Summary
- Star Wars has expanded into multiple trilogies and shows, showcasing a unique universe created by George Lucas.
- Watching the series in chronological order provides a deeper understanding of the characters and events in the galaxy far, far away.
- The Star Wars saga continues to evolve with new series like The Bad Batch, Andor, and Ahsoka, exploring different aspects of the universe.
Since 1977, Star Wars has changed the landscape of how we view science-fiction films. Watching people fight with lightsabers and interact with a variety of aliens takes us to an unbelievable galaxy we could’ve never imagined. George Lucas created his universe from a unique perspective, that includes three distinct trilogies and numerous shows that further explore the time in between them.
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There’s a long-running debate as to how fans should watch Star Wars. Is it by release date or in chronological order? Some fans might think watching everything in chronological order is blasphemy, but don’t let that get to you. Watching Star Wars in this manner helps viewers fully understand what’s happening and learn about the many different characters in this glorified soap opera. So, without further ado, here’s the correct chronological order to watch all the Star Wars movies and shows from beginning to end.
Updated on March 25, 2025, by Bobby Mills: The Star Wars mythos is ever-expanding, with what feels like a thousand shows and movies in various stages of development at any one time. Since our last update of this article, we’ve had Skeleton Crew, the Acolyte, and another season of Andor right around the corner. What better time to dive into this galaxy far, far away?
Young Jedi Adventures
A Peaceful Journey
Long before the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader, the galaxy experienced a period of peace during the High Republic era. The Jedi Knights were at the height of their power in defending the galaxy and keeping peace throughout the stars.
Young Jedi Adventures is an animated series set in 232 BBY and about 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. Just as the name states, the series follows a group of Jedi younglings learning the ways of the Force from Master Yoda.
The Acolyte
Who’s Behind The Mask?
The Acolyte is yet another prequel to the original trilogy. Set sometime in 132 BBY, roughly a century before The Phantom Menace, the series follows the story of two twins who have a unique connection to the Force.
Described as a mystery thriller by the show’s creators, The Acolyte is a more somber take on Star Wars than usual, and a rare opportunity of diving deeper into the fascinating era of the High Republic, the golden age of the Jedi. A coven of witches is explored, as are the backstories of Darth Plagueis and the Jedi Order as we know it by the time of the prequels.
The Phantom Menace
The First Of The Prequels
Following the overwhelming cultural success of the Star Wars trilogy, George Lucas planned to develop another trilogy that would fill in the history related to episodes four through six. This trilogy turned into the prequels and focused on Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi before he became Darth Vader. The Phantom Menace showed the galaxy peacefully and under the Jedi’s protection and guidance.
However, evil is stirring and civil war is imminent. While the Separatists forge ahead toward war, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn, find a boy in the desert world of Tatooine who has the potential to be the most potent Force user ever. The Phantom Menace also introduces one of the most iconic Star Wars villains in Darth Maul.
Attack Of The Clones
Anakin’s Story Continues
Set ten years after the events of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones marks the beginning of the end for peace in the galaxy. The Separatists have fully engaged in war with the Galactic Republic and the Jedi have gone from being wise sages to fearsome warriors. Now 19 years old, Anakin Skywalker has learned quite a bit about the Force from Obi-Wan Kenobi, but he’s still a Padawan.
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While Obi-Wan is sent to investigate rumors of a Clone army, Anakin is tasked with protecting Senator Padmé Amidala on her home world of Naboo. Anakin and Padme start to develop romantic feelings for one another that will prove fatal in the future.
The Clone Wars (Film)
Animated Goodness
The Clone Wars movie was released in 2008 and served as a gap-filler during the three years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The film was also the jumping-off point for The Clone Wars animated series. Now deep into the galactic war, the Republic and the Confederacy are struggling to gain control of premier space trade routes that are controlled by Jabba the Hutt.
The animated film features Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka, Count Dooku, and many others. This was also the beginning of Ahsoka’s tutelage under Anakin as his Padawan.
The Clone Wars (Series)
The Clone Wars Get Cloned
Following the success of The Clone Wars animated film, George Lucas created an animated series of the same name. The series continued to flesh out the intense war between the Confederacy and the Galactic Republic, as well as the dynamic between Ahsoka and Anakin. Even though Anakin isn’t a Jedi Master yet, he takes Ahsoka under his wing as his Padawan learner.
