Star Wars order: What order should I watch all the Star Wars films in?

14 April 2020, 15:50

Here's the order you need to watch the Star Wars films in
Here's the order you need to watch the Star Wars films in. Picture: Lucasfilms
Alice Dear

By Alice Dear

As lockdown continues, people are turning to series they can really get their teeth into, including the film franchise Star Wars.

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Lockdown means many different things for many different people, but for us, it means binge watching our favourite films and TV shows.

And with the arrival of Disney+, there's no surprise people are revisiting or *finally* getting into the original Star Wars films and the newer side stories.

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This, of course, means one thing – which is the correct order to watch them in?

With lockdown still in place, people are reliving the Star Wars films
With lockdown still in place, people are reliving the Star Wars films. Picture: Getty

People will disagree over how you should watch the Star Wars films – either in time order, or release order – and don't even get us started on when to get into the side stories.

When is comes to the original six films, people will often urge you to watch them in release order instead of chronologically.

This means you'll follow the story of Luke, Leia and Han Solo as they fight Darth Vader and the Empire in the original trilogy, before the fourth, fifth and sixth films (in release date,) take you all the way back to the making of Darth Vader.

If you're already confused, don't worry, as soon as you start watching them it will all become clear.

You can either watch the films in release order or in time order, it's up to you
You can either watch the films in release order or in time order, it's up to you. Picture: Lucasfilms

Of course, some people will watch them in chronological order, starting with the fourth film to be released (Episode I), and finishing with the third episode to be released (Episode VI).

Whatever order you decide to watch them in – hint, hint release dates – here are your options:

A New Hope was the first of the Star Wars films, released in 1977
A New Hope was the first of the Star Wars films, released in 1977. Picture: Lucasfilms

By order of release:

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Episode VI: The Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The Return of the Jedi sees the famous scene with Princess Leia and Jabba
The Return of the Jedi sees the famous scene with Princess Leia and Jabba. Picture: Getty

Chronological order:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Episode VI: The Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Chronologically with the new back story films:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Episode VI: The Return Of The Jedi (1983)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

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