Understanding how to watch the Star Wars movies in order is pretty complex, and only gets more confusing every time a new movie or TV show is released. Then throw in all the books and comics, too, and it feels like a beast that will never be tamed.
Disney Plus is adding to its Star Wars spinoffs all the time – The Bad Batch season 2 was released last year and we're about to see new seasons of Star Wars shows The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, and Star Wars: Visions land in 2023 as well. Overall, George Lucas' universe can feel impenetrable to newcomers – which is why we're here to help.
Whichever way you watch it, you're bound to enjoy the experience. After all, Star Wars is one of the most popular franchises on earth. But to get the most out of it, you really need to know how to watch the Star Wars movies in order, whether that be in order of release or chronology. We explain all that here, as well as how canonical TV shows (like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor and The Mandalorian fit into the timeline.
Ready? Let's journey to a galaxy far, far away... but in a methodical fashion. Here's all you need to know.
How to watch the Star Wars movies in order
How to watch Star Wars movies in chronological order
A long time ago, it was easy to know how to watch the Star Wars movies in order – until 1999, all of the movies fit into the timeline of a galaxy far, far away in the order they landed in theaters.
Then the Prequel Trilogy made things more complicated, by going back in time to tell the story of Anakin Skywalker before he turned to the Dark Side and became Darth Vader. These days, the first Star Wars movie ever released (A New Hope) is actually the fourth movie in the Skywalker Saga. (The Skywalker Saga is the term Lucasfilm uses to describe Episodes I-IX, in which Anakin Skywalker and his descendants have a surprising amount of influence over the fate galaxy.)
Meanwhile, the fourth movie to hit cinemas (The Phantom Menace) comes first in chronological order. And when you add the standalone Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story into the list, A New Hope actually becomes the sixth movie in the overall chronology – in other words, it's clear that navigating the timeline ain't like dusting crops.
You'll find every live-action Star Wars movie to date in the list below – all nine Episodes of the Skywalker Saga, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
We've used A New Hope as an anchor point in the timeline, which tends to be how the timeline is measured officially in the fictional universe. In-universe dates are traditionally defined relative to the Battle of Yavin, the famous assault on the Death Star that brings A New Hope to a spectacular close.
You'll only find live-action Star Wars movies on this list, which is why you can't see 2008 Clone Wars movie – while it got a theatrical release, it was effectively a TV pilot with delusions of grandeur. As such, it doesn't really work in isolation from the long-running Clone Wars TV show.
If you'd like a Star Wars viewing order with the canonical TV shows thrown in, including The Mandalorian (season 3 is due in March 2023), we've got that, too: you'll find our Star Wars Ultimate Order list further down this page. For now, however, the movies will make a fun binge on a rainy weekend – especially as they're easily viewable on Disney Plus.
Here's how to watch the Star Wars movies in canonical order:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (set 32 years before A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (22 years before A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (19 years A New Hope)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (about a decade before A New Hope)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (ends moments before A New Hope begins)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (three years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (four years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (34 years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (34 years after A New Hope, in the immediate aftermath of The Force Awakens)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (35 years after A New Hope)
How to watch Star Wars movies in release order
Watching the Star Wars movies in release order isn't necessarily the optimal way to follow the story of the saga – though, for anyone who's yet to watch the Original Trilogy, the big reveals (you know the ones we mean, Luke...) do work best if you're not familiar with the events of the Prequel Trilogy.
Either way, this list might be handy to know as you assemble your own personal chronology with Star Wars. Here's how to watch the Star Wars movies in release order, going back a remarkable 45 years to A New Hope in 1977.
- 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)
The Machete Order explained
The Machete Order is a well-known viewing order created by Rod Hilton (opens in new tab) in 2011. It's a way of watching the Star Wars movies without The Phantom Menace, essentially, and shifts how the story is told. It focuses entirely on Luke Skywalker's story, with the idea being that it preserves The Empire Strikes Back's big Darth Vader-shaped twist. Missing Episode I is no bad thing, right?
The Machete Order starts with A New Hope, moves on to The Empire Strikes Back, then the first two prequels are watched as a flashback to Anakin's story, before returning to the final battle in Return of the Jedi. It's definitely more of an acquired taste than the other Star Wars lists here, but it's worth a look.
- 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
To continue the Machete Order from there, watch the sequel saga, too:
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
The ultimate Star Wars viewing order, including canonical TV shows
Star Wars isn't just about the movies. In fact, the so-called Expanded Universe has been growing ever since Alan Dean Foster wrote the first Star Wars spin-off novel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, in 1978. Over the subsequent decades, Lucasfilm produced books, comics and cartoons such as Ewoks, Droids and Genndy Tartakovsky’s original 2D-animated Clone Wars series (the forerunner of the CG-animated show) to add to what we'd seen on the big screen.
