What order should you watch all the Star Wars films and shows?

2 years ago 253

(Pocket-lint) - Disney+'s adjacent Star Wars TV bid is The Book of Boba Fett. If you privation to recognize what it's about, past you request to ticker oregon revisit the afloat Star Wars Universe.

The events of Disney+'s 2 live-action Star Wars bid - The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett - instrumentality spot 5 years aft Return of the Jedi, oregon adjacent the mediate of the known Star Wars timeline, which consists of 11 diagnostic films. The afloat franchise is loaded with callbacks to the assorted installments successful the bid - similar erstwhile the Mandalorian made his mode to the Mos Eisley Cantina, made celebrated successful the precise archetypal Star Wars film.

So, if you privation to beryllium acceptable for The Book of Boba Fett, it's clip for a re-watch. Daunting, right? No worries - conscionable travel our ticker usher below.

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The champion Star Wars viewing order

There are galore ways you tin revisit the Star Wars saga. You tin ticker the movies and shows by theatrical merchandise oregon successful chronological order, for instance. There’s besides a lesser-known "Machete Order" - which takes a machete to The Phantom Menace by cutting it retired of your rewatch.

While the chronological bid mightiness beryllium the evident choice, immoderate reason it's not arsenic enjoyable due to the fact that you commencement with The Phantom Menace, our least-favourite film. Watching chronologically besides spoils the biggest twist successful the bid by prematurely revealing the individuality of Luke's father.

Watching the theatrical bid besides has unsatisfying points. Sure, the “I americium your father” astonishment stays intact, but the storyline is jumbled.

You'll hop betwixt Episodes IV-VI (the archetypal trilogy released betwixt 1977 and 1983), past Episodes I-III (the prequel trilogy released betwixt 1999 and 2005), and Episodes VII-IX (the sequel trilogy released betwixt 2015 and 2019). And past there's the Anthology films: Rogue One (2016) and Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). They instrumentality spot betwixt the originals and prequels, but they released during the astir caller "sequel" trilogy.

Plus, there's the rapidly expanding beingness of Disney+ series. You tin spot however each this rapidly becomes a mess, which is wherefore we’ve created the cleanable bid that solves these problems. We included each 11 diagnostic films arsenic good arsenic The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett series.

A spoiler-free mentation of our usher is astatine the bottommost of this page, on with immoderate different spoiler-free orders worthy considering - specified arsenic chronological, theatrical, and adjacent Machete and Rinster - successful lawsuit you privation to research those, too. For the astir conclusive viewing order, which includes each the animated Star Wars bid to date, cheque retired the Complete Star Wars Saga bid astatine the bottommost of this page.

NOTE: THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW.

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A New Hope (1977)

While technically the sixth movie, chronologically, successful the Star Wars franchise, A New Hope is worthy visiting archetypal successful your re-watch purely due to the fact that it's the commencement of everything. It’s besides the lone Star Wars movie that treats viewers arsenic if they’ve ne'er watched the saga before.

So, you'll commencement with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) gathering Obi-Wan (Alec Guiness). He gets a lightsaber from Obi-Wan and yet learns astir the Force and Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) from him earlier heading disconnected to prevention Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and destruct the Death Star.

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Rogue One (2016)

The archetypal of the caller "Anthology" films, Rogue One is filled with A New Hope backstory. It follows the girl of the Death Star's creator, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), arsenic she is freed by the Rebel Alliance and tasked with uncovering the plans that pb to the eventual weapon's destruction.

Yes, it ends wherever A New Hope begins, but due to the fact that it's truthful reliant connected you knowing A New Hope already, we deliberation it’s champion to ticker them successful reverse. You'll larn who created the Death Star, wherefore it's truthful easy destroyed, and you'll conscionable the galore Bothans who died to bargain the Death Star plans.

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The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Empire Strikes Back is wide regarded arsenic 1 of the top sequels of each time. After the archetypal conflict connected the frozen satellite Hoth, Luke heads to statesman his Jedi grooming with Yoda, portion Han Solo and Princess Leia caput to Cloud City to conscionable with Han's aged person Lando Calrissian. But Han and Leia are betrayed and past utilized arsenic bait by Vader to lure Luke. It each culminates successful a showdown betwixt Vader and Luke and ends with a twist.

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The Phantom Menace (1999)

And, conscionable similar that, we spell from 1 of the astir loved installments of each clip to the astir loathed.

This movie follows Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his maestro Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) arsenic they effort to support the Queen of Naboo and stumble upon a young enslaved lad named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd). You're besides forced to beryllium done 2 hours of Jar-Jar Binks and sleep-inducing Galactic Senate negotiations. So, if you’ve seen this movie before, conscionable skip it connected your adjacent rewatch.

Although it does supply immoderate details important to different prequel film, and it has a large lightsaber duel.

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Attack of the Clones (2002)

While the films up to this constituent person shown Darth Vader arsenic the eventual evil villain, Attack of the Clones begins to amusement america the roadworthy that led him to the Dark Side, with the decease of his parent astatine the hands of Tuskan Raiders. We besides spot his increasing emotion matter with Queen Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi stumbles upon a clone service for the Republic that volition signifier the instauration of the Empire's Stormtroopers.

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Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The last movie of the prequel trilogy shows Anakin's bosom crook to black. While initially excited upon proceeding of his woman Padme's pregnancy, visions of her dying statesman to poison Anakin, allowing Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) to lure him to the Dark Side of the Force. This past leads to the demolition of the Republic and the execution of galore Jedi, including each the young Padawans, astatine the manus of the recently named Darth Vader.

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Solo (2018)

The root communicative for the coolest feline successful the Star Wars Universe provides a tonne of unnecessary backstory.

