Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is still a lightning rod of controversy for fans, even 20 years after its release (the film celebrates that anniversary this Sunday). And though The Last Jedi seems to be taking its place as the preeminent controversial Star Wars movie, the fact is, love it or hate it, The Phantom Menace rebirthed the galaxy far, far away for a new generation.
But even if you fall into the camp that doesn’t particularly enjoy Episode I, there are still some stories from the early Prequel era of Star Wars, ~30 BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) to be specific, that are incredible and simply wouldn’t exist without the characters, locales, or themes of The Phantom Menace.