A Star Wars character collage — Image Source: Culture Slate

Nearly 50 years ago, this article would be relatively short, and it would be pretty obvious what order to watch the movies in. But now, in 2022 and beyond, it’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan. New shows and movies are in production as this is written, but the question remains: what is the best way to watch them all?

There are several watch orders out there. A personal favorite is the Flashback Order. While that one really only works with the Skywalker Saga, it’s a cool order where you watch Episode IV and V, then after Vader reveals he’s Luke’s father, you go back and watch Episode I, II, and III as a flashback to show Anakin’s fall. Then you finish with Episodes VI, VII, VIII, and IX.

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Now, this obviously doesn’t include the other shows or the anthology films, all of which help flesh out the story of the Star Wars galaxy. But if you want to have the definitive watch order that includes everything for a totally immersive Star Wars experience, you need to go all the way back to the beginning.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

We start all the way back at the beginning, where the Jedi order is still around, and we are introduced to young Anakin Skywalker and a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Then, the machinations of the Sith become known, and the fall of the Republic begins.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

We jump ahead about ten years. Young Anakin is now a Padawan to Obi-Wan, and Padme Amidala returns to his life. Throw in the death of his mother and a growing interstellar crisis, and you have all the mixings for a Jedi to start his turn to the dark side.

The Clone Wars (The Motion Picture and seasons 1-5)

A slight deviation from the movies. At the end of Episode II, The Clone Wars begin. While there is technically a movie, I’m lumping that and the series through the end of season 5 as one total viewing. We follow Anakin and Obi-Wan and Anakin’s very own Padawan, Ahsoka (War forces the Jedi to take drastic measures, like jumping Padawans to Knighthood and giving them their own apprentices) on their adventures during the Clone Wars. The original run ended prematurely, but the timing works out here.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

We start the movie in the thick of the Clone Wars, but the tide is turning to the advantage of the Republic. As Obi-Wan hunts down General Grievous to end the war, Anakin has dark premonitions about the death of his love and their unborn children. Unwilling to lose anyone else he loves, he seeks advice and walks right into the hands of Darth Sidious’s final plans to become Emperor.

The Clone Wars (seasons 6-7)

The final season that was added after a long hiatus finishes the Clone Wars while the events of Episode III are ongoing. It ends with Ahsoka escaping Order 66, drawing an official end to the show, an end to the Jedi, and an end to the Republic.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

One of the best shows to ever use the title Star Wars, The Bad Batch follows a group of clone troopers singled out from the rest of their brothers for their unique abilities. They were introduced in The Clone Wars, and now, with their own show, which starts right as Order 66 is issued, they navigate the ever-changing political and military landscape as the Republic becomes the Empire.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Several years later, after the Empire has established its stranglehold on the galaxy, our journey takes us through the adventure of a young street rat on Corellia with dreams of flying among the stars. Han, in order to save his skin, and correct his mistakes, hatches a scheme to steal some fuel alongside his friend Chewbacca, and he goes down in galactic history for his famed Kessel Run. We also learn of a fledgling resistance to the oppression of the Empire.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Around the same time, we go back to the sands of Tatooine and visit with an old friend. Ten years after the end of Episode III, Obi-Wan is staying true to his promise to look over Luke, but the Empire has never stopped hunting him. Using Luke’s sister to draw him out of hiding, Obi-Wan must avoid Inquisitors and ultimately face his fallen friend, the man once known as Anakin Skywalker.

Star Wars: Rebels

Another fantastic addition to Star Wars’ animated lineup, Rebels follows the Ghost crew as they work with the Rebellion to bring down the Empire. Over several years leading up to Episode IV, the actions of the crew of the Ghost bring the attention of notable villains such as Darth Vader and fan-favorite Grand Admiral Thrawn. We also learn that Ahsoka is alive and well, helping the Rebellion in its fight.