The series had a total of seven seasons and ended with Palpatine executing Order 66 to exterminate the Jedi. The final arc of the season occurs during the same time as Revenge of the Sith, so many references from the film would appear in the final episodes. It’s heartwrenching watching the clones you’ve come to love, like Rex and Cody, being mindwiped into killing machines!
Revenge Of The Sith
Darth Vader Is Born
The final film of the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith concludes the tale of Anakin Skywalker’s descent into the dark side. We see Anakin slowly become more and more brainwashed by Palpatine. The Senator influences the Jedi Knight through his relationship with Padme and takes advantage of Anakin’s dark dreams of Padme and his mother dying.
While Anakin continues to spiral toward the dark side, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Clone armies are nearing victory against the Separatists. However, everything is going according to plan for the villainous Darth Sidious. The dark lord activates a hidden command for the clones to attack the Jedi, wiping out the majority of them in an instant. The film concludes with an epic battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan that ends with the birth of Darth Vader.
The Bad Batch
A Different Look
One of the most recent Star Wars shows, The Bad Batch follows a team of elite clone troopers called Clone Force 99 as they tackle various missions following the Clone Wars. The members of Clone Force 99 all had unique special abilities or mutations that were formed genetically during The Clone Wars series, and all slot nicely into a cartoon archetype. The villainous Crosshair is a crack-shot, Tech’s the brains of the operation, Wrecker’s the muscle, Omega is… the girl. You get the drift.
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The Bad Batch returned in 2023 with a second season that takes place several months after the events on Kamino, and then again for a third and final season that ends with us seeing a grown-up Omega. The Disney+ series continues the focus on all kinds of friends and foes throughout the burgeoning Empire.
Solo
Han Goes On A Solo Mission
The original trilogy introduced one of the most famous characters in pop culture history, Han Solo. When we first met him, he was already a well-known smuggler up to his blaster pistol in debt. Solo is the origin story of Han learning the ropes of being an outlaw, finding his place in the galaxy, and how he received his nickname.
The film sheds light on how Han teams up with Chewbacca after we got an early glimpse of the Wookiee in Revenge of the Sith, and how Han meets fellow space pirate Lando Calrissian. Spoilers: it has something to do with him ripping Lando off. But you could have guessed that!
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ewan McGregor’s Epic Return
This Disney+ series continued to focus on the time period between the prequels and the original trilogy and follows Obi-Wan Kenobi. After failing to stop Anakin on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan tasks himself with watching over his son Luke on the desert world of Tatooine.
Set ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan is haunted by his fallen Padawan in his dreams, while also being hunted by the newly formed Empire. However, Obi-Wan must rescue a child Princess Leia from the Empire and survive another confrontation with Darth Vader. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen slip seamlessly back into their prequel roles here.
Rebels
An Excellent Animated Show, Despite Appearances
Taking place over a decade after Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Rebels continues to fill in the gaps before the original trilogy. This animated show focuses on the Galactic Empire searching for Jedi and trying to snuff out the growing rebellion.
The series follows a group of rebels attacking Imperial forces around planets that are infiltrated by the Empire. All have become fan favourites in their own right: Hera, Ezra, Kanan, Sabine, Zeb, and the sociopathic droid Chopper. We also see a few familiar faces throughout the series, like Darth Vader, Bail Organa, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Princess Leia.
Andor
A Unique Look Into A Familiar Universe
What truly sparks a revolution? Well, that question is answered in the Disney+ series, Andor. Following the titular character, Andor is a prequel series set five years before the film Rogue One. Diego Luna returns to play Cassian Andor, a thief who goes from only caring about himself to wanting to save every person in the galaxy.
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The Empire has started imposing its will, stripping innocents of their freedoms and enforcing a police state. Andor is arguably the most adult Star Wars series to date, as we see people murdered in cold blood; and imprisoned for no reason in a truly chilling arc. It’s a thrilling adventure that explores the dark beginnings of the Empire.
Rogue One
That Vader Corridor Scene Clears
In A New Hope, Princess Leia sends the Death Star plans to Obi-Wan and requests his aid. But how does she get the plans herself? Rogue One has the answer for everyone that has ever posed that particular nitpick. The film is set just a week before A New Hope and follows the ragtag group of rebels who somehow manage to steal the Death Star plans from the Empire.
With rumors of a superweapon that could destroy entire planets, the rebellion certainly needed to find a weakness for it, but Darth Vader isn’t going to give them up without conflict. The ending of Rogue One leads immediately into the beginning of A New Hope; so much so, in fact, that fans have edited the two together, and it really works!
