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Want to know how to watch the Star Wars movies in order? You've come to the right place.
In this extensive guide, you'll learn about all of the ways — yes, there's more than one! — to watch them, what the best method is if you're a first-time viewer, where you can currently stream them (spoiler: they're all on Disney+), and more besides. So, whether you're a diehard fan of Lucasfilm's legendary galaxy far, far away, or need a Force push in the right direction as a newcomer to the iconic sci-fi franchise, here's everything you need to know about streaming the Star Wars movies and TV shows in order.
What's the best way to watch the Star Wars movies in for the first time?
If you're only started your Star Wars viewing apprenticeship, the best way to stream its myriad films is using the chronological order method.
Article continues belowSure, there's a strong argument to be made for watching the Star Wars movies in release date order, especially because the original trilogy comprises three of the greatest Star Wars flicks ever made. Nevertheless, streaming them in order of chronology makes the most sense for first-time viewers.
Why? Because you'll watch timeline events play out as intended. Okay, watching the prequels before the original movies does spoil a major reveal in one of those latter films, but it'll give you a greater appreciation for an incredibly important character's overall journey from Episode 1 to Episode 6. Watching the prequels first provides further context for events to come in later flicks, too.
There are other methods that make for far interesting ways of watching the Star Wars movies and shows in order, which I'll discuss in more detail later. But, if you're a newcomer to this increasingly complex universe, I suggest sticking with streaming the Star Wars movies in order of chronology first.
How to watch Star Wars movies in chronological order
Best for: first-time viewers or those looking for a new way to watch the films.
Here's a quick rundown of how to watch the Star Wars movies in order of chronology:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace — set 32 years before A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones — takes place 22 years before A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith — occurs 19 years before A New Hope
- Solo: A Star Wars Story — placed about a decade before A New Hope
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story — starts in the months prior to A New Hope and ends moments before that film begins
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope — considered to be point zero on the Star Wars timeline because it was the first film released in theaters
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back — set three years after A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi — takes place four years after A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens — opens 34 years after A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi — also set 34 years after A New Hope as it takes place in the immediate aftermath of The Force Awakens
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker — takes place 35 years after A New Hope
A long time ago, it was easy to know how to watch the Star Wars movies in order.
Until 1999, all of the movies (which began in 1977 with Episode IV: A New Hope) fit onto the timeline in the sequence they landed in theaters.
However, the prequel film trilogy, which charts Anakin Skywalker's rise to prominence and — spoiler — heel turn to become the iconic Sith Lord known as Darth Vader, changed everything.
Since those early 2000s big-screen entries, things have become a bit more complicated. However, from a chronological standpoint, the Star Wars timeline from a chronological standpoint isn't as confusing or convoluted as, say, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Indeed, the nine Jedi-starring movies released up to this point are handily labeled by their episodic numbers, which makes this timeline far easier to follow. Okay, there are a couple of spin-offs that have become required viewing but, considering they're set between the prequels and original movies, they slot into the chronological order list seamlessly.
How to watch Star Wars movies in release date order
Best for: established fans or anyone looking to watch them as intended.
Interested in watching the Star Wars movies in release date order instead? Here's how to do so:
- 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 Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
As you'll have seen, this method isn't necessarily the best way to follow the Skywalker Saga, aka the nine main films, and two spin-off films.
Yes, those of you who haven't watched the first three films are in for some big surprises (you know the ones we mean, Luke...), especially if you don't know what happens in the prequels. From a timeline perspective, though, newcomers might find this method harder to follow from a narrative viewpoint. So, only use the Star Wars movies in release date order if you're looking for a new way to consume them or if you're dead set on streaming them as George Lucas (and, later, Disney) intended.
How to watch the Star Wars movies in machete order
Best for: those who despise The Phantom Menace.
A well-known viewing sequence created by Star Wars megafan Rod Hilton in 2011, the so-called machete order is a way of watching without factoring The Phantom Menace into proceedings.
Although George Lucas' prequels are looked upon more fondly these days, the prevailing theory was that removing the aforementioned film from the equation was a significant improvement on the overall story.
So, how does the machete *ahem* cut (or should that be lightsaber slice?) work? Essentially, it changes how the saga is told to focus entirely on Luke Skywalker's character arc, with the idea being that it preserves The Empire Strikes Back's big Darth Vader-shaped twist.
Without further ado, then, here are the five essential flicks — you can stream the sequel trilogy afterwards, too, if you desire — that make up this specific Star Wars movies in order option:
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
How to watch the Star Wars movies in ultimate order
Best for: fans who want the full Star Wars experience.
Another staple of our Star Wars movies in order guide is the ultimate order option.
Basically, you'll need to stream all 11 films to date, plus every single TV show that's ever been made. That includes all of the live-action TV series, animated offerings that have aired on Disney's primary streamer and elsewhere, and a bunch of one-off specials (we're looking at you, Star Wars Christmas special...).
