Figures show a lack of confidence in the Star Wars sequel trilogy

Recently published viewing figures for Star Wars films and TV series have revealed a surprising lack of interest in the franchise’s sequel trilogy. According to Nielsen data for 2025, 44.2% of the 33 billion minutes spent on Star Wars content were focused on live-action films. The most popular films in this category were A New Hope , The Phantom Menace , and Rogue One .

Popular films and trends

The data shows that, despite the mixed reception of the sequel trilogy, Star Wars’ original story still has strong appeal. A New Hope remains the most-watched film in 2025, followed by The Phantom Menace , which has recently been viewed more favorably by younger generations. Rogue One benefited from higher viewing figures thanks to the finale of the Andor series.

On May 4, 2025, the official Star Wars Day, A New Hope and The Phantom Menace were once again the most popular films. The detailed viewing figures also revealed that other films such as Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi made the top 10, while no film from the sequel trilogy appeared on the list. The top 10 was rounded out by popular series such as Andor and The Clone Wars .

Generations and their preferences

In the first quarter of 2026, the most-streamed Star Wars titles by generation were analyzed, offering insight into the preferences of different age groups. The Mandalorian is a favorite among both Generation Alpha (ages 2-13) and Baby Boomers (ages 62-80). Millennials (ages 30-45) and Generation X (ages 46-61) prefer Andor , while Generation Z (ages 14-29) still values the Clone Wars cartoon. Notably, none of the sequel trilogy films appear in this popularity ranking.

Impact on future Star Wars projects

The release of these figures has fueled further speculation about the future direction of the Star Wars franchise. Since the changes within Lucasfilm and the departure of former studio head Kathleen Kennedy, the roadmap for new projects has become unclear. Several projects have been announced, such as a film centered on Rey directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, but many are considered inactive.

After The Mandalorian and the planned Star Wars: Starfighter , there is uncertainty about what comes next, especially given the audience’s reluctance toward the sequel storyline. This has raised questions about which direction Star Wars will take now. Recent references to the time-travel segment The World Between Worlds have often suggested it could be used to reshape the franchise’s narrative course.

This lack of interest in the sequel trilogy and the shift back toward the original and prequel trilogies may push Disney to rebuild or rethink future projects. It is a time of reflection for the Star Wars franchise, one that could open the door to new possibilities and stories.