How To Watch Star Wars Movies in Order [Easy Guide]

Last updated: April 6, 2022

Star Wars order is a little bit complicated together with all the concepts and contents of the franchise. If you are thinking of starting the series but are overwhelmed about the order in which to watch it, we’ll break it down for you.

Since the franchise is quite long and intertwined, the watching order is also divided into multiple categories. There is no best order to watch star wars, you can watch it in chronological order, theatrical order as well as machete order.

No one can complete this huge series in a day so need to get overwhelmed.

Enjoy Star Wars In Order And Enjoy The Franchise To The Fullest

If you are starting this gigantic but work of art movie franchise, it is very important that you first decide the order you’d prefer to watch it in. Do you want to watch the first original trilogy or the standalone Star Wars movies order, and what about prequel movies? Where to go with the television shows along with the movies?

The most popular order to watch this franchise is Star War chronological order. People advocate that the understanding of the movie series is much better if you watch star wars movies in order of release.

Chronological Order Of Watching Star Wars

Let’s begging with Star Wars order of its timelines. Here we break down and explain the mainstream of the franchise – how the main saga and spinoff movies work together and fit in a sequence.

George Lucas always wanted to focus on the mainstream plot of the story that doesn’t mean it is the beginning of the story. Star Wars order is divided into three segments of prequel, mainstream or original, and sequel. Before reaching the original series of Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI must go for the prequel with Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III, and proceed further to the sequel with Star Wars Episode VII, VIII, and IX. Solo and Rogue One can fit between Star Wars Episode III and IV, and you are good to go.

Star Wars movies order are simple, and it is enough to continue with all the episodes but adding the spinoff movies and shows makes it more fun. George Lucas has now dived into the TV world and shows like Mandalorian are to be released in 2022.

Watching movies in Star Wars chronological order is not advisable as it will destroy the thrill and the interest. Having said that, it is important to understand that this order of watching star wars will give you a new perspective on what’s going on in the franchise.

Star Wars chronological order looks like this:

Star Wars Episode I- The Phantom Menace released in the year 1999.
Star Wars Episode II- Attack of the Clones released in the year 2002.
Star Wars Episode III- Revenge of the Sith released in the year 2005.
Solo: A Star Wars Story- released in the year 2018.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story released in the year 2016.
Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope released in the year 1978.
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back released in the year 1980.
Star Wars Episode VI -Return of the Jedi released in the year 1983.
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens released in the year 2015.
Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi released in the year 2017.
Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker released in the year 2019.

Theatrical Order Of Watching This Franchise

Well-known director George Lucas directed Star Wars movies to experience his perspective of vision and this artistic franchise is something you definitely shouldn’t miss. His style of directing Star Wars movies in order of release is where you start with the original trilogy, later explaining with the prequel, and finishing the Star Wars watch order with the sequel.

Going with the flow of Star Wars films in order, we come to know about Luke, his life, and overcoming Darth Vader. Star Wars prequels are where the origin of Vader had described and then in the sequel, Rey took the legacy which Luke had sacrificed. If we go with the standalone movie like Solo or Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it can destroy the whole interest of the sequel series. These standalone movies must be watched before or after the sequel series.

Watching Star Wars films in order of release date can be a great idea as it is bound to give you the same nail-biting experience which was intended at the time of release. If you are an old fan of the series, watching Star Wars movies in order can bring back fond memories for you.

First-time viewers should skip the standalone movies to the last, and those who are to re-watch should go with the release dates as this will also give them more clarity about the storyline. Star Wars in order may provide more depth regarding the story or characters according to the theatrical release dates.

Star Wars movies in order to watch should be this way according to the theatrical release dates:

Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (July 1, 1978)
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (May 17, 1980)
Star Wars Episode VI -Return of the Jedi (May 25, 1983)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (May 19, 1999)
Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones released in the year 2002
Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith released in the year 2005
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 25, 2015)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16, 2016)
Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (December 9, 2017)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 10, 2018)
Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker released in the year 2019.

Machete Order- Best Order To Watch Star Wars?

After Star Wars chronological order and theatrical order, you must try machete order. You should start with episodes IV & V – A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Luke encounters Darth Vader’s story and then turns to the prequel for an explanation. Star Wars in order of Machete explains Luke Skywalker’s story and how Dark Side consumes Skywalker before the Return of the Jedi.

The Phantom Menace, which had its content, was removed from the series. This, however, was not liked by many viewers all across the world.

What order to watch Star Wars? If viewers want to include episode I and sequel movies, then the original creator of Machete order – Rod Hilton recommends that you watch the sequel movies Episodes VII, VIII, and IX after the other episodes, along with the Rogue One and Solo.

The correct order of Star Wars movies in order to watch in machete order should be like this:

Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (July 1, 1978)
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back released in the year 1980.
Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones released in the year 2002.
Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith released in the year 2005.
Star Wars Episode VI -Return of the Jedi (May 25, 1983)

To continue the Machete Order from there, watch the sequel of the franchise, too:

Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 25, 2015)
Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (December 9, 2017)
Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker released in the year 2019.
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace released in the year 1999.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16, 2016) – optional.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 10, 2018) – optional.

