How many Star Wars movies exist
There are 12 core Star Wars movies released between 1999 and 2019 that make up the Skywalker saga and related standalone stories. This includes 9 saga films and 3 standalone films. If you are including streaming series and other major canonical projects, the total number of longform narrative releases rises, but the consistent movie count remains 12 feature films. Below you will find clear definitions, release years, and what counts as official Star Wars content in current canon.
What counts as an official Star Wars movie
The Sky saga films (Episodes I–IX)
George Lucas’s original story arc, released as Episodes I through IX, forms the backbone of the franchise. These films follow the Skywalker family across three generational arcs and define the classic Star Wars timeline. Episodes I–III introduce the prequel era; Episodes IV–VI represent the original trilogy; Episodes VII–IX conclude the sequel era. All 9 films are produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by major studios under license.
Standalone or anthology films
Beyond the numbered episodes, 3 stand-alone theatrical features expand the galaxy: Rogue One (2016), Solo (2018), and the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars film (2008), which is tied directly to the canonical animated series. Other projects, such as Visions, are typically classified as anthology shorts rather than feature-length movies. These films are canonical under current Lucasfilm story group oversight but are framed as side stories rather than saga chapters.
Star Wars theatrical feature list in order
| Title | Year | Type | Canonicity Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars: The Phantom Menace | 1999 | Saga | Episode I, canon |
| Star Wars: Attack of the Clones | 2002 | Saga | Episode II, canon |
| Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith | 005 | Saga | Episode III, canon |
| A New Hope (Star Wars) | 1977 | Saga | Episode IV, canon |
| The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | Saga | Episode V, canon |
| Return of the Jedi | 1983 | Saga | Episode VI, canon |
| The Force Awakens | 2015 | Saga | Episode VII, canon |
| The Last Jedi | 2017 | Saga | Episode VIII, canon |
| The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | Saga | Episode IX, canon |
| Rogue One | 2016 | Standalone | Canonical, direct prequel to A New Hope |
| Solo | 2018 | Standalone | Canonical, explores Han’s back story |
| Star Wars: The Clone Wars | 2008 | Standalone (animated) | Canonical, bridges series arcs |
Streaming series and other longform content
The rise of streaming has added multiple high-budget series to the franchise, including The Mandalorian, Andor, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. These shows are canonical within current Lucasfilm story group guidelines, but they are produced for television, not theatrical release. As a result, they are not counted as movies. Disney+ has also produced limited series such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and The Book of Boba Fett, which enrich continuity but do not change the 12-film movie count.
Where the confusion often appears
Fans sometimes include animated features such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker expanded editions in the count, or they add rumored future projects. The number can also blur when considering director’s cuts, special editions, or re-releases, but these are distribution formats, not separate narrative features. When people ask how many Star Wars movies there are, they are usually referring to the 12 theatrical features that together tell the Skywalker saga plus the 3 standalone films.
Beyond the feature films
While the movie count is fixed at 12 core features plus 3 standalones, the franchise has expanded into video games, novels, comics, and series that carry canonical weight. Lucasfilm’s current story group treats most post-2014 material as part of a continuous Legends-adjacent continuity, but only the theatrical movies and a handful of selected series hold the same narrative priority. Understanding this distinction helps clarify why the movie number remains stable even as new stories arrive on other platforms.
Future films and what to expect
As of now, no new Star Wars theatrical features are in active development beyond the projects already released. Earlier announced intentions for additional saga chapters have been delayed or rethought, while standalone films are not currently in production. The focus has shifted to streaming series and immersive experiences, but this does not alter the existing catalog of 12 saga films and 3 standalones. When new movies are announced, the count will change, but today the official answer remains 12 feature-length theatrical films.