Watch Order Generator
Star Wars Watch Order
Watch Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga in release order, starting with Star Wars (1977) and finishing with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). In story order you would start with Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) instead. All 11 films run about 25 hours in total.
Release order keeps every twist and reveal intact. Best for a first watch.
1.Star Wars
1977 · 2h 1m
The original film and the best first watch, introducing Luke, Leia, Han and the Force.
2.The Empire Strikes Back
1980 · 2h 4m
The middle chapter of the original trilogy, and the reason release order matters so much here.
3.Return of the Jedi
1983 · 2h 12m
Concludes the original trilogy and resolves the conflict the first two films set up.
4.Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
1999 · 2h 16m
The first prequel, introducing a young Anakin Skywalker and the Republic before its decline.
5.Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
2002 · 2h 22m
The middle prequel, moving Anakin toward adulthood and starting the Clone Wars.
6.Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
2005 · 2h 20m
Ends the prequel trilogy and connects directly to the situation the 1977 film opens in.
7.Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2015 · 2h 16m
Starts the sequel trilogy roughly thirty years later, with new leads alongside familiar faces.
8.Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2016 · 2h 13m
OptionalAn optional standalone with an all-new cast, skippable since the main saga never depends on it.
9.Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2017 · 2h 32m
The middle of the sequel trilogy, picking up moments after The Force Awakens ends.
10.Solo: A Star Wars Story
2018 · 2h 15m
OptionalAn optional spinoff filling in Han Solo's backstory, with no bearing on the numbered episodes.
11.Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
2019 · 2h 22m
The final episode of the nine-film saga, meant to be watched after everything else.
Which order is right for you
Release order vs story order
Star Wars is famous for the reveal in The Empire Strikes Back, which only lands if you watch in release order and meet the original trilogy before the prequels. Chronological order runs the numbered episodes I to IX with Rogue One slotting in right before A New Hope. For a first watch, release order preserves the twists.
Release order follows the real-world dates the films came out. It is usually the safest choice for a first watch, because every reveal, cameo, and callback lands the way audiences experienced it at the time.
Story order follows the in-universe timeline instead, so prequels and period-set entries jump forward in the list. For Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga that means starting with Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) rather than Star Wars (1977). Switching orders moves 10 of the 11 titles. It is a good second pass once you already know the saga.
Planning a marathon? Work out the schedule with the Binge Watch Calculator, or browse every franchise watch order.
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This tool uses data from The Movie Database (TMDB). This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.