When Disney acquired Lucasfilm and the Star Wars rights from George Lucas in 2012, however, it reset the Expanded Universe continuity. This old Expanded Universe material was rebranded under the ‘Legends’ banner, with only the Prequel Trilogy, Original Trilogy and The Clone Wars CG-animated series remaining part of official continuity.
Disney has added significantly to that canon since, with most new books, games, comics and TV series (such as Rebels, Resistance, The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Bad Batch) existing in the same official continuity as the Star Wars movies. This list below doesn't feature everything, but it'll certainly keep you busy – it's pretty much every existing movie and TV show collated into one canonical order.
We've also included upcoming TV shows Ahsoka and The Acolyte (highlighted in italics below) – both currently in production/post-production – though at this stage, their exact position in the Star Wars timeline is TBC.
- The Acolyte (TV) (set around 130 years before A New Hope)
- Tales of the Jedi (the first of these standalone stories takes place a few years before The Phantom Menace, the last is set a few years after Revenge of the Sith)
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (movie) (set 32 years before A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (movie) (set 22 years before A New Hope)
- The Clone Wars CG-animated movie (represents the start of the animated series)
- The Clone Wars CG-animated series (TV) (begins 22 years before A New Hope, ends 19 years before)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (movie) (set 19 years before A New Hope)
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch animated series (TV) (set immediately after The Clone Wars have ended)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (movie) (set about a decade before A New Hope)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV) (set in a similar time period to Solo: A Star Wars Story)
- Star Wars Rebels animated series (TV) (set around five years before A New Hope, with an epilogue set in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi)
- Andor (TV) (Set in a similar time period to Star Wars Rebels)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (movie) (ends moments before A New Hope starts)
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (movie)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (movie) (set three years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (movie) (set four years after A New Hope)
- The Mandalorian (TV) (set around nine years after A New Hope)
- The Book of Boba Fett (TV) (set immediately after The Mandalorian season 2)
- Ahsoka (TV) (TBC, but likely to be set after Ahsoka Tano's appearance in episode 6 of The Book of Boba Fett)
- Skeleton Crew (TV) (TBC, but likely to be set in a similar time zone to The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka)
- Star Wars: Resistance animated series (TV) (set around 34 years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (movie) (set 34 years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (movie) (set 34 years after A New Hope)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (movie) (set 35 years after A New Hope)
Although there are plenty of Star Wars movies in development (including projects from Thor: Love and Thunder's Taika Waititi and Stranger Things producer Shaun Levy), nothing is confirmed for definite. That means the Star Wars TV shows on Disney Plus are currently doing the heavy lifting for the franchise. Luckily, there's no shortage of content on the platform – and the various TV shows plug plenty of gaps in the canon between movies.
Here's how the various TV series fit together if you're watching Star Wars in order.
The Clone Wars slots in between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, detailing the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists prior to Anakin Skywalker's famous fall from grace.
Tales of the Jedi is a companion piece to The Clone Wars, a series of standalone stories focusing on Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano. The series more than a decade in the Star Wars timeline – the first of the six episodes shows Ahsoka as an infant (before the events of The Phantom Menace), while the last shows her in hiding after the Emperor ordered the execution of the Jedi in Revenge of the Sith.
Clone Wars spin-off series The Bad Batch is set in the aftermath of Revenge of the Sith, as the galaxy comes to terms with the rise of the Empire – if you've ever wondered how and why Clone Troopers became Stormtroopers, this is the show for you.
Obi-Wan Kenobi picks up the story of the eponymous Jedi Master a decade or so after he relocated to Tatooine to keep a watchful eye over Luke Skywalker. It's set in a similar timeframe to Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Star Wars: Rebels functions as a prequel series to A New Hope, telling the story of the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Despite having a very different tone to the animated show, Rogue One spin-off Andor is set in a very similar time period, kicking off around five years before central character Cassian Andor helped steal those infamous Death Star plans.
The first live-action Star Wars TV series to land on Disney Plus, The Mandalorian, is set about five years after Return of the Jedi, in a lawless, post-Empire galaxy. Spin-off show The Book of Boba Fett is set immediately after the events of The Mandalorian. According to Vanity Fair (opens in new tab), Jude Law-starring coming-of-age story Skeleton Crew will be set in a similar post-Return of the Jedi time period.
