Star Wars Movies In Order
Like many successful movies, Star Wars has since been turned into comics, books, and multiple trilogy series. Since its original film date in 1977, Star Wars has formed a cult following of science fiction lovers from all walks of life. The original trilogy was followed by the prequel and sequel trilogies. Other movies explore stories outside the Skywalker family, and The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) brings the characters from the television series onto the big screen.
Many fans will have varying opinions of the proper way to watch the Star Wars movies in order. Because there are three different trilogies, it’s kind of a loaded question. Should you watch the newer prequels first, or watch the movies by release date? Or how about a totally different order that still follows a chronological timeline? Here’s the order I recommend, and I’ll tell you why in just a bit:
Recommended viewing order
- I: The Phantom Menace
- II: Attack of the Clones
- III: Revenge of the Sith
- IV: A New Hope
- V: The Empire Strikes Back
- VI: Return of the Jedi
- VII: The Force Awakens
- VIII: The Last Jedi
- IX: The Rise of Skywalker
| Movie Order | Trailers |
|---|---|
 Buy the complete series off Amazon.com now! | |
| 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) | |
| Star Wars The Clone Wars - Animated (2008) | |
| Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) | |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (Star Wars spin-off) | |
| Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) | |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (Star Wars spin-off) | |
| Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | |
| The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) (The Mandalorian spin-off) | |
| Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027) | Trailer not yet released |
This order follows the Skywalker story chronologically, beginning with Anakin’s childhood and ending with the events of episode IX. The prequels explain how the Empire came to power before Luke’s adventures begin. Release order is another good option, especially if you want to experience the revelations as the original audiences did. That means starting with A New Hope, followed by The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, before moving on to the prequels.
No matter what order you choose to watch it in, there’s no denying that Star Wars is one of the most successful science fiction series to hit the big screen. Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for May 28, 2027, will introduce new characters led by Ryan Gosling. Its story takes place about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, exploring what happens in the galaxy after the Skywalker saga.
