Star Wars Movies in Order: Complete Viewing Guide 2025

If you’ve ever stared at the Star Wars film lineup and wondered where to start — you’re not alone. With nine main episodes, a couple of spin-offs, and multiple streaming options, the galaxy far, far away can feel more confusing than a trip through the Kessel Run. This guide walks you through every official order, from release sequence to chronological timeline, so you can decide which path suits your first (or tenth) viewing.

Main saga films: 9 ·
Total theatrical films (as of 2025): 12 ·
First film release year: 1977 ·
Latest film release year: 2019

Five key facts about the franchise, one pattern: the saga spans over four decades and 12 films, but its viewing order remains a topic of debate.

What is the correct order to watch the Star Wars movies?

Two primary orders exist, each with its own logic. The first respects the theatrical release sequence; the second follows the internal chronology of the galaxy.

The nine-episode Skywalker saga

• Release order: Episode IV (1977), V (1980), VI (1983), I (1999), II (2002), III (2005), VII (2015), VIII (2017), IX (2019) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Chronological order: Episode I (1999), II (2002), III (2005), IV (1977), V (1980), VI (1983), VII (2015), VIII (2017), IX (2019) (StarWars.com)

Standalone films and spin-offs

• Rogue One (2016) is set just before Episode IV (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Solo (2018) takes place between Episode III and IV (StarWars.com)
• The Clone Wars (2008) theatrical film is set between Episode II and III (StarWars.com)

Bottom line: For a first-time viewer, release order preserves the original storytelling surprises; chronological order offers a linear narrative. Neither is “wrong.”

How to watch the Star Wars movies in order on Disney+

Disney+ is the exclusive streaming home for all Star Wars films and most series. Here’s how to set up your own watchlist.

Finding the movies on Disney+

• All nine Skywalker saga episodes are available on Disney+ (Hulu Guides)
• Search “Star Wars” to see the complete collection, including spin-offs Rogue One and Solo

Creating a chronological playlist

• Disney+ offers an official “Chronological Order” playlist (Hulu Guides)
• Users can also manually reorder by adding films to a custom watchlist

Using the official collection feature

• Disney+ groups films under themed collections (e.g., “Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga”)
• Each collection maintains a preset order — you can start from the collection home page

The implication: choosing Disney+’s chronological playlist sacrifices the original trilogy’s biggest twist for narrative consistency.

What is the best order to watch Star Wars movies for beginners?

Three popular approaches cater to different priorities: surprise, story flow, or narrative impact.

Release order for cultural context

• Starts with A New Hope (1977) and follows theatrical release sequence (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Preserves the original twists — “I am your father” hits harder when you haven’t seen the prequels

Chronological order for story flow

• Begins with Episode I (1999) and moves through the timeline in universe order (StarWars.com)
• Best for viewers who prefer a single unbroken narrative from the dawn of the Jedi to the final Resistance battle

Machete order for narrative impact

• Fan-created sequence: IV, V, I, II, III, VI (Hulu Guides)
• Places the prequels as a flashback after the Luke Skywalker origin and before the final confrontation

Bottom line: First-time viewers who value surprise should choose release order; those who want a cohesive story should choose chronological. Machete is a niche alternative for repeat watchers.

How to watch Star Wars movies and TV shows in order

Integrating animated and live-action series expands the timeline beyond the films.

Including The Clone Wars and Rebels

• The Clone Wars (2008–2020) is set between Episode II and III (StarWars.com)
• Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018) leads directly into Rogue One (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)

Sequencing with The Mandalorian and spin-offs

• The Mandalorian (2019–) takes place after Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) (Hulu Guides)
• Other series like The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka fit within the same post-Return of the Jedi era

The catch: integrating series adds complexity; stick to film-only order if you want a pure saga experience.

How many Star Wars movies are there?

As of 2025, Lucasfilm has released 12 theatrical films in the franchise.

The 9 episodes

• Prequel trilogy: Episodes I–III (1999–2005) (StarWars.com)
• Original trilogy: Episodes IV–VI (1977–1983) (StarWars.com)
• Sequel trilogy: Episodes VII–IX (2015–2019) (StarWars.com)

The 3 anthology films

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (StarWars.com)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (theatrical) (2008) (StarWars.com)

Upcoming releases

• Lucasfilm has announced multiple new films in development, including a film by James Mangold set 25,000 years before the Skywalker saga (StarWars.com)

What this means: the franchise continues to grow, so any viewing guide will need updates as new content arrives.

Release order vs. chronological order: which should you choose?

Three viewing orders, one decision: which trade-off works for you?

Bottom line: Release order is the safest bet for first-timers who want to experience the saga as audiences did. Chronological order works for those who hate timeline jumps. Machete is a clever rewatch experiment.

The pattern: each order sacrifices something — release order sacrifices visual consistency, chronological order sacrifices the Vader reveal, and machete order sacrifices Episode I and official endorsement.

How to watch Star Wars in order: step-by-step guide

1. Open Disney+ and navigate to the “Star Wars” hub
2. Decide your preferred order (release, chronological, or machete)
3. Add the films to a custom watchlist in your chosen sequence
4. Start with the first film in your list and enjoy without distractions
5. If including series, insert The Clone Wars between Episodes II and III

The catch: following these steps ensures a spoiler-free marathon, but you’ll need to commit to your choice before starting.

Star Wars film timeline

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

What this means: if you watch chronologically, you’ll start with the 1999 prequel and end with the 2019 sequel, covering 20 years of in-universe history.

Watching the saga in release order preserves the original storytelling surprises that captivated audiences in 1977.

— StarWars.com Editorial Team

Chronological order is the most straightforward way to experience the Star Wars story as it unfolds in-universe, from the Phantom Menace to the Rise of Skywalker.

— Rotten Tomatoes Editorial

For the first-time viewer standing at the edge of the Star Wars galaxy, the choice between release order and chronological order comes down to one thing: what do you want to feel? Release order delivers the thrill of discovery as audiences did in 1977. Chronological order offers a clean, linear saga. The trade-off is the Vader reveal — a single moment that defines why so many fans still argue for release order. For the millions of new subscribers on Disney+, the implication is clear: pick the order that matches your tolerance for spoilers, and start with Episode IV if you want the same goosebumps your parents had.