Disney now spreads Star Wars across films and streaming series, so the old “episode number” shortcut no longer covers everything. This list follows in-universe chronology (when events happen), not the order the movies opened in theaters. If you are comparing timelines on ListAfterList, pair this page with our Marvel Avengers watch order and DC Universe movie order.
Skywalker saga films (core timeline)
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) — optional prequel set before the original trilogy
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) — leads directly into Episode IV
- 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 Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Series that fit between the films
Add these when you want fuller context. They are listed where they land on the timeline, not by release date.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (animated) — after Episode II, before Episode III
- Star Wars Rebels — after Episode III, before Rogue One
- Andor (Season 1) — five years before Rogue One
- The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett — a few years after Return of the Jedi
- Ahsoka — follows characters introduced in the Disney+ era shows
Release order vs. story order
First-time viewers often watch Episodes IV through VI first because that was the 1977 starting point. Story-order viewing (this list) makes foreshadowing in the prequels land differently and explains why Rogue One sits where it does. Either approach works. Pick one and stay with it through the spinoffs you care about.
Standalone projects such as The Acolyte or future films may sit outside the Skywalker list. Check Disney+ placement notes when a new season drops, then slot it into your personal checklist.
