Grossing 1 billion doesn't mean much when your movie is called Star Wars. There also was a 16 year wait between Jedi and Menace, which heightened fan interest. I personally saw Menace 3 times in theaters, not because it was good, but because I was convinced I was missing something. I mean, it was Star Wars, right? Why wasn't I loving this?
The prequels fail in just about every way imaginable. It's shocking and laughable how bad they turned out. Even the titles are bad. There's a board on here right now asking what "The Phantom Menace" even means and there are a variety of answers, further showcasing the confusion and lack of focus that comes with these movies.
Aside from the acting, the dialogue, the poor characters, convoluted plot, and over reliance of CGI, the movies don't even LOOK right! These movies don't even resemble the same universe as the OT. It's actually jarring to go from Episode 3 to 4.
Rogue One got it right. The transition is smooth and seemless. The more you watch the prequels, the more it seems Lucas really doesn't know his own creation very well. Either that, or he had LOTS of help and input during the making of the OT.

I think its a solid film. Its enjoyable. Clearly the CGI looks dated now in places, but thankfully a lot of the film still uses motion capture and models.

Some people will pay money to watch a pile of junk explode.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

I mean it's not terrible, but not that great either, clearly it left some impact on pop culture, Darth Maul, Pod Racing, Duel of the fates

Force awakens left more of an impact than all three prequels
There is a reason why prequel merchandise has dissapeared

It seems that those who hated the prequels just love Force Awakens ? Kylo Ren is just a copy of Anakin from ATC and ROS. The planet killer is just another death star copy from New Hope and Return of the Jedi. Rey is just a female Luke, old Luke is just another Yoda. Snoke is just another Palpatine. No originality !
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Jar Jar and Anakin both have figurines. If they didn't sell they wouldn't be manufactured.
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Adjusted for inflation Phantom Menace is #18 all time. Revenge of the Sith is a respectable #63. Attack of the Clones is #92. All three of the prequels are among the 100 most popular films of all time. There have been countless films made in the last 100 years.
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1 billion
When adjusted it is below TFA, empire, return of the Jedi, and new hope
Attack of the clones sold half the tickets phantom dida decline of 50 percent is awful for sequels that often decline 15 percent
ROTS didn't grown much over attack of the clones and dropped like a rock right out of pop culture

left no impression ? PM grossed 1 billion ! ATC made 650 million and ROS made 850 million. Somebody must have been impressed enough.
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disney star wars is remembered.while nothing in the prequels left any impression on the audience and had no story

^ Said the Prometheus fan!
You like the Disney Wars too?

Are you kidding??
Who buys Jar Jar figurines?? Who buys young Analking figurines???
The only stuff peopple bought and swallowed, was those figures which resemble the originals, like buying again the clone troopers, the bad guys (not too much even! where are those Count Cooku figurines? Even Darth Mule is not the most sold)
The prequels are GARBAGE. Commercial diarrhea, the only people who enjoyed those movies are the millenial generation, no brainers who don't think about a movie and the story, or its moral values or WTF you watch a movie for.
The story is full of plot holes and lame, the characters have double standard values (like Qui Gon, liar, cheater and a coward, and selfish a hole, who constantly talks about being nice and be a good boy jedi).
It has the same effect than fireworks..you see them exploding and after they are done, you start to feel like an idiot for spending $100 in that BS which wasn't that good after 4 minutes.

" the prequels failed to make any impact on pop-culture " ? I still have these character figurines. Star Wars I, II, & III was promoted on everything from drink cans to t-shirts to beach balls to air fresheners. Even today we see Yoda on a box of cereal holding a lightsaber. Yoda wielded no lightsaber in the original trilogy. " faded into obscurity " ? I go shopping and see the Star Wars six pack as if all 6 films are part of the complete story. Films that are obscure are no .longer being sold at the local mall.
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the prequels failed to make any impact on pop-culture and has pretty much faded into obscurity
Even hating the prequels is pop culture. Darth Maul? Palpatine? Mace Windu? Qui Gon Jin? Duel of the Fates? No impact there right?

really
the prequels failed to make any impact on pop-culture and has pretty much faded into obscurity

Just surviving a pod race makes him a great pilot.
And what was it that Anakin did later in the film? He piloted a star fighter to max effect. That point is hammered even further when we meet him at the start of Clones.

If that slipped you by there is this little thing called the pod race that he won. Something ordinary humans can't even drive. But he's nothing special of course.
Did you spend all that money without ever watching the movie?
Winning one pod race does not make Anakin a great pilot.
Obi-Wan was referring to Anakin Skywalker as a starfighter pilot in Return of the Jedi, NOT a freaking pod racer junkie. A great pilot, a hero. George completely forgot about this line while making Episode I.

That Pod Race was awful.
i think the problem was we knew Anakin would win the race, even when he was running in last place. it's just that sort of movie.
"He's dusted, busted and disgusted, but he's ok"

That Pod Race was awful. I hated the movies back then that threw scenes in just for video games.
Anyway, that's not being a star pilot.

In the prequel Episode I, Anakin, after meeting Obi-Wan the first time, is no such thing. He's an 8 year old boy, attuned with force powers, that has lived on Tatooine as a slave all his life. He has never flown a starfighter of any sort.
I'm a pilot you know.
You're a pilot?
All my life.
If that slipped you by there is this little thing called the pod race that he won. Something ordinary humans can't even drive. But he's nothing special of course.
Did you spend all that money without ever watching the movie?

I thought Obi Wan was dull and lifeless. Qui Gon was because of Liam Neeson. But also lacked energy. Darth Maul could have rocked, but didn't really get the chance. Yoda did not rock in TPM. He screwed up, but definitely did not rock.
The effects were good for the time, but diminished by the overuse of a moronic droid army. Seriously, who program anything to be that stupid?
Unfortunately, this movie is devoid of anything to care about. Anything that could have been exciting is diminished by childish dialog.
This movie was disappointing from start to finish.

I don't think many liked Jar Jar,but Obi Wan rocked, Qui Gon Rocked, Mace rocked, Darth Maul rocked, Yoda rocked, the new worlds rocked, the special effects ( for its time ) rocked, the lightsaber fights rocked, and so on.
Jar Jar didn't ruin this anymore than Ewoks ruined Return Of the Jedi.
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I remember well realizing that TPM was terrible while I was still sitting in the theatre. So many problems. What I do remember also is that I did not think then, not do I now, that Jar Jar Binks was the worst problem. There are bigger problems with this movie.