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The Ultimate 2025 Star Wars Viewing Order Guide: 3 Ways To Watch The Entire Saga (Films & Shows)

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Deciding how to watch the Star Wars saga in 2025 is a more complex challenge than ever before, thanks to the explosion of incredible, interconnected content on Disney+. No longer is it just a simple matter of watching the nine core Skywalker Saga films; the universe now includes essential live-action series like The Mandalorian and Andor, animated masterpieces like The Clone Wars, and new High Republic era stories like The Acolyte. This expansion has created a rich, but often confusing, timeline for both new fans and seasoned veterans looking for a definitive rewatch.

The best way to watch Star Wars ultimately depends on your goal: do you want the story told from beginning to end, the original theatrical experience, or a streamlined narrative that preserves the biggest plot twists? This comprehensive guide breaks down the three most popular viewing orders—Chronological, Release, and Machete—and provides a complete, up-to-date list of every major film and series, ensuring you experience the entire galaxy far, far away in the most satisfying way possible.

The Complete Star Wars Timeline: Chronological Order (The Story First)

The Chronological Order is the most logical choice for viewers who want to experience the story of the galaxy from its earliest known events to its latest adventures. This order is perfect for understanding the rise and fall of the Jedi, the birth of the Galactic Empire, and the journey of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. It integrates the Prequel Trilogy, the Original Trilogy, and the Sequel Trilogy with all of the major Disney+ series and "A Star Wars Story" films.

Note: This list focuses on the major live-action and animated series essential to the main timeline. Many animated shorts, non-canon material, and anthology series like Visions are excluded for clarity.

Phase I: The High Republic Era (Approx. 200 BBY)

  • The Acolyte (Live-Action Series, 2024/2025) - Set roughly 100 years before Episode I, this series introduces a new era of Sith and Jedi conflict.

Phase II: The Fall of the Republic (Prequel Era)

  • Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) - Introduces Anakin Skywalker and the beginning of the Sith return.
  • Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated Series, 2008–2020) - Essential viewing to understand the war, Ahsoka Tano's journey, and Anakin's fall.
  • Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) - The culmination of the Prequel Trilogy and the birth of the Empire.
  • Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Animated Series, 2021–2024) - Immediately follows Revenge of the Sith, showing the beginning of the Empire's reign.
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) - A standalone adventure charting the early life of Han Solo.
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi (Live-Action Series, 2022) - Set 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, detailing Obi-Wan's exile and a confrontation with Darth Vader.
  • Andor (Live-Action Series, 2022) - A gritty spy thriller set 5 years before Rogue One, charting the early days of the Rebel Alliance.

Phase III: The Galactic Civil War (Original Trilogy Era)

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) - Directly leads into A New Hope.
  • Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) - The beginning of the Original Trilogy.
  • Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) - The end of the Galactic Civil War.

Phase IV: The New Republic Era (Post-Original Trilogy)

  • The Mandalorian (Live-Action Series, 2019–Present) - Set 5 years after Return of the Jedi, following Din Djarin and Grogu.
  • The Book of Boba Fett (Live-Action Series, 2021) - Intersects with The Mandalorian.
  • Ahsoka (Live-Action Series, 2023) - A direct continuation of The Mandalorian and Rebels storylines, focusing on the search for Grand Admiral Thrawn.
  • Skeleton Crew (Live-Action Series, Upcoming 2025) - Set in the same post-Return of the Jedi timeframe as The Mandalorian.
  • The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie (Upcoming 2026) - A cinematic continuation of the Disney+ series.
  • Star Wars: Starfighter (Upcoming 2027) - A new feature film.

Phase V: The Rise of the First Order (Sequel Era)

  • Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) - The beginning of the Sequel Trilogy.
  • Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) - The conclusion of the Skywalker Saga.
  • Untitled Rey Movie (Upcoming) - Set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, following Rey as a new Jedi Master.

The Purist's Choice: Star Wars in Release Order

For many fans, the best way to watch Star Wars for the first time is still the original way: the Release Order. This method respects the original cinematic experience and the narrative reveals as George Lucas and Lucasfilm intended them to be seen. It's the only order that fully preserves the shock of the "I am your father" reveal in The Empire Strikes Back, and it allows the viewer to appreciate the vast improvements in special effects and filmmaking technology over time.

The Release Order is straightforward: simply watch the films in the order they premiered in theaters. For a complete experience, you can intersperse the Disney+ series and standalone films in their own release order as well.

The Core Film Release Order:

  1. A New Hope (1977) (Original Trilogy begins)
  2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  3. Return of the Jedi (1983)
  4. The Phantom Menace (1999) (Prequel Trilogy begins)
  5. Attack of the Clones (2002)
  6. Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  7. The Clone Wars (2008 Film)
  8. The Force Awakens (2015) (Sequel Trilogy begins)
  9. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
  10. The Last Jedi (2017)
  11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
  12. The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Watching in this order provides the most authentic sense of discovery. The sudden jump from the polished, modern Prequel Trilogy back to the 1977 aesthetic of A New Hope can be jarring in the chronological order, but the release order avoids this issue entirely.

The Narrative Streamline: The Machete Order

The Machete Order, popularized by blogger Rod Hilton, is an alternative viewing sequence designed to preserve the biggest twist in the Original Trilogy while integrating the Prequels as an extended flashback. It completely removes Episode I: The Phantom Menace, arguing that it is largely irrelevant to the core story of Luke Skywalker and his father, Darth Vader, and its removal improves the overall pacing.

This order is an excellent choice for introducing a new fan to the saga, as it maintains the mystery surrounding Vader’s identity. The Machete Order treats Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith as a necessary origin story that is told *after* the initial hook of A New Hope, but *before* the climactic reveal in The Empire Strikes Back.

The Machete Order Sequence:

  1. Episode IV: A New Hope - Sets up the main conflict and characters.
  2. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - Delivers the iconic "I am your father" reveal.
  3. Episode II: Attack of the Clones - The flashback begins: How did Anakin become Vader?
  4. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - The flashback ends: The birth of Vader and the Empire.
  5. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi - The final confrontation and redemption, with the Anakin/Vader backstory fresh in the viewer's mind.

The Machete Order's Pros and Cons:

  • Pro: Preserves the shocking reveal in Empire Strikes Back.
  • Pro: Frames the Prequels as a meaningful, necessary flashback.
  • Con: Skips The Phantom Menace, meaning you miss the introduction of Qui-Gon Jinn and the full context of Palpatine's rise.
  • Con: Does not easily accommodate the Sequel Trilogy or the standalone films like Rogue One, which would need to be added at the end (after Return of the Jedi) or before A New Hope, respectively.

Choosing Your Path to the Galaxy

Ultimately, the "best" way to watch Star Wars is the one that provides you with the most enjoyment. The Star Wars Saga is a sprawling, multi-generational epic rich with lore, from the political machinations of the Galactic Republic to the spiritual journey of Luke Skywalker. Whether you commit to the massive Chronological Order, honor the original Release Order, or streamline the narrative with the Machete Order, you are embarking on one of the greatest cinematic adventures ever created.

The continuous release of new shows on Disney+, such as the second season of Ahsoka and the eagerly anticipated The Acolyte, means the timeline is always growing. For the most complete and up-to-date experience, the Chronological Order remains the definitive choice for viewers who want to see every piece of the puzzle fit together seamlessly, making the journey across the entire Star Wars timeline a truly immersive experience.

The Ultimate 2025 Star Wars Viewing Order Guide: 3 Ways to Watch the Entire Saga (Films & Shows)
star wars in order
star wars in order

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