Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
How to Watch the Star Wars Movies and TV Shows in Order - live action animated theater Disney+
Image via Lucasfilm

How to Watch the Star Wars Movies and Shows in Order

The Star Wars franchise can be confusing, here's how you can watch the series in order.

There was a long stretch of time when watching all of Star Wars in order was as easy as sitting down on a lazy Saturday, busting out your VHS/DVD box set of the first three films, and hitting play. However, that is far from the case now.

Recommended Videos

There’s a reason this franchise has lasted this long, and it’s because lightsabers, the Force, and X-wings are all awesome, and the ongoing space opera that is this franchise holds a certain magic to it. That’s not to say that everything in a binge-watch of all the Star Wars shows and movies is great, but that’s no reason not to dive in headfirst and enjoy the ride. To do that, you’re going to need a watch order, and there are two real ways to do that (plus a third bonus way): chronological or by release date.

How To Watch All of Star Wars by Release Date

Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

If there is a preferred order to watch Star Wars, it is probably by release date. While chronological release, which we list out later, can be an interesting watch, these shows and movies really build on top of each other, even if some are prequels that came out after earlier films/shows. For instance, “No, I am your Father” is entirely spoiled, and Andor hits a lot differently when haven’t already been introduced to the character in Rogue One.

There’s also a slew of visual and verbal callbacks scattered throughout the shows that you’d miss when watching in chronological order, so if you’re new to the franchise, this is the best way to dive in. It also helps that the original trilogy is still some of the best Star Wars ever made, even if it’s a bit confusing that the first film has an “IV” in the title.

There are places where ongoing TV shows overlap with each other or with the releases of films, but the storylines do not impact each other. The only major exception to this rule is that The Book of Bobba Fett functions as Season 2.5 for The Mandalorian. So, with all that out of the way, here’s the correct release order for the Star Wars franchise:

  • Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (Film, 1977)
  • Star Wars: Holiday Special (TV Special, 1978)*
  • Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (Film, 1980)
  • Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (Film, 1983)
  • Droids, Season 1 (TV, 1985-1986)*
  • Ewoks, Season 1 (TV, 1985-1986)*
  • Star Wars: Episode I –The Phantom Menace (Film, 1999)
  • Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (Film, 2002)
  • Star Wars: Clone Wars Seasons 1-3 (TV 2003-2005)*
  • Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (Film, 2005)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Film, 2008)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars Seasons 1-6 (TV, 2008-2014)
  • Star Wars: Rebels Seasons 1-4 (TV, 2014-2018)
  • Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (Film, 2015)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Film, 2016)
  • Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (Film, 2017)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (Film, 2018)
  • Star Wars: Resistance Season 1-2 (TV, 2018-2020)
  • The Mandalorian Season 1-3 (TV, 2019-2023)
  • Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (Film, 2019)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7 (TV, 2020)
  • The Book of Boba Fett Season 1 (TV, 2021)
  • Star Wars: Visions, 2 Collections (TV, 2021-2023)*
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch Seasons 1-3 (2021-2024)
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 1 (TV, 2022)
  • Andor Season 1 (TV, 2022)
  • Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (TV, 2022)
  • Ahsoka Season 1 (TV, 2023)
  • Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (TV, 2024)
  • The Acolyte Season 1 (TV, 2024)
  • Skeleton Crew Season 1 (TV, 2024)

Any project that appears with a * is not considered canon.

How To Watch Every Star Wars Film and TV Show in Chronological Order

Chronological order can be an interesting way to watch the franchise, especially if you’re looking for a new way to experience it all. By watching in chronological order, you can get a different experience from the franchise, building the story up in a way that actually can give you a new perspective on a lot of what is going on. As mentioned before, this probably isn’t the best viewing order for those who are new to Star Wars, but for those who are simply looking to experience it all again, it can deliver some key insights.

Three caveats to note here. The first is that Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire are both anthology series made up of a collection of short stories that span a large breadth of the Star Wars timeline, so it might be best to simply save them for the end. However, they’re listed here based on when the earliest story takes place. Second, Star Wars: Resistance begins prior to The Force Awakens, and then its story concludes after it. Finally, as noted above, The Book of Bobba Fett is really just The Mandalorian Season 2.5, so watch that in between Seasons 2 and 3. Also removed from here are all non-canon projects, as they wouldn’t fit chronologically.

  • The Acolyte Season 1 (TV, 2024)
  • Star Wars: Episode I –The Phantom Menace (Film, 1999)
  • Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (Film, 2002)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Film, 2008)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars Seasons 1-6(TV, 2008-2014)
  • Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (TV, 2022)
  • Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (Film, 2005)
  • Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (TV, 2024)
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch Seasons 1-3 (2021-2024)
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (Film, 2018)
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 1 (TV, 2022)
  • Andor Season 1 (TV, 2022)
  • Star Wars: Rebels Seasons 1-4 (TV, 2014-2018)
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Film, 2016)
  • Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (Film, 1977)
  • Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (Film,1980)
  • Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (Film, 1983)
  • The Mandalorian Season 1-3 (TV, 2019-2023)
  • The Book of Boba Fett Season 1 (TV, 2021)
  • Ahsoka Season 1 (TV, 2023)
  • Skeleton Crew Season 1 (TV, 2024)
  • Star Wars: Resistance Season 1-2 (TV, 2018-2020)
  • Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (Film, 2015)
  • Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (Film, 2017)
  • Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (Film, 2019)

Related: Is Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Getting a Season 2?

What Is the Machete Order for Star Wars?

You may have heard of the “Machete Order” for watching Star Wars and wondered if that was a good choice for your viewing. The answer is that it can be, but, at this point, it is pretty outdated. The Machete Order was created in 2011 by writer Rod Hilton and thus came about when there were only six movies in the franchise. The Machete Order doesn’t run in chronological or release date order, but instead takes those six films and shuffles them, while entirely removing Episode I.

The idea is to turn the prequel films and the original trilogy into a cohesive whole that maintains the surprises of the original. To this end, you view Episodes IV and V first. Then, after the cliffhanger of finding out that Vader is Luke’s father, you watch Episodes II and III as a sort of flashback filling in just how Vader is Luke’s father. Then, you conclude your watch with Episode VI, which, at the time, concluded the Skywalker Saga. Episode I is optional as Hilton argues that the movie is both bad but also almost entirely irrelevant to the overall plot.

Of course, now that there is a lot more Star Wars to watch the Machete order only applies to a very small bit of the franchise. You can still use it, but skipping Episode I will just leave a glaring hole in your viewing, and with so much more content now, smashing II and III into the lineup seems far less impactful.

And that’s how to watch all the Star Wars movies and shows in order.

Most Star Wars projects are available to stream on Disney+.

The above article was updated on 2/3/2025 by Matthew Razak to include additional information about Star Wars.


The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Marijim Dy Timkang
Marijim Dy Timkang
Marijim Dy Timkang enjoys writing about topics that capture her interest and ignite her passion. She creates articles about gaming, pop culture, and technology. She enjoys exploring the intersections between these topics and discovering how they relate. During her free time, she plays Roblox with her son and attempts to hone her skills through various online courses.