Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

A covert group of rebels comes together to steal the plans for the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star, in a high-stakes operation that could change the course of the conflict. Jyn Erso, a stubborn and haunted operative, is recruited into a small strike team led by Cassian Andor. Alongside them are the blunt, reprogrammed droid K-2SO and the connected pair Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus, each bringing different skills and convictions to the mission. They move through occupied worlds, sabotage and firefights, and tense intelligence work, racing against time as the Empire tightens its grip. The story stays tightly focused on the mission and the personal costs of resistance, without revealing how the final outcome unfolds.

Directed by Gareth Edwards and released in 2016, Rogue One grew out of an original story from visual effects supervisor John Knoll, with screenwriting by Chris Weitz and Gary Whitta. It served as the first standalone entry in Lucasfilm's anthology approach to the Star Wars universe.

The film was a major commercial hit, grossing over $1 billion worldwide and ranking among 2016's top box office performers. Its success demonstrated strong audience appetite for Star Wars stories set outside the episodic saga and helped justify further standalone projects.

Rogue One shifted the franchise toward a darker, war-film tone, and introduced characters who quickly became fan favorites, especially the sarcastic K-2SO and the conflicted Jyn Erso. Its tense battle sequences, gritty aesthetic and use of legacy imagery prompted wide discussion about how far franchise films can push tonal differences, and it influenced the look and storytelling approach of later Star Wars projects.

Critics generally responded well, praising the film's action, production design and committed performances, and audience ratings average around 7.5 out of 10. The movie emphasizes themes of sacrifice, the moral costs of fighting oppression, and how small acts can ripple into larger movements, offering a more grounded perspective on heroism within the Star Wars setting.