You're standing in front of your TV, Disney+ is open, and you're staring at a dozen posters of people holding glowing sticks. It’s intimidating. Honestly, the star wars order of movies list is one of the most debated topics in nerd culture, right up there with whether Han shot first (he did) or if the prequels are actually "underrated masterpieces" (they aren't, but we love them anyway).
George Lucas didn't make this easy for us. He started in the middle. Then he went back to the beginning. Then Disney bought the whole thing and started filling in the gaps like a construction crew fixing a pothole-ridden highway. If you're a newcomer, looking at the release dates will make your head spin. If you're a veteran, you've probably argued with a stranger on Reddit about why "Machete Order" is the only way to live.
Let's get into it. There isn't just one way to watch these things, and the "right" way depends entirely on how much you value surprises versus chronological logic.
The Release Date Path: Watching Like It’s 1977
This is the "purist" route. You see the special effects get better, then suddenly get way worse (or "retro"), then get incredibly polished.
Most people recommend this for first-timers. Why? Because the big reveals—you know the ones, the "I am your father" moments—were designed to be seen in this order. If you start with Episode I, you're basically spoiling the greatest twist in cinematic history within the first few hours.
You start with the Original Trilogy: A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983). These are the foundation. They feel like a lived-in, grimy space western.
Then you hit the Prequels. The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005). It’s a jarring shift. Suddenly everything is shiny, CGI-heavy, and filled with debates about trade taxation. It’s weird, but it explains how the galaxy fell apart.
Finally, you land on the Sequel Trilogy: The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). These are divisive. Some folks love the modern energy; others think they retconned too much. Either way, they’re part of the main "Skywalker Saga."
The Star Wars Order of Movies List by Timeline
If you’re the kind of person who organizes their bookshelf by color or their apps by category, this is for you. Chronological order. It starts at the literal beginning of the story and moves forward in a straight line.
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- Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace
- Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith
- Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope
- Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens
- Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi
- Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker
Notice the "A Star Wars Story" entries tucked in there. Those are the spinoffs. Rogue One is actually fantastic—it leads directly into the opening scene of the 1977 movie. Like, literally minutes before. Solo is a fun heist movie that gives Han Solo a backstory he didn't necessarily need but is enjoyable nonetheless.
The problem with this order? The tonal whiplash is brutal. You go from the high-octane, digital sheen of Revenge of the Sith straight into a movie made in the 70s where the lightsaber duels look like two old men fighting with flashlights. It takes a minute to adjust.
Why Machete Order Changed the Game
A few years ago, a blogger named Rod Hilton proposed something called the Machete Order. It was a revelation.
The idea is simple: You focus on Luke Skywalker’s journey but use the prequels as a massive flashback. You start with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Once you hit that massive cliffhanger at the end of Empire, you pause. You travel back in time to watch Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith to see how Anakin became Vader. Then, you finish with Return of the Jedi.
Notice something missing? Yeah. The Phantom Menace.
Machete Order advocates argue that Episode I is irrelevant to the core plot. Midichlorians? Jar Jar Binks? Podracing? You can skip it all and the story still makes perfect sense. It preserves the Vader twist and makes the parallel between Luke and his father feel much more visceral. It’s a bit pretentious, sure, but it’s a brilliant way to experience the narrative stakes.
The Rogue One Exception
Wait. Where does the newer stuff fit?
If you want to be a completionist, you have to talk about the "in-between" movies. Rogue One is the gold standard here. It’s gritty. It’s a war movie. It doesn't have many Jedi. But it makes the star wars order of movies list significantly longer and more complex.
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If you’re doing a chronological run, Rogue One is essential. It explains the "exhaust port" flaw in the Death Star—a plot hole fans complained about for thirty years. Watching it right before A New Hope makes the stakes of the original film feel ten times higher. You realize exactly how many people died just to get those blueprints into Princess Leia’s hands.
Solo, on the other hand, is a bit of an outlier. It takes place about ten years before the original movie. It’s fine. It’s charming. But if you skip it, you aren't missing any tectonic shifts in the Force.
Dealing With the "Star Wars Fatigue"
Look, watching eleven movies is a lot of work. That’s like 25 hours of content.
