A long time ago, in… 1999, Star Wars returned. Episode I: The Phantom Menace kicked off a brand new sequence of films, turning a much-loved trilogy into a franchise. It’s what Star Wars’ colossal fanbase had been crying out for, but inevitably, the prequel struggled to compete with the original trilogy that had concluded so definitely in 1983.
Now turning 25, the years have been kind to The Phantom Menace’s blend of political intrigue, trade wars, and mysticism. In the fabric of a vastly expanded space saga, Episode I’s quarter-century is worth celebrating.
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Episode I returned to before the original trilogy’s galactic civil war. It had the massive task of setting up the rivalry between Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, and seeding the destruction of an ancient Republic and the Jedi in their prime.
Star Wars was already known for its merchandise, and the scope of the new trilogy was even more enormous than what had come before. In the year of The Phantom Menace’s 25th birthday, some incredible Star Wars collectibles are ready to tempt fans to the "merch side."
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Star Wars The Black Series Droideka Destroyer Droid
This is a formidable Black Series model of the Trade Federation’s Destroyer Droid. One look at the design, brilliantly captured in Hasbro’s premium articulated range, shows it’s dedicated to eradicating the enemy. It boasts twin blasters on each arm and can be posed in three-leg attack mode or protective globe form, with either one looking great on a shelf. It's an excellent way for fans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its first appearance in Episode I.
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LEGO Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter
The Prequel Trilogy showed Jedi in their prime, and at the forefront was Obi-Wan Kenobi. In Attack of the Clones, the Jedi Master heads to the planet Kimino to investigate an attempt to assassinate Senator Padmé Amidala. Alongside the Jedi and his trusty astromech, this 282-piece set includes his Jedi Starfighter and an exclusive Taun Kiminoan minifigure fans will want to snap up.
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The Black Series Anakin Skywalker (Episode I)
Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi discovered young Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, with the Jedi master convinced he could become one of the most powerful Jedi ever to live. Young Darth Vader wasn’t every fan’s cup of tea, but his role in the franchise is undeniable. Fans of The Phantom Menace won’t want to miss adding this fully articulated 6-inch figure to their collection.
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Star Wars Dark Side Edition Monopoly Board Game
Once a fan experiences the Dark Side of Monopoly, they may never play the game in the same way again. The classic board game takes inspiration from the great villains of the franchise, as they seek to collect Imperial Credits, unleash dark abilities like Force Lightning, and plot to overthrow their opponents. This stunning spin on Monopoly comes with six zinc tokens of infamous characters like Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Darth Maul, and the Emperor.
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Star Wars 11-inch Grogu Plush
$20 $25 Save $5Grogu, the adorable force-sensitive child fans struggled not to call Baby Yoda, arrived in TheMandalorian. It’s hard to remember when a Star Wars character last captured the imagination like this icon. Grogu was made to be a plushie, and this 11-inch doll is stunningly soft with embroidered features.
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LEGO Star Wars Clone Trooper & Battle Droid Battle Pack Set for Kids
The Phantom Menace’s political intrigue soon warped into the Clone Wars — a new civil war for a new trilogy. This brand new LEGO set takes fans straight into the conflict with a Clone Shock Trooper, 3 Clone Troopers, 3 Super Battle Droids, and 2 Battle Droids with assorted accessories. The buildable tri-droid may look tough, but the clone troopers have a stud-shooting speeder bike and a thermal detonator element.
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Darth Maul Pop Vinyl Bobble Head
$12 $13 Save $1Darth Vader left big boots to fill, but this distinctive Dathomirian Zabrak Sith Lord gave it a good go. The dual-lightsaber-wielding villain only had a few scenes in The Phantom Menace but was too good for the follow-up sagas like The Clone Wars to ignore. This mesmerizing 4-inch bobblehead Funko Pop! captures the menace in his prime. Available to pre-order to celebrate Episode I’s anniversary in (when else?) May 2024.
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Star Wars The Black Series Grand Admiral Thrawn 6-Inch Action Figure
The Heir to the Empire finally arrived in live-action in the 2023 Disney Plus series Ahsoka. While the Grand Admiral, who survived the fall of the Empire, is set to become a familiar presence over the next few years of Star Wars, he originated in the years between the original and prequel trilogies. Timothy Zahn crafted a villain brilliant enough to succeed Darth Vader and played a massive part in keeping the franchise going after it faded from movie theaters. Now, thanks to Hasbro’s Black Series, fans can capture the latest incarnation of Thrawn.
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Darth Vader Legacy Lightsaber
The elegant lightsaber is one of the most iconic symbols of Star Wars. This premium collectible is based on the blazing red weapon of Darth Vader. That means an attachable blade that illuminates in vivid crimson thanks to a switch on the movie-authentic hilt. It’s a premium collector’s that any fan would want, which comes with a display stand and a saber belt clip.
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D Bag Clip
Here’s the chance for Star Wars fans to pick up one or all of their favorite characters from The Phantom Menace. These adorable 3D foam model key chains are 2 inches tall and packed in blind packaging. It’ll be a surprise whether it’s Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, or C-3PO inside. But there’s also the chance of picking up a super-rare chase variant in this pack of six!
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Star Wars: The Prequel Trilogy
$18 $22 Save $4How about experiencing the Prequel Trilogy differently? This 1000-plus page set collects the novelizations of all three films. Authors Terry Brooks, R. A. Salvatore, and Matthew Stover adapted George Lucas’s story, expanding each movie to provide the definitive text of the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire. Worth picking up in paperback for the fantastic cover.
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Star Wars The Black Series Captain Cardinal Electronic Helmet
The Black Series range of electronic helmets is wildly popular, and this stunning red version of the iconic stormtrooper helmet is flying out on pre-orders before it arrives in June 2024. Taken from the recent multimedia event Galaxy’s Edge, it’s the distinctive headwear of First Order Captain Cardinal, featuring realistic deco and a voice changer. This is one of the most popular pieces of Star Wars merchandise around.
Celebrate An Epic Cinematic Achievement!
Episode I marked Star Wars creator George Lucas’s return to directing after 22 years away. Unlike the Sequel Trilogy, which Disney stewarded, it was a chance for the director to reposition his space saga on a considerable budget. The complicated story of Darth Vader’s journey to igniting that red lightsaber wasn’t expected. Still, Lucas ensured it was packed with elements aimed squarely at kids.
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That ability to appeal to new audiences paid off. Twenty-five years later, the proof is evident in the merchandise that reflects not just The Phantom Menace’s anniversary but the whole expanded franchise from Destroyer Droid action figures to irresistible Grogu plushies.
Fans can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime to gain the best prices and delivery options on any merchandise they pick up at Amazon. Fans shopping at Entertainment Earth will get an automatic 10% off and free domestic shipping over $79 on any in-stock items listed above.
FAQs
Is The Phantom Menace The First Star Wars?
Yes and no! For many years, The Phantom Menace stood as the movie start of the Star Wars saga: the first chapter of the nine film sequence that concluded with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Despite the prequel trilogy coming two decades after the original film, it was chronologically first.
However, the sprawling franchise is expanding beyond the three trilogies that are now seen as forming the Skywalker saga. Fans can expect many live-action projects to join the multimedia stories set during the millennia before Episode I.
Can I Start Watching Star Wars from The Phantom Menace?
Undoubtedly, it’s a logical place for any new viewer to start watching Star Wars movies. The franchise’s many new fans born after the release of Episode I, and even after the original trilogy, means the Prequel Trilogy is now more often seen as the first trilogy. That said, there are many ways to watch the Star Wars saga, with many pros and cons fans love to pore over.
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