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Watching Star Wars for the first time? Use release order, starting with A New Hope. It preserves the saga’s original introductions and major revelations. For a chronological rewatch, use story order, beginning with The Phantom Menace.
This guide covers the 13 released theatrical Star Wars feature films represented in the current official StarWars.com film catalogue as of August 9, 2026: the nine numbered Skywalker Saga films, Rogue One, Solo, the 2008 theatrical The Clone Wars film, and The Mandalorian and Grogu. TV series, specials, and non-theatrical films are listed separately so they do not accidentally get mixed into a movie marathon.
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The short answer
| Who you are | Best order | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| First-time viewer | Release order | Star Wars: A New Hope — Episode IV |
| Returning fan planning a chronological rewatch | Story order | The Phantom Menace — Episode I |
| Interested only in the central saga | The nine numbered Episodes I–IX | Release order is the safest first viewing |
| Completionist who wants every released theatrical film | All 13 films in release or chronological order | Choose the full list below |
| Want the best context for The Mandalorian and Grogu | Watch The Mandalorian series first, then the film in its New Republic-era position | The Mandalorian season 1 |
Lucasfilm’s official viewing guide presents both release and chronological approaches rather than declaring one universally correct. The recommendation here is practical: release order protects the intended experience for newcomers, while chronological order is more natural for a rewatch.
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What counts as a Star Wars movie in this guide?
“All the Star Wars movies” can mean either the nine-film Skywalker Saga or the wider set of theatrical features. Those are not the same list.
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For a clean movie-only answer, this guide includes:
- All nine numbered Episodes, from The Phantom Menace through The Rise of Skywalker.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
- Solo: A Star Wars Story.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the 2008 animated theatrical film.
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, released theatrically on May 22, 2026.
The main lists exclude television series, television movies, specials, and short-form projects. That means the following are not inserted into the 13-film order:
- The seven-season Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series.
- The Star Wars Holiday Special.
- Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.
- Star Wars: Visions, an anthology whose stories are not part of one main movie timeline.
- LEGO specials and other short-form releases.
The official franchise guide separates films, series, documentaries, animation, and specials. Keeping those categories separate prevents a full-franchise viewing guide from becoming confusing when all you want is a theatrical-film marathon.
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This is the in-universe sequence. It follows the broad timeline from Anakin Skywalker’s childhood to the sequel era. The placement of The Mandalorian and Grogu is precise at the era level but not assigned an exact BBY/ABY year by the official film page, so it belongs between the original and sequel trilogies without a more specific claim.
| No. | Film | Story placement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Wars: The Phantom Menace — Episode I | About 32 years before A New Hope; the beginning of Anakin Skywalker’s story. |
| 2 | Star Wars: Attack of the Clones — Episode II | About 22 years before A New Hope; the Clone Wars begin. |
| 3 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | The 2008 theatrical animated film, set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. It is not the later TV series. |
| 4 | Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith — Episode III | About 19 years before A New Hope; the Republic falls and the Empire rises. |
| 5 | Solo: A Star Wars Story | After the prequel-era war and before the original trilogy, roughly a decade before A New Hope. |
| 6 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Immediately before A New Hope; its story leads directly into the opening situation of Episode IV. |
| 7 | Star Wars: A New Hope — Episode IV | The usual reference point for the Star Wars timeline, often treated as 0 BBY/ABY. |
| 8 | Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — Episode V | Three years after A New Hope. |
| 9 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — Episode VI | Four years after A New Hope. |
| 10 | Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu | A New Republic-era film after Return of the Jedi and before the sequel trilogy. Its official material does not establish a more exact movie-only date. |
| 11 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens — Episode VII | About 34 years after A New Hope. |
| 12 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Episode VIII | Begins almost immediately after The Force Awakens. |
| 13 | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker — Episode IX | After The Last Jedi, roughly 35 years after A New Hope. |
One important distinction: Rogue One comes before A New Hope chronologically, although it was released much later. The film’s official premise is the Rebel mission to steal the Death Star plans, which is why it works as a direct lead-in to Episode IV. See the official Rogue One film page.
Chronological order for the nine-film Skywalker Saga
- The Phantom Menace — Episode I
- Attack of the Clones — Episode II
- Revenge of the Sith — Episode III
- A New Hope — Episode IV
- The Empire Strikes Back — Episode V
- Return of the Jedi — Episode VI
- The Force Awakens — Episode VII
- The Last Jedi — Episode VIII
- The Rise of Skywalker — Episode IX
All 13 Star Wars movies in release-date order
Release order is the sequence in which theatrical audiences first encountered the films. It jumps from the original trilogy back to the prequels, then forward to the sequel trilogy and anthology films.
