Introduction
With the release of new Star Wars content every year, there are now multiple ways to enjoy the franchise. But how should one watch the Star Wars movies and shows in order? In this article, we’ll discuss the different ways to watch Star Wars and help you choose which order is best for you.
Chronological Order
If you’re a stickler for chronological continuity, you can watch all the Star Wars movies and shows in the order they occurred in the Star Wars universe. This means starting with the prequels and ending with the latest content. The chronological order is:
1. The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
4. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
5. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
7. A New Hope (1977)
8. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. Return of the Jedi (1983)
10. The Mandalorian (TV series, 2019-ongoing)
11. The Resistance (TV series, 2018-2020)
12. The Force Awakens (2015)
13. The Last Jedi (2017)
14. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The pros of watching in chronological order are that you get to see everything in the “correct” order and it can provide a fresh perspective on the series. However, the cons are that this order can be confusing and spoils character arcs and plot twists found in the original trilogy. We recommend this order for viewers who have already watched the movies in other orders and want to mix things up a bit.
Release Order
The most traditional way to watch Star Wars is in release order, starting with “A New Hope” and ending with “The Rise of Skywalker”. The release order is:
1. A New Hope (1977)
2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. Return of the Jedi (1983)
4. The Phantom Menace (1999)
5. Attack of the Clones (2002)
6. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
7. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
8. The Force Awakens (2015)
9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
10. The Last Jedi (2017)
11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
12. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
13. The Mandalorian (TV series, 2019-ongoing)
14. The Resistance (TV series, 2018-2020)
The pros of watching in release order are that you get to experience the series in the same way that audiences did originally and it preserves the series’ unexpected plot twists. The downside is that the prequels may appear technologically inferior compared to the newer films, and the viewing enjoyment may be tempered because you’re always looking forward to the next release. We recommend this order for first-time viewers.
Machete Order
The Machete Order is an alternate viewing order that removes Episode I and asks viewers to watch all other films in a specific order. The order is:
1. A New Hope (1977)
2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3. Attack of the Clones (2002)
4. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
5. Return of the Jedi (1983)
6. The Force Awakens (2015)
7. The Last Jedi (2017)
8. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The idea behind this order is to focus more on Luke Skywalker’s story rather than Anakin Skywalker’s. By watching “The Empire Strikes Back” before the prequels, the viewer gets to experience the surprise reveal of Darth Vader as Luke’s father. The Machete Order also removes “The Phantom Menace” because it adds very little to the overall story and doesn’t feature its titular Star Wars character until much later in the series.
The positives of this order are that it provides a fresh perspective on the series and, if it’s your first time watching, it preserves the reveal of Vader’s true identity. The negatives are that it’s non-traditional and it removes an entire film. We recommend this order for rewatches or viewers who want something different.
Saga Order
Another way to watch Star Wars is in Saga Order, which incorporates all stand-alone movies in release order. Saga Order is the following:
1. Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
4. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
5. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
7. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
8. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
10. The Resistance (TV series, 2018-2020)
11. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
12. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
13. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
14. The Mandalorian (TV series, 2019-ongoing)
By watching everything in release order, it provides a complete and immersive Star Wars experience. However, the downside is that the viewing time is significantly longer than any of the previous orders. We recommend this order for die-hard fans who want to watch everything in the series.
Clone Wars Order
For those who want to include “The Clone Wars” TV series in their watchlist, the Clone Wars Order follows the order in which the series’ events occurred. This includes all seven seasons of “The Clone Wars”. The order is:
1. The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
4. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
All seven seasons of “The Clone Wars” occur between Episodes II and III and follow the adventures of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, his padawan Ahsoka Tano, and many other beloved characters. The pros of watching in Clone Wars Order are that it enriches the Star Wars universe and provides much-needed character development for Anakin Skywalker. The downside is that the series is animated and may not be for everyone. We recommend this order for viewers who want to learn more about Skywalker’s journey during the Clone Wars.
Rebels Order
Similar to the Clone Wars Order, it is also possible to watch “Rebels” TV series within the Star Wars universe. “Rebels” follow events after “The Clone Wars” and is based on the adventures of a small rebel cell, featuring familiar characters along with new ones. The Rebels Order is:
1. Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
4. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
5. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
6. Rebels (animated series, 2014-2018)
7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
8. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
9. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
10. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
11. The Mandalorian (TV series, 2019-ongoing)
12. The Resistance (TV series, 2018-2020)
13. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
14. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
15. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The pros of watching in Rebels Order are that it provides much-needed follow-up after “The Clone Wars” and introduces new characters to the universe. The downside is that, like “The Clone Wars,” it is an animated series and may not be for everyone. We recommend this order for those who are heavily invested in The Clone Wars and want to know even more about the Star Wars universe.
Thematic Order
If you want to focus on specific themes or arcs within the Star Wars universe, the Thematic Order is an alternative way to watch. This order organizes the movies based on their themes or central characters. Here is an example:
1. The Phantom Menace (1999)
2. Attack of the Clones (2002)
3. The Clone Wars (animated series, 2008-2020)
4. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
6. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
7. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
8. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
9. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
10. The Mandalorian (TV series, 2019-ongoing)
11. The Resistance (TV series, 2018-2020)
12. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
13. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
14. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
This order allows viewers to focus on specific themes, such as the Jedi Order’s decline or the rise of a new generation of Rebels. The downside is that it may not provide the full story of the Star Wars universe and leaves out some films entirely. We recommend this order for viewers who are watching for the nth time or are interested in specific themes within the Star Wars universe.
Conclusion
There are several ways to watch Star Wars, from chronological order to release order to Thematic Order, and beyond. Each order has its pros and cons, depending on what you are looking for in your viewing adventure.