How Do You Watch the Star Wars Movies in Order?

By ReelVerse Editorial TeamPublished 6 min read

Abstract cinematic art of glowing gold, magenta, and violet timeline nodes arcing across a starfield with generic silhouettes, film strips, and a vintage projector

Quick Answer

There are 13 Star Wars films. Watch them in release order the first time, starting with A New Hope (1977) and ending with The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026). In chronological order the first film is The Phantom Menace, and Lucasfilm's guide places The Mandalorian and Grogu between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.

On this page
  1. What order should you watch the Star Wars movies in?
  2. What are the Star Wars movies in release order?
  3. What are the Star Wars movies in chronological order?
  4. What is the difference between the Skywalker saga and the other Star Wars movies?
  5. Which Star Wars movies can you skip?
  6. Which Star Wars movies are best for kids?
  7. How long does it take to watch every Star Wars movie?
  8. What is the next Star Wars movie?
  9. Frequently Asked Questions
  10. Our Take
  11. Sources

Key Takeaways

  • There are 13 theatrical Star Wars films: nine Skywalker saga episodes and four side stories.
  • Release order is best for a first viewing because it protects the original trilogy's biggest twist.
  • In Lucasfilm's chronological order, The Mandalorian and Grogu sits between Episodes VI and VII.
  • The next film, Star Wars: Starfighter, is listed for May 28, 2027.

What order should you watch the Star Wars movies in?

There are 13 theatrical Star Wars films so far, from A New Hope (1977) to The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026). You can watch them in release order or in chronological (story) order, and Lucasfilm's official viewing guide lists both [1].

For a first viewing, we recommend release order. Release order keeps the biggest reveal of the original trilogy intact, while chronological order gives it away in the prequels. For a rewatch, or for viewers who already know the story, chronological order shows how the saga's events connect.

This guide covers the films only. Lucasfilm's guide also places the Disney+ series on the timeline, and we mention them only where they matter for the films.

Which Star Wars watch order should you choose? Flowchart: first-time viewers start with A New Hope in release order, rewatchers can start with The Phantom Menace in chronological order, and viewers short on time can watch only the nine Skywalker saga episodes. How are you watching Star Wars? First time Release order. Start with A New Hope. Rewatch Chronological order. Start with Phantom Menace. Short on time The nine Skywalker saga episodes only. Rogue One sits right before A New Hope in the story.
Pick an order based on how you are watching.

What are the Star Wars movies in release order?

Release dates come from Wikidata [4] and match the order on StarWars.com [1].

  1. Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope (1977)
  2. Star Wars: Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  3. Star Wars: Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (1983)
  4. Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace (1999)
  5. Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones (2002)
  6. Star Wars: Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008, animated)
  8. Star Wars: Episode VII, The Force Awakens (2015)
  9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  10. Star Wars: Episode VIII, The Last Jedi (2017)
  11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  12. Star Wars: Episode IX, The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  13. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

StarWars.com also calls the first film simply Star Wars (1977), so you will see both names [3].

What are the Star Wars movies in chronological order?

This is the film order from StarWars.com's official viewing guide, with the series removed [1]:

  1. The Phantom Menace (Episode I)
  2. Attack of the Clones (Episode II)
  3. The Clone Wars (2008 animated film)
  4. Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
  5. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  7. A New Hope (Episode IV)
  8. The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V)
  9. Return of the Jedi (Episode VI)
  10. The Mandalorian and Grogu
  11. The Force Awakens (Episode VII)
  12. The Last Jedi (Episode VIII)
  13. The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX)
Star Wars films in chronological order, grouped by era Grouped list of the 13 films in StarWars.com chronological order: prequel era (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, The Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith), stand-alone stories (Solo, Rogue One), original trilogy (A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi), stand-alone (The Mandalorian and Grogu), and sequel trilogy (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker). Chronological order by era Prequel era 1. The Phantom Menace (1999) 2. Attack of the Clones (2002) 3. The Clone Wars (2008) 4. Revenge of the Sith (2005) Stand-alone stories 5. Solo (2018) 6. Rogue One (2016) Original trilogy 7. A New Hope (1977) 8. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 9. Return of the Jedi (1983) Stand-alone story 10. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) Sequel trilogy 11. The Force Awakens (2015) 12. The Last Jedi (2017) 13. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Chronological order from StarWars.com, grouped by when each story takes place.

Two placements surprise people. The Clone Wars film, released in 2008 after Revenge of the Sith, takes place between Episodes II and III. And The Mandalorian and Grogu sits between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, after the Empire's fall, which Lucasfilm describes as a time when Imperial warlords remain scattered throughout the galaxy [2].

What is the difference between the Skywalker saga and the other Star Wars movies?

The nine numbered episodes form the Skywalker saga: three trilogies that follow one family across several generations.

  • Original trilogy (Episodes IV to VI, 1977 to 1983): directed by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, and Richard Marquand.
  • Prequel trilogy (Episodes I to III, 1999 to 2005): all three directed by George Lucas.
  • Sequel trilogy (Episodes VII to IX, 2015 to 2019): directed by J. J. Abrams and Rian Johnson.

