Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Trivia: With the exception of Battle Droids, this was the only Star Wars movie where nobody loses an arm/hand until the release of Episode VII. The victims are Anakin and the bounty hunter in Episode II, Anakin again in Episode III, Ponda Baba at Mos Eisley in Episode IV, Luke and a Wampa in Episode V, and Vader in Episode VI.

Trivia: "Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of Don McLean's "American Pie" called "The Saga Begins" which outlines the plot of this film from Obi-Wan's point of view. Yankovic used leaked spoilers on the internet to write the lyrics, and then ended up paying to attend a screening of this film for charity to ensure that the lyrics accurately depicted the plot. He said he only had to make minor alterations after seeing the film.

Phaneron

Trivia: Before production had started on The Phantom Menace, Ron Howard, along with Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, were asked by George Lucas to direct, but all three turned it down. Howard would later direct the Han Solo movie in 2018.

Trivia: Technically this wouldn't count as a mistake since it requires going through frame-by-frame, but there's an amusing little flub in the pod-race. When Sebulba's craft crashes, go through frame-by-frame when his one engine hits the rock formation. The rock formation actually begins to explode a frame or two before the engine strikes it. It's hard to tell it's happening when viewing the movie at normal speed, but you can catch it going frame-by-frame. Just an amusing little slip-up in the rendering.

TedStixon

Trivia: Darth Maul appears for only 6 minutes in the entire film.

Trivia: Nathan Hamill, Mark Hamill's son, has a cameo as one of the Royal Guards of Naboo.

Trivia: Qui-Gon Jinn's death was spoiled by the track listing of the film's soundtrack, which was released two weeks before the film.

Phaneron

Trivia: The name "Otoh Gunga" is never said in the film. The city is always called Gunga City or the Gungan City instead.

Trivia: At least 3,000 boys auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker.

Trivia: Darth Maul has only 3 lines in the whole film.

Trivia: George Lucas originally intended to film The Phantom Menace with HD digital cameras built by Sony and Panavision, which would have made it the first movie ever to be shot in digitally instead of with film. Unfortunately, Sony and Panavision could not build the cameras fast enough for the shoot, leaving George Lucas with traditional cameras instead. However, Lucas used the digital cameras on Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace mistake picture

Revealing mistake: When Qui-Gon, Jar-Jar, and Padme are eating at Anakin's house, Anakin's mum pours water for Qui-Gon. But when she gets to Jar-Jar, she tips the pitcher but no water comes out. (00:39:10)

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Question: I'm confused. Palpatine wanted to use Queen Amidala to get himself voted as chancellor so he could have control over the republic. Why did he send Darth Maul after the Queen's ship when it escaped if he needed the Queen alive?

Answer: The entire time Palpatine is bitching to Viceroy Gunray that he needs the Queen to sign the treaty to make the blockade and invasion legal. He didn't send Darth Maul to kill Amidala, he sent him to capture her and to deal with her Jedi escort.

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