How to Watch Star Wars in Order
With 11 theatrical films, multiple TV series, and more on the way, Star Wars watch order can be confusing. Here are the three main approaches.
Release Order (Recommended for Newcomers)
This is how George Lucas and fans experienced the saga originally:
Original Trilogy
- Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
Prequel Trilogy
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Sequel Trilogy
- The Force Awakens (2015)
- The Last Jedi (2017)
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Standalone Films
- Rogue One (2016)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Chronological Order (Best for Rewatches)
- The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
- Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)
- Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)
- Solo (13-10 BBY)
- Rogue One (0 BBY)
- A New Hope (0 ABY)
- The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
- Return of the Jedi (4 ABY)
- The Force Awakens (34 ABY)
- The Last Jedi (34 ABY)
- The Rise of Skywalker (35 ABY)
The Machete Order (Fan Favorite)
This popular fan order skips The Phantom Menace and uses the prequels as a flashback: A New Hope → Empire Strikes Back → Attack of the Clones → Revenge of the Sith → Return of the Jedi → then sequels. It preserves the Darth Vader twist while adding prequel context at the perfect moment.
TV Series Watch Order
- The Mandalorian (set after Return of the Jedi) — Disney+
- Andor (set before Rogue One) — Disney+
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (set between prequels and originals) — Disney+
- Ahsoka (set after Return of the Jedi) — Disney+
- The Book of Boba Fett (set after Return of the Jedi) — Disney+
Where to Watch Star Wars
All Star Wars films and series are available on Disney+. Films are also available for digital purchase on Apple TV, Amazon, and Vudu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best order for a first-time Star Wars viewer?
Release order: start with A New Hope (1977). This preserves the major plot twists and lets you experience the saga as it was meant to be discovered.
Can I skip the prequel trilogy?
You can, but Revenge of the Sith is widely considered essential for understanding the full Darth Vader story. At minimum, watch Episode III.
