What Order to Watch Star Wars
A complete breakdown of every popular Star Wars viewing order — release, chronological, Machete and more — so you can decide which approach works best for you.For most first-time viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch Star Wars. Start with A New Hope (1977) and follow the films in the order they were made. This preserves the major plot twists of The Empire Strikes Back and gives you the same experience the original cinema audiences had.
Why Viewing Order Matters
Star Wars is unusual among film franchises because the episode numbers on screen do not match the order in which the films were made or released. The original trilogy starts at Episode IV, the prequels go back to Episode I, and the sequels continue from Episode VII. A viewer who simply follows the episode numbers will start with the prequels, which fundamentally changes several of the saga's most celebrated dramatic moments.
The question of viewing order has been debated by fans since the prequel trilogy arrived in 1999. There is no single correct answer, but there are four well-established approaches, each of which creates a meaningfully different experience. Understanding what each order prioritises helps you choose the one that suits what you want from the story.
Option 1: Release Order (Recommended for First-Timers)
Release order means watching the films in the sequence they arrived in cinemas, starting with A New Hope in 1977 and ending with The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. This is the approach most long-term fans and film critics recommend for new viewers, and it is the order in which the story was intended to be discovered.
The key advantage is that you experience The Empire Strikes Back without already knowing who Darth Vader really is. That revelation is one of cinema's most celebrated plot twists and loses its power completely if you have already watched Revenge of the Sith, which shows the moment Anakin puts on the Vader armour. Release order treats that identity as a mystery to be revealed, which is far more dramatically satisfying.
Option 2: Chronological Order
Chronological order follows the in-universe story timeline rather than production dates, beginning with The Phantom Menace (set around 32 years before A New Hope) and ending with The Rise of Skywalker. This is how the episode numbers suggest watching and is the route many newer viewers take, particularly now that all films are available simultaneously on Disney Plus.
The main drawback is the spoiling of major twists, especially the Vader reveal. The main advantage is that Anakin Skywalker's arc — from gifted child to fallen Sith Lord to redeemed father — flows as one coherent story from beginning to end. For viewers already familiar with the broad strokes, or re-watching the saga, chronological order can be deeply rewarding.
| Watch Position | Film | Released | Story Era |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Phantom Menace | 1999 | 32 BBY |
| 2 | Attack of the Clones | 2002 | 22 BBY |
| 3 | Revenge of the Sith | 2005 | 19 BBY |
| 4 | Solo: A Star Wars Story | 2018 | 10 BBY |
| 5 | Rogue One | 2016 | 0 BBY (days before A New Hope) |
| 6 | A New Hope | 1977 | 0 BBY |
| 7 | The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | 3 ABY |
| 8 | Return of the Jedi | 1983 | 4 ABY |
| 9 | The Force Awakens | 2015 | 34 ABY |
| 10 | The Last Jedi | 2017 | 34 ABY |
| 11 | The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | 35 ABY |
Option 3: The Machete Order
The Machete Order was proposed by blogger Rod Hilton in 2011 and has become the most discussed fan-designed viewing sequence. Its core idea is that Episode I is entirely skippable and that Episodes II and III work far better as a dramatic flashback inserted after The Empire Strikes Back. The sequence runs: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Return of the Jedi, then the sequel trilogy.
The logic is elegant: after the cliffhanger ending of Empire, the viewer is desperate to understand more about Darth Vader and the Jedi Order. Cutting to the prequel story at that moment transforms it from a prequel into a contextual flashback that deepens the emotional climax of Return of the Jedi. By the time Vader makes his final choice, you understand exactly what he is redeeming himself from.
Rod Hilton argued that The Phantom Menace introduces no characters or plot points that are not re-introduced in later films. Anakin is re-established in Attack of the Clones. Palpatine's scheming becomes clearer in the later prequels. Pod racing is entertaining but not essential. Many fans who follow Machete Order with Phantom Menace omitted find the prequel section considerably stronger as a result, though including it is always optional.
Option 4: Original Trilogy Only
A significant number of fans argue that Episodes IV, V and VI alone represent the ideal Star Wars experience. The original trilogy tells a completely self-contained story that begins and ends within those three films. Vader's redemption, the defeat of the Emperor and the liberation of the galaxy all happen in Return of the Jedi. Nothing essential is left unresolved. This is a particularly good approach for young viewers or those with limited patience for the slower pacing of the prequels.
Viewing Order Comparison
| Order | Best For | Preserves Twists? | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Order | First-time viewers | Yes | Low |
| Chronological | Re-watchers, younger audiences | No | Low |
| Machete Order | Experienced fans, film enthusiasts | Yes | Medium |
| Originals Only | Casual viewers, children | Yes | Very Low |
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse Star Wars Merchandise at The Darkside
From Darth Vader Funko Pops to Stormtrooper figurines, mugs and gift sets — our Star Wars range covers the whole saga.