Star Wars stands out as a beloved sci-fi franchise with a massive global fan base. However, navigating through its eleven movies and numerous TV shows within the canon can be quite puzzling when deciding on the optimal order to watch the Star Wars films. Unfortunately, there's no straightforward answer to this conundrum.
When contemplating the best viewing order for Star Wars, there are essentially two distinct schools of thought. Some advocate for following the release sequence of the movies, while others argue in favor of watching them chronologically for a more cohesive narrative. As we delve deeper, we'll uncover the advantages and drawbacks of both approaches.
Updated May 4, 2024, by Tom Bowen: Celebrating Star Wars Day today, it's an opportune moment to reassess the optimal order for watching Star Wars. While many may lean towards experiencing the Star Wars timeline in either chronological or release date order, there exists a third alternative for those seeking to avoid the drawbacks of the conventional methods. The Machete order aims to offer viewers the best of both worlds while bypassing some of the franchise's less engaging or peculiar plot elements. The continual influx of new Star Wars series on Disney Plus has added another layer for prospective viewers to consider, though integrating the live-action shows into the Star Wars timeline is fortunately quite straightforward.
Star Wars Movies in Release Date 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: 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: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
While opting to watch the Star Wars movies in chronological order may seem appealing, it does come with certain drawbacks compared to the original release order. The primary advantage of adhering to the release date order is that one of the series' most significant and surprising revelations remains unspoiled. However, that's not the only benefit of following this order.
Many argue that the Star Wars prequel trilogy pales in comparison to the original three films and the newer Disney-era additions. Hence, commencing with the original trilogy can provide viewers with the motivation to endure the franchise's initial three episodes. Furthermore, following the release order results in a progressive enhancement in special effects, although the practical effects in the original movies are arguably superior to the CGI in the subsequent releases.
Star Wars Movies in Chronological Order
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (13-10 BBY)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (0 BBY)
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (0 BBY/ABY)
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (4 ABY)
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (34 ABY)
- Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (34 ABY)
- Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (35 ABY)
Watching all Star Wars movies in chronological order results in a more coherent narrative, albeit with a few significant spoilers along the way. Given the widespread knowledge of The Empire Strikes Back's iconic plot twist due to its frequent references in popular culture, this might not be a major concern for some viewers. Therefore, the decision between release and chronological order may hinge on whether potential viewers are already aware of Luke's lineage beforehand.
Concerning other drawbacks, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is often regarded as the weakest of the 11 Star Wars films, making it a less-than-ideal introduction to the series. Nevertheless, the movie does have its redeeming moments, and viewers can be assured that the quality ascends from thereon. There's also an argument that approaching the movie with minimal expectations might mitigate disappointment compared to watching it after enduring the original trilogy, although this perception varies among viewers.
Machete Order
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Introduced by blogger and movie enthusiast Rod Hilton in 2011, Machete Order addresses various issues associated with watching the primary Star Wars movies in the traditional orders. Notably, it aims to safeguard the significant twist in The Empire Strikes Back while introducing Anakin before his force ghost appearance in the revised cuts of Return of the Jedi.
Interestingly, Machete Order completely excludes Episode 1, arguing its insignificance in the overall saga. Hilton even goes as far as labeling it a distraction, highlighting that many characters introduced in the film meet unfortunate fates or are marginalized before the movie concludes. Moreover, Episode 1 is the sole Star Wars film to reference Midichlorians, and skipping it effectively eliminates this highly controversial concept.
Incorporating Disney+ Live-Action Star Wars Series into the Timeline
Aligning the Disney+ Star Wars shows in the timeline according to release dates is fairly straightforward, with The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and Ahsoka premiering in 2019, 2021, 2022 (both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor), and 2023 respectively.
However, chronologically, the placement is more intricate. Obi-Wan Kenobi occurs after Solo: A Star Wars Story and the prequel trilogy, while The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka fit between episodes six and seven. On the other hand, Andor unfolds post Obi-Wan Kenobi but before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do BBY and ABY signify in Star Wars?
BBY and ABY denote