Star Wars Order of Movies: Why Your Watch Order Probably Sucks

George Lucas messed everything up. Honestly, he did. By releasing the middle of his space opera first in 1977, he created a chronological nightmare that fans have been arguing about at bars and conventions for nearly half a century. If you’re trying to figure out the star wars order of movies, you aren't just looking for a list. You’re looking for a way to experience a story that was built backwards, expanded sideways, and eventually handed over to a giant mouse.

There is no "perfect" way. That’s the first thing you need to accept. Depending on whether you care about spoilers, character arcs, or just seeing the special effects get better (or worse) as you go, your mileage will vary.

The Release Order Is the Only Way to Respect the Reveal

Look, I know it’s tempting to start with The Phantom Menace. It’s Episode I. The number is right there in the title. But starting with the prequels is a massive mistake for a first-timer. Why? Because the entire emotional weight of the original trilogy relies on you not knowing who Vader is. If you watch them in "order," that "I am your father" moment in The Empire Strikes Back—arguably the most famous twist in cinematic history—becomes a boring confirmation of something you already knew for six hours.

Release order starts with A New Hope (1977), moves to The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and finishes the initial run with Return of the Jedi (1983). This is the foundation. It’s gritty, it’s lived-in, and it feels like a fairy tale. When you jump back to the prequels—The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), and Revenge of the Sith (2005)—you’re seeing a tragedy. You’re watching the fall of a hero you already know becomes a monster. That dramatic irony is the whole point of those movies. Without it, Jar Jar Binks is just... Jar Jar Binks.

Then you hit the sequels. The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). It’s a straight line. Easy. But it’s also a bit jarring because the technology jumps from 70s practical effects to early 2000s CGI and then to modern high-definition digital polish.

Chronological Order Is for the Lore Nerds

If you’ve seen the movies a dozen times, watching them chronologically feels like a different beast entirely. You see the rise and fall of the Galactic Republic in real-time. This star wars order of movies starts with Anakin Skywalker as a bowl-cut kid on Tatooine and ends with Rey standing in the desert.

1. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
2. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
3. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
4. Solo: A Star Wars Story
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
6. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
7. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
8. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
9. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
10. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
11. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Wait. I slipped those "Stories" in there. Rogue One and Solo.

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Rogue One is basically a direct prequel to A New Hope. It ends literally minutes before the 1977 movie begins. Watching it right before the original movie makes the stakes feel incredibly high. You see exactly how many people died just so Princess Leia could have a floppy disk. It adds a layer of desperation to the rebellion that the original movies sometimes gloss over. Solo is a bit more of a standalone heist flick, but it fits into that "pre-Empire" gap.

The Machete Order (and Why It’s Actually Genius)

Back in 2011, a software developer named Rod Hilton proposed something called the "Machete Order." It’s weird. It’s controversial. And it’s kind of brilliant. The idea is to treat the prequels as a flashback.

You start with A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. You get the big Vader reveal. Your jaw hits the floor. Then, instead of going to Return of the Jedi, you pause. You jump back in time to watch Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. This provides the backstory of how Anakin became Vader right when that information is most relevant to the plot. Then, you finish with Return of the Jedi to see the resolution of both Anakin and Luke’s stories.

Notice anything missing?

Hilton suggested cutting The Phantom Menace entirely. He argued it doesn't really matter to the over-arching plot. Qui-Gon dies, Midichlorians are annoying, and Anakin is too young for the romance with Padmé to feel anything but awkward. If you skip it, the story flows better. It’s brutal. It’s effective.

What About the "New" Star Wars?

The Disney era changed everything. Now we have "Mandoverse" shows, animated series like The Clone Wars, and High Republic books. If you try to fit every single piece of media into your star wars order of movies, you will lose your mind. It’s too much content.

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However, if you want the full experience, The Clone Wars (the animated series) is actually essential. It turns Anakin from a whiny teenager in the movies into a genuine, tragic hero. If you watch the series between Episodes II and III, the finale of Revenge of the Sith will absolutely wreck you. It’s a massive time commitment—seven seasons—but the payoff is huge.