The other four films are side stories. Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018) were released as "A Star Wars Story" spin-offs. The Clone Wars (2008) is an animated film directed by Dave Filoni that launched a long-running animated series. The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), directed by Jon Favreau [4], brings the characters of the Disney+ series The Mandalorian to the big screen [2]. In both charts, The Clone Wars is grouped with the prequels because its story takes place between Episodes II and III.

Star Wars films: story order compared with release year Scatter plot listing the 13 films from earliest to latest in the story, placed by release year. The prequels sit at the top of the story but were released from 1999 to 2008, after the 1977 to 1983 original trilogy. The Mandalorian and Grogu, released in 2026, sits between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Story order vs. release year Top = earliest in the story. Across = release year. 1980 2000 2020 The Phantom Menace Attack of the Clones The Clone Wars Revenge of the Sith Solo Rogue One A New Hope The Empire Strikes Back Return of the Jedi The Mandalorian and Grogu The Force Awakens The Last Jedi The Rise of Skywalker Prequel era Original Sequel Stand-alone
Each dot is one film: up and down is story order, left and right is release year.

Which Star Wars movies can you skip?

If you only want the core story, watch the nine Skywalker saga episodes and skip the four side stories. You will not lose the main plot.

That said, we would not skip Rogue One. In our view it is the best side story to add, because it sits right before A New Hope in Lucasfilm's chronological order [1], and we think it adds real weight to the events that open Episode IV.

The Clone Wars film is the most optional of the 13. It mostly serves as an introduction to the animated series, so watch it if you plan to continue with that show.

The Mandalorian and Grogu is easier to follow if you have seen at least some of The Mandalorian series first, since the film continues those characters' story [2].

Which Star Wars movies are best for kids?

The ratings split by release date. According to Wikidata, every film released before 2005 is rated PG, and from Revenge of the Sith (2005) on, every live-action film is rated PG-13 [4]. Wikidata has no MPA rating recorded for the animated The Clone Wars, so check it yourself before showing it to young children.

For younger viewers, the original trilogy is the natural starting point: it is rated PG and it is the order the saga was first introduced in. Revenge of the Sith is the darkest of the prequels and the first Star Wars film rated PG-13, so it is worth previewing before showing it to children. The PG-13 side stories lean toward older kids and teens, especially Rogue One, which is a war story at heart.

If your kids already love The Mandalorian series, The Mandalorian and Grogu is an easy way in, but check its rating first like any other PG-13 film.

How long does it take to watch every Star Wars movie?

The 13 films add up to about 29 hours, based on Wikidata runtimes [4]. The longest is The Last Jedi at 152 minutes; the shortest is the animated The Clone Wars at 98.

FilmYearDirectorRuntime (min)
A New Hope1977George Lucas121
The Empire Strikes Back1980Irvin Kershner122
Return of the Jedi1983Richard Marquand130
The Phantom Menace1999George Lucas133
Attack of the Clones2002George Lucas142
Revenge of the Sith2005George Lucas140
The Clone Wars2008Dave Filoni98
The Force Awakens2015J. J. Abrams138
Rogue One2016Gareth Edwards133
The Last Jedi2017Rian Johnson152
Solo2018Ron Howard135
The Rise of Skywalker2019J. J. Abrams142
The Mandalorian and Grogu2026Jon Favreau132

A trilogy a weekend is a comfortable pace: five weekends covers the saga and the four side stories.

What is the next Star Wars movie?

The next film is Star Wars: Starfighter, which StarWars.com lists for release on May 28, 2027 [3]. We will add it to both lists once it is out.

If you finish Star Wars and want another long saga, our Marvel watch order covers 38 films, and the Harry Potter watch order is a shorter, self-contained series of eleven. For more science fiction, the Alien watch order and our list of the best sci-fi movies are good next stops.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Star Wars movies are there?

There are 13 theatrical films as of November 2026: the nine Skywalker saga episodes, Rogue One, Solo, the animated The Clone Wars (2008), and The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026).

What is the first Star Wars movie in chronological order?

The Phantom Menace (Episode I, 1999) is first in the story. The first film released was A New Hope in 1977.

Where does The Mandalorian and Grogu fit in the timeline?

After Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens, according to StarWars.com's official viewing guide. The film's official page describes a galaxy where the Empire has fallen and Imperial warlords remain scattered.

Do I need to watch The Mandalorian series before the movie?

It helps. The Mandalorian and Grogu continues the characters from the Disney+ series, so seeing at least some of the show first gives you useful background.

Our Take

We think everyone new to Star Wars should start with A New Hope and watch in release order, because the original trilogy was made to be discovered in that sequence. Chronological order is a rewarding second pass. If you follow the Disney+ shows, we would watch The Mandalorian and Grogu after The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew, where Lucasfilm's guide places it, rather than last in release order. And if you are pressed for time, The Clone Wars film is the one we would skip first; it works mainly as a lead-in to the animated show. This is our editorial opinion.

Sources

  1. Star Wars Movies and Series Viewing Guide. StarWars.com (Lucasfilm).
  2. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu. StarWars.com (Lucasfilm).
  3. Star Wars: Starfighter. StarWars.com (Lucasfilm).
  4. Wikidata film records (release dates, runtimes, directors). Wikimedia Foundation.

Release dates, runtimes and ratings come from Wikidata and official sources and can differ by country or edition. We do not track which service is streaming a film right now, because that changes often.Spotted an error? Tell us.