Apparently, Han Solo (Alden Ehrinreich) conscionable wanted to enactment similar Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and day Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) successful his prime, which is understandable, but it's a small eye-rolling. Still, it’s an entertaining heist movie that gives america much accusation astir the astir important vessel successful the galaxy, the Millenium Falcon, including Han making the Kessel Run with her successful nether 12 parsecs.

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Return of the Jedi (1983)

Now that we’ve learned Darth Vader/Anakin’s background, it’s clip to ticker him benignant of redeem himself with each that cognition successful hand. Plus, aft redeeming Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, we spot Luke trying to decision his begetter and the Emperor, each portion Han and Leia enactment to demolish a astir completed 2nd Death Star. Also, determination are teddy bears with stone-age exertion that assistance destruct the Empire, too.

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The Mandalorian (2019 to 2020)

This live-action Star Wars TV bid has go a smash deed connected Disney+, and there's 1 precise small, adorable reason for that.

The amusement follows Pedro Pascal arsenic the titular Mandalorian. He's a gunfighter and bounty huntsman who makes his mode successful the furthest reaches of the postulation 5 years aft the events of Return of the Jedi, placing it good earlier the events of The Force Awakens and the instauration of the First Order. The 2nd play sees Mando looking for much accusation connected the past of Baby Yoda. Both seasons instrumentality spot backmost to back.

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The Book of Boba Fett (2021 connected Disney+ - not yet available)

The Book of Boba Fett volition premiere connected 29 December 2021. It volition spot Temuera Morrison instrumentality arsenic Boba Fett aft appearing successful the prequel trilogy and The Mandalorian. Boba is moving with Fennec Shard (Ming-Na Wen) to assertion Jabba the Hut's transgression empire arsenic his own.

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The Force Awakens (2015)

The archetypal Star Wars movie made by Disney aft it purchased the franchise is acceptable 30 years aft Return of the Jedi. We spot that there's a caller struggle emerging betwixt the budding Republic, led by Leia Organa-Skywalker and The First Order, which roseate from the ashes of the Empire. Caught betwixt this each is simply a young miss named Rey (Daisy Ridley) who seems to beryllium truly beardown with the Force.

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The Last Jedi (2017)

After tracking down Luke Skywalker, Rey’s adjacent situation is convincing him to bid her. Luke is unwilling owed to his failures with Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, the remaining Republic forces are connected the verge of full annihilation acknowledgment to The First Order, leaving Rey and Luke arsenic their lone hope.

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The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

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The decision to the Skywalker saga is retired present and disposable connected Disney Plus. The movie sees the instrumentality of Emperor Palpatine arsenic Kylo Ren's The First Order and the rebels led by Rey hole for a last confrontation connected the satellite known arsenic Exegol.


The champion Star Wars bid astatine a glance

OK, truthful present is the at-a-glance, spoiler-free mentation of the bid above:

  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
  • Rogue One (2016)
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Solo (2018)
  • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • The Mandalorian (2019 to 2020)
  • The Book of Boba Fett (2021 connected Disney+ - not yet available)
  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The chronological movie order

If you privation to ticker films successful bid of the events that happen, and frankincense spoil the individuality of Luke's begetter for first-timers, present you go:

  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Solo (2018)
  • Rogue One (2016)
  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • The Mandalorian (2019-2020)

The theatrical (release date) movie order

This is the bid successful which the movies were released successful cinemas. While it keeps the twist of Luke’s begetter intact, the storyline is jumbled. You commencement with the originals, past spell to the prequels, and extremity with the sequels. That's confusing, particularly for kids being introduced to Star Wars.

  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
  • Rogue One (2016)
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Solo (2018)
  • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The Machete order

The "Machete Order" fundamentally cuts The Phantom Menace from your movie rewatch, due to the fact that galore radical don't bask that film. It preserves the "I americium your father" moment. But it was created successful 2011, truthful it doesn't see the sequels and is nary longer a implicit order.

  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
  • Episode V: Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

The Rinster order

OK, present is simply a bonus database we haven't mentioned yet: The "Rinster Order" is named aft Star Wars superfan Ernest Rinster, who created it to sphere the Luke-father twist, but it besides keeps The Phantom Menace. There are nary sequel films, though, truthful we inactive similar our order.

  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
  • Episode V: Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

The implicit Star Wars saga order

Here is an all-encompassing bid -- with each the movies and shows from the Star Wars saga successful chronological order. The saga began successful 1977, and since then, determination person been caller trilogies added arsenic good arsenic countless spinoffs successful the signifier of live-action and animated TV shows and movies. Not each of them are great, but if you privation to instrumentality successful each spot of Star Wars (even the 1978 vacation special), this is the chronological bid for you.

Star Wars bid and constricted specials are bolded below.

  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles (2013 to 2014)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace (2011)
  • The Clone Wars (2008 to 2014)
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • Solo (2018)
  • Star Wars Rebels (2014 to 2018)
  • Rogue One (2016)
  • Star Wars: Droids (1985 to 1986)
  • Episode IV: A New Hope
  • Star Wars: Holiday Special (1978)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out (2012)
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures (2016 to 2017)
  • Lego Star Wars: Droid Tales (2015)
  • Ewoks (1985 to 1986)
  • The Mandalorian (2019)
  • The Book of Boba Fett (2021 connected Disney+ - not yet available)
  • Star Wars: Resistance (2018 to Present)
  • Lego Star Wars: The Resistance Rises (2016)
  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2016)
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017 to Present)

Did you similar this?

Then possibly you'll similar our different movie bid viewing guides:

We besides person these rumour round-ups connected upcoming movies:

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 12 April 2019.

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