It is the fourth film in the Star Wars film series, the first film of the prequel trilogy and the first chronological chapter of the " Skywalker Saga ".
Joined by Anakin Skywalker —a young slave with unusually strong natural powers of the Force —they simultaneously contend with the mysterious return of the Sith. The film was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Following the release of Return of the Jedi , talks of a follow-up were proposed, but Lucas was unmotivated to return to the franchise.
During the hiatus, the backstories he created for the characters, particularly Anakin's, sparked interest in him to develop a prequel trilogy during the s. After he determined that computer-generated imagery CGI had advanced to the level he wanted for the prequel trilogy's visual effects , Lucas began writing The Phantom Menace in , and production began in The Phantom Menace was released in theaters on May 19, , almost 16 years after the premiere of Return of the Jedi.
The film's premiere was extensively covered by media and was widely anticipated because of the large cultural following the Star Wars saga had cultivated. Upon its release, The Phantom Menace received mixed reviews from critics. While the visual effects were praised, criticism was largely focused on its exposition and characters—particularly Jar Jar Binks.
The film was a box-office success and broke numerous records. The Trade Federation has disrupted order in the Galactic Republic by blockading the planet Naboo in secret preparation for a full-scale invasion.
