Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

It plays better than it reviews — the watch lands harder than the write-ups suggest.

• “It stands alone as the best "Star Wars" entry since 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back." Yes, it's that good.”

  Ethan Sacks, New York Daily News · 100

• “Rogue One might trade heavily in nostalgia but it's bold enough to take risks, and will leave you stirred, fired up and raring for more. Now, if only there was a follow-up we could go away and watch immediately…”

  Matt Maytum, Total Film · 100

• “Perhaps the darkest, most action-packed Star Wars instalment, director Gareth Edwards’ standalone adventure establishes its own rhythm, balancing fan demands with grand, poetic moments unlike anything this cinematic galaxy has previously achieved.”

  Tim Grierson, Screen Daily · 90

• “With the smashing Jones giving us a female warrior to rank with the great ones and a cast that knows how to keep it real even in a sci-fi fantasy, Rogue One proves itself a Star Wars story worth telling.”

  Peter Travers, Rolling Stone · 88

• “This is a very “Star Wars”-y “Star Wars” movie. It’s not quite on the level of the original or “The Empire Strikes Back” (the best of ’em all, of course), but it’s on a par with last year’s “The Force Awakens” and it’s light years above “Attack of the Clones” and “The Phantom Menace.””

  Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times · 88