What Is the Order of the Star Wars Movies

Introduction to Star Wars Film Order

The question of what is the order of the Star Wars movies reflects the franchise’s layered storytelling and long production timeline. There are three common ways to experience Star Wars on screen: by release date, by chronological events, and across television series that expand the saga. This guide presents a neutral overview of each ordering method and explains how the films, series, and supplemental material fit together. It focuses on verifiable release and story positions, helping you navigate the main canon while planning your viewing approach.

Release Order vs Chronological Order Explained

Release order follows when each movie first reached theaters; chronological order follows the timeline of events in the Star Wars universe. The prequel trilogy was released from 1999 to 2005 but is set before the original trilogy. The original trilogy was released from 1977 to 1983 but occupies the middle of the saga’s timeline. The sequel trilogy was released from 2015 to 2019 and continues the timeline after the original films. Streaming series such as The Clone Wars and Rebels are positioned around key episodes in the saga and are generally labeled as canonical within official reference guides.

Canonical Film and Series Timeline

Below is a reference table that aligns major Star Wars films and series with their approximate placement in chronological order, along with their verification source type and rough time window in the saga timeline.

Note: Times are eras; all episodes and films are part of official canon unless labeled otherwise in this summary.

Standard Release Order (Theatrical and Streaming)

• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
• 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)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

This sequence follows the year each title first became available in theaters or, for Solo and the sequel trilogy, their initial theatrical release. Note that Rogue One precedes Episode IV, while Solo sits between Episodes II and III in story but was released after the original trilogy’s re-release era.

Chronological Story Order (In-Universe Timeline)

• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film and series)
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars: Rebels (and related media)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (most story beats fall here)
• The Mandalorian and other related series
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

This arrangement follows the internal timeline of events, which places the prequel films first, then the Clone Wars media, the fall of the Republic, the Galactic Civil War, and finally the sequel era. Television series such as The Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Mandalorian fill narrative gaps and are considered canonical within official reference guides.

Where Television Series Fit

Several live-action and animated series hold canonical status and influence the positioning of characters and events. The animated series The Clone Wars and Rebels are generally placed between the film episodes they touch, covering gaps in the Clone Wars and transition to the Imperial era. The Mandalorian and other related series extend from shortly after Return of the Jedi into the New Republic era. These series are frequently referenced in official sources when mapping the full saga timeline.

Viewer Guidance by Interest

Your optimal viewing order depends on what experience you value most. For a traditional narrative journey aligned with character growth and historical discovery, chronological order is effective. If you want to preserve iconic reveals and cinematic milestones as audiences originally encountered them, release order may suit you better. Casual viewers often choose a hybrid approach: starting with the original trilogy, then exploring prequels and sequels, adding series like Rebels and The Clone Wars as time allows.

Common Questions and Clarifications

Viewers frequently ask whether Solo and animated productions count as core viewing. By official definitions, these works are part of the canon and occupy clear positions in the timeline. Some choose to treat them as optional enrichment; others integrate them fully. Spotting conflicting timelines on fan sites usually reflects differences in interpretation, not contradictions in the official source hierarchy. Keeping a simple reference helps avoid confusion between release year and story year.

Summary and Practical Takeaways

Understanding what is the order of the Star Wars movies requires distinguishing between release order, chronological order, and the expanding role of television media. Canon films include the prequel, original, and sequel trilogies plus Rogue One and Solo, while series such as The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, and others occupy verified positions in the official timeline. Use the tables and lists above to choose an order that matches your goals, and update your plan as future releases expand the saga.