Since the prequel trilogy hit cinemas, there’s been considerable debate surrounding the correct Star Wars movies order. And while you’re certainly free to do as you please, the genius behind the galaxy far, far away himself – George Lucas – has definitively stated how we’re meant to view the saga(s) for the record.
“Start with one. That’s the way to do it right: I, II, III, IV, V, VI. That’s the way they’re supposed to be done. Just because it took a long time to film it doesn’t mean you don’t do it in order,” said George Lucas.
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Granted, this doesn’t account for everything else that’s been released since – from the new sequel trilogy starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver to the critically-acclaimed series Andor – but we’ll assume you can just slot them in as you go. Or rather, as they fit in the timeline.
Here’s how you should consume the Star Wars movies (and TV series’) below.
How To Watch The Star Wars Movies In Order
Chronological Order / Episodic Order (George Lucas Certified)**
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) [Optional]
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) [Optional]
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) [Optional]
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Theatrical Release Order
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) [Optional]
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) [Optional]
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) [Optional]
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Machete Order
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) [Optional]
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) [Optional]
This method was conceived by a Star Wars superfan named Rod Hilton:
“How can you ensure that a viewing keeps the twists a surprise, while introducing young Anakin before the end of Return of the Jedi? Simple… watch them in this order: IV, V, II, III, VI. You may notice Episode I is gone. I’ll get to that in a second.”
“George Lucas seems to believe that Star Wars is the story of Anakin Skywalker, but it’s really not – at least, not effectively. Anakin doesn’t have an interesting arc – he gives into what is presented as overwhelming temptation.”
“This is relatable, but it’s not terribly interesting. Anakin only has an engaging character turn at the end of Jedi when he’s redeemed, but that’s not as a character, it’s as a goal – something for the character we’ve been invested in for three movies (Luke) to accomplish.”
“Anakin is, at this point in the story, a personified proxy for the entire galaxy. Saving Anakin from the Dark Side just puts a human face on saving the Galaxy from the Empire, and it proves Luke right for his unwillingness to give up on his father, even though his attempts to save him risk the entire mission.”
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“Effectively, this order keeps the story Luke’s tale. Just when our main man Luke is left with the burning question: “Did my father really become Darth Vader?” we take an extended flashback to explain that it’s true. Once we understand how his father turned to the dark side, we go back to the main storyline and see how Luke is able to rescue him from it and salvage the good in him, which is the only way to destroy the Empire.”
“Putting the prequels in the middle in general (which a commenter has pointed out is called Ernst Rister order) allows the series to end on the sensible ending point (the destruction of the Empire) while still beginning with Luke’s journey.”
“The prequel backstory comes at the perfect time, because The Empire Strikes Back ends on a huge cliffhanger. Han is in carbonite, Vader is Luke’s father, and the Empire has hit the rebellion hard. Delaying the resolution of this cliffhanger makes it all the more satisfying when Return of the Jedi is watched.”
“Narratively, it’s just like a movie that starts with a big opening, then fades to “two years earlier” for most of the movie, until it catches up with the present time and concludes.”
Hit the link here for the full explanation.
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Movies & TV Shows Order**
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) [Movie + Series]
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Star Wars Rebels (2014)
- Andor (2022)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- The Mandalorian (2019)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
- Star Wars: Resistance (2018)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
**Disney Canon
To revisit the Star Wars universe, hit the link below.
