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It’s been nearly 50 years since George Lucas first introduced us to it star wars universe. Since then, we’ve had theatrical films and a wealth of TV shows inspired by a galaxy far, far away. All those interwoven storylines make it one of the most intense entertainment franchises to follow.
So figuring out the best way to watch everything in order can be a bit confusing for even the most dedicated fans, let alone newcomers who are still learning the difference between a Jedi Master and a Moisture Farmer.
With the announcement of Ryan Gosling starring in Starfighter And the next version of The Mandalorian and GroguThere’s a renewed excitement surrounding all things Star Wars, so if you’re looking to get back into the Star Wars universe or wondering what’s all about lightsabers and Wookiees, here’s our indispensable guide to help you navigate the best way to experience it all.
While some purists may complain about Disney’s stewardship of the popular sci-fi epic, the House of Mouse has made for extremely binge-watching star wars Easier than ever. Aside from a few minor exceptions (more on those later), every movie and TV series is available to watch in one place – on-demand via Disney Plus.
So what’s the best viewing order? chronological? divorce? Or something else entirely? Let’s go through the options.
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Star Wars in chronological order (by timeline events)
If you want to experience the story as it unfolds in-universe, you’ll want to follow the saga in order that charts Anakin’s rise and even Rey’s journey. The benefit of this option is that you will be able to watch the development of the characters and the political landscape of the galaxy in a linear progression. It’s also the narrative sequence that George Lucas intended.
The downside of watching this way, rather than in release order, is that it spoils several plot twists, including a particularly ingenious revelation.
The inconsistent quality of some of the later entries in the series – let’s be honest, we’re talking about the earlier films here – means that they may not provide the most engaging introduction for newcomers to the series.
- The Assistant (TV show 2024)
- Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (1999 film)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002 film)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 film)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 animated TV show)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022 animated TV show)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005 film)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024 animated TV show)
- The Bad Batch (Animated TV Show 2021)
- Maul: Shadow Master (Animated TV Show 2026)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018 film)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV show 2022)
- Andor (TV show 2022)
- Star Wars Rebels (2014 TV show)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016 film)
- Episode IV: A New Hope (1977 film)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980 film)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983 film)
- The Mandalorian (TV show 2019)
- The Book of Boba Fett (TV Show 2021)
- Ahsoka (TV show 2023)
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (TV show 2024)
- Star Wars Resistance (2018 animated TV show)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015 film)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017 film)
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019 film)
Star Wars in release order
This selection is arguably the most authentic and impactful experience and how fans first saw it. This approach preserves the narrative surprises and character developments as they were first presented to the audience.
Another good reason to go this route is that it allows you to appreciate the technological and cinematic advancements that have occurred throughout the franchise’s history. From the still compelling practical effects of the original trilogy to the groundbreaking Industrial Light and Magic CGI displays in the prequels. This advancement not only reflects the realistic evolution of filmmaking, but also enhances the viewing experience by introducing progressively more complex narratives and characters.
In short, it’s the best bet for newcomers seeking to understand the series’ evolution and for fans who want to relive the magic.
- Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Episode 1: The Phantom Threat (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- The Clone Wars (2008 – film and TV series)
- Star Wars Rebels (2014)
- Episode 7: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Star Wars Resistance (2018)
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- The Mandalorian (2019)
- The Bad Batch (2021)
- Boba Fett Book (2021)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Andor (2022)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
- Ahsoka (2023)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)
- The Assistant (2024)
- Skeleton Crew (2024)
- Maul: Shadow Master (2026)
Scythe Order (controversial option)
Another non-sequential order of viewing – which divides opinion among JedHeads – is the scythe order. It was first suggested by movie fan Rod Hilton in 2011 on his blog Absolutely no machete jugglingthis sequence maintains the original trilogy’s original twists and surprises by viewing them before the prequel trilogy, but controversially skips the Phantom threat entirely.
This option treats Episodes II and III as flashbacks between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Hilton argues that this emphasizes continuity with the story of the main Skywalker saga while skipping the prequel, which some consider to be weaker.
- Episode Four: A New Hope
- Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
- Episode 2: Attack of the Clones
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Sequel trilogy and spin-offs as desired
Go Hardcore – Non-canon artifacts
The breadth of the Star Wars universe means we’ve cut a bunch of unnecessary spin-offs and specials – primarily animated Lego tie-ins and mash-ups with The Simpsons – along with the wealth of official documentaries and behind-the-scenes documentaries available on Disney Plus.
Additionally, there are a number of shows and films that are now considered non-canonical to the official story since Disney acquired the franchise, which you may, or may not actually want, want to add to the above lists and enhance them.
Following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, many shows and films were reclassified as non-essential, and now fall under the “Legends” banner. These include the mid-1980s animated series Star Wars: Droids (1985–1986) and Ewoks (1985–1986), as well as two Ewoks-focused television films intended to capitalize on the cuteness of the forest dwellers of Endor: Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). All of these are available on Disney Plus.
However, one significant omission from the Disney Plus catalog is the popular Star Wars Holiday Special. Originally broadcast to unsuspecting homes via the CBS Television Network before Thanksgiving in 1978, this low-budget dream features Chewbacca’s family grunting at length, musical numbers and celebrity cameos, all wrapped in a bizarre Wookiee celebration of “Life Day.”
Despite George Lucas’s best attempts to bury it — it was never rebroadcast or officially released — the special developed a cult following in the early days of the Internet thanks to the sharing of heavily pixelated bootlegs.
It has since been upgraded to 5K resolution by a group of fans and can be streamed on YouTube in all its bizarre glory.
Finally, for purists looking for the original theatrical experience, there are two fan projects that offer meticulously crafted versions of the original trilogy.
Harmy’s Despecialized Editions are original, high-definition reproductions of the now-unavailable original theatrical releases of the Star Wars trilogy. They undid Lucas’s added scenes and special effects adjustments in later “special editions.”
For a first-hand experience, Team Negative1’s 4K77, 4K80, and 4K83 are fan-made 4K scans of the original 35mm theatrical prints of the original trilogy. The downside is that none of these projects have been officially approved by Lucasfilm and Disney, meaning that distribution is managed within fan communities to respect copyright considerations.
However, you end up choosing a journey across the galaxy from the above options, may the force be with you!