A Disney+ subscription is your ticket to the whole Star Wars franchise. This consists of the unique trilogy, prequel motion pictures, sequels, and standalone movies, but in addition all the unique TV sequence which were launched over the previous couple of years. This consists of The Mandalorian, Andor, in addition to Maul – Shadow Lord, which debuted in April.
Need much more to stream from the galaxy far, distant this Star Wars Day? The franchise is gearing up for a return to film theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu popping out on Might 22, 2026 and Starfighter releasing in 2027. So in case you’re devising a full rewatch, you may wish to work out your most popular viewing order. Do you begin with the unique trilogy or the prequel motion pictures? What concerning the standalone movies and the tv exhibits? Listed here are all of your choices.
Theatrical Launch Order
The obvious reply is theatrical launch order, since this was what George Lucas initially meant. It begins with the unique trilogy, then takes us again to the prequel motion pictures, earlier than ending with Disney’s sequel movies. Following this order, you get Luke overcoming Darth Vader, Vader’s origin story, after which Rey selecting up the legacy Luke left behind. It could possibly get a bit awkward in case you add the standalone Star Wars movies, since Rogue One and Solo would interrupt the sequel trilogy.
In the event you’re rewatching and wish to protect the core motion pictures’ storylines, simply skip these two movies. They don’t have any affect on the overarching narrative, anyway. First-timers who need the total expertise can actually watch them in launch order, or place the standalone movies earlier than or after the sequel trilogy. If you wish to go by launch order, your marathon ought to appear to be this:
Chronological Order
George Lucas had at all times meant for the unique movie to be a small half in a bigger narrative. So simply because it was the primary to be launched doesn’t suggest it is the beginning of the story. As an alternative of going with launch order, you can too strive chronological order, primarily based on when the flicks are alleged to happen. This may imply watching Episodes I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX in numerical order. In the event you’re including the standalone movies, Rogue One and Solo can match between Episodes III and IV, and it ought to work high quality.
Nonetheless, since this order utterly ruins the Darth Vader reveal within the authentic movies, it is not advisable to look at these motion pictures for the primary time on this order. Watching Star Wars in chronological order is extra of a enjoyable experiment for longtime followers, permitting them to see the sequence from a brand new perspective. In the event you had been to look at the Star Wars movies in chronological order, it will appear to be this:
Machete Order
In the event you’ve already skilled launch and chronological order, there’s one other choice to strive: Machete Order. This order splits the distinction and has you watch Episodes II and III between Episodes V and VI. You begin with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Again, however then issues get wonky. Simply after Luke discovers the reality about Darth Vader, flip to the prequels as a flashback sequence. Watch Assault of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith to witness how Anakin Skywalker was consumed by the Darkish Aspect, earlier than ending with Return of the Jedi.
The Machete Order cuts out Phantom Menace solely, since virtually the whole lot within the film is self-contained and has no impact on the opposite prequels. Qui-Gon Jinn performs no significance to the higher story. Midi-chlorians are barely talked about once more. You additionally principally keep away from Jar Jar Binks solely. It is not excellent, although, so watch at your personal threat. In the event you’re not comfortable about eradicating Episode I and are additionally questioning the place the sequel motion pictures slot in right here, the unique creator of the Machete Order, Rod Hilton, suggests watching Episodes VII, VIII, and IX after the opposite motion pictures. You’ll be able to then deal with Episode I as an anthology, like Rogue One and Solo. So in case you go by the Machete Order, you’ll watch the flicks as follows:
Disney’s Narrative Timeline
However what concerning the tv exhibits? Star Wars has turn out to be extra than simply motion pictures, with The Clone Wars, Rebels, Andor, and The Mandalorian taking up the dialog lately. Whereas there is not any particular watch order for all these totally different items of the Star Wars universe, Disney has launched an official timeline. You most likely assumed that The Clone Wars animated sequence takes place between Episodes II and III, however what concerning the others? Based on Disney, Star Wars: Rebels is about earlier than the occasions of A New Hope. The Mandalorian takes place after Return of the Jedi however earlier than the Star Wars: Resistance animated sequence. In the event you occur to be loopy sufficient to look at each film and present in chronological order, this is what that may appear to be:
Advisable by Our Editors
Star Wars Classic
Disney could also be pushing Star Wars TV arduous, however it’s not the primary time the franchise has been on the small display screen. Previous TV motion pictures and animated sequence had been arduous to search out, till they had been added to Disney+ beneath the Star Wars Classic banner. When you nonetheless cannot stream the 1978 Star Wars Vacation Particular in its entirety, a number of classics have been made accessible to look at:
The Story of the Trustworthy Wookiee – The animated portion from the 1978 Vacation Particular that launched Boba Fett.
Caravan of Braveness – A 1984 made-for-TV movie about two kids who meet a band of Ewoks whereas looking for their lacking dad and mom.
Ewoks: The Battle For Endor – The 1985 sequel to the primary Ewok movie, which sees a younger youngster and her Ewok companions battle a bunch of invading marauders.
Ewoks – A spin-off animated sequence centered on a bunch of Ewoks that ran for 2 seasons between 1985 and 1986.
Star Wars: Droids – An animated sequence starring R2-D2 and C-3PO that ran for one season in 1985.
Star Wars: Clone Wars – An animated micro-series concerning the Clone Wars, created by Genndy Tartakovsky and lasting for 3 seasons between 2003 and 2005.
All the pieces Nonetheless to Come
This guarantees to be an enormous yr for Star Wars. The Maul TV sequence that debuts on April 6 follows the previous Sith apprentice as he consolidates his energy within the galaxy’s underworld. In the meantime, Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, which continues the story of The Mandalorian, is anticipated to launch on Might 22, 2026. Shawn Levy will even direct Ryan Gosling in Star Wars: Starfighter, set 5 years after The Rise of Skywalker. It is attributable to hit theaters on Might 28, 2027.
Past what’s on the schedule, Disney has introduced many various Star Wars tasks, however most have but to floor. Simon Kinberg, Taika Waititi, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Donald Glover, and James Mangold are all nonetheless hooked up to movies (or full trilogies) that haven’t been introduced. Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi, one other spin-off sequence, and Ahsoka Season 2 are nonetheless anticipated to be launched this yr.
About Our Skilled
Jason Cohen
Senior Editor, Assist & How To
Expertise
As PCMag’s editor of the right way to content material, I’ve to cowl all kinds of subjects and in addition make our tales accessible to on a regular basis customers. Contemplating my historical past as a technical author, copywriter, and all-around freelancer masking baseball, comics, and extra at numerous shops, I’m used to creating myself into an knowledgeable.
I imagine tech companies are unhealthy, however you would possibly as properly know the right way to use expertise in on a regular basis life. Need extra the right way to content material delivered proper to your inbox? Join the guidelines and methods e-newsletter that I curate twice every week.
My job as how-to guru means I exploit nearly each gadget beneath the solar, so I can work out how the whole lot works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad working Home windows 11, but in addition have a really massive Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I even have a Google Pixel 6a for private use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for extra Samsung-related testing. For iOS protection, an iPhone 13 mini works like a allure, although it is already changing into somewhat lengthy within the tooth.
My desktop state of affairs features a twin monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I additionally use a Logitech mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I like it however my spouse hates it!). I am a latest convert from wired headphones; I’ve Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wi-fi earbuds for private use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.
Each time I’ve a second to myself, I am most likely gaming on my Nintendo Change, Steam Deck, or Xbox Sequence S. I additionally nonetheless have a bunch of basic consoles mendacity round as properly.
Learn Full Bio
