logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
23m 45s

The Star Wars Prequels

NPR
About this episode
When the Star Wars prequels came out, they were polarizing for fans of George Lucas' beloved space opera. The three films - The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith – followed Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. It's been 20 years since the final prequel hit theaters, so it seems like a fitting time to reevaluate the movies.

Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jun 2025
Bring Her Back
The hit Australian horror movie Talk To Me was both very good and deeply unsettling. Now its directors (Danny and Michael Philippou) have returned with Bring Her Back, which ups the ante when it comes to disturbing, nightmarish storytelling. The film stars Sally Hawkins as a woma ... Show More
18m 52s
Jun 2022
Jurassic World Dominion And What's Making Us Happy
23m 42s
Mar 2019
2020 Grammys Recap
21m 5s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
The Phantom Menace | 116
In May 1999 hordes of Star Wars fans swarmed movie theatres for an event that many thought might never happen. It was release day for a movie they had spent the past 15 years longing for, but all the excitement soon turned to confusion, disappointment and in some cases even anger ... Show More
41m 9s
Nov 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Part 1)
<p>Jedi! Lightsabers! Taxes? This week, Chris tests Lizzie’s midi-chlorians (and patience) with George Lucas’ polarizing return to Star Wars. Was Lucas a victim of his own success, or were we all victims of his divorce? Plus, how Michael Jackson and Denzel Washington were nearly ... Show More
1h 24m
Mar 2015
In A Galaxy Far Far Away… - The Phantom Podcast
The year was 1999. It had been twenty-two years since George Lucas last directed a feature film. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was highly anticipated. But then why did the majority of audiences and critics hate it so much? Sixteen years later, Griffin and David sta ... Show More
1h 24m
Oct 2015
Emperor Darth Sidious - Revenge Of The Podcast
A Naboo Senator. Then a Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. But WHO is this Phantom Menace? Could it really be the uptight Palpatine pulling all the strings? YUP! And guess what he’s a Sith lord too! In this episode, Griffin and David examine the new Emperor’s rise to po ... Show More
1h 20m
Nov 2015
The Clone Wars Animated Series with Jonathan Braylock - Revenge Of The Podcast
Jonathan Braylock (Black Men Can’t Jump (In Hollywood) podcast) joins Griffin and David on this week’s episode to cover the entirety of the 2003-2005 animated television shorts Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Set during the three year gap between films Attack of the Clones and Revenge ... Show More
1h 41m
Apr 2020
The Siege of Mandalore Pt. 1 - S7 E9 ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ After Show
After 12 years of of Star Wars: The Clone Wars we are finally witnessing the start of "The Siege of Mandalore"! This episode opens unlike any other episode of the series with "A Lucas Limited Production" slate. Then... the John Williams main title movie theme plays with a new red ... Show More
45m 47s
Sep 2015
The Downfall Of Anakin Skywalker - Revenge Of The Podcast
This week Griffin and David, whilst yelling into microphones, dive right into the river of ham that is Anakin’s origin story and the main crux of the Phantom Menace series: turning to the dark side and becoming Darth Vader. Also, the MANY mistakes the Jedi council make, killing c ... Show More
1h 21m
Apr 2020
The Phantom Apprentice - S7 E10 ‘Star Wars: Clone Wars’ After Show & Recap
This week, the siege on Mandalore continues! Obi-Wan reaches out to Ahsoka and tells her that Anakin has just killed Count Dooku. He seems skeptical of the council's decision to have Anakin spy on Palpatine. Meanwhile, Maul has had visions of Skywalker's future, and descent to th ... Show More
49m 37s
Sep 2025
The Battle to Make Star Wars
Movies that change cinema often come from outsiders – whether it’s Orson Welles making Citizen Kane or George Lucas making Star Wars a.k.a. Episode IV: A New Hope. The excellent graphic novel Lucas Wars by artist Renaud Roche and writer Laurent Hopman just came out in English (th ... Show More
37m 57s
Dec 2024
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Part 2)
Blue screens! Tennis balls! Directions from George Lucas! What are three things that make an actor’s job harder? Chris and Lizzie conclude their Menace coverage with a crunch at ILM, the public shaming of Jar Jar Binks and why George may have lost a lot more than $50 million in h ... Show More
1h 31m