Since its debut in 1977 with “Stars Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” the Star Wars series began its release on the big screen and soon became a cornerstone of global pop culture. Created by George Lucas, this epic space saga has expanded into a whole universe, including movies, television series, books, and more.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a world we didn’t even know existed was brought to life, Star Wars. Where the world was ripe with chaos, turmoil, and conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire had just begun. We see the powerful and mystical energies of the Force woven through our storyline, along with the personal journeys of characters like Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Princess Leia.
A lot is going on in Star Wars, and watching the movies in order helps you understand it all better. The film tell one big story that happens over many years, and watching them in order keeps things precise. Each movie builds on what came before, so you’ll appreciate the drama and plot twists more. Plus, you’ll see how the characters change and grow over time.
Star Wars Movies in Order:
This blog post will focus on how to guide our viewers through the Star Wars movies in order. We will explore the movie’s release order and chronological viewing order. We will be focusing more on the main episodic films of the Star Wars saga, also known as the Skywalker Saga, which includes Episodes I through IX. Also, it acknowledges the stories mentioned in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Get ready to watch the Star Wars movies in order. There two ways in which you can do this, you can watch the film in the order they came out or watch them in the order the story takes place (the release order).
Star Wars Movies in Release Order:
- Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars:The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars:Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars:Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars:The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars:The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars:The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Star Wars Movies in Chronological Order:
- Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
- Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
1. Episode IV: A New Hope
This is the first Star Wars movie ever made “A New Hope“; this is the start of the famous universe of Star Wars. This movie tells us the story of Luke Skywalker, a young farm boy who gets mixed up in a fight against a super-powerful evil empire. We see how he finds a robot with secret plans to destroy the Empire’s biggest weapon, a giant space station called the Death Star. Luke teams up with Princess Leia, Han Solo, and an old Jedi Knight named Obi-Wan Kenobi to take down the Empire. This movie introduces us to all the most famous Star Wars characters and starts the entire epic saga.
This classic film stars Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, and James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader.
IMDb Rating 8.6/10
2. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Known as one of the greatest sequels in cinematic history, The Empire Strikes Back continues the ongoing war between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. As the heroes are chased across the galaxy, Luke seeks training from the mysterious Jedi Master Yoda, learning more about the Force and his own family legacy. The movie is known for its darker tone and complicated storytelling, highlighted by the famous revelation of Darth Vader’s true identity.
The cast includes Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, and James Earl Jones voicing Darth Vader.
IMDb Rating 8.3/10
3. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Return of the Jedi brings an epic end to the original trilogy, bringing the final battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. As the Rebels launch a full-scale attack on the second Death Star, Luke faces Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader in a deadly battle that will determine the fate of the galaxy. This film wraps up the redemption arc of Anakin Skywalker and the triumph of the Rebel Alliance, offering a satisfying conclusion to the saga’s main storyline.
Featured is Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian, Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, and James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader.
IMDb Rating 8.3/10
4. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
This new era of the Star Wars saga “The Phantom Menace” was started by evoking political tensions. The main character, a young Anakin Skywalker, who was a slave to The Force-sensitive being, was discovered on the planet of Tatooine. This movie will show us scenes related to a Star Wars Jedi Knight named Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, who discovered that a young rakish Anakin is on his way. in the meantime, take a sneak peek at the clever political moves that led to the Sith taking over.
So, on the one hand, there is all the pod racing and lightsabre fighting, and on the other hand, there is the unrevealed secret of the clone army, and we also get to see the foundations that will underpin future conflicts.
The cast includes Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn, Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala, Jake Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker, Ian McDiarmid as Senator Palpatine, Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker, Ahmed Best as Jar Binks, and Frank Oz voicing Yoda.
IMDb Rating 6.5/10
5. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
This Episode takes place ten years after the events depicted in The Phantom Menace and, as a result, dives deeper into the galaxy’s descent into despair and chaos, which was left hanging in the previous movie. The Attack of the clones starts with the scene of 10-year-old Anakin, who is already a Jedi student, just as the revelation of a new young padawan foreshadows the trouble ahead.
That film is deeply symbolic of Anakin’s transformation from a scared young boy to an increasingly powerful Jedi and reveals his love affair with Padmé, which ultimately shapes his destiny. The end of the film, when it’s shown that the Clone Wars are a road to the significant change in the galactic history, is as pivotal.
The cast includes Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala, Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku, Ian McDiarmid as Chancellor Palpatine, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, and Frank Oz as the voice of Yoda.
