Star Wars Watch Order – Ultimate Guide (September 2025)

Update: This article was last updated in September 2025 with the latest Star Wars details for the watch order.

Summary:

Star Wars, over the decades, has expanded into TV shows, comic books, video games, lunchboxes (you name it). Looking ahead, The Mandalorian and Grogu are set to release in theaters in 2026, followed by Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28, 2027. The number of Star Wars projects keeps increasing, making it even more difficult to figure out the correct Star Wars watch order. We have compiled the ultimate Star Wars watch order guide, covering every movie, TV show, video game, and spinoff, along with multiple ways to experience them.

Note: There are multiple Star Wars watch order guides based on release order, chronological order, and then there are movie order, watch orders created by fans, and finally games. There is a lot to unpack, so let's get started.

Star Wars Chronological Watch Order (Table Breakdown)

Here is your chronological watch order guide for Star Wars, breaking down the era in which the show/movie takes place and the overall timeline which the show/movie takes place.

The chronological order is the most straightforward way to experience the Star Wars saga by following the story as it unfolds in the galactic timeline. This order lists everything as it happens in the Star Wars timeline, beginning with The Acolyte and ending with The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Chronological Order of Star Wars Movies and TV Shows Only

Note: We are not including games in this list. If you are looking for the complete watch order, including games, scroll further down.

Here is the complete chronological watch order of the Star Wars movies and shows in a bullet list for quick scrolling.

If going just by movies, this chronological viewing order is the best Star Wars viewing order, according to George Lucas.

Release Order of Star Wars Movies and TV Shows

Star Wars was originally released in 1977 and later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope with the movie's re-release in 1981. This cemented that the film was part of a larger saga.

The idea was, you came in, you watched Episode 4. You don't know what happened before, what happened after - George Lucas

Following this, George Lucas made the prequel trilogy while also creating an animated series.

Disney later acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for approximately $4.05 billion. The Star Wars franchise has expanded even into multiple movies, animated series, and Disney+ originals. Because of this, the Star Wars timeline has become quite complicated. So if you wish to experience Star Wars as fans did when each project originally came out, this Star Wars release order is the perfect viewing order for you:

If you plan to watch just the Star Wars movies in release order, here's the correct viewing order for you:

Complete Chronological Watch Order: Movies, TV Shows, and Games

Star Wars has a long history of video games that perfectly fit into the timeline while also telling beautiful stories. So, here's a complete timeline of Star Wars, including every movie, TV show, and video game:

Ernst Rister Order of Movies

The Ernst Rister Order (named after the fan who first suggested it on an online forum) treats the prequel trilogy as an extended flashback. If you're watching Star Wars for the first time and want to preserve the Darth Vader twist while also watching the prequel films, this order is the best one:

Machete Order for Star Wars Movies

The Machete Order is a more refined order of the Ernst Rister Order. Named after Rod Hilton, the author of the blog nomachetejuggling.com (now called rodhilton.com), the writer argues that Star Wars works best as the story of Luke Skywalker.

Hilton states that Episode 1 is unnecessary to watch, as it adds nothing to the overarching plot, and whatever does happen in the movie is explained in the title crawl of Episode 2. Interestingly enough, this also somewhat removes the rather annoying Jar Jar Binks from the Star Wars movies.

The Flashback Order for Star Wars

The Flashback Order basically enhances the Ernst Rister Order to include Solo and Rogue One as well. This can be quite confusing to watch and is only recommended if you have watched the Star Wars saga before. While not part of the original Flashback Order, you can also slot in Andor (now that Season 2 is complete), since its story leads directly into the events of Rogue One.

What is the Best Star Wars Watch Order

The best Star Wars watch order can vary based on whether you're approaching the series for the first time or are a veteran fan. If you're watching Star Wars for the first time and wish to include every TV series and spinoff, the release order is your best bet. However, if you're a newcomer and wish to only watch the movies, you can choose the Ernst Rister Order.

If you're a veteran fan, however, and wish to watch the Star Wars saga in a different light, the Flashback Order can do that for you. Needless to say, each Star Wars viewing order has a different approach and adds a new layer to the story.