Watch-order guide
How to watch Star Wars in order
Release order preserves the saga's biggest reveal and is the classic first watch. Chronological order tells the story from Episode I — and there's the famous 'machete order' (IV, V, II, III, VI) if you want the reveal AND the backstory.
- Films
- 13
- Full marathon
- 28h 43m
- Years
- 1977–2026
- Genre
- Action
Release order (best first watch)
- Star Wars (1977)Episode IV — A New Hope
2h 1m - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)2h 4m
- Return of the Jedi (1983)2h 12m
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)2h 16m
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)2h 22m
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)2h 20m
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)Animated theatrical film — skippable1h 38m
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
2h 16m - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)Ends minutes before A New Hope2h 13m
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)2h 32m
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)2h 15m
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)2h 22m
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens2h 12m
Chronological order (story timeline)
Chronological = in-universe Episode order, with Rogue One and Solo slotted before A New Hope.
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)2h 16m
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)2h 22m
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)Animated theatrical film — skippable1h 38m
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)2h 20m
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)2h 15m
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)Ends minutes before A New Hope2h 13m
- Star Wars (1977)Episode IV — A New Hope2h 1m
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)2h 4m
- Return of the Jedi (1983)2h 12m
- The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)Set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens2h 12m
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)2h 16m
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)2h 32m
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)2h 22m
