Star Wars: Chronological Order Guide & Timeline Explained!
Ever felt lost in the vastness of the Star Wars galaxy, unsure where to begin your epic journey? Fear not, because navigating the saga's sprawling timeline can be a thrilling adventure in itself.
The saga, a tapestry woven across decades and mediums, can be a little tricky to traverse if you're looking to understand the story of the films and the associated shows. The initial release order, while iconic, doesnt reflect the actual unfolding of events. So, what's the optimal way to experience a galaxy far, far away?
There are a few popular ways to approach Star Wars.
The Chronological Order presents the events in the order they actually happened in the Star Wars universe. This offers the most cohesive narrative, allowing the story to unfold as it would in real time if you were in the Star Wars world. A good way to look at this is as follows:
| Title | Type | Release Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Acolyte | TV Series | TBD | The earliest part of the Star Wars timeline, setting the stage for the prequel trilogy. |
| Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace | Movie | 1999 | Introduces Anakin Skywalker and the rise of the Sith. |
| Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones | Movie | 2002 | The Clone Wars begin. Anakin and Padm's relationship develops. |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Animated Series & Movie | 2008 - 2020 (series), 2008 (movie) | Expands upon the Clone Wars era, fleshing out characters and events. |
| Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith | Movie | 2005 | Anakin's fall to the dark side and the birth of Darth Vader. The rise of the Empire. |
| Tales of the Jedi | Animated Series | 2022 | Explores the history of Jedi Knights, including Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku. |
| Tales of the Empire | Animated Series | 2024 | Explores the events of the Empire |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story | Movie | 2018 | The origin story of Han Solo. |
| Star Wars: The Bad Batch | Animated Series | 2021 | Focuses on a unique squad of clone troopers after the Clone Wars. |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi | TV Series | 2022 | Following Obi-Wan Kenobi's life, following the fall of the Jedi. |
| Andor | TV Series | 2022-2024 | Details the character Cassian Andor's journey, set before Rogue One. |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Movie | 2016 | The events leading up to A New Hope, about the theft of the Death Star plans. |
| Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | Movie | 1977 | The original film that started it all. The Rebels fight against the Empire. |
| Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back | Movie | 1980 | The Rebels are in hiding. Luke trains to be a Jedi, Darth Vader is revealed as Luke's father. |
| Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi | Movie | 1983 | The final battle of the original trilogy. |
| The Mandalorian | TV Series | 2019 - Present | Follows a lone bounty hunter in the post-Empire era. |
| The Book of Boba Fett | TV Series | 2021-2022 | Explores the life of Boba Fett, following the events of The Mandalorian season 2. |
| Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens | Movie | 2015 | The beginning of the sequel trilogy. A new threat emerges. |
| Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi | Movie | 2017 | The Resistance fights against the First Order. Luke faces his past. |
| Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker | Movie | 2019 | The epic conclusion to the Skywalker saga. |
This order provides a more complete and immersive viewing experience, particularly if you're new to the franchise. It allows you to appreciate the character development and the intricate storyline. It's the equivalent of reading the chapters of a book in the order they are written, and makes it easy to track and enjoy the character of the characters.
Another method of watching Star Wars is the release order. This is a very popular method for newcomers and old fans alike. In this way, you start with A New Hope, and continue with The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi before moving onto the prequels. It is worth noting that the prequels were released much later. One advantage of watching the films in this way is that you might find some of the plot twists more shocking and more satisfying. The order is as follows:
| Title | Type | Release Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope | Movie | 1977 | The original film that started it all. The Rebels fight against the Empire. |
| Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back | Movie | 1980 | The Rebels are in hiding. Luke trains to be a Jedi, Darth Vader is revealed as Luke's father. |
| Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi | Movie | 1983 | The final battle of the original trilogy. |
| Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace | Movie | 1999 | Introduces Anakin Skywalker and the rise of the Sith. |
| Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones | Movie | 2002 | The Clone Wars begin. Anakin and Padm's relationship develops. |
| Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith | Movie | 2005 | Anakin's fall to the dark side and the birth of Darth Vader. The rise of the Empire. |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story | Movie | 2018 | The origin story of Han Solo. |
| Rogue One: A Star Wars Story | Movie | 2016 | The events leading up to A New Hope, about the theft of the Death Star plans. |
| Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens | Movie | 2015 | The beginning of the sequel trilogy. A new threat emerges. |
| Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi | Movie | 2017 | The Resistance fights against the First Order. Luke faces his past. |
| Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker | Movie | 2019 | The epic conclusion to the Skywalker saga. |
You can include the animated series in your viewing plans. For example, many viewers will watch The Clone Wars animated series after Attack of the Clones and before Revenge of the Sith. This is because the show expands the story in the era of the Clone Wars. If you want to follow the Mandalorian storyline, you could watch The Mandalorian season 1 and 2.
The best way to experience the franchise is the way that will give you the most enjoyment and appreciation of the story. The release order is a classic, and the chronological order is a more streamlined approach.
