Quick Links
Summary
Star Warsis one ofthe best and most popular sci-fi franchisesever created with millions of fans all over the world. However, with eleven movies and numerous television shows all part of the series' canon, it can be difficult to figure out the best order to watch theStar Warsmovies. Unfortunately, there isn’t really a simple answer in that regard.
When it comes to the best order to watchStar Wars, there are generally two very different lines of thought. Some think that it’s better to watch the movies in the order in which they were released, while others believe that watching in chronological order provides a more coherent narrative. As those who read on will soon learn, both orders have their pros and cons.
Updated August 03, 2025, by Tom Bowen:With today being Star Wars day, now seems like a great time to take another look atthe best order to watch Star Wars. While most people will probably argue that the best way to experience the Star Wars timeline is either in chronological or release date order, there is actually a third option for those seeking to save themselves from the many cons that each of the aforementioned orders brings with them. Machete order aims to provide viewers with the best of both galaxies while also skipping over some of the series' duller or more bizarre plot points. The steady flow of new Star Wars series on Disney Plus has also given potential viewers something else to think about, though figuring out where the live action shows fit into the Star Wars timeline is thankfully quite simple.
Every Star Wars Movie in Order of Release Date
Though it may seem like a good idea to watch theStar Warsmovies in chronological order rather than in the order in which they were originally released, there are a few downsides to doing it this way. By far the biggest benefit of watching everyStar Warsmovie in release date order is that one ofthe series' biggest and most shocking revealswill remain unspoiled. However, that’s not the only advantage to watching in release date order.
Many feel thattheStar Warsprequel trilogyis significantly weaker than the original three movies and the Disney-era installments. As such, watching the original trilogy first can give viewers a reason to endure the franchise’s first three episodes. Likewise, watching the movies in release date order will lead to a constant improvement in special effects, though the practical effects in the original movies are arguably far superior to the CGI in those that followed.
Every Star Wars Movie in Chronological Order
For those unaware, BBY and ABY stand for “Before the Battle of Yavin” and “After the Battle of Yavin”. This system is used as it placesA New Hopeat the center of theStar Warstimeline, making it easy to distinguish between sequels and prequels.
Watching everyStar Warsmovie in chronological order will lead to a much more coherent story overall, though will result in one or two big spoilers here and there. Given that a lot of people already know aboutThe Empire Strikes Back’sbig movie plot twistdue to it constantly being referenced in pop culture though, this might not necessarily be such a big issue for some. As such, whether to watch in release or chronological order may well come down to whether or not potential viewers already know about Luke’s parentage beforehand.
In terms of other downsides,Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceis widely considered to bethe worst of the 11Star Warsmovies, so starting there may not provide the best first impression of the series. However, the movie does still have its moments and viewers can rest assured that it’s all uphill from there. Well, mostly, anyway. There’s also an argument to be made that going into the movie with no expectations will make it a lot less disappointing than watching it after sitting through the original trilogy, though this may vary from viewer to viewer.
Machete Order
Machete Order was created by blogger and self-confessed movie geek Rod Hilton in 2011 and seeks to address some of the many issues with watching the mainStar Warsmovies in either of the aforementioned orders. Most notably, it aims to preserve the big twist inThe Empire Strikes Backwhile still introducing Anakin before the appearance of his force ghost at the end of the newer cuts ofReturn of the Jedi.
Interestingly,Machete order completely omitsEpisode 1, with Hilton arguing that it’s largely irrelevant in the context of the overall saga. In fact, he even goes as far as to call it a distraction, pointing out that many of the characters introduced in the movie are killed off or forced into the background before the movie comes to an end.Episode 1is also the onlyStar Warsmovie to mention Midichlorians, so skipping over it effectively serves to retcon this incredibly divisive concept.
Where Do the Live-Action Disney+ Star Wars Series Fit into the Star Wars Timeline?
When it comes to release date order, knowing wherethe Disney+Star Warsshowsfit into the overall timeline is pretty easy, withThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett,Obi-Wan Kenobi,Andor, andAhsokahaving debuted in 2019, 2021, 2022 (bothObi-Wan KenobiandAndor), and 2023 respectively.
Chronologically, however, things are a bit more complicated.Obi-Wan Kenobitakes place afterSolo: A Star Wars Storyand the prequel trilogy, whileThe Mandalorian,The Book of Boba Fett, andAhsokaall slot in between episodes six and seven.Andor, on the other hand, takes place afterObi-Wan Kenobibut before the events ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story.
FAQ
Q: What do BBY and ABY mean in Star Wars?
BBY and ABY stand for “Before the Battle of Yavin” and “After the Battle of Yavin” respectively.
Q: Why is the Battle of Yavin so important in Star Wars lore?
The Battle of Yavin saw the Rebel Alliance destroy the original Death Star, thus making it one of their first major victories over the Galactic Empire.