| No. | Film | Original release date* |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star Wars: A New Hope — Episode IV | May 25, 1977 |
| 2 | Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — Episode V | May 21, 1980, U.S. theatrical debut |
| 3 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — Episode VI | May 25, 1983, U.S. release |
| 4 | The Phantom Menace — Episode I | May 19, 1999 |
| 5 | Attack of the Clones — Episode II | May 16, 2002 |
| 6 | Revenge of the Sith — Episode III | May 19, 2005 |
| 7 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | August 15, 2008 |
| 8 | The Force Awakens — Episode VII | December 18, 2015 |
| 9 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | December 16, 2016 |
| 10 | The Last Jedi — Episode VIII | December 13, 2017 on StarWars.com’s film listing |
| 11 | Solo: A Star Wars Story | May 23, 2018 |
| 12 | The Rise of Skywalker — Episode IX | December 18, 2019 |
| 13 | The Mandalorian and Grogu | May 22, 2026 |
*Exact theatrical dates can differ by country, premiere, and wide release. The dates above follow the supplied official listings and U.S.-qualified historical sources where noted; the ordering itself is stable by release year.
Release order for the nine-film Skywalker Saga
- A New Hope — Episode IV
- The Empire Strikes Back — Episode V
- Return of the Jedi — Episode VI
- The Phantom Menace — Episode I
- Attack of the Clones — Episode II
- Revenge of the Sith — Episode III
- The Force Awakens — Episode VII
- The Last Jedi — Episode VIII
- The Rise of Skywalker — Episode IX
Which Star Wars order is best for you?
| Viewer | Recommended order | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| First-time viewer | Release order | It preserves the way the world, characters, and major revelations were introduced to audiences. |
| Returning fan | Chronological order | Anakin’s story flows from childhood through the fall of the Jedi and into the original trilogy. |
| Newcomer who is especially spoiler-sensitive | Release order | Starting with the prequels can reveal or strongly telegraph information that the original trilogy unfolds differently. |
| Family movie night | Release order, usually beginning with the original trilogy | It is easier to explain and avoids making a first viewing feel like a history lesson. Check age ratings before starting. |
| Completionist | All 13 in release order for franchise history, or chronological order for timeline flow | Both lists include the four non-saga theatrical films. |
| The Mandalorian fan | Watch the series first, then The Mandalorian and Grogu | The film is a continuation of that character and New Republic-era setting, even though it can be placed broadly between Episodes VI and VII. |
Is The Clone Wars movie required?
It depends on what “complete” means.
- For every released theatrical film: yes. Include the 2008 animated movie between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith chronologically, or after Revenge of the Sith in release order.
- For the Skywalker Saga: no. The nine numbered Episodes tell the central saga without it.
- For a chronology-focused viewer: it is a useful bridge into the Clone Wars period, but it is not a substitute for the TV series.
The film and the seven-season animated series share the title Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which causes many watch-order lists to blur them together. The movie is a distinct theatrical release. Lucasfilm places it between Episodes II and III in its official Clone Wars chronology explanation.
If you later decide to watch the TV series, do not simply insert all seven seasons as one item into the movie list. The series has its own official episode-by-episode chronological order, and the broader Star Wars movies and series guide is the better starting point.
Where do Solo and Rogue One fit?
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo is a prequel about Han Solo’s earlier life, including his meeting with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian. Chronologically, it comes after the prequel-era conflict and before the original trilogy, so it belongs between Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One. In release order, it comes near the end of the catalogue, after The Last Jedi.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One is set immediately before A New Hope. Its central mission concerns the theft of the Death Star plans, making it the natural final film before Episode IV in a chronological marathon. In release order, however, it follows The Force Awakens and precedes The Last Jedi.
These two films are optional if you only want Episodes I–IX, but both are part of the current released theatrical-film catalogue.
Where does The Mandalorian and Grogu fit?
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is not Episode X and is not numbered as part of the Skywalker Saga. It is a New Republic-era theatrical film connected to the Disney+ series The Mandalorian.
There are three useful ways to place it:
- Release order: it is currently the last released theatrical Star Wars film, released on May 22, 2026.
- Movie-only chronological order: place it after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens.
- Best contextual order: watch The Mandalorian first, ideally alongside the relevant New Republic-era stories in the official full viewing guide.
The official film page identifies the New Republic setting, while Lucasfilm’s full viewing guide places the film in the broad timeline between the New Republic-era programs and the sequel-era material. Neither source supplies an exact BBY/ABY date for a more precise movie-only placement, so a specific year would create false precision.
What is Machete order?
Machete order is an unofficial fan-created arrangement intended to preserve the original trilogy’s major revelations while using the prequels as a flashback. The traditional five-film version is:
- A New Hope — Episode IV
- The Empire Strikes Back — Episode V
- Attack of the Clones — Episode II
- Revenge of the Sith — Episode III
- Return of the Jedi — Episode VI
It commonly omits The Phantom Menace, which is why it is not a complete Star Wars movie order. Some fans append Episodes VII–IX and the spin-offs afterward, but there is no single official expanded Machete sequence. Guides from TechRadar and Radio Times treat Machete- or Godfather-style arrangements as subjective fan alternatives rather than Lucasfilm-approved viewing orders.
For a first viewing, use release order instead. Machete order is best understood as an experiment for returning viewers who already know the films.
