The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' (2001): cast, story & where to watch

2001 · Film · ★ 7.3

The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' poster

Released in 2001, The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' is a documentary film directed by Jon Shenk, running about 66 minutes.

What it’s about. The entire process of making Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) is shown here in this documentary. From pre-production through post-production, we get to see visual effects meetings, John Williams' music sessions, and even the storm that wiped out the pod-racers & props.

Who’s in it. The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' stars George Lucas as Self, Jake Lloyd as Self, Natalie Portman as Self and Steven Spielberg as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 7.3/10, The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' has been warmly received by audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' (2001)?
Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
Is The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' worth watching?
The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' holds an audience score of 7.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Most viewers rate it highly.
Who stars in The Beginning: Making 'Episode I'?
The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' stars George Lucas, Jake Lloyd, Natalie Portman, Steven Spielberg and Ewan McGregor.
When was The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' released?
The Beginning: Making 'Episode I' was released in 2001, with a runtime of about 66 minutes.