Star Wars: Andor

For two seasons, Andor will follow the spy we were introduced to in Rogue One, and reportedly the series will take us right up to the first scene of Rogue One. The series will show how Cassian Andor became the character fans were introduced to in Rogue One. In addition, it’ll see the return of Saw Gerrera, the rogue rebel fighter first introduced in The Clone Wars.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

One of the most thrilling anthology movies made, Rogue One, takes place just before Episode IV. It follows Jyn Erso, daughter of the engineer behind the Death Star, as she, Cassian Andor, and others they pick up along the way go down in history as the brave group that found the plans to the Death Star so the Rebellion could destroy it.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

The grand-daddy of them all, the one that started everything, deep in the middle of the pack after all these years of additions to the story. It picks up right where Rogue One finished and introduces us to all our favorite characters. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Obi-Wan Kenobi become embroiled in the fight between the Empire and the Rebellion and together bring down the Empire’s most fearsome weapon: the Death Star.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

After the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebels go back into hiding as the Empire seeks revenge. After their base on the frozen planet of Hoth is found, our heroes are initially split up, as Luke seeks to learn more about the Force, and Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids seek to evade the Empire’s clutches. It ends in tragedy, as Han is captured and Luke realizes a horrible truth about his parentage, but it’s not without hope.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

At the end of the original trilogy, our heroes rescue Han from his carbonite sleep, and we learn of a second Death Star. The heroes set out to try and do the impossible again, bringing down the Empire’s most fearsome weapon, and this time, they have a chance to also take out the head of the snake: Emperor Palpatine himself. Additionally, Luke will face his destiny and see whether or not his father is truly lost.

The Mandalorian

With the Empire in shambles and only existing on the fringe, we move five years beyond the end of Episode VI and follow the story of Din Djarin, a Mandalorian foundling, now a bounty hunter, trying to make his way in the galaxy. He becomes involved in the dark machinations of the Imperial Remnant when he rescues a young (relatively) Jedi youngling by the name of Grogu. His adventures cross paths with none other than Ahsoka and Luke Skywalker, and the upcoming seasons seem poised to restore the glory of Mandalore.

The Book of Boba Fett

A mix of flashbacks and current timeline, the fan-favorite bounty hunter crawls his way out of the Sarlacc pit on Tatooine, and after some time among the Tuskens of the Dune Sea, he seeks revenge by taking Jabba’s former territory and establishing himself as the new daimyo of Tatooine.

Star Wars: Resistance

The last (chronologically) of the animated shows, Resistance, follows the exploits of the Resistance as the threat of the First Order grows in the galaxy. Characters like Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma are featured in the prelude to the sequel movie trilogy, where the First Order is trying to claw back into the place the Empire used to occupy, but Poe and others that recognize the threat the First Order presents won’t have it.

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

30 years after the destruction of the second Death Star, we’re introduced to Rey, Finn, Poe, and BB-8, as well as the First Order, the successor state to the fallen Empire. The First Order seeks to retake control of the galaxy, and having converted a planet into another planet killer weapon, they wipe out the New Republic and plunge the galaxy back into fascist oppression. All of this while the new heroes meet the heroes of old, and all of them want to find Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

With a short-lived victory, the Resistance flees their base as the First Order seeks to avenge Starkiller Base’s destruction. Hounding their tail, the Resistance scrambles to get out of the First Order’s grasp, while Rey seeks training under Luke, who unfortunately has sworn off the Jedi and the Force because he feels responsible for the rise of Kylo Ren.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

At last, we come to the end of the current timeline. Emperor Palpatine (somehow) resurfaces and draws Kylo Ren into his machinations. The Resistance learns of where Palpatine is and seeks to eliminate the greatest threat to the galaxy, but they’re vastly outgunned. Rey and her friends search for answers to the question of removing Palpatine’s threat, and Kylo struggles internally as the Skywalker Saga comes to an epic conclusion. Though it’s the end of the current list, there will likely be more stories to tell beyond Episode IX.

It’s a long one for sure, but it’s only going to get longer and more exciting. In fact, the new show The Acolyte is set to take place 100 years before Episode I, so that will technically come first in an updated watch order. Additionally, Ahsoka will take place around the time of The Mandalorian and before Resistance, where she looks for Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn.

So what are you waiting for? Get to watching!

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