Doubt about the order of the “Star Wars” films has always existed, as the releases took place out of chronological line. new productions from the “Star Wars” universe arriving – whether in theaters or in series, drawings and more – the doubt is even more intense, even among old fans of the franchise.
So what is the best order to watch “Star Wars”? Or the right order? Uncertainty haunts those who want to watch the franchise for the first time or even those who want to review the 11 films (nine of the main story and two spin-offs) – all available on Disney+.
o forma de celebrar o “Star Wars Day” (“may the 4th be with you”), o Technology Refugee will help you choose the right way to watch the gigantic and epic saga.
Before choosing an order to watch, you must first understand why you choose one. The first important information to know (which helps a lot!) Is that the “Skywalker saga” - that is, the nine main films - is divided by numbers, from episodes I to IX.
The classic trilogy premiered between 1977 and 1983; the franchise was revisited 16 years later, prequels released between 1999 and 2005; and then, ten years later, the new films arrived in theaters, continuing the events of the first three features and the returns of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), in addition to new characters .
It is also worth explaining that, when “Star Wars” was released, back in 1977, no one imagined the resounding success it would be or even if the sequels envisaged by George Lucas would be produced. As a result, later, the first film of the classic trilogy was renamed to “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”, gaining the famous “episodic” numbers and, thus, creating a chronological order.
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Check below for more orders to watch the entire saga (and take advantage of “may the 4th” to see all the films):
Chronological order of “Star Wars”
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
This is the most logical order to start watching, as the story is enjoyed from beginning to end according to the natural progression of time, without flashbacks or time jumps. In this way, we see Anakin's development, passing the protagonism to Luke and then to Rey.
The biggest problem with seeing the films in this line is the breaking of one of the biggest surprises of the franchise – which, in order of release, occurs in “Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back”. After all, even though it seems like a common sense, many people do not know about the turnaround in this feature in particular, which is even considered one of the greatest surprises in the history of cinema.
So, this order is not repeated if you've never heard of the saga and want to be completely surprised by the events.
Star Wars: release order
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode VI: 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)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
Yes, the “Star Wars” films were all released out of order - in a chronological sense. After all, George Lucas intended to do just one trilogy, but the success of the franchise was too great and the rest, well, it's history ...
In the original "Star Wars" release order, we follow the story beginning with "Episode IV" and ending with "Episode IX." Watching the films in this order makes it possible to see the evolution of the visual effects used, even though George Lucas has tinkered with, re-edited, remastered and added various details to the first three films over the years.
Order Ernst Rister (And Who Is Ernst Rister To “Star Wars”?)
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Ernst Rister, in theory, is not a producer, actor or even someone connected to the franchise. However, a big fan of the film series, he developed in the early 2000s what many considered the “best order” to watch “Star Wars” and enjoy the spoiler-free story of the “big reveal” of “Episode V”. . Over time, the arrival of new productions, the sequence was updated.
Following the “Ernst Rister Order”, you initially watch episodes “IV” and “V”, being surprised by the plot twist (return) of the plot. Then go to the first three films (chronologically), avoiding the confusion of the episode "VI" figure and increasing anticipation for the series' outcome. Thus, episodes “I”, “II” and “III” would function as a kind of flashback before the end of the saga.
Star Wars Sequel: Order Machete
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Considered one of the most controversial forms of order to watch “Star Wars”, the Machete style of watching was also created by a fan from the United States (USA), called Rod Hilton, but the name is in honor of his blog, the “Machete Juggling”.
The premise for creating the order is simple: if there is a problem with the way of seeing elaborated by Ernst Rister, it is that following “Episode V”, one of the highest points of the saga, “Episode I” would be seen, considered by fans the worst feature in the franchise.
The "Machete order", then, corrects the "error", remaining practically the same as the "Ernst Rister" train of thought, but excluding the first episode of the film sequence which, according to Hilton on her website, "is narratively irrelevant". .
o watch Star Wars after the new movies?
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) *
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) *
the arrival of new productions, a new order to watch “Star Wars” was created. spin-off releases, some purist fans prefer the idea of the beginning of the saga in "Rogue One", since the end of that film fits in the exact beginning of "Episode IV: A New Hope", which makes it easy to see the two movies at once.
The "New Order" tries to take the best of all the previously presented, being a little chronological and a little "Ernst Rister". As for whether or not to watch “Episode I” and “Han Solo,” that's up to the viewer.
Order Disney+ series
In addition to the 11 live-action films already released, Disney has recently been investing in series for Disney+ located in the “Star Wars” universe. Thus, several new productions have arrived in recent years, and the doubt may hover over which moment in the chronology they fit.
Check out the chronological order of the main “Star Wars” productions, including the Disney+ series released and some to come:
- The Acolyte (Unpredicted)
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- The Bad Batch (2021)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Andore (2022)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- The Mandalorian (2019)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
- Ahsoka (2023)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
Now those looking for the full release order, the inclusion of Disney+ series, can find it below. Note that some future productions are present in this list, but not above. The reason is that it is not yet known at what moment in the chronology they will be inserted.
- Star Wars or Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Episode VI: 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)
- Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
- Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Han Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
- The Mandalorian (2019)
- Episode IX: The Skywalker Rise (2019)
- The Bad Batch (2021)
- The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
- Andore (2022)
- Young Jedi Adventures (2023)
- Ahsoka (2023)
- Skeleton Crew (2023)
- Lando (Unpredicted)
- The Acolyte (Unpredicted)
And then: do you already know which order to watch “Star Wars” will follow? Know that you can check out all 11 of the saga’s features – in addition to other projects from the George Lucas universe – exclusively on the Disney+ streaming platform. And, of course, “may the Force be with you” (or “may the 4th be with you”, right?).
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