Star Wars Day is celebrated every year on May 4 (May the Fourth Be with You) and this year is extra special: The Phantom Menace, the first entry in the prequel trilogy, turns 25 in May 2024. Since the series has achieved a new milestone anniversary, we are taking a look back at George Lucas’ prequel films and the movie posters that advertised them.

By the late 1990s special effects technology had made significant leaps forward and Lucas decided it was time to continue his Star Wars film saga with the prequel trilogy. Released in 1999, written and directed by Lucas, The Phantom Menace focuses on Darth Vader as a child and a young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) recognizes the potential in young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), deciding to train him in the ways of the Force, while Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) leads the people of Naboo against invasion.

The movie made $1 billion worldwide, but fans were divided regarding the movie’s success. Many longtime Star Wars fans felt that it was bogged down by politics, they didn’t connect with some new characters, and the tone was more like a family film. This critique is due in part to the immense pressure older fans put on the new movie, with 16 years’ worth of love and loyalty. Younger fans, or those new to the series, loved Darth Maul (Ray Park), from his weapon to his striking appearance and physicality.

Special effects were also a point of disagreement. No one could argue that the new effects had no boundaries, prompting huge battles, gleaming new ships, and impressive creatures, but some fans preferred the practical effects of the original over the computer effects of the new.

Since the prequel trilogy would tell the story of Anakin Skywalker’s path to the Dark Side, campaigning for The Phantom Menace began with the boy. The style A advance poster, created by Ellen Lee, depicts young Anakin pursued by the shadow of Darth Vader. Creating the illusion of hardship, Tatootine is a desert of bright sand and sky with Anakin isolated in the center. The small initial print run sold out in less than two weeks and over 60,000 were printed to fill backorders.

The follow-up style B one-sheet was created by Drew Struzan, displaying a montage of the new characters. Darth Maul has replaced Vader as the menacing background figure with a more precocious looking Anakin in the foreground. The two suns of Tatooine shine through the center of the poster with Queen Amidala appearing regally and Qui-Gon Jinn looking forward wisely.

Along with the regular designs, 30” x 63” double-sided banners were made for Queen Amidala/Obi-Wan, Anakin Skywalker/Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon Jinn/Watto, and Darth Maul/battle droid. Each one depicts a photo quality image of the character on two thirds with an action scene below. The 2012 rerelease 3D posters, done in regular and lenticular format, aptly jump off the page. They are focused on the imposing form of Darth Maul, surrounded by Obi-Wan, Yoda, and the podracers.

Released in 2002, Attack of the Clones picks up ten years after Phantom Menace with Anakin (Hayden Christensen) training to be a Jedi, taught by Obi-Wan while Padmé Amidala has become a senator of the Galactic Republic. Obi-Wan traces the location of an assassin to a remote region of the galaxy where a clone army has been building, using the DNA of bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison).

Anakin swears to protect Padmé and the pair fall in love on the beautiful planet of Naboo. Visions of his mother in distress prompt Anakin to go home to learn that she has been kidnapped. He finds her as she’s dying and he subsequently slaughters a party of Tusken Raiders, well on his way to the Dark Side. It ends with the Jedi in aggressive negotiations with Count Dooku and the separatists. Lucas directed this one and co-wrote it with Jonathan Hales. Attack of the Clones reached over $649 million at the box office worldwide.

The style A advance one-sheet for Attack of the Clones shows Anakin and Padmé, backs to each other with the doomed romantic tagline “A Jedi shall not know anger. Nor hatred. Nor love.” Created by Greg Bell and Paul Venables, Padmé has taken on a softer appearance for her new role as romantic lead. There are serious expressions on their faces with very little lighting. This teaser makes it clear that the central story is about Luke and Leia’s parents.

The style B one-sheet was created by Struzan, depicting Padmé leaning into Anakin with his chin tucked against her forehead. Standing in the foreground is bounty hunter Jango Fett, the father of the notorious Boba Fett, and basis for the clone army. Obi-Wan has replaced Qui-Gon as the stern-faced father figure.

For the IMAX showings, a very colorful and animated poster was created. Featuring Yoda looking large and ready for battle over city structures, he stands below the tagline “Size Matters Not. Except on an IMAX Screen.”

Lucas wrote and directed the final installment of his second trilogy. Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005 with the Jedi leading the clone army in a battle against the Separatists. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine continues his political maneuvers to gain more power while whispering into the increasingly receptive ear of Anakin Skywalker.

After having a vision that Padmé will die in childbirth he makes the ultimate choice, pledging himself to the Emperor and his burgeoning Galactic Empire. As the Jedi are being exterminated across the galaxy, Master Yoda and a few others are forced into hiding. Upon discovering Anakin’s betrayal, Obi-Wan battles his former Padawan, leaving Anakin for dead, but he is saved by the Emperor and becomes Darth Vader, while Padmé gives birth to Leia and Luke. Revenge of the Sith totaled almost $849 million at the box office worldwide.

The style A advance for Revenge of the Sith displays Anakin at the edge of the poster with his cape turning into Vader’s helmet. The way the cape takes up the dominate portion of the poster clearly indicates that Vader is consuming Anakin. It dwarfs him, flowing off of his back representing the fluidity of his transformation into the Sith lord.

On the style B one-sheet, painted by Struzan, Padmé is no longer leaning on Anakin, rather she looks diplomatic and he looks troubled. The foreground image is the battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Yoda and Mace Windu are also in action, the emperor appears on his first theatrical one-sheet, and Darth Vader hovers over Anakin.

Homage was paid to A New Hope with a style D circus poster by Matt Busch. Almost a mirror image, it has a similar color scheme, Anakin and Padmé replace Luke and Leia, General Grievous in place of Vader, Yoda takes the place of Han and R2-D2 with C-3PO replace the jawas. A younger Obi-Wan is seen along the side where his older counterpart appears on the original.

Revenge of the Sith also saw character specific posters of Mace Windu, General Grievous, Darth Vader, Anakin and Obi-Wan, Yoda, and a Clone Trooper, each rendered in an action pose and different color scheme. There’s also a comical Darth Vader mini poster with the tagline “Who’s Your Daddy?” above the release date details for Father’s Day 2005.

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