Star Wars watch order: which order should you watch the films?

If you are stepping into the Star Wars universe for the first time, the first surprise is not how many films there are. It is working out which order to watch them in, because the release dates and the story timeline are not the same thing. That is why you will find dozens of different lists online.

The good news: every Star Wars film below is available on Disney+. If you want to follow the story in the order the characters actually live it, here is the chronological watch order:

Star Wars chronological watch order

1. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Where it all begins. Anakin Skywalker is introduced as a child, and the Jedi Order is still standing.

2. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Ten years later. The Clone Wars break out and the cracks in the Republic start to show.

3. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Anakin’s turn and the fall of the Jedi Order. This is the heaviest film in the saga.

4. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

A young Han Solo. It sits outside the main story but lands right here on the timeline.

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

The story of how the Death Star plans were stolen. It leads directly into the next film.

6. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

The 1977 film that started everything. This is where we meet Luke Skywalker.

7. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The most talked-about film in the series. A middle chapter that ends in the dark.

8. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

The close of the original trilogy, and the first great reckoning in the Skywalker story.

9. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Thirty years on. A new generation steps up while familiar faces return.

10. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

The most debated film in the saga. It breaks expectations on purpose.

11. Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The finale of the nine-film Skywalker story.

So should you watch in release order or chronological order?

There is no single right answer. If this is your first time and you want to experience the twists the way audiences did when the films came out, release order is a good choice. But if you want to follow the characters from the start and see events unfold in order, the list above gives you a much smoother ride.

The Star Wars universe is not limited to nine films. Series like The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka and The Clone Wars open up a far bigger galaxy. Moving on to those once you have finished the main story is the best way to explore it properly.