Where the TV shows fit without changing the movie list
You do not need to add TV episodes to a movie marathon. However, a few series provide useful context:
- The Clone Wars series: follows the 2008 film and explores the Clone Wars period between Episodes II and III. It has a separate official chronological episode order.
- The Mandalorian: provides the main character and setting context for The Mandalorian and Grogu.
- The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew: occupy the broad New Republic-era portion of the franchise and can add context before the 2026 film.
The larger Star Wars catalogue also contains series that span multiple eras. That is why copying the official full-franchise guide directly into a “movies in order” article produces a mixed list. For a combined film-and-TV marathon, use the official Star Wars movies and series viewing guide rather than treating every entry as a movie.
Where to watch the Star Wars movies
Availability checked August 9, 2026. In the United States, Disney+ is the principal home for the established Star Wars film and series catalogue according to the official viewing guide. The Mandalorian and Grogu is available for digital purchase or rental through platforms including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango. Its 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release is listed for August 25, 2026.
Streaming and digital-rights availability varies by country and can change after publication. Check the service available in your region before beginning a marathon; do not assume that the 2026 film has the same subscription availability as the older catalogue.
For current links and the most up-to-date franchise availability, start with the official StarWars.com viewing guide and the official home-release announcement for The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Practical tips before starting a marathon
- Choose your scope first: nine numbered Episodes for the core saga, or all 13 theatrical features for the complete movie catalogue.
- Do not confuse the two Clone Wars releases: the 2008 film is one movie; the animated TV series is a separate, much larger project.
- Use release order for a first family viewing: it is easier to follow than jumping between eras, although parents should check the ratings and tone of individual films.
- Save Rogue One for immediately before A New Hope in a chronological marathon: its ending is designed to lead into Episode IV.
- Do not label The Mandalorian and Grogu “Episode X”: it is a separate New Republic-era film.
- Plan breaks: the complete 13-film run is a substantial commitment, and the anthology films work well as optional sessions between the main saga entries.
Frequently asked questions
Should I watch Star Wars in chronological or release order?
Use release order for your first viewing. It preserves the original introductions and the way important revelations were presented to audiences. Use chronological order for a rewatch when following the in-universe timeline matters more than preserving those original reveals.
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Is A New Hope the same movie as the original 1977 Star Wars?
Yes. The 1977 film was originally released as Star Wars. It was later identified as Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. That is why release order starts with Episode IV rather than Episode I.
Does Rogue One come before A New Hope?
Yes, chronologically. Rogue One is set immediately before A New Hope and concerns the mission to obtain the Death Star plans. In release order, it appears much later, after The Force Awakens.
Where does Solo fit?
Solo: A Star Wars Story takes place before the original trilogy, after the prequel-era war. In the complete chronological list, watch it after Revenge of the Sith and before Rogue One.
Is The Mandalorian and Grogu part of the Skywalker Saga?
No. It is not a numbered Episode. It is a New Republic-era theatrical film connected to The Mandalorian series. In a movie-only chronological list, place it between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
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The film can be placed in the movie list without the series, but watching The Mandalorian first should provide better character and setting context. The broader New Republic-era shows are optional rather than requirements for watching the nine-film saga.
Are the Ewok movies included in the 13-film list?
No. Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor were television movies, not part of this theatrical-feature list. The same applies to The Star Wars Holiday Special.
Is Star Wars: Visions part of the main movie timeline?
No. Star Wars: Visions is an animated anthology with stories created in different styles and continuities. It is not inserted into the chronological order of the current theatrical films.
Is The Clone Wars movie the same as The Clone Wars TV show?
No. The 2008 animated theatrical film is one of the 13 films covered here. The later seven-season animated series is a separate release with its own episode chronology. Watch the film between Episodes II and III if you want every theatrical feature.
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Availability depends on your country and the date you check. In the U.S., Disney+ is the principal home for the established catalogue, while The Mandalorian and Grogu has digital availability through services including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango as of August 9, 2026. Check the official StarWars.com viewing guide and local listings before watching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I watch Star Wars in chronological or release order?
Use release order for a first viewing because it preserves the original introductions and major revelations. Use chronological order for a rewatch when following the in-universe timeline is more important.
Is The Clone Wars movie required?
It is required only if you want every released theatrical Star Wars film. It is optional for the nine-film Skywalker Saga and belongs between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in chronological order.
Where does The Mandalorian and Grogu fit?
It is the last currently released film in release order. Chronologically, place it in the New Republic era after Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens. It is not Episode X.
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Does Rogue One come before A New Hope?
Yes, in story chronology. Rogue One leads directly into A New Hope, although it was released much later.
Do I need to watch The Mandalorian before The Mandalorian and Grogu?
It is not necessary to understand the movie-only order, but the series provides useful character and setting context for the film.
The Bottom Line
For most first-time viewers, start with release order: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, Episodes I–III, then Episodes VII–IX and the spin-offs in their release positions. For a chronological rewatch, begin with The Phantom Menace and place Rogue One immediately before A New Hope. If you want every released theatrical feature, use the complete 13-film lists above.
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