IMDb Rating 6.6/10
6. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
This is the last movie in the prequel trilogy Revenge of the Sith, and it’s one of the main movies that highlights a significant shift in the Star Wars universe. It shows how Anakin Skywalker turns evil and turns into the Darth Vader. The Jedi Knights are still fighting a massive war, losing hope every second, but Anakin is scared and wants more power than anyone has ever seen before. An evil guy named Palpatine tricks him into joining the dark side and destroying the Jedi Knights. This movie is a super blow to Star Wars fans because it shows the fall of a fantastic hero.
The cast includes Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala, Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, and Frank Oz as the voice of Yoda.
IMDb Rating 7.6/10
7. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Taking place after more than a decade, Star Wars: Episode VII- The Force Awakens (2015) Set nearly 30 years after the events that took place in Return of the Jedi. The Force Awakens introduces us to a new generation of characters along with familiar faces. The story follows Rey, a scavenger with a mysterious past and a powerful connection to the Force.
As the sinister First Order rises from the ashes of the Empire, Rey and defector stormtrooper Finn join forces with Han Solo to find Luke Skywalker, who has vanished. The film rekindles the classic Star Wars adventure and mystery, stirring up mysteries and new conflicts.
The film stars Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.
IMDb Rating 7.8/10
8. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey and her training under Luke Skywalker, who is not willing to return to a galaxy still at war. The movie shows us the continuation of the legacy of Star Wars, the burden of expectation, and the true nature of the Force while the Resistance fights for survival against the First Order. This new sequel is known for its bold plot and choices throughout the movie, along with stunning visuals.
This Episode includes Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa, and Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron.
IMDb Rating 6.9/10
9. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The final movie of the Skywalker saga, The Rise of Skywalker, is the final end to this story. As the remnants of the Resistance face the First Order once again, Rey prepares for a final confrontation with Kylo Ren. The movie tries to resolve the complex legacies of the past and present characters to settle everything once and for all and leave no questions unanswered.
The cast features Daisy Ridley as Rey, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, John Boyega as Finn, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa, and Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.
IMDb Rating 6.4/10
Spin-offs and Standalone Movies:
1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
This movie is a direct prequel to A New Hope and tells the captivating tale of the Rebel spies tasked with stealing the plans to the Death Star. The story revolves around Jyn Erso and her team, providing a challenging, ground-level view of the Star Wars universe that blends with the saga’s more intense storyline.
A suggested viewing order for watching this movie would be to watch Rogue One immediately before A New Hope to experience a smooth transition into the events that start off the original saga.
IMDb Rating 7.8/10
2. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Diverting attention to the early adventures of Han Solo, this movie dives deep into exploring the origins of the legendary smuggler and his first encounters with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian.
Solo offers insights into Han’s backstory and the underworld of the Star Wars galaxy. The suggested viewing order for this movie would be to watch Solo after Revenge of the Sith and before A New Hope.
IMDb Rating 6.9/10
Behind the Scenes
Making Star Wars is a story almost as exciting as the movies themselves! It’s all thanks to the brilliant ideas of George Lucas and the fantastic special effects that changed movies forever. The first movies were made with a smaller budget and faced a lot of challenges, but they used creative solutions like models and early computer graphics to create fantastic space battles. The company behind Star Wars, Lucasfilm, also made significant advances in sound effects, like the lightsabre sounds we all know.
The story of Star Wars got more extensive and more complex over time, with new movies exploring good vs. evil, heroes, and forgiveness. They even invented new technology as they went along! When it comes to casting, Star Wars mixes famous actors with new ones, and together they create characters we love. From the actors to the artists and everyone behind the scenes, Star Wars is a massive achievement in movie history. It showed how amazing movies can be when you tell a great story.
Parting Words
Star Wars is not just a movie series. It’s a whole other world, entire of amazing stories, excellent characters, and special effects that keep getting better. From desert planets to giant space stations, each Star Wars movie takes you on an adventure filled with battles, heroes, and people finding themselves. There’s no wrong way to watch them either; you can watch them in the order they came out, or you can watch them in the order the story actually happens.
Whichever way you choose, you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. There are a lot more Star Wars stories out there, like TV shows and extra movies, that fill in the gaps and show you more about this fantastic world. Watching the Star Wars movies in order might seem like a lot, but it’s totally worth it!
Whether you’re a new fan or an old one, there’s always something new to discover in Star Wars. New movies and shows are always coming out, so the adventure never ends! In the end, Star Wars is more than just movies. It’s about good vs. evil, making tough choices, and never giving up on hope. So, get ready for popcorn, lightsabers, and one of the most exciting movie sagas ever made!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which is the first Star Wars movie?
The first movie released was Star Wars (1977), later titled Episode IV- A New Hope.
Why is Star Wars so famous?
It is a great story, with innovative marketing and clever targeting of many demographics.
How many Star Wars series are there?
There are a total of 57 episodes in the whole series, divided between seven seasons.
