The "Trade Federation" hurdle
If you haven't watched this since the turn of the millennium, you might remember the hype and the lightsabers while blocking out the tax law. A huge chunk of this movie is dedicated to Senate hearings and trade disputes. For a seven-year-old expecting space wizards and laser tag, the sudden pivot to intergalactic bureaucracy is a snooze.
Critics on Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes hovered right around the mid-50s for a reason: the movie feels like it’s constantly clearing its throat. If you see your kid’s eyes glazing over during the scenes on Coruscant, don't feel bad about hitting the 10-second skip button. You aren't missing character development; you're missing a subcommittee meeting.
The podrace is the real hook
While the plot drags, the Boonta Eve Classic podrace is still a technical masterpiece. It’s essentially a high-stakes chariot race with jet engines, and it’s the one part of the movie that consistently grips kids who are used to the fast-paced editing of modern YouTube or gaming.
If your kid is a fan of Mario Kart or high-speed racing games, this sequence will be their favorite part of the movie. It’s loud, it’s inventive, and it’s the first time young Anakin actually feels like a protagonist rather than a passenger in the story. It’s also a great moment to talk about sportsmanship and "fixing" things, as Anakin's mechanical skills are his real superpower here.
Where to actually start
There is a persistent debate about whether to start kids with this movie (Episode I) or the 1977 original. Since this is the chronological beginning, it’s tempting to hit play here first. I’d argue against that. The emotional stakes of the entire saga land much better if you’ve already met the older versions of these characters.
If you’re undecided on the order, check out our breakdown of the best starting age for every movie to see why the release order usually wins. Introducing a child to the franchise via trade negotiations is a risky move that might turn them off the galaxy entirely. We generally recommend starting with the original trilogy to build the fandom first, then coming back here for the lore.
The Jar Jar and Anakin factor
We have to talk about the slapstick. Jar Jar Binks was designed for the grade-school set, and while adults find him grating, kids under ten often think he’s hilarious. He’s the physical comedy relief in a movie that is otherwise very stiff.
Young Anakin is a bit of a mirror for the audience. He’s wide-eyed and helpful, which makes the "separation from mom" scene genuinely heavy. It’s the one moment of real emotional weight before the final battle. If you have a sensitive kid, that goodbye on Tatooine might require a quick check-in. It’s not scary, but the idea of leaving home forever to go to "Jedi school" is a big concept for a second-grader to chew on.
Visuals that still pop
Despite the 6.5 IMDB score, the movie is undeniably gorgeous. The underwater city of Otoh Gunga and the lush plains of Naboo still look better than many modern blockbusters. If you’re watching on Disney+, the 4K restoration makes the colors and the creature designs feel fresh. Even if the dialogue is clunky, the world-building is top-tier. It’s a movie that is often better to look at than it is to listen to. For more on navigating the franchise's shift from whimsical to dark, see our age 7+ guide to Star Wars.
