The Star Wars movies in order: chronological timeline

John Smith

6 months ago

The Star Wars franchise consists of nine main movies in total, which have been released over the span of more than four decades. The movies can be watched chronologically according to the timeline in which they take place, or alternatively, according to their release date.

Time of content

About the Star Wars movies
Star Wars movies in chronological timeline order
Star Wars movies in release date order
Complete Star Wars viewing order including TV shows
Star Wars movies in ‘The Godfather’ order
Star Wars movies in The Machete Order
Star Wars movies in The Rinster Order
Star Wars movies on Disney Plus
What’s the best Star Wars movie order?
In conclusion

About the Star Wars movies

The Star Wars franchise has been a pop culture phenomenon since its inception in 1977. With a total of nine movies released so far, this iconic series continues to captivate audiences with its unique blend of science fiction, fantasy and adventure. From the original trilogy featuring Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia, to the prequel trilogy that introduced fans to Anakin Skywalker’s journey leading up to his transformation into the infamous Dark Lord of The Sith, each installment brings new characters and stories that have become beloved by generations. Most recently, Disney has taken over the franchise with their own sequels and spin-offs that feature Rey as the main protagonist.

While the focus of the stories may be on characters such as Luke and Leia or Rey and Kylo Ren, fans are just as likely to find themselves drawn to secondary characters such as Chewbacca or BB-8 who provide comedic relief and crucial assistance on the heroes’ many missions.

Overall, the Star Wars franchise has something to offer everyone, from thrilling action sequences to interesting characters and unforgettable music. The Star Wars movies have also become known for their musical score, featuring themes composed by John Williams that have become some of the most recognizable pieces of music in popular culture. From the iconic main theme to memorable tracks such as “The Duel of Fates,” Williams’ compositions are an integral part of experiencing the world of Star Wars.

Star Wars movies in chronological timeline order

These films have been released in a variety of formats, including DVD, Blu-ray and digital download. Some of the most recent releases are also available on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+. Regardless of how you watch them, these films will bring intergalactic adventures to life in your own home.

In chronological order:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
Andor (2022-present)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
The Mandalorian (2019-present)
The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
Star Wars: Resistance (2018-2020)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

By movies only:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Star Wars movies in release date order

Watching the Star Wars movies in release order may not make sense with regards to the chronological story, but it does allow you to share the same appreciation and experience as everyone else. In addition, it gives you a chance to observe how film-making techniques have either evolved or stayed the same over time.

The Star Wars movies in release order:

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Episode VI: 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: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The Star Wars movies in release order with the TV series:

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Episode VI: 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)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020)
Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: Resistance (2018-2020)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The Mandalorian (2019-present)
The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Andor (2022-present)
Ahsoka (upcoming, 2023)
Skeleton Crew (upcoming, 2023)
The Acolyte (upcoming)
Lando (upcoming)

Complete Star Wars viewing order including TV shows

While some Star Wars fans may know about shows like the 1980s animation series Droids, others have been completely disavowed by Star Wars creator George Lucas (such as the infamous Holiday Special). These are all part of the extended Star Wars Universe, whether officially recognized or not.

When Disney took over Lucasfilm, this also meant that the Expanded Universe was reset and most pre-existing movies and animations no longer carried any weight in terms of official canon. However, Disney has subsequently added a great deal of content to make up for it. You’d need far more than a single weekend in order to watch the entire Star Wars Saga and limited specials in chronological order; DisneyPlus series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Bad Batch and Andor will only be confirmed when they’re released.

Star Wars: The Acolyte (upcoming)
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)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (upcoming)
Star Wars Rebels (2014 to 2018)
Andor (2022 to present)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Star Wars: Droids (1985 to 1986)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
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-present)
The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
Ahsoka (upcoming, 2-23)
Rangers of the New Republic (upcoming)
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)

Star Wars movies in ‘The Godfather’ order

The following are the Star Wars films in the “Godfather” order:

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
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)
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Star Wars movies in The Machete Order

If you’re looking to enjoy the classic Star Wars saga, the Machete Order is the way to go. Created by Rod Hilton, this order fixes one of the saga’s biggest problems: if watched chronologically, the shocking reveal of Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back would be ruined.

The order requires viewers to watch Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back first before moving on to Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and then Episode II: Attack of the Clones and finally Episode III: Revenge of the Sith; in other words, Phantom Menace is missing from this viewing order.

This is because including it wouldn’t contribute much to the plot – all its events can be summed up in the opening crawl of Attack of the Clones. What’s more, missing out on Phantom Menace means that Jar Jar Binks will have minimal screentime.

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The 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)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars movies in The Rinster Order

The Rinster method might well have come first:

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
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)
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Star Wars movies on Disney Plus

Disney Plus is the ultimate destination for all your Star Wars needs. Here’s the complete list of what you can find on their platform:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004)

What’s the best Star Wars movie order?

Watching the Star Wars movies for the very first time is an epic journey. We recommend starting with the release order. This order follows the way that George Lucas intended it – starting with Episode IV: A New Hope, then continuing through to Episode VI: Return of The Jedi. Then you can choose to watch the prequel trilogy (Episodes I-III), or jump straight into The Force Awakens and the latest installments of the saga.

Alternatively, you might want to try out the Machete Order, which cuts out The Phantom Menace and puts a slight twist on traditional viewing order by arranging Episodes IV, V and II in a row before switching back between trilogies. However, if you’re looking for a more intense experience, we would suggest trying out what’s known as the “Godfather cut” – watching all 11 episodes plus Rogue One and Solo in chronological order from Episodes I-IX.

In conclusion

The Star Wars franchise, with its iconic themes and characters, has become an integral part of pop culture. The order to watch the nine movies in the saga is a hotly debated topic among fans. While there is no definitive “right” or “wrong” way to experience the story, many people recommend watching the films in release order. This means starting with the original 1977 movie, A New Hope, and ending with the most recent film in the series, The Rise of Skywalker. Following the release order is a great way to follow the story chronologically and build up to its thrilling climaxes.

Additionally, watching in this order allows viewers to experience technological improvements in film technology over time, such as the move from practical effects to CGI. Whether a fan watches the movies in release order or prefers another approach, the Star Wars franchise is an unforgettable experience that will keep fans coming back for more.