as a key player on the battlefield. Lucas listened to the criticism, however, with the Gungan’s role heavily reduced for both Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

6 Senator Palpatine

After introducing the character of Palpatine in The Empire Strikes Back, and making him the big antagonist of Return of the Jedi, Lucas decided to give the villain much more screen time when it came to the prequel trilogy. He’s a senator during the events of The Phantom Menace but all isn’t as it seems, with the politician orchestrating the downfall of the Jedi from the shadows.

Palpatine doesn’t do many things of note during this movie. However, he does navigate his promotion to Chancellor and also, rather ominously, lavishes Anakin with praise from the moment they meet. It’s all rather creepy, showing the villain had already planned to shape him into his apprentice from the very beginning.

5 Darth Maul

Sure, there are definitely some regrets when it comes to the character of Darth Maul. He isn’t in the movie enough (just six minutes, to be precise) and also barely says anything during his time in the spotlight. Maul was also killed off via Obi-Wan Kenobi, though was later brought back from the dead in The Clone Wars.

Yet that doesn’t matter because he’s a fantastic antagonist, oozing menace throughout his time on screen. He looks the part, with his double-bladed lightsaber, red face and devil horns, while his murder of Qui-Gon Jinn shows he’s the perfect blend of style and substance. Bringing him back, certainly, was the right call – because otherwise his potential would have been squandered.

4 Anakin Skywalker

Narrowly missing out on a place on the podium is Anakin himself. It has to be said that some of the dialogue he produces can make fans cringe, and his infatuation with Padme Amidala right from the start is a little bizarre. But Jake Lloyd did a superb job as Anakin, making him come across as angelic as Lucas wanted.

He’s also a hero, destroying the Trade Federation’s main flagship towards the end of the movie. Lloyd later revealed he faced much teasing due to his role in the movie but, really, he should hold his head up high. He helped change the world’s opinion on Anakin, adding depth to such a big character within the franchise, and did a good job with the questionable script he was given.

3 Padme Amidala

During the original trilogy, Leia Organa was a superb female protagonist. She proved that women were just as capable of ruling the big screen as their male counterparts. And it was perfect poetry that Padme Amidala was similarly inspirational for millions of young children all over the world too.

As a Queen, Padme could easily have sat back and allowed others to do the fighting. But this royal figure thinks differently. She actively participates in battle, marshaling the troops and even going undercover as a handmaiden to trick people. It’s a clever twist and Padme is certainly deserving of the bronze medal.

2 Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Star Wars icon before the prequel trilogy kicked off, having helped Luke Skywalker destroy the evil Empire during the original three movies. But his character is lifted in The Phantom Menace, showing how the future Jedi Master first started his journey towards one of the wisest people in the galaxy.

Obi-Wan is wise, even for his age, and is the voice of reason compared to his reckless master Qui-Gon Jinn. His victory over Maul during their epic lightsaber duel on Naboo is a highlight, showing how much potential he has. Ewan McGregor is one of the better delivers of his lines, too, and it will be thrilling to see him back as the character when Kenobi releases next year.

1 Qui-Gon Jinn

Taking top spot is Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn. He ticks about every box you would want from a protagonist, being charismatic, wise and a fierce warrior when it comes to battle. Qui-Gon is extremely likeable due to the fact he’s not always on the straight and narrow, with the flawed Jedi perfectly mirroring a young Anakin.

It’s just a crying shame he’s tragically killed off towards the end of the movie, with Maul impaling him during their final showdown. Qui-Gon may return when Kenobi releases, however, and that would certainly be a shrewd move from Disney given his immense popularity.