What Are the Star Wars Movie Names: A Complete, Ordered List

All Main Star Wars Movies in Release Order

The main theatrical Star Wars movies released in the following order: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005). This sequence represents the original Skywalker saga as distributed in theaters.

Later, Lucasfilm added a second trilogies and a sequel: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). These nine films form the core linear cinematic saga most viewers reference when asking about Star Wars movie names.

Viewing-Order Options and Why They Matter

Two primary viewing traditions exist: release order and story chronology. Release order follows theatrical distribution and preserves the original audience experience and reveals. Chronological order presents the in-universe timeline, which some prefer for narrative cohesion. Your goal affects which sequence feels more satisfying.

Release-Order Advantages

• Preserves iconic reveals and cultural impact
• Shows how visual effects and storytelling evolved
• Matches original marketing and audience expectations

Chronological-Order Advantages

• Follows character and galaxy-spanning timeline logically
• Introduces newer visuals and themes earlier
• Useful for backstory and continuity references

The Nine Main Saga Films at a Glance

BBY and ABY refer to years before and after the Battle of Yavin, the event in Episode IV that marks the saga’s timeline anchor.

Beyond the Main Saga: Notable Additions

Several films sit outside the main episodic arcs but are frequently mentioned alongside the core movies:

• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) — a standalone war thriller set immediately before Episode IV.
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) — an origin story for Han Solo and Chewbacca.
• Various animated features and documentaries, such as The Clone Wars (2008) and Visions (2021), expand the universe but are not part of the central live-action saga.

How to Choose a Starting Point

If you are new to Star Wars, your priorities should guide your path. If you value iconic imagery, suspense, and cultural discovery, begin with release order: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, then continue forward. If you prefer chronological progression and detailed political backstory, start with The Phantom Menace and move linearly through the fall of the Republic, ending with the sequel trilogy.

Key Characters and Their Film Debuts

Understanding when major characters appear helps prioritize which movies to watch first:

• Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo: Episode IV
• Darth Vader, Yoda, Emperor Palpatine: Episodes V–VI and prequel context in I–III
• Anakin Skywalker: Episodes I–III (origin story)
• Rey, Finn, Poe: The Force Awakens onward

Canonical Context and Continuity

Star Wars maintains a tiered canon: films and select animated projects hold the highest weight, while some older Expanded Universe material now occupies "Legends" status. For newcomers focusing on the movies, the nine-film saga forms the primary continuity, with Rogue One and Solo providing adjacent, self-contained stories that enrich key events without requiring ongoing commitment.

Practical Viewing Plan and Final Guidance

Choose a plan that fits your goals. For a classic cinematic journey, follow release order to respect narrative impact and nostalgia. For deep continuity and character roots, choose chronological order. Either way, the Star Wars movie names represent a foundational modern saga; your chosen sequence will shape how you understand the Force, the Skywalker legacy, and the enduring conflict between the galaxy’s ideals and its fears.