Star Wars Movies in Order - How to Watch Them

Is there really anyone out there who has genuinely ‘never seen Star Wars’? One of the world’s greatest movie franchises, Star Wars movies are the stuff of cinematic legend. Sweeping story arcs, non-stop action, iconic characters and worlds that take you on a journey to a galaxy ‘far, far away’ make Star Wars the epitome of sci-fi and fantasy adventure for the whole family.

There are essentially two ways to watch Star Wars, either by release date or chronologically. If you want to know how to watch Star Wars movies in order, here are the best ways to do it.

When did the first Star Wars movie come out, and what was the first Star Wars movie?

In 1977, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia, Yoda and Han Solo burst onto our screen in an epic tale of good versus evil across the galaxy. If you want to go ‘old school’ and watch the movies in order of release date, then you’ve got a marathon ahead of you!

Starting with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, there are a total of 12 movies to take you all the way through to the cumulation of Luke’s Odyssey. The Star Wars movies in order of release date are:

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

The journey begins…

A New Hope introduces us to the Star Wars world, where the Empire’s Imperial forces are determined to wipe out the Rebel Alliance. However, the Empire’s commander, the terrifying Darth Vadar, has a secondary mission – to seek out and destroy the last of the Jedi and the only ones who could pose a real threat to the plans of the Empire.

A New Hope introduces us to the Star Wars world, where the Empire’s Imperial forces are determined to wipe out the Rebel Alliance. However, the Empire’s commander, the terrifying Darth Vadar, has a secondary mission – to seek out and destroy the last of the Jedi and the only ones who could pose a real threat to the plans of the Empire.

In The Empire Strikes Back, the Rebel Alliance’s battle continues, while Luke Skywalker goes in search of the legendary Yoda, the last Jedi master and the only one who can help Luke and the Rebels defeat the dark forces of the Empire. An epic battle between Darth Vadar and Skywalker reveals a fascinating and key twist that will have repercussions for both sides.

The third in the original trilogy is the Return of the Jedi, which sees Skywalker battle the vile Jabba the Hut and Darth Vadar to save his friends and defeat the Empire once again. The major characters are joined by the diminutive and disarmingly cute Ewoks who prove to be the most fierce warriors when it comes to hand-to-paw combat! It is here that the original story was due to end, but such was the following for this complex and fascinating story that more films were scheduled.

The Start of the Story

The Star Wars movies broke the mould by creating a complex timeline that reverted back to the start of the story with the fourth movie, The Phantom Menace in 1999. The fans demanded a backstory, and with a story arc this rich, it was easy to create a series of ‘prequels’ to the original trilogy. In fact, Star Wars was the first franchise to try this format, and it worked.

The Phantom Menace is a gloriously rich and visually stunning film, charting the origins of the Jedi and in particular Obi-Wan Kenobi, played this time around by Ewan McGregor. We’re also introduced to the young Jedi-in-training Anakin Skywalker. We’ve given a glimpse into his psyche that eventually leads to him embracing ‘The Dark Side’ and ultimately becoming Darth Vader.

Phantom Menace is followed in quick succession by Attack of the Clones in 2002, Revenge of the Sith in 2005, and The Clone Wars in 2008. While not widely regarded as the best of the Star Wars movies, they do drive the plot forward and provide a more in-depth examination of the battle between the Force – the universal power of good, and the Dark Side perpetuated by the Sith and the ever-present and utterly malignant Emperor.

The Next Generation

2015 saw the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, swiftly followed by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 216 and The Last Jedi in 2017. After a lacklustre response from fans for the Phantom Menace through to the Clone Wars, the next part of the saga saw a return to the real ethos and storyline of the original trilogy. A new enemy, a revival of the battle between the Dark Side and the Force, and the return of some of the saga’s best-loved characters alongside some new ones marked a real revival in the Star Wars legacy.

The most recent offerings of Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) tied up the storylines of two of the most iconic characters from the entire saga. And with countless spin-offs, including an animated series and the highly regarded The Mandalorian, the Star Wars story is far from over.

Watching the Films in Chronological Order

If you want to know how to watch the Star Wars movies in order chronologically (as in the correct order as far as the canon is concerned), then your order should be:

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

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