A common thread linking The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett is Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's former Jedi apprentice – and a key figure in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. She's arguably the most important Star Wars character never to have appeared in one of the Skywalker Saga movies, and her upcoming TV show Ahsoka will see her reuniting with Sabine Wren, Ezra Bridger and other key figures from Rebels. (Another proposed Mando spin-off announced in late 2020, Rangers of the New Republic, is now apparently on hold.)
Fast-forwarding to a later point in the timeline of that galaxy far, far away, Star Wars: Resistance is to The Force Awakens as Rebels is to A New Hope, setting the scene for the events of the sequel trilogy.
Upcoming TV show The Acolyte (created by Russian Doll's Leslye Headland) will shift Star Wars away from its usual Skywalker era comfort zone. The series will be set in the High Republic era, more than a century before The Phantom Menace. Although this period in galactic history has featured in numerous novels and comics, The Acolyte will mark its first appearance on screen.
A spin-off focused on the galaxy’s favorite scoundrel, Lando Calrissian, is also in the works, but it's unclear exactly when that's going to be set. Our guess is it'll be connected to the Solo movie in some way – before Lando took control of Cloud City – but solid information is currently thin on the ground. We're not even sure if Donald Glover is reprising his role as the young Lando.
Anime series Star Wars: Visions (which debuted in September 2021) isn't part of official canon – each of the animation studios involved was given the freedom to tell their own story, outside the constraints of existing continuity. A second season was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration in May.
What's the best Star Wars order?
While there's a strong argument for watching the Original Trilogy followed by Prequel Trilogy to preserve those aforementioned big reveals – especially for anyone who grew up on the original movies – chronological viewing is the best, and most logical, Star Wars viewing order for most people. For one thing, it doesn't take as long to watch as the Ultimate Order, which requires an enormous time commitment that'll be rather too much for more casual viewers.
Eleven movies is enough for a solid Star Wars marathon, and the two spin-offs, Rogue One and Solo, add texture to the universe that you won't necessarily get from the main Skywalker Saga movies alone. Then, if you've got the time, adding the TV shows allows for an even deeper dive into the mythology of the galaxy.
Star Wars movies on Disney Plus
Disney Plus (opens in new tab) now has every Star Wars movie available to stream, including The Rise of Skywalker and Solo. These are the Star Wars movies currently available on Disney Plus:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
Note that this only applies to Disney Plus in the US, UK and Australia, and that the selection might vary where you are.
Beyond the movies: TV shows and other Star Wars content on Disney Plus
If you're wondering what other Star Wars shows and various bits of content are on Disney Plus, here's a list of other stuff you can watch on the streamer that's connected to the saga – whether it's a Lego adventure, Lucasfilm's recent Grogu-themed team-up with Studio Ghibli, or behind-the-scenes documentaries about the making of The Mandalorian and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Live action:
- The Mandalorian (CANON)
- The Book of Boba Fett (CANON)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (CANON)
- Andor (CANON)
- Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
- Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
2D animation:
- The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (originally released as part of 1978’s Star Wars Holiday Special)
- Ewoks
- Droids
- Clone Wars
- Star Wars: Forces of Destiny
- Star Wars Visions
- Zen: Grogu and Dust Bunnies
3D animation:
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie (CANON)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series (CANON)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (CANON)
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch (CANON)
- Star Wars: Rebels (CANON)
- Star Wars: Resistance (CANON)
- The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special
- Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales
- Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures
- Various other Lego animations
Behind the scenes:
- Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian
- Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
- Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett
- Empire of Dreams: The Making of the Star Wars Trilogy
- Star Wars: Vehicle Flythroughs
- Star Wars Biomes
The best Star Wars movies, ranked
Want to see the Star Wars movies ranked? Below, we've done just that, based on IMDb user scores. We don't think all of the calls below make a whole lot of sense, but that's the price of a public vote – surely no movie featuring the word 'Younglings' (aka Revenge of the Sith) is better than The Last Jedi. That said, it's impossible to argue with the top two, both bona fide classics.
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (opens in new tab) – 8.7
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (opens in new tab) – 8.6
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (opens in new tab) – 8.3
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (opens in new tab) – 7.8
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (opens in new tab) – 7.8
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (opens in new tab) – 7.6
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (opens in new tab) – 6.9
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (opens in new tab) – 6.9
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (opens in new tab) – 6.6
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (opens in new tab) – 6.5
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (opens in new tab) – 6.5
Find out everything we know about The Mandalorian season 3 right here.
- The Mandalorian season 3: everything we know about Mando and Baby Yoda'
