The best order to watch all the Star Wars movies and shows

Wield the power of the force (and Disney Plus)

The Skywalker tale is finished, the Clone Wars animated series has ended (sort of), the Mandalorian is almost returning for another season, and there are no Star Wars movie release dates in the near future. And now that we’re delving into Cassian Andor’s exploits in the years preceding up to his joining the Rebellion, there’s never been a better moment to catch up on all things Star Wars. Disney Plus contains every presently canon movie and show, which should make things easier.

But how do you view it? After George Lucas published his prequel trilogy, Star Wars fans disputed the best sequence to see the films. The “correct” method to see the Star Wars series has become even more convoluted with animated and live-action spinoffs. With that in mind, here are a few potential viewing orders to help you decide whether you’re a lifelong fan wishing to rewatch the films and series or a beginner looking for a Star Wars crash course.

WATCHING STAR WARS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

This viewing sequence is self-explanatory. The events of the Star Wars universe occurred in this order in the BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) / ABY (After the Battle of Yavin) chronology. It begins with the earliest occurrences and progresses in time from there. It’s possible that several of these things will occur at the same time, but it’s not our responsibility.

• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated series)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated movie)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch
• Star Wars Rebels animated series
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Star Wars: A New Hope
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Andor season 1
• The Mandalorian season 1
• The Mandalorian season 2
• The Book of Boba Fett
• Star Wars Resistance season 1
• Star Wars Resistance season 2
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

WATCHING STAR WARS IN SKYWALKER SAGA ORDER

Taking a cue from the internet’s famous Ernst Rister order — which was based on a now-deleted forum post — this list uses A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back as setup for the prequel films and focuses more on Luke Skywalker. Viewing the movies and shows in this manner ensures that you understand where his family comes from.

This sequence differs from the Skywalker tale between Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi, but it provides a much greater background for Anakin’s heroism during the Clone Wars and sets up his redeeming moment of siding with Luke over Emperor Palpatine. As the new trilogy progresses, Luke remains at the center.

• Star Wars: A New Hope
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated movie)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated series)
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars Rebels animated series
• Andor season 1
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• The Mandalorian season 1
• The Mandalorian season 2
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• The Book of Boba Fett
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Star Wars Resistance season 1
• Star Wars Resistance season 2
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi

WATCHING STAR WARS IN … GALAXY BRAIN ORDER

We recommend this playlist for individuals who have watched all of Star Wars and want to shake things up with something genuinely bizarre. This doesn’t actually enhance any particular character or narrative as much as it benefits the series as a whole. This arrangement should help you spot all of the little allusions from one film or television program and relate them to the next – but you’ll undoubtedly miss a few.

The Rebellion is the topic of the first several entries. Then, when the Empire is at its lowest, we swap sides to Anakin to learn how he became Darth Vader and how the Empire seized control of the galaxy.Following that, we witness the Empire collapse in Return of the Jedi, and the aftermath in The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett.

The final oddity in this sequence is placing the new trilogy with Han as a more important protagonist. We saw his family suffer in The Force Awakens and then learn more about him in Solo. This command elevates Luke’s gift of Han’s lucky dice to Leia in The Last Jedi, making it obvious that Luke is seeking to make up for the sorrow he caused Han’s family.

Note: If you wish to follow this chronology all the way through, we recommend viewing A New Hope until the Battle of Yavin planning meeting. At that time, switch to Rogue One and watch the entire film, then watch Andor Season 1 before returning to A New Hope. Rogue One functions as a heroic flashback for the Rebellion in this sense.

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: A New Hope
• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
• Andor season 1
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated movie)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (the animated series)
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
• The Mandalorian season 1
• The Mandalorian season 2
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch
• Obi-Wan Kenobi
• Star Wars Resistance season 1
• Star Wars Resistance season 2
• Star Wars Rebels
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• The Book of Boba Fett
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

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