Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menacehas had its age rating reclassified in the UK almost three decades after its release. Coming 16 years after the conclusion of the originalStar Warstrilogy, the first of George Lucas' prequel movies was met with a mixed response from audiences and critics.
The Phantom Menacemay have confounded some with its exploration of space politics and theinclusion of Jar-Jar Binksas comic relief, but it also features plenty of space opera action. TheStar Warsmovie’s lightsaber and blaster battles earned the film a PG rating in the U.S. from the MPA and U (for Universal) in the UK.
PerRTE,Star Wars: The Phantom Menacehas now been reclassified in the UK from a U rating to a PG, for Parental Guidance. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) made the change due to “moderate violence,” particularly during the film’s climactic lightsaber fight with Darth Maul.
More details are revealed in BBFC’s annual report for 2024, which cites the film’s starship space battles, laser weapon action, and the brief “bloody detail” in the Darth Maul fight. Though labeled “non-graphic,“Darth Maul’s dissected body also contributed to the rating change.
Unlike U, which means the film is suitable for all audiences,PG means children eight or older shouldn’t be unsettled by the content ofThe Phantom Menace. The film’s American PG rating remains unchanged.
What This Means For The Phantom Menace
The Final Lightsaber Duel Is The Primary Reason For The Rating Change
The Phantom Menace’s age rating change accompanied a theatrical re-release last year, both in the UK and in the U.S.Despite the film’s mixed reputation, the re-release was a success, and it managed to rake in $14.5 million worldwide in its opening weekend.
The reclassification isn’t likely to drastically affect the film’s reputationor standing. TheStar Warsprequels were widely criticizedat the time of their release, but opinions on the films have softened over the past two decades.
Of the three prequels,The Phantom Menaceearned the most negative reviews from critics, and it was, until the release ofThe Rise of Skywalkerin 2019, the lowest-rated live-actionStar Warsmovieon Rotten Tomatoes, as seen in the chart below.
94%
93%
84%
54%
61%
79%
91%
69%
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
51%
Still, a widely-celebrated highlight of the 1999 film is the final lightsaber dual between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Darth Maul (Ray Park).This marks the most intense and violent sequence in the movie, with Qui-Gon impaled by a lightsaber and Darth Maul cut in half.
Our Take On The Phantom Menace’s Reclassification
PG Is A Suitable Rating
By today’s standards, it certainly makes sense thatThe Phantom Menacewould earn a PG. Though this is clearly a movie designed to please younger audiences, the final lightsaber fight could be unsettling to very young viewers or those particularly sensitive to violence.
Even 26 years later,Qui-Gon’s deathremains impactful, and the killing blow is clearly shown. The fantastical nature of theStar Wars: The Phantom Menacetakes away from the severity and realism of the two deaths somewhat, but a PG more accurately accounts for the scenes' violent content.
