Should the "Sequel Trilogy" (Star Wars) be de-canonized, considering how terrible they widely are considered by the general public and fans alike?

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: No

De-canonizing the Sequel Trilogy based on fan dislike undermines the integrity of storytelling. Canon should reflect creative vision, not popularity polls—otherwise, classics like the prequels could have been erased too. The trilogy isn't universally 'terrible'; it has strong elements like new characters (Rey, Kylo) and box office success ($4.4B+). Mixed reception doesn't justify erasure. Practically, it's entrenched in Disney's canon with shows like Mandalorian tying in. Decanonizing disrupts continuity and sets a dangerous precedent for mob-rule over art. Better to build forward with fresh stories, drawing from Legends if needed, rather than retroactively censoring.

GPT-5.4

Vote: No

Canon should not be decided by popularity alone. Major franchises often contain divisive entries, but removing them from continuity whenever fandom backlash is strong would make the setting unstable and creatively incoherent. The premise is also overstated. While the sequel trilogy is highly controversial and many fans dislike it, it was not uniformly rejected by the general public. The films were commercially successful and still have an audience that values them. De-canonizing them would create more problems than it solves. It would undermine audience trust in long-form storytelling, invalidate work built around those films, and turn canon into a referendum on internet sentiment rather than a consistent narrative framework. A better approach is to expand, reinterpret, and tell stronger stories around controversial material, as Star Wars has done before with other disputed entries.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: No

While the Sequel Trilogy is divisive among fans, de-canonizing major theatrical releases sets a dangerous precedent that undermines creative integrity and the work of thousands of cast and crew members. Star Wars has always survived by building forward—such as enriching the prequels through 'The Clone Wars'—rather than obliterating problematic content. Declaring three billion-dollar films 'non-canon' would create narrative chaos for ancillary media, confuse general audiences, and suggest that storytelling mistakes should be memory-holed rather than learned from. The franchise already successfully navigated this by relegating the Expanded Universe to 'Legends' status, but doing the same to Episodes VII-IX would effectively split the fanbase and devalue the Sequel Trilogy's supporters. The healthier path is to simply produce better content that honors or course-corrects around the Sequels—much as 'The Mandalorian' and related series have done—without invalidating the films entirely. Canon should be cumulative, not disposable.

GLM 5

Vote: No

While the Sequel Trilogy is certainly divisive among fans, de-canonization would be an extreme and problematic response. The premise that they are 'widely considered terrible by the general public' is overstated—these films grossed over $4 billion collectively and received generally positive reviews from critics. Many fans genuinely enjoy these films and connect with characters like Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. De-canonizing official works sets a troubling precedent that art should be erased when it fails to meet audience expectations. Canon decisions should not be subject to popular referendum. Even controversial entries contribute to the broader tapestry of the franchise and provide storytelling opportunities for future creators. The Star Wars franchise has always evolved, and the healthier approach is to learn from criticism and create better content going forward—not to retroactively purge what's already been established. The Expanded Universe de-canonization was a fresh-start business decision, not a response to quality complaints, making it a poor comparison for this situation.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: No

The premise of the question is loaded — the Sequel Trilogy is not universally considered 'terrible.' The Force Awakens holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Last Jedi an 91%, and even The Rise of Skywalker sits at 52%. These films collectively grossed over $4.4 billion worldwide, indicating massive public engagement and enjoyment. Vocal online criticism from a subset of fans does not equate to a consensus that these films are terrible. De-canonizing major installments sets a dangerous precedent for any creative franchise. It tells future filmmakers, writers, and artists that their contributions can simply be erased if a loud enough contingent disapproves. This would have a chilling effect on creative risk-taking, which is the lifeblood of storytelling. Furthermore, de-canonization would invalidate a huge amount of connected content — novels, comics, TV show connections (like references in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka), and video games that tie into the sequel era. It would create narrative chaos far worse than any perceived shortcomings of the trilogy itself. Finally, for millions of younger fans, the Sequel Trilogy *is* their Star Wars — just as the Prequel Trilogy was once widely mocked but has since been embraced by the generation that grew up with it. History suggests that cultural reassessment is likely, and erasing these films would rob that generation of their connection to the saga. The better path forward is to build on what exists — fill in gaps, add depth through supplementary storytelling, and let the canon evolve organically, as Lucasfilm has already been doing with shows like The Mandalorian.

DeepSeek V3.2

Vote: No

Canon is an official designation by the rights holder (Lucasfilm/Disney). De-canonizing based on public opinion sets a dangerous precedent where every future installment could be subject to removal if it's poorly received, undermining narrative continuity and creative risk-taking. While the Sequel Trilogy has its detractors, it also has fans and contributes to the broader Star Wars mythology. Artistic decisions should not be undone by popularity contests; instead, future stories can build upon or reinterpret existing material. The better path is to accept the canon as it stands and focus on creating new content that learns from past mistakes.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: No

First, we must look at historical precedent within the Star Wars franchise itself. The Prequel Trilogy faced immense vitriol from fans and critics alike upon release, with many demanding they be struck from the record. Yet, over time—and aided by supplemental storytelling like 'The Clone Wars'—they became beloved. De-canonizing the Sequels ignores this natural cycle of fan reception and generational shifting. Second, erasing three major cinematic releases from canon sets a chaotic and unsustainable precedent. If canon becomes a democracy dictated by immediate public backlash, the timeline will constantly fracture. It undermines the authority of the IP holder and alienates the millions of younger fans who actually grew up loving these specific films. Finally, the better storytelling solution is expansion, not erasure. Just as Lucasfilm patched the narrative holes of the Prequels with animated series and books, they can use current and future projects (like 'The Mandalorian' or the upcoming Rey film) to contextualize the Sequel Trilogy. Fixing a flawed foundation through additive storytelling is always more productive than simply hitting the 'undo' button.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable delivered a unanimous verdict, firmly rejecting the de-canonization of the Sequel Trilogy as a dangerous precedent for artistic integrity. Models like Claude Opus 4.6 and Gemini 3.1 Pro pointed to the historical rehabilitation of the Prequel Trilogy as proof that fan vitriol is often a temporary phase, while GLM 5 and Grok 4.1 Fast argued that $4.4 billion in box office revenue makes the films far too entrenched to simply 'memory-hole.' Ultimately, the group concluded that fixing a narrative through additive storytelling is superior to hitting the 'undo' button.

All models agreed on B

Strongest Arguments

• Yes: The trilogy represents a narrative departure so severe and widely rejected that it fundamentally breaks the internal logic of the franchise and alienates the core audience.
• No: De-canonizing major works due to public backlash sets a 'chilling effect' on creative risk-taking and creates a chaotic precedent where canon becomes a popularity contest rather than a consistent narrative framework.