GameTimeline

Watch order

Star Wars movie watch order

Every major Star Wars theatrical film from A New Hope (1977) through The Rise of Skywalker (2019)—nine saga episodes plus Rogue One and Solo. Release follows US premiere order (Originals → Prequels → Sequels, with anthology titles where they opened). Story reorders into canon chronology with BBY/ABY labels. Disney+ series stay FAQ-only; games live on Star Wars games.

Updated August 2026

Release order

When each Star Wars theatrical film opened in the US—from A New Hope (1977) through The Rise of Skywalker (2019), including Rogue One and Solo. Best first path if you want the same order theaters used.

  • First watch → Release tab (Originals, then Prequels, then Sequels + anthologies)
  • Chronology curious → Story tab (BBY → ABY)
  • Machete skip path → FAQ (IV–V, then I–III, then VI…)
  • Anthology only → Rogue One then Solo (or reverse on Story)
Story order tips

In-universe chronology (BBY/ABY): Prequels → Solo → Rogue One → Original Trilogy → Sequel Trilogy. Same eleven films, reordered so Naboo and the Clone Wars come before Luke’s farm.

  • Earliest → The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
  • Death Star heist → Rogue One then A New Hope (0 BBY)
  • Original end → Return of the Jedi (4 ABY)
  • Sequel finale → The Rise of Skywalker (35 ABY)

Timeline

When each season premiered in the US. Expand a row for dates and where it fits in your watch order.

Release order

  1. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

    Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

    TheatricalStreamingOriginalSaga

    Farm boy Luke Skywalker joins the Rebellion, meets Obi-Wan and Han Solo, and helps destroy the Death Star—the 1977 film that launched modern blockbuster cinema. Later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope once the saga expanded.

    Overview
    George Lucas fused serial adventure, mythic beats, and Industrial Light & Magic effects into a new Hollywood template. John Williams’s score and the trench run still define franchise DNA.
    Related games
    No prequel required for Release order. Games: Star Wars games.
    Where it fits
    Start here on the Release tab—cultural entry point even though Story places it after the prequels and Rogue One. Soft-skippable only if you already know the Original Trilogy cold.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 25, 1977 (20th Century Fox).
  2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

    Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

    TheatricalStreamingOriginalSaga

    The Empire strikes back across Hoth, Dagobah, and Cloud City while Luke trains with Yoda and faces a revelation that rewired pop culture. Often ranked the saga peak for tone, twists, and cliffhanger stakes.

    Overview
    Irvin Kershner keeps spectacle intimate: AT-ATs on ice, the asteroid chase, and Vader’s duel land with Shakespearean weight. Empire proves sequels can darken a world without losing wonder.
    Related games
    No anthology required between IV and V. Optional ~3 ABY games: Star Wars games.
    Where it fits
    Watch after A New Hope. Essential before Return of the Jedi. On Story it sits at 3 ABY, after the Death Star heist duo.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 21, 1980.
  3. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

    Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

    TheatricalStreamingOriginalSaga

    Rescue at Jabba’s palace, a second Death Star over Endor, and Luke’s final confrontation with Vader and the Emperor close the Original Trilogy. Ewoks, speeder bikes, and redemption define the 1983 finale before the saga leapt decades backward.

    Overview
    Richard Marquand’s film balances creature comedy with operatic father-son stakes. The Emperor becomes a screen presence; the Jedi funeral pyre and celebration on Endor still read as the classic “end of the war” beat for many first-timers.
    Related games
    Machete fans often save VI until after I–III—see FAQ. No Disney+ series required.
    Where it fits
    Watch after Empire. Soft endpoint for an Originals-only binge; Prequels and Sequels are optional next passes. Story tab places it at 4 ABY.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 25, 1983.
  4. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

    Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelSaga

    Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan uncover a Trade Federation plot on Naboo while young Anakin leaves Tatooine and faces Darth Maul. The 1999 return of theatrical Star Wars—podracing, midi-chlorians, and a new generation of Jedi politics.

    Overview
    Lucas leaned into digital worlds and political prelude: the Jedi Council, Sith return, and Duel of the Fates. Divisive tone sits beside craft that later prequels and Clone Wars media build on.
    Related games
    The 2008 Clone Wars film/show deepen this era—FAQ-only. Games: Star Wars games.
    Where it fits
    Release #4 after the Original Trilogy. On Story it opens chronology at 32 BBY—watch first only if you want BBY order, not first-timer payoff.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 19, 1999 (Lucasfilm / 20th Century Fox).
  5. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

    Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelSaga

    Anakin and Padmé’s forbidden romance unfolds while Obi-Wan traces a clone army and a Separatist conspiracy to Geonosis. The Clone Wars ignite on-screen—Jango Fett, early Count Dooku, and the arena battle that flips the Republic toward militarization.

    Overview
    Heavier CGI stages and a noir detective thread for Obi-Wan. The film’s politics and romance are uneven for some viewers, but Geonosis and the clone reveal are load-bearing for Revenge of the Sith and later Clone Wars storytelling.
    Related games
    No anthology between II and III. Republic Commando and related games sit near this war—see Star Wars games.
    Where it fits
    Watch after The Phantom Menace. Required before Revenge of the Sith. Story slot: 22 BBY.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 16, 2002.
  6. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

    Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

    TheatricalStreamingPrequelSaga

    Order 66, Anakin’s fall, and the birth of Darth Vader close the Prequel Trilogy with Mustafar fire. Widely treated as the prequel high—tragedy, lightsaber opera, and the bridge that makes A New Hope feel like aftermath.