A New Hope
Where It All Began
The original Star Wars movie, later renamed A New Hope so it would fit into the chronology, tells the beginning of Luke Skywalker joining the rebellion to take down the evil Empire. Luke discovers a message from Leia in an R2 unit he bought, and seeks the advice of Old Ben Kenobi, who turns out to be the Jedi warrior Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Luke learns more about his real parentage from Obi-Wan, which further pushes him toward the rebel cause. Just as the name of the film outlines, A New Hope is about finding the light in a sea of darkness to bring peace back to the galaxy.
The Empire Strikes Back
The Best Of The Best
Arguably the greatest Star Wars film ever, The Empire Strikes Back picks up after the rebels’ key victory over the Empire in the last movie. Now hunkered down on the ice planet of Hoth, the rebels strategize their next move. However, the Empire goes on the offensive and deals a heavy blow to the rebellion.
With the rebels scrambling, Luke Skywalker jets off to the swamp planet Dagobah to continue his Jedi training with the exiled Master Yoda. Unfortunately, Darth Vader kidnaps Han Solo and Leia, so Luke must cut his training short to face him and learn a shocking truth.
Return Of The Jedi
The First Trilogy Ends
Capping off the original trilogy is Return of the Jedi. After failing to save Han Solo and Leia from Darth Vader, Luke traces his captive friends back to Tatooine. The crime lord Jabba the Hutt has taken the pair into his possession, but soon faces the swift retribution of a Jedi Knight.
In the meantime, the Empire has quickly rebuilt a functioning Death Star that will once again threaten the safety of the entire galaxy. The rebellion takes the fight to the forest moon of Endor to destroy key generators that power the battle station. Return of the Jedi signals the end of the Empire and the beginnings of a newfound peace in the stars.
The Mandalorian
Grogu Takes The World By Storm
Taking place five years after Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian was the first live-action Star Wars series developed by Disney. Unlike previous content in a galaxy far, far away that focuses on the Skywalker lineage, we get reintroduced to the fearsome warriors from the world of Mandalore.
The show follows Din Djarin, a lone bounty hunter who’s hired by still-existing Imperial factions to find a mysterious child, Grogu. Instead, Din chooses to protect the child and tries to escape the Imperial forces. The Mandalorian shows that even though Darth Vader and the Emperor have been vanquished, evil still lingers in the galaxy and will spread if left unchecked.
The Book of Boba Fett
Like A Bantha!
Many speculated whether we’d seen the last of the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett. But somehow, Fett emerged from the Sarlacc Pit where he was presumed digested, and teams up with bounty hunter Fennec Shand to reclaim the territory that Jabba the Hutt once controlled.
The Book of Boba Fett explores how the bounty hunter survived in the deserts of Tatooine and how his story is connected to Din Djarin and the warriors of Mandalore. The series contains flashbacks from Fett’s days after escaping the pit from Return of the Jedi, and occurs concurrently with The Mandalorian.
Skeleton Crew
The Day You Almost Caught Captain Jod Silvo
Skeleton Crew is a more whimsical, adventurous tale that slots itself neatly into the time period just before Ahsoka and its galaxy-shattering ramifications. It follows a group of schoolchildren on an isolated Republic planet, At Attin, who stumble upon a buried pirate vessel that autopilots them into far unknown reaches.
Skeleton Crew is very Goonies-esque, with lashings of Treasure Island (or indeed, Treasure Planet), and its charms are tough to resist. Jude Law is captivating as the rogueish Captain Jod Silvo, whose allegiances are never made too clear; but the true stars are the child actors, who all have amazing arcs to follow. We also can’t get enough of SM-33. Aye!
Ahsoka
The Animated Hero Comes To Life
After finally making her live-action debut in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka Tano stars in her own show that coincides with The Mandalorian’s third season. Ahsoka is famously known to be Anakin Skywalker’s former padawan during the Clone Wars, and indeed watchers of that show will be intimately familiar with her.
Now in a galaxy post-Empire, Ahsoka is investigating a new potential threat. The series also features the Inquisitors, a group of dark-side Force users who worked with the Empire. Top marks to Baylan Skoll, a supremely well-acted villain, and to the reappearance of Hera, Ezra, Sabine, and Chopper from Rebels, all of whom play major roles.