Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones takes place ten years after the events of The Phantom Menace and is the second movie in the Star Wars canon timeline. The galaxy is on the brink of civil war, as thousands of systems have seceded from the Republic under the leadership of Count Dooku, a former Jedi turned Sith Lord. Amidst this turmoil, Senator Padmé Amidala, now a key political figure, arrives on Coruscant to vote against the creation of a Republic army but narrowly survives an assassination attempt. Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, are assigned to protect her.
As another attempt is made on Senator Padmé Amidala’s life, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is assigned to uncover the source of the assassination plot. His investigation leads him across the galaxy to the storm-lashed, ocean-covered planet of Kamino, where he discovers a hidden cloning facility that has been producing a massive army of clone troopers. The army was mysteriously ordered a decade earlier by the late Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas—without the knowledge or approval of the Jedi Council. The clones are being bred and trained for the Republic, and their template is the enigmatic bounty hunter Jango Fett. Obi-Wan quickly grows suspicious of Jango, especially after learning he recently arrived from a place called Geonosis and that he may be connected to the assassin who targeted Padmé. When Jango attempts to flee Kamino with his son Boba, Obi-Wan pursues him across space, eventually tracking him to the desert world of Geonosis, deep within Separatist territory.
Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker—Obi-Wan’s headstrong Padawan—is assigned to escort Padmé back to her home planet of Naboo for her safety. Despite his emotional volatility and the Jedi Code forbidding attachment, the two begin to fall deeply in love during their time together, drawn by shared ideals and a growing sense of destiny. As their romance blossoms, Anakin is haunted by nightmarish visions of his mother in pain. Driven by fear and guilt, he convinces Padmé to travel with him to Tatooine to find her. There, Anakin reunites with his step-family, the Lars homestead, and learns that his mother, Shmi Skywalker, was abducted by Tusken Raiders. He tracks her to their encampment, only to find her barely alive. She dies in his arms, triggering an uncontrollable wave of grief and fury. Consumed by rage, Anakin massacres the entire Tusken tribe—men, women, and children—an act he confesses to Padmé in a moment of vulnerability. Though horrified, Padmé offers him comfort rather than judgment, unaware that this moment marks a pivotal shift in Anakin’s descent toward the dark side.
Back on Geonosis, Obi-Wan discovers a secret gathering of key galactic corporations and systems that are pledging support to Count Dooku, a former Jedi Master who now leads the Separatist movement. Obi-Wan transmits this intelligence to the Jedi Council but is quickly captured. In a tense interrogation, Dooku reveals shocking truths: he claims that the Republic is being manipulated by a powerful Sith Lord—Darth Sidious—who has infiltrated its highest levels. Obi-Wan, loyal to the Jedi and disbelieving of such a conspiracy, rejects the offer to join Dooku. Soon after, Anakin and Padmé arrive on Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, but they too are captured. The three are sentenced to death in a public execution within a vast arena, where they are chained and forced to battle deadly alien beasts before a bloodthirsty audience of Geonosians and Separatist leaders.
Just as they are about to be overwhelmed, Jedi Master Mace Windu and a team of Jedi arrive, engaging in battle with the Separatists. However, the Jedi are outnumbered until Yoda arrives with the newly deployed Grand Army of the Republic—composed of clone troopers—to turn the tide. While much of the Battle of Geonosis is not shown due to movie pacing and timing, deleted scenes from Episode II do exist. This point in the movie marks the beginning of the Clone Wars, as Republic forces clash with the Separatists. Amidst the chaos, Obi-Wan and Anakin confront Count Dooku, but he easily overpowers them, injuring Anakin by severing his arm. Before Dooku can escape, Yoda intervenes, engaging him in a fierce lightsaber duel. Dooku, however, manages to flee.
With the battle over, the Republic officially enters a state of war against the Separatists, with Chancellor Palpatine assuming emergency powers to command the clone army. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, this plays directly into Palpatine’s ultimate plan to seize absolute power. Meanwhile, Anakin, now with a mechanical arm, secretly marries Padmé on Naboo, solidifying their forbidden relationship.
As the film concludes, the Clone Wars have begun, setting the stage for the Republic’s downfall and Anakin’s eventual turn to the dark side. The Jedi remain unaware of the Sith’s growing influence, and Palpatine, manipulating both sides of the war, moves closer to achieving his ultimate goal of ruling the galaxy, all of which is detailed in The Revenge of the Sith.