Here, then, is every single piece of Star Wars content you'll have to watch if you want to experience the ultimate order method and fully immerse yourself in this universe's deep-rooted mythology:
- Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — primarily aimed at kids, this cute animated offering takes place in 232 BBY (before Episode IV's Battle of Yavin)
- Star Wars: The Acolyte (TV show) — set during the High Republic era, approximately 100 years before the events of The Phantom Menace in 132 BBY
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (movie) — set 32 years before A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (movie) — takes place 22 years before A New Hope
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie & TV show) — set after Attack of the Clones in the 3-year period running 22 BBY and 19 BBY. Essentially, the movie is the first three episodes from the TV show, albeit spliced together to create a feature-length film
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (movie) — set 19 years before A New Hope
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch (TV show) — begins immediately after Revenge of the Sith and ends sometime during the events of Episode IV and Episode VI
- Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord (TV show) — takes place seven years before Star Wars Episode IV
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (movie) — occurs around a decade before A New Hope
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV show) — set in a similar time period to Solo: A Star Wars Story circa 9 BBY
- Star Wars: Rebels (TV show) — starts around five years before A New Hope, with an epilogue set in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi
- Andor (TV show) — takes place around the time of Star Wars: Rebels in the lead up to A New Hope.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (movie) — ends moments before A New Hope starts, so technically set in 0 BBY alongside Episode IV
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (movie) — ground zero for the Star Wars franchise
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (movie) — set three years after A New Hope aka 3 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (movie) — occurs four years after A New Hope
- The Mandalorian (TV show) — happens around nine to 11 years after A New Hope
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (TV show) — set around the same time as The Mandalorian
- The Book of Boba Fett (TV show) — set immediately after The Mandalorian season 2 in 9 ABY
- Star Wars: Ahsoka (TV show) — runs parallel to events depicted in The Mandalorian season 3
- Star Wars: Resistance (TV show; 2 seasons) — set around 34 years after A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (movie) — happens in 34 ABY
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (movie) — also takes place 34 years after A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (movie) — occurs 35 years after A New Hope
There are a few Star Wars projects that don't fit neatly onto the ultimate order timeline.
For starters, the Star Wars Holiday Special, which aired in 1978 and has largely been disowned by everyone involved in its development, is technically set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. It's so utterly bizarre, though, that very few people consider it to be canon anymore. That said, it did introduce Boba Fett to audiences, so maybe it deserves a spot on the above timeline...
Meanwhile, stories depicted in animated anthology show Star Wars: Visions aren't part of the official canon. While other animated productions Tales of the Jedi and Tales From the Empire are, though, it's difficult to place them on the timeline because their standalone episodes take place at various points. Unless we write them down as individual tales in order to position them on said timeline, then, we'll just keep them grouped here for now.
New Star Wars movies and TV shows
Want the lowdown on all of the new Star Wars TV shows and movies that'll be released in the months and years to come? Check out the list below for a quick rundown of what's in the pipeline and the linked-to article to learn more about them:
- The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22, 2026) — a movie sequel to The Mandalorian on Disney+
- Star Wars: Starfighter (May, 28 2027) — a film starring Ryan Gosling that's set after The Rise of Skywalker
- Ahsoka season 2 (TBC, expected sometime in 2026) – the sequel to this live-action show's debut outing
- Lando (TBC) – originally a TV series, one of Lucasfilm's in-development movies could see Donald Glover reprise his role as the eponymous rogue from Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Rogue Squadron (TBC) – long thought to be dead, Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins revealed that her big-screen adaptation of this videogame series was back in early development in 2024
- Untitled Dawn of the Jedi movie (TBC) – developed by Jason Mangold, it'll explore the origins of the Force and those who wield it on its Light Side
- Untitled New Jedi order movie (TBC) — starring Daisy Ridley's Rey, this movie (which might be Star Wars Episode X in all but name) will potentially see the sequel movie trilogy's lead actor establish a new Jedi Academy
- Untitled New Republic movie (TBC) – billed as an epic crossover of, and conclusion to, Disney's post-Return of the Jedi TV shows
- Untitled Taiki Waititi Star Wars movie (TBC) – the New Zealand filmmaker is also developing a film, but very little is know about it
Bear in mind that, in light of Kathleen Kennedy's departure from Lucasfilm and heirs to the Star Wars empire in Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, some of the above might not get made. Once more firm details are revealed, I'll update this section.
Where can I watch the Star Wars movies and TV shows?
With Lucasfilm being bought by Disney many years ago, it'll come as no surprise to learn that every Star Wars film and TV series, both live-action and animated, are only available to stream on Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.
Not signed up to the platform yet? Read my Disney+ price guide to see how much it'll cost you, or find out if you can take advantage of a Disney+ free trial today.
Every Star Wars movie ranked, from worst to best
Determining what the best Star Wars movies are is like asking for trouble. Indeed, every single fan has very, very strong opinions on the best and worst of the bunch, so you'll very rarely find two people who see eye to eye on the order they should be listed in.
Thankfully, though, place like Rotten Tomatoes can give us an overview of how these films should be ranked — so we've used the aforementioned review aggregation website to list them in the most ideal way.
One thing to note before you proceed: we've ranked the Star Wars movies in order of their critical ratings. So, while ones further down the list might be viewed more kindly by general audiences, we think it's fairer to rank them by the former first, which I'm sure won't come back to bite us...
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope — 94% (critics); 96% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back — 93% (critics); 97% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens — 93% (critics); 84% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi — 91% (critics); 41% (audience)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story — 84% (critics); 87% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi — 83% (critics); 94% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith — 79% (critics); 66% (audience)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story — 69% (critics); 63% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones — 62% (critics); 56% (audience)
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace — 54% (critics); 59% (audience)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker — 51% (critics); 86% (audience)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — 18% (critics); 41% (audience)
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