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There's a long-running debate about how to watch Star Wars, but it really comes down to one question: have you seen them before? First-timers should go in release order to protect the saga's biggest twist. Returning fans can enjoy the story from its chronological beginning.
First watch: release order, starting with the 1977 original. Rewatch: chronological order, starting with The Phantom Menace.
Star Wars in release order
Episode IV — A New Hope1977The one that started it all: a farm boy, a princess and a Death Star.
Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back1980Darker, deeper, and home to the saga's most famous twist.
Episode VI — Return of the Jedi1983The original trilogy's triumphant close.
Episode I — The Phantom Menace1999The prequels begin, decades before the original films.
Episode II — Attack of the Clones2002Romance, a bounty hunter, and the start of the Clone Wars.
Episode III — Revenge of the Sith2005Anakin's tragic fall to the dark side.
Episode VII — The Force Awakens2015A new generation picks up the fight against the First Order.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2016The gritty heist that leads straight into A New Hope.
Episode VIII — The Last Jedi2017A bold, divisive middle chapter for the sequel trilogy.
Solo: A Star Wars Story2018A young Han Solo's origin adventure.
Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker2019The Skywalker saga's grand finale.
There's also an animated film, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), which kicks off the TV series of the same name — optional, and best saved for fans of the era.
Star Wars in chronological (timeline) order
To follow the story as it happens in-universe, watch in this order:
- Episode I — The Phantom Menace 1999
- Episode II — Attack of the Clones 2002
- Episode III — Revenge of the Sith 2005
- Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 2016
- Episode IV — A New Hope 1977
- Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back 1980
- Episode VI — Return of the Jedi 1983
- Episode VII — The Force Awakens 2015
- Episode VIII — The Last Jedi 2017
- Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker 2019
Track your Star Wars run in Cinopsys
Make a Star Wars list in Cinopsys, tick off each film, and see your progress through the saga — plus ratings and total watch time. It's free, with no ads.
May the Force be with you
However you watch, let Cinopsys keep track.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Star Wars in?
For a first watch, release order (starting with the 1977 original, A New Hope) keeps the big twists intact. If you've seen them before, chronological order — beginning with The Phantom Menace — follows the story's timeline.
How many Star Wars movies are there?
There are nine films in the main Skywalker saga (Episodes I–IX) plus two standalone "Story" films, Rogue One and Solo — eleven live-action movies in total.
Do I need to watch Rogue One and Solo?
They're optional standalones. Rogue One leads directly into A New Hope and is widely loved; Solo is a prequel adventure for Han Solo. In timeline order both sit just before the original trilogy.