If you get bored during the prequels, don't feel bad. A lot of us did back in the early 2000s. The dialogue can be clunky—George Lucas is a visionary, but writing romantic banter isn't his strongest suit. If you find yourself scrolling on your phone during Attack of the Clones, just skip to the last 30 minutes. The Battle of Geonosis is still a blast.
The Sequels have a different problem. They’re gorgeous to look at, but they feel like they were written by two different people who weren't talking to each other. J.J. Abrams set things up, Rian Johnson took a sharp left turn, and then Abrams came back and tried to undo everything Johnson did. It’s messy. But for a first-time viewer, the sheer spectacle usually carries it through.
What About the TV Shows?
This is where things get truly messy. If you include The Mandalorian, Andor, Ahsoka, and The Clone Wars, your "movie list" turns into a "life commitment list."
Honestly? Don't worry about the shows on your first pass. Treat the movies as the core spine. Once you’ve finished the Skywalker Saga, then go back and watch Andor (which is arguably the best thing Star Wars has produced in twenty years) or The Mandalorian.
If you absolutely must integrate them, The Clone Wars animated series fits between Episodes II and III. It actually makes Anakin’s fall to the dark side make way more sense. In the movies, he turns evil because of a bad dream and some manipulative whispering from a politician. In the show, you see years of war, betrayal, and loss that gradually erode his soul. It’s heartbreaking.
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Breaking Down the "Best" Way to Watch
If you asked ten fans, you’d get twelve answers. But here is the breakdown based on what you want out of the experience:
- For the "Wow" Factor: Release Order. (4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9). Keep the surprises intact.
- For the History Buffs: Chronological. (1, 2, 3, Solo, Rogue One, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). See the rise and fall of empires in real-time.
- For the Storytelling Geeks: Machete Order (with a twist). (4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9). Treat the prequels as a long flashback before the final battle.
Most people overlook the fact that these movies were made in eras with very different filmmaking philosophies. The 70s were about myth-making. The 90s were about digital frontiers. The 2010s were about brand management and nostalgia. When you watch them in a certain order, you aren't just watching a story; you’re watching the evolution of Hollywood itself.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't start with the spinoffs. I know Rogue One is tempting because it looks modern and cool, but it carries zero emotional weight if you don't know what the Rebellion is fighting for.
Don't feel obligated to watch the "Special Editions" if you can find the theatrical cuts. George Lucas added a lot of CGI creatures and weird musical numbers in the late 90s that many fans feel clutter the original charm. If you see a giant CGI lizard walk in front of the camera while Han Solo is talking, you're watching the Special Edition. It's fine, but the original versions have a cleaner aesthetic.
Lastly, don't let the internet tell you what to hate. Star Wars fans are notoriously grumpy. Some people hate the prequels, some people hate the sequels, and some people even find the originals "boring." Watch them for yourself. There’s a reason this franchise has lasted nearly fifty years. There is a specific kind of magic in the way the music (bless John Williams) swells when a X-wing jumps into hyperspace.
Your Actionable Galaxy Map
Ready to start? Don't overthink it. Pick a path and stick to it. If you're still undecided, follow these steps to get the most out of your marathon:
- Audit your time. If you only have a weekend, just watch the Original Trilogy (4, 5, 6). They stand perfectly on their own.
- Check the tech. If you have a 4K setup, the Sequel Trilogy and the spinoffs (Rogue One, Solo) will look absolutely stunning. The Prequels? They might look a bit like a video game from 2005. Prepare your eyes.
- Skip the fluff if needed. If you’re doing a chronological run and The Phantom Menace is dragging, skip to the "Duel of the Fates" fight at the end. It's the only part that truly matters for the long-term plot.
- Context is key. Remember that A New Hope was a low-budget fluke that changed the world. Knowing the behind-the-scenes struggle makes watching the 1977 film even more impressive.
The star wars order of movies list isn't a cage; it's a menu. Whether you want the full 11-course meal or just the highlights, the story of the Skywalkers is a piece of cultural history worth seeing at least once. Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and let the opening crawl take over. May the Force be with you—or, you know, just have a good time.
Go find a copy of A New Hope. Seriously. Start there tonight. See if the magic still holds up after all these years. Chances are, it does.