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The Ultimate Star Wars Viewing Order: 3 Ways To Watch The FULL Canon (Updated 2025)

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Are you ready to dive into the Star Wars galaxy, but don't know where to start? With over 11 feature films and more than a dozen canon TV series, the sprawling Star Wars saga, officially known as the Skywalker Saga, is larger and more complex than ever before. As of late 2025, the release schedule continues to evolve with major projects like The Mandalorian & Grogu and Ahsoka Season 2 on the horizon, making it crucial to have an updated guide. The question of the best viewing order—whether to follow the original release date, the in-universe timeline, or a fan-favorite alternative—is the most common debate among new and veteran fans alike.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the three most popular and definitive ways to experience the entire Star Wars canon, from the ancient history explored in The Acolyte to the ongoing adventures of the New Republic era. Choose your path, ignite your lightsaber, and prepare for a journey through a galaxy far, far away.

The Definitive Star Wars Release Order: The Classic Experience

The Release Order is the simplest and most traditional way to watch Star Wars, following the order in which George Lucas and later Disney presented them to the world. This order preserves the original twists, most notably the iconic reveal in The Empire Strikes Back, and allows you to appreciate the evolution of filmmaking technology and special effects across the decades.

For first-time viewers, this is often the recommended path, as it begins with the foundational film, A New Hope, and gradually introduces the deeper mythology. The current official release order includes all films and major live-action and animated series on Disney+.

  • 1. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) - The Original Trilogy Begins
  • 2. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • 3. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
  • 4. Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) - The Prequel Trilogy Begins
  • 5. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • 6. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - Theatrical Film (Prequel to the series)
  • 7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020) - Animated Series
  • 8. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  • 9. Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018) - Animated Series
  • 10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) - Anthology Film
  • 11. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) - The Sequel Trilogy Begins
  • 12. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • 13. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) - Anthology Film
  • 14. Star Wars Resistance (2018-2020) - Animated Series
  • 15. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • 16. The Mandalorian Season 1 & 2 (2019-2020) - Live-Action Series
  • 17. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021-2024) - Animated Series
  • 18. Visions (2021-Present) - Animated Anthology Series (Non-Canon/Varies)
  • 19. The Book of Boba Fett (2021) - Live-Action Series
  • 20. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) - Live-Action Series
  • 21. Andor (2022-Present) - Live-Action Series
  • 22. Tales of the Jedi (2022) - Animated Anthology Series
  • 23. The Mandalorian Season 3 (2023)
  • 24. Ahsoka Season 1 (2023) - Live-Action Series
  • 25. The Acolyte (2024) - Live-Action Series (Set in the High Republic Era)
  • 26. Skeleton Crew (2024/2025) - Live-Action Series
  • 27. The Mandalorian & Grogu (Upcoming Movie - May 22, 2026)

The Star Wars Chronological Order: Following the In-Universe Timeline

For viewers obsessed with lore, continuity, and a seamless narrative flow, the Chronological Order is the only way to watch. This method places every film and show in the order of the in-universe timeline, starting with the earliest events and moving forward. It provides a deep, immersive look at the rise of the Galactic Empire and the fall of the Jedi Order.

The chronological timeline is now structured around official eras, giving fans a clear framework for the entire canon. Note that shows like Tales of the Jedi and The Bad Batch interweave with the main trilogies, providing essential context to characters like Ahsoka Tano and Grand Moff Tarkin.

Era 1: The High Republic & Fall of the Jedi

  • 1. The Acolyte (Live-Action Series) - Set 100 years before Episode I, exploring the High Republic Era.
  • 2. Tales of the Jedi (Select Episodes) - Episodes focusing on a young Count Dooku.
  • 3. Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  • 4. Tales of the Jedi (Select Episodes) - Episodes focusing on Ahsoka Tano's early life.
  • 5. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  • 6. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Film and Series) - Essential viewing for character depth.
  • 7. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  • 8. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Animated Series) - Directly follows the execution of Order 66.

Era 2: Reign of the Empire

  • 9. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  • 10. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Live-Action Series) - Set 10 years after Revenge of the Sith.
  • 11. Andor (Live-Action Series) - Set 5 years before Rogue One, focusing on the birth of the Rebel Alliance.
  • 12. Star Wars Rebels (Animated Series)
  • 13. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Ends moments before A New Hope.
  • 14. Episode IV: A New Hope
  • 15. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  • 16. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Era 3: The New Republic

This era is the current focus of the live-action Disney+ shows, all set roughly 5-10 years after Return of the Jedi.

