It's been almost 50 years since George Lucas first introduced us to the Star Wars universe. Since then, we've had theatrical films and a whopping collection of television shows inspired by a galaxy far, far away. All those overlapping storylines make it one of the densest entertainment franchises to follow.
Figuring out the best way to watch everything in order can therefore be somewhat overwhelming for even the most dedicated fan, let alone newcomers still learning the difference between a Jedi Master and a moisture farmer.
With the announcement of the Ryan Gosling-starring Starfighter and the upcoming release of The Mandalorian & Grogu, there's renewed excitement surrounding all things Star Wars, so if you're looking to dip back in or wondering what the big deal is about lightsabers and Wookiees, here's our indispensable guide to help you navigate the best way to experience it all.
While some purists may grumble about Disney's stewardship of the iconic sci-fi saga, the House of Mouse has made binge-watching Star Wars easier than ever. Apart from a few minor exceptions (more on those later), every movie and TV spinoff is available to watch in one place -- on demand via Disney Plus.
So what's the best watch order? Chronological? Release? 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, then you'll want to follow the saga in an order that charts Anakin's rise through to Rey's journey. The benefit of this option is that you'll get to witness the evolution of characters and the galaxy's political landscape in a linear progress. It's also George Lucas's intended storytelling sequence.
The downside of watching this way, rather than in release order, is that it spoils several plot twists, including one particularly iconic revelation.
The inconsistent quality of some later entries into the series -- let's be honest, we're talking about the prequel movies here -- means it might not provide the most engaging introduction for newcomers to the franchise.
- The Acolyte (2024 TV show)
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999 movie)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002 movie)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 movie)
- 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 movie)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024 animated TV show)
- The Bad Batch (2021 animated TV show)
- Maul: Shadow Lord (2026 animated TV show)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018 movie)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022 TV show)
- Andor (2022 TV show)
- Star Wars Rebels (2014 TV show)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016 movie)
- Episode IV: A New Hope (1977 movie)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980 movie)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983 movie)
- The Mandalorian (2019 TV show)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021 TV show)
- Ahsoka (2023 TV show)
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024 TV show)
- Star Wars Resistance (2018 animated TV show)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015 movie)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017 movie)
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019 movie)
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Star Wars in release order
This choice is, arguably, the most authentic and impactful experience and how fans first saw them. This approach preserves the narrative surprises and character developments as they were first presented to audiences.
Another good reason to go down this route is that it lets you appreciate the technological and cinematic advancements that occurred throughout the franchise's history. From the original trilogy's still-convincing practical effects to Industrial Light and Magic's ground-breaking showcases for CGI in the prequels. This progression not only reflects the real-world development of filmmaking but also enhances the viewing experience by gradually introducing more complex narratives and characters.
In short, it's the best bet for newcomers seeking to understand the series' development and for fans wishing 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 I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- The Clone Wars (2008 -- movie and TV series)
- Star Wars Rebels (2014)
- 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)
- Star Wars Resistance (2018)
- Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
- The Mandalorian (2019)
- The Bad Batch (2021)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Andor (2022)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
- Ahsoka (2023)
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)
- The Acolyte (2024)
- Skeleton Crew (2024)
- Maul: Shadow Lord (2026)
Machete order (the controversial option)
Another non-chronological viewing order -- and one which divides opinion among JedHeads -- is the machete order. First suggested by movie fan Rod Hilton back in 2011 on his blog Absolutely No Machete Juggling, this sequence preserves the original twists and surprises of the original trilogy by watching it before the prequel trilogy, but controversially skips The Phantom Menace entirely.
This option treats Episodes II and III as a flashback between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Hilton argues that this order emphasizes the continuity of the main Skywalker saga story while skipping the prequel that some consider the weakest.
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
- Sequel trilogy and spinoffs as desired
Going hardcore - the non-canon curios
The vastness of the Star Wars universe means we've omitted a host of nonessential spinoff shows and specials -- primarily animated Lego tie-ins and mashups with The Simpsons -- along with a sizable collection of official making-of and behind-the-scenes documentaries that are available on Disney Plus.
In addition to these, there are a number of shows and movies that are now considered non-canonical to the official storyline since the Disney acquisition of the franchise, which you may, or indeed, may not, want to add to and augment the lists above.
Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, several shows and movies were reclassified as non-canonical, now falling under the "Legends" banner. These include the mid-1980s animated series Star Wars: Droids (1985–1986) and Ewoks (1985–1986), as well as two Ewok-centric TV movies that aimed to capitalize on the cutesy appeal of the Endor forest dwellers: Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). All of these are available on Disney Plus.
One significant omission from the Disney Plus catalog, however, is the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. Originally beamed into unsuspecting homes via the CBS television network ahead of Thanksgiving in 1978, this low-budget fever 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' best attempts to bury it -- it's never been officially re-aired or released -- the special developed a cult following in the early days of the internet thanks to heavily pixelated bootlegs being shared.
It's since been lovingly upscaled in 5K resolution by a group of fans and can be streamed on YouTube in all its awkward glory.
Finally, for purists seeking the original theatrical experience, there are two fan projects that offer meticulously crafted versions of the original trilogy.
Harmy's Despecialized Editions are pristine, high-definition recreations of the now-unavailable original theatrical versions of the Star Wars trilogy. They undo Lucas's added scenes and special effects alterations in later "Special Editions."
For a rawer experience, Team Negative1's 4K77, 4K80, and 4K83 are fan-made 4K scans of original 35mm theatrical prints of the original trilogy. The downside is that neither of these projects is officially sanctioned by Lucasfilm and Disney, meaning distribution is managed within fan communities to respect copyright considerations.
However you end up choosing to journey your way through the galaxy from the options above, may the Force be with you!