Then you have The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. These take place after Return of the Jedi but before the sequels. They’re filling in the gap of how the Empire turned into the First Order. Honestly, you can watch these as their own thing. They have a different vibe—more space western, less grand opera.

The Rogue One Problem

A lot of people say Rogue One is the best Star Wars movie made since the 80s. They might be right. It’s a war movie. It’s gritty. But if you show it to someone who has never seen Star Wars, the ending doesn't mean much. They won't know why that guy in the black suit with the red lightsaber is so terrifying.

Context matters.

The struggle with any star wars order of movies is that the franchise is now a tapestry, not a line. You can't just pull one thread without snagging another. If you watch Andor (the TV show), which is a masterpiece of political thriller writing, you’ll appreciate Rogue One more. But Andor is slow. It’s not about wizards or laser swords. It’s about bureaucracy and fascism.

The Definitive Recommendation for 2026

If you are a total newcomer sitting down in 2026 to watch these for the first time, don't overthink it. Go with the "Modified Release Order." It’s the most logical way to digest the lore without ruining the surprises.

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• Start with the Original Trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi. This is the core. Everything else is just an expansion on these three movies.
• Watch the Prequels: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith. Understand the tragedy. See the lightsaber choreography get way faster and more theatrical.
• The Bridge Films: Rogue One and Solo. These give you a "ground-level" view of the galaxy.
• The Sequels: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker. Love them or hate them, they are the end of the Skywalker Saga.

If you find yourself falling down the rabbit hole, move into the TV shows. The Mandalorian is the best entry point for the "New Republic" era. If you want deep lore, The Clone Wars and Rebels (animated) are non-negotiable.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Don't let the "Episode" numbers dictate your life. Episode I is arguably one of the weakest films in the franchise, and starting there can bounce people off the series entirely before they ever get to the good stuff.

Also, ignore the "special editions" debate for your first watch. Yes, George Lucas added a bunch of questionable CGI aliens and made Han Solo shoot second in later edits. It’s annoying to purists, but as a casual viewer, you probably won't even notice unless someone points it out. Don't spend $200 on eBay trying to find original 1977 VHS tapes just for "purity." Just hit play on Disney+.

The most important thing to remember is that Star Wars was always meant to be fun. It’s about family, redemption, and the fight against overwhelming odds. Whether you watch it 1-9 or 4-5-1-2-3-6, the heart of the story remains the same.

Actionable Steps for Your Marathon

• Check the Runtime: The total runtime of the 11 live-action movies is roughly 25 hours. If you're doing a marathon, plan for a full weekend.
• Pick Your Version: If you have access to "Despecialized Editions" (fan-made edits that restore the original theatrical looks), use those for the original trilogy. If not, the 4K versions on streaming are visually stunning, even with the weird CGI additions.
• Skip When Necessary: If you’re halfway through Attack of the Clones and you’re bored to tears by the dialogue about sand, just skip to the final battle. You won't miss much, and life is too short to watch movies you aren't enjoying.
• Group the Experience: If you’re watching with kids, start with A New Hope. If you’re watching with someone who loves gritty war dramas, lead with Rogue One as a "hook," then go back to the main saga.

The galaxy is huge. There’s no wrong way to explore it, as long as you don't start with The Holiday Special. Seriously. Never watch that.

Key Movie Order Summary for Quick Reference

The "Standard" Purist Order:

1. A New Hope
2. The Empire Strikes Back
3. Return of the Jedi
4. The Phantom Menace
5. Attack of the Clones
6. Revenge of the Sith
7. The Force Awakens
8. The Last Jedi
9. The Rise of Skywalker

The "Story-First" Chronological Order:

1. The Phantom Menace
2. Attack of the Clones
3. Revenge of the Sith
4. Solo
5. Rogue One
6. A New Hope
7. The Empire Strikes Back
8. Return of the Jedi
9. The Force Awakens
10. The Last Jedi
11. The Rise of Skywalker

Identify which viewer type you are—the "First Timer" or the "Lore Hunter"—and commit to that path. Once you finish the core nine, the world of The Mandalorian and Andor awaits to fill in the gaps of your galactic history.