  • 17. The Mandalorian (Season 1 & 2)
  • 18. The Book of Boba Fett - Intertwined with The Mandalorian.
  • 19. Skeleton Crew (Live-Action Series) - Set concurrently with the other New Republic shows.
  • 20. The Mandalorian (Season 3)
  • 21. Ahsoka (Season 1) - Follows up on plot threads from The Mandalorian and Rebels.
  • 22. The Mandalorian & Grogu (Upcoming Movie)

Era 4: The Sequel Trilogy & Beyond

  • 23. Star Wars Resistance (Animated Series) - Precedes and runs concurrently with the sequels.
  • 24. Episode VII: The Force Awakens
  • 25. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
  • 26. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

The Machete Order: The Fan-Favorite Alternative

The Machete Order is a highly popular, fan-created viewing sequence designed to maximize the dramatic impact of the Skywalker Saga while minimizing the perceived flaws of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It is specifically designed for the six core films (Episodes I-VI) and can be adapted to include the newer content.

The core idea is to watch the Original Trilogy (Episodes IV and V) to establish the hero (Luke Skywalker) and the villain (Darth Vader), then insert the Prequel Trilogy (Episodes II and III) as a massive flashback explaining Vader's origin, and finally conclude with Episode VI: Return of the Jedi for the ultimate payoff: the redemption of Anakin Skywalker.

The Core Machete Order (Episodes I-VI)

  • 1. Episode IV: A New Hope (Establish the stakes)
  • 2. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (The famous twist is revealed)
  • 3. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Flashback begins: Who is Darth Vader?)
  • 4. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Flashback ends: The fall of Anakin Skywalker)
  • 5. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (The grand finale and Vader's redemption)

Why skip Episode I? Creator Rod Hilton argues that The Phantom Menace adds little to the core narrative of Anakin Skywalker's fall and Luke's journey, focusing instead on political and trade disputes. By skipping it, the transition from Empire Strikes Back to the Anakin flashback is more direct and impactful. If you must watch it, it should be placed before Attack of the Clones.

Adapting Machete Order for the Full Canon

To integrate the full canon into a Machete-style experience, the best method is to sandwich the Prequel era shows between the core Prequel films, and then place all Anthology and New Republic content around the core trilogies.

  • 1. A New Hope (IV)
  • 2. The Empire Strikes Back (V)
  • 3. The Acolyte (Optional: If you want the deepest ancient context)
  • 4. Attack of the Clones (II)
  • 5. The Clone Wars (Film & Series)
  • 6. Revenge of the Sith (III)
  • 7. The Bad Batch
  • 8. Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • 9. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  • 10. Andor
  • 11. Star Wars Rebels
  • 12. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  • 13. Return of the Jedi (VI)
  • 14. The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Skeleton Crew, Ahsoka (All New Republic shows)
  • 15. The Force Awakens (VII), The Last Jedi (VIII), The Rise of Skywalker (IX) (The Sequel Trilogy)

Which Star Wars Viewing Order is Right For You?

Choosing the right Star Wars viewing order depends entirely on your goals as a viewer:

  • For the Purist & First-Timer: Choose the Release Order. It's the way the story was originally told, preserving all the surprises and allowing you to experience the franchise's history.
  • For the Lore Master & Continuity Fan: Choose the Chronological Order. This is the definitive timeline for the Canon Star Wars universe, providing the richest understanding of political, historical, and character development, especially with the addition of shows like The Acolyte and Andor.
  • For the Storyteller & Cinematic Enthusiast: Choose the Machete Order. It provides the most satisfying narrative arc for the Skywalker Saga, focusing on the rise and redemption of Darth Vader by turning the Prequels into a dramatic, mid-saga flashback.

No matter which path you choose, the galaxy is vast and full of stories. With new projects announced and released regularly, including the highly anticipated *The Mandalorian & Grogu* movie and the continuation of the *Ahsoka* series, the Force is strong with the future of Star Wars.

star wars release order
star wars release order

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