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Timeline · Watch Order

Star Wars chronological order

This guide puts the main Star Wars movies and shows into story order, then gives you a practical recommendation for how to watch without ruining the biggest reveals.

First-time viewer

Release order first, then chronology

Best spoiler protection and highest completion rate.

Returning fan

Full chronological order

Best for era connections, character arcs and wiki exploration.

Weekend marathon

Episodes IV–VI, I–III, VII–IX

Fastest route through the Skywalker Saga without series detours.

Complete canon timeline

Use this when you want the story from the fall of the Jedi to the rise of the First Order.

01 32 BBY Episode I – The Phantom Menace Fall of the Jedi Movie 02 22 BBY Episode II – Attack of the Clones Fall of the Jedi Movie 03 22–19 BBY The Clone Wars Fall of the Jedi Series 04 19 BBY Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Fall of the Jedi Movie 05 13–10 BBY Solo: A Star Wars Story Reign of the Empire Movie 06 9 BBY Obi-Wan Kenobi Reign of the Empire Series 07 5 BBY Andor Reign of the Empire Series 08 5–1 BBY Star Wars Rebels Reign of the Empire Series 09 0 BBY Rogue One Age of Rebellion Movie 10 0 ABY Episode IV – A New Hope Age of Rebellion Movie 11 3 ABY Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back Age of Rebellion Movie 12 4 ABY Episode VI – Return of the Jedi Age of Rebellion Movie 13 9 ABY The Mandalorian New Republic Series 14 9 ABY The Book of Boba Fett New Republic Series 15 9 ABY Ahsoka New Republic Series 16 34 ABY Episode VII – The Force Awakens Rise of the First Order Movie 17 34 ABY Episode VIII – The Last Jedi Rise of the First Order Movie 18 35 ABY Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Rise of the First Order Movie

Best recommendation

If this is your first run, start with Episode IV, Episode V and Episode VI. Those films teach the language of Star Wars and preserve the saga's central twists.

After that, jump back to the prequels, then continue into the sequels. Save the full chronological order for a rewatch, when the political setup, clone arcs and New Republic shows become easier to connect.

Want a faster path? Use the marathon planner. Want era context before watching? Open the era guide.

Growth loop

  • Audience: English searchers comparing Star Wars watch orders.
  • Channel: SEO, internal links from beginner and era pages, social watch-list posts.
  • KPI: organic sessions, internal CTR to film/series pages, marathon planner clicks.
  • Timeline: index immediately; evaluate search impressions and clicks after 2–4 weeks.

FAQ

Should I watch Star Wars chronologically first?

Usually no. New viewers should start with release order because the original trilogy protects the biggest reveals. Chronological order is better for rewatches.

What do BBY and ABY mean?

BBY means Before the Battle of Yavin. ABY means After the Battle of Yavin. The Battle of Yavin is the Death Star battle in A New Hope.

Do I need every animated series?

No. The Clone Wars, Rebels and The Bad Batch deepen the timeline, but the main movie path still works without them.

Where do the New Republic shows fit?

The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka sit after Return of the Jedi and before the sequel trilogy.