    Overview
    Lucas delivers the war’s endgame: Palpatine’s rise, Jedi purge, and twin births. Operatic duels finally sell why the Empire exists—critical connective tissue for chronological and Machete paths.
    Related games
    Cal Kestis games pick up after Order 66—Star Wars games, not duplicate rows here.
    Where it fits
    Watch after Attack of the Clones. On Release, next theatrical jumps to 2015’s Force Awakens; on Story, Solo and Rogue One fill the gap before Episode IV.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 19, 2005.
  7. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

    Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens

    TheatricalStreamingSequelSaga

    Rey, Finn, and Poe collide with the First Order while a scavenger from Jakku pulls Luke’s legend back into the war. J.J. Abrams’s 2015 reboot—Starkiller Base, Kylo Ren, and the handoff from the Original cast.

    Overview
    Practical creatures and nostalgic structure relaunched theatrical Star Wars under Disney. It prioritizes momentum and mystery—designed as a gateway after VI without requiring anthology detours.
    Related games
    No Rogue One / Solo required before VII on Release. Disney+ shows stay FAQ-only.
    Where it fits
    Release #7. Watch after Revenge of the Sith on this tab (anthologies come next in premiere order). Story places it at 34 ABY after the Original Trilogy.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release December 18, 2015 (Walt Disney Studios).
  8. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

    TheatricalStreamingAnthologyWar

    Jyn Erso and a ragtag Rebel squad steal the Death Star plans on Scarif—the heist that makes A New Hope’s opening crawl possible. Gritty war-movie tone and a direct chronological handoff into Episode IV.

    Overview
    First standalone theatrical anthology: heavier ground combat and a finale that locks to IV’s first frames. Often the best add-on after the Original Trilogy—or the Story bridge between Solo and Luke’s call to adventure.
    Related games
    Pairs with Rebel mission games; film-only row here. Andor deepens this lane—FAQ-only.
    Where it fits
    Release #8 (after Force Awakens). On Story watch just before A New Hope at 0 BBY. Skip-safe on a first Release binge if you only want numbered episodes.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release December 16, 2016.
  9. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

    Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi

    TheatricalStreamingSequelSaga

    Rey seeks training from a weary Luke while the Resistance flees the First Order and Kylo Ren’s conflict sharpens. Rian Johnson’s chapter bets on subversion—Crait, Ahch-To, and choices that split the fandom but remain required Sequel continuity.

    Overview
    Bold visual set pieces (Holdo maneuver, throne-room fight) and a thesis about failing mentors. Whether you love or argue with it, Rise of Skywalker assumes you saw these beats—do not soft-skip on a Sequel binge.
    Related games
    Solo is optional color for Han’s past—not a prerequisite for VIII’s plot.
    Where it fits
    Watch after The Force Awakens. On Release, Solo lands between VIII and IX; on Story, VIII stays at 34 ABY right after VII.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release December 15, 2017.
  10. Solo: A Star Wars Story

    Solo: A Star Wars Story

    TheatricalStreamingAnthologyOrigin

    Young Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Qi’ra hustle through crime syndicates, the Kessel Run, and the Millennium Falcon’s origin years before A New Hope. Lighter heist energy than Rogue One—optional lore for Han fans more than saga scaffolding.

    Overview
    Second anthology feature fills in smuggler mythology (Coaxium, Crimson Dawn, early Lando). Useful on Story between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One; easy soft-skip on Release if you only care about numbered episodes.
    Related games
    No Sequel film depends on Solo. Open-world crime vibes overlap some games—see Star Wars games.
    Where it fits
    Release #10 (after Last Jedi). Story window spans roughly 10–0 BBY—watch after III, before Rogue One, when doing chronology.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release May 25, 2018.
  11. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

    Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

    TheatricalStreamingSequelSaga

    Rey’s lineage, Palpatine’s return, and a final stand against the Final Order close the Skywalker saga on screen. Dense payoff film—Exegol, Exegol’s fleet, and legacy cameos aimed at ending nine episodes of theatrical storytelling.

    Overview
    Abrams returns to knit Sequel threads into a finale. Pace is packed; reactions remain mixed, but it is the theatrical endpoint for the main saga lanes on this page—no later episode film is listed here.
    Related games
    Disney+ series and future films stay FAQ-only until they are theatrical saga rows. Related: Star Wars games, MCU movies.
    Where it fits
    Watch after The Last Jedi (and after Solo only if you are finishing Release order). Story finale at 35 ABY.
    Premiere dates
    US theatrical release December 20, 2019.

FAQ

Release vs chronology, Machete order, Clone Wars, Disney+ shows, Legends, and games.

Watch order

Open the Story tab:

1. The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
2. Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)
3. Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)
4. Solo (~10–0 BBY)
5. Rogue One (0 BBY)
6. A New Hope (0 BBY)
7. Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
8. Return of the Jedi (4 ABY)
9. The Force Awakens (34 ABY)
10. The Last Jedi (34 ABY)
11. The Rise of Skywalker (35 ABY)

Release order keeps IV–VI first and moves the anthologies to their 2016–2018 premiere slots.

Machete order is a popular fan path (often IV → V → I → II → III → VI, sometimes with VII+ after). It preserves the Vader reveal while treating Prequels as a flashback before Jedi’s finale. It is FAQ-only here—not a third tab—because it skips or rearranges films by design. Use Release or Story on this page; apply Machete manually if you prefer that spoiler strategy.

Canon & extras

What’s included

They are not rows on this page. This timeline is theatrical films only. Shows like The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka matter for wider canon but stay FAQ-only so “Star Wars movies in order” stays a clean eleven-film list. Add them after VI or beside the Sequels on a separate series binge if you want the full Disney+ path.

No. This page is movies (theatrical saga + anthology). Playable titles—from KOTOR to Jedi: Survivor and Outlaws—have their own release and BBY/ABY story order on the Star Wars games timeline. Different mediums; neither replaces the other.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.