How to Watch Every “Star Wars” Movie and Series in Chronological Order

From the film that started it all to the latest Disney+ original series, here’s where every major 'Star Wars' show and movie falls in the franchise timeline

The world was first introduced to "The Force" when George Lucas' original Star Wars film premiered in 1977.

Ever since, the Star Wars universe has only continued to grow with new movies, series, novels, comics, video games and more. In fact, more than 20 films and series have been released in the past 45 years. And it won't stop there — in 2023, Disney announced a new lineup of movies set to premiere in 2026.

However, with over a dozen series and movies — not including noncanonical specials and the LEGO series — the timeline of the Star Wars universe does not follow its release schedule. From the nine main films, the anthology movies and the major TV series, here’s how to watch every major Star Wars project by release date and chronological order.

How to Watch Star Wars in Release Order

• Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977)

• Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

• Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)

• Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999)

• Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002)

• Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005)

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020)

• Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018)

• Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015)

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

• Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017)
  

• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

• Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020)

• The Mandalorian (2019–2023)

• Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

• The Book of Boba Fett (2021)

• Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024)

• Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
  

• Andor (2022–Present)

• Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)

• Ahsoka (2023)
  

How to Watch Star Wars in Chronological Order

Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)

Launched as a Disney+ original, Tales of the Jedi is an animated anthology series mostly set during the prequel trilogy era. The series has two main timelines: one following Ahsoka Tano and the other following Count Dooku before he turns to the dark side. Because Tales of the Jedi involves a young Count Dooku, the series begins before Phantom Menace.

To watch the Tales of the Jedi episodes chronologically, watch the first three episodes before Phantom Menace. After Phantom Menace, watch Tales’ “The Sith Lord,” then watch Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars. Complete the series with the episode “Practice Makes Perfect,” the film Revenge of the Sith and the episode “Resolve.”

Watch Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999)

Ultimately grossing more than $1 billion at the box office, The Phantom Menace was a polarizing entry in the Star Wars saga. Centered on a young Anakin Skywalker, Episode I sets the stage for the events that would lead him to the dark side. The film received mixed reviews upon release; some criticized characters like Jar Jar Binks and the film’s wildly different aesthetic.

Watch Star Wars: Episode I —The Phantom Menace on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002)

Taking place a decade after Episode I, Episode II follows Anakin (Hayden Christensen) as a young man. He falls in love with former Naboo queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) just as the Clone Wars begin between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists.

Watch Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones on Disney+

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

The Star Wars franchise received a big-budget animated film in 2008 with The Clone Wars. The movie takes place shortly after Episode II during the early years of the Clone Wars. In the film, Count Dooku tries to turn Jabba the Hutt against the Galactic Republic by claiming the Jedi have kidnapped his son. Despite negative reviews and earning only $35 million at the U.S. box office, the film inspired a well-received sequel series.

Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020)

Created as a sequel series to the 2008 film, the show chronicles the Clone Wars across the galaxy. Running for seven seasons, the series originally aired on Cartoon Network, then on Netflix and finally concluded as a Disney+ exclusive. Season 7 takes place concurrent with Revenge of the Sith.

Watch Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Serving as the finale to the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith sees Anakin fully embrace the dark side. After a vicious battle, Anakin is left severely injured; Palpatine has Anakin healed and armored in the now-iconic Darth Vader suit. Padmé gives birth to her twins, Luke and Leia. Obi-Wan delivers baby Luke to the Lars family on Tatooine, while Senator Organa takes baby Leia to Alderaan.

Watch Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith on Disney+

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024)

The Bad Batch is an animated series centered on a group of clone troopers unaffected by Emperor Palpatine’s Order 66, which turned most troopers into his mindless killing machines. Now, the group are considered traitors by the newly formed Galactic Empire and take on mercenary missions. The third and final season premiered in 2024.

Watch Star Wars: The Bad Batch on Disney+

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Directed by Ron Howard, Solo takes place roughly a decade before Episode IV. The film follows a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) as he meets Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) and comes to own the Millennium Falcon.

Watch Solo: A Star Wars Story on Disney+

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

Set roughly one year after Solo, the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi follows Obi-Wan as he rescues a young Leia after she is kidnapped by the Empire. The series received tons of publicity for bringing back major prequel trilogy stars — including Ewan McGregor reprising his role as Obi-Wan, Christensen as Darth Vader and Jimmy Smits as Senator Organa.

Watch Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+

Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018)

The animated series Star Wars Rebels originally premiered on Disney XD and ran for four seasons. With the Galactic Empire now fully flexing its control, a small group begins a rebellion, eventually coalescing into a formidable threat to the Empire. Rebels is a must-watch to understand how the Rebel Alliance began.