Disneys’ Narrative Timeline Brings You All The Star Wars Movies And Shows At One Place

Disney has been a household name and still is due to its vast collection of Star Wars movies and television shows. Disney has its own, unique narration about the Star Wars franchise. Disney has expanded the Star Wars along with the Clone Wars, Rebels, Resistance, and The Mandalorian, like TV shows.

The Clone Wars, which is an animated series that is not included in the Star Wars movies franchise had a tough time fitting into the order to watch Star Wars but Disney’s announcement has solved this issue of being a misfit. Disney suggests that the series must be between Episode II and Episode III. According to Disney, Star Wars: A new hope should fall after the Star Wars: Rebels.

Star Wars Chronological order to experience all the intended thrill of the franchise, introduced by Disney is as follows-

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace released in the year 1999.
Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones released in the year 2002.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars -(film) ( October 10, 2008)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – (series) ( October 3, 2008)
Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith released in the year 2005.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (May 4, 2021)
Solo: A Star Wars Story – (series) (May 10, 2018)
Star Wars: Rebels – (series) (October 3, 2014)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (December 16, 2016)
Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (July 1, 1978)
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back released in the year 1980.
Star Wars Episode VI -Return of the Jedi (May 25, 1983)
The Mandalorian (November 12, 2019)
Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett ( soon in December 2021)
Star Wars: Resistance (March 8, 2020)
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 25, 2015)
Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (December 9, 2017)
Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker released in the year 2019.

Ranking The Star Wars Movies In Order Of The Audience Appeal

Every Star Wars movie is interesting and has a unique way of storytelling but how much people liked them and the response these movies got is also a crucial way of ranking them. IMDB calculates this ranking through the ratings submitted by the audience, which is the most significant and widely accepted marking.

At the same time, it is not recommended to depend on this ranking as the likes of others might not be the likes of you. The ranking depends on the reviews submitted by the audience, and it may happen that you don’t agree with those and end up watching it all wrong

Below listed is the order of Star Wars movies from the highest rating to the lowest (IMDB):

Star Wars Episode V: – The Empire Strikes Back (May seventeen, 1980) – (8.7)
Star Wars Episode IV – a replacement Hope (July one, 1978) – (8.6)
Star Wars Episode VI – come back of the Jedi : (8.3)
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens (May twenty-five, 1983) – (7.9)
Villain One – A Star Wars Story (December sixteen, 2016) – (7.8)
Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (May nineteen, 2005) – (7.5)
Star Wars Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (December nine, 2017) – (7)
Solo: – A Star Wars Story (May ten, 2018) – (6.9)
Star Wars Episode IX – the increase of Skywalker (December sixteen, 2019) – (6.6)
Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones (May sixteen, 2002) – (6.5)
Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace (May nineteen, 1999) – (6.5)

Star Wars Movies- Where Should You Begin?

You have already gone through so many different orders in which you can enjoy this franchise but to conclude, watching star wars movies in order of release is to date the best order to enjoy watching this series. As a theatrical release, Star Wars movies order is already lined up in a very interesting order, and watching it this way, keeps the viewer tied to their chair.

Proceeding further with the theatrical release Star Wars watch order:

Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (July 1, 1978)

Credit: Legends Revealed

This movie is where the Star Wars franchise started. It is recommended that viewers who are watching this series for the first time, start from this movie.

Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back Released In The Year 1980

Credit: Scratchpad-wikia.Fandom

The main fact of this movie is the twist in the climax, and that is why considered one of the best sequels of all time. After the battle of the frozen planet; called Hoth, Luke had started his Jedi training with his Yoda.

Star Wars Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Credit: Marvel

This part of the sequel trilogy reveals Darth Vader and how he broke down with the known knowledge.

Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Credit: Marvel

This movie is an eye-sticking film as Obi-Wan Kenobi & Qui-Gon Jinn try to protect the queen. Also, to stand with the slave guy.

Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Credit: Reel Rundown

This movie leads us to the dark side as Darth Vader lost his mother. It shows the moment where Darth Vader had become an evil villain.

Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Credit: Starwars.fandom

This last prequel movie has a twist about the character – Anakin. This story is about a wrong vision that makes the mind evil.

Star Wars Episode VII: – The Force Awakens – (December 25, 2015)

Credit: Starwars.fandom

This movie is set after the 30 years of the Return of Jedi. Disney made this movie project after purchasing the Star Wars franchise.

Rogue One – A Star Wars Story

Credit: Movies Anywhere

This movie revolves around the story of the daughter of the creator of Death Star. She had given a task for heavy weapon destruction.

Star Wars Episode VIII: – The Last Jedi – (December 9, 2017)

Credit: The Blot Says

It is a very difficult challenge for Rey to convince Luke to train her.

Solo – A Star Wars Story : (10 May 2018)

Credit: IMDB

This movie is about the origin of the coolest guy and is full of flashback stories.

Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker – (December 16, 2019)