Watch Star Wars Rebels on Disney+

Andor (2022–Present)

In Andor, the fledgling Rebel Alliance spans the galaxy with contacts and networks on multiple planets — though the operation is still largely aligning in secret. The series follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) from petty thief to Rebellion leader, all leading up to his heroic actions in Rogue One. Andor was met with acclaim from critics and audiences, and production on season 2 was on hold in 2023 due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Watch Andor on Disney+

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Picking up immediately after Andor, Rogue One takes place just days before the events of Episode IV. The film follows a group of rebels as they steal the Death Star schematics from the Empire, culminating in the major battle mentioned in the opening crawl of Episode IV. The movie stars Felicity Jones, Luna and Forest Whitaker, among others.

Watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope (1977)

Originally titled Star Wars, the film was retroactively titled Episode IV — A New Hope in 1981. In the first film of the original trilogy, Darth Vader tracks down Princess Leia, who is working with the Rebellion and has the Death Star schematics — the ones that rebels stole in Rogue One. Before he can capture her, she gives the blueprints to R2-D2 and aids his escape. Luke Skywalker, unaware of his connection to the Force, meets R2, C-3PO and Obi-Wan, and the group join the Rebel cause.

Watch Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Three years after A New Hope, the Empire seeks vengeance against the Rebels for destroying the Death Star. The Empire Strikes Back contains some of the most iconic moments in the entire Star Wars franchise: the Battle of Hoth, Han Solo frozen in carbonite and the “I am your father” plot twist.

Watch Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)

In Return of the Jedi, the Empire is building a second, even larger Death Star and has lured in the Rebels, who aim to destroy the space station and Palpatine. But many remember the film for the Battle of Endor, where Han and Leia fight alongside a tribe of Ewoks. Fans have also pointed out a now-infamous fight scene featuring Mark Hamill.

Watch Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi on Disney+

The Mandalorian (2019–2023)

The Mandalorian’s place in the franchise timeline was not made immediately clear — many theorized that Grogu was “Baby Yoda” and that the series was the Jedi’s origin story. But in the season 2 finale, the arrival of Luke Skywalker — now a Jedi Knight — proved that the series takes place in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The Pedro Pascal-led show proved to be a hit, premiering as one of Disney+’s first original series.

Watch The Mandalorian on Disney+

The Book of Boba Fett (2021)

The Book of Boba Fett is a Mandalorian spinoff, focusing on the bounty hunter Boba Fett and his life after his presumed death in Return of the Jedi. Boba Fett takes place during the same era as The Mandalorian, and some episodes even feature crossover appearances from Mando (Pascal), Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson), Peli Motto (Amy Sedaris) and the Armorer (Emily Swallow).

Watch The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+

Ahsoka (2023)

The latest Star Wars series centers on Jedi Ahsoka Tano, with Dawson starring in the first female-led Star Wars TV series. Ahsoka provides a glimpse at the early formation of the First Order. Actor Natasha Liu Bordizzo confirmed to SFX magazine that the series is set around the same time as The Mandalorian season 3, meaning it takes place about 15 to 20 years before The Force Awakens.

Watch Ahsoka on Disney+

Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020)

The Disney XD series begins in the months leading up to The Force Awakens and follows a Resistance spy surveilling the First Order, a growing threat to the galaxy. Season 2 jumps ahead and takes place concurrently with the events of Episode VIII and IX. To truly watch in order, watch season 1 before Episode VII; then, watch season 2 after Episode VIII.

Watch Star Wars Resistance on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens (2015)

In 2015, a decade after the prequel trilogy ended, the Star Wars phenomenon returned with The Force Awakens. All three original stars — Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher — reprised their roles. The story picks up 30 years after the Battle of Endor and after the Empire gave birth to the First Order. The Rebel Alliance has become the Resistance, protecting the recently formed New Republic. Without adjusting for inflation, it’s currently the highest-grossing movie in the franchise, with box office earnings of more than $2 billion worldwide.

Watch Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (2017)

Premiering one year after Fisher’s death, The Last Jedi was considered by many as a proper send-off to the late star. In the film, Leia leads the dwindling Resistance forces to safety, while Rey (Daisy Ridley) searches for Luke Skywalker to help train her.

Watch Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi on Disney+

Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Serving as the conclusion to both the sequel trilogy and the “Skywalker Saga” (Episode I to Episode IX), The Rise of Skywalker was a polarizing film among fans. The movie features Emperor Palpatine’s return, while Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) questions the authority of the First Order.

Watch Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker on Disney+

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.