Star Wars, Start to Finish: The Definitive Order to Watch Every Movie and Series
With The Mandalorian and Grogu in theaters and new Disney+ series arriving steadily, fans are flocking back to one timeless question: how should Star Wars be watched in order? This GenieGrove guide maps out every canon film and show in both chronological and release order, with context for newcomers and longtime fans alike.
It has never been a better time to start Star Wars from scratch — and a fresh wave of fans is asking the same question: in what order should the galaxy far, far away actually be watched? With The Mandalorian and Grogu now in theaters, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord streaming on Disney+, and a stacked slate of new movies and series on the horizon, this definitive GenieGrove guide lays out every canon film and show in both chronological (timeline) order and release order, with the context to make sense of it all.
The Buzz
- The franchise is mid-renaissance: a new theatrical movie is in cinemas, fresh Disney+ series are arriving regularly, and a long list of films is in development.
- Every live-action and animated canon title now streams in one place on Disney+, making a full timeline binge easier than ever.
- Newcomers and returning fans alike are debating the "right" way in — chronological order versus release order — a renewed conversation IGN recently helped reignite with its viewing-order rundown.
There are two popular ways to experience Star Wars, and neither is wrong. Watching in chronological order — following the in-universe timeline from the High Republic era through the fall of the New Republic — lets the saga unfold as a single continuous history. Watching in release order preserves the way the story was actually revealed to audiences, including the original trilogy's iconic twists. Below, GenieGrove breaks down both, era by era, so any viewer can pick the path that suits them.
Star Wars in Chronological (Timeline) Order
This is the in-universe sequence, from the earliest events to the latest. It opens long before the Skywalker Saga and threads through the prequels, the Clone Wars, the original trilogy, the post-Empire bounty-hunter era, and finally the sequel trilogy and beyond.
The Prequel Trilogy and the Clone Wars
1. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Movie, 1999). Starring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, and Natalie Portman, the first prequel introduces a young Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), believed to be the one destined to bring balance to the Force. Initially divisive, it has since earned a warmer reception. Where to watch: Disney+.
2. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Movie, 2002). Set ten years later, the second prequel follows an older Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) as new threats push the galaxy toward the Clone Wars. Where to watch: Disney+.
3. Star Wars: Clone Wars (Animated Series, 2003–2005). Genndy Tartakovsky's 2D micro-series ran on Cartoon Network and slots neatly between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, with Mat Lucas and James Arnold Taylor voicing Anakin and Obi-Wan. Where to watch: Disney+.
4. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Movie, 2008). A computer-animated film that released two months ahead of the series, acting as its pilot. It introduced Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) and shifted the voice cast that would carry into the show. Where to watch: Disney+.
5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated Series, 2008–2020). The acclaimed CG series covers the three years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, expanding the saga's most pivotal conflict and leading directly into the prequel trilogy's finale. Where to watch: Disney+.
6. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Movie, 2005). Set three years after Attack of the Clones, the third prequel chronicles Anakin's tragic turn and brings the prequel chapter of the Skywalker Saga to a close. Where to watch: Disney+.
The Dark Times: Between the Republic and the Rebellion
7. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (Animated Series, 2026–Present). Set a few years after the Clone Wars and overlapping with The Bad Batch, this Dave Filoni-driven animated series reveals what Darth Maul (Sam Witwer) gets up to after Palpatine's Order 66. GenieGrove notes its strong first season earned a quick renewal. Where to watch: Disney+.
8. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Animated Series, 2021–2024). A sequel to The Clone Wars, it follows Clone Force 99 — a squad of elite, genetically distinct clones — navigating mercenary work in the early days of the Empire. Where to watch: Disney+.
9. Solo: A Star Wars Story (Movie, 2018). Set roughly 10 years before A New Hope, this standalone stars Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, charting his first adventures alongside Chewbacca. Where to watch: Disney+.
10. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Series, 2022). Ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Ewan McGregor returns as the exiled Jedi. Lucasfilm has said the door remains open for more, and the events of the game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are positioned along this same stretch of the canon timeline. Where to watch: Disney+.
The Rise of the Rebellion
11. Star Wars Rebels (Animated Series, 2014–2018). Set roughly a decade after Revenge of the Sith and about five years before A New Hope, this four-season, 75-episode series follows the small sparks that grow into open Rebellion. Where to watch: Disney+.
12. Star Wars: Andor (Series, 2022–2025). Also set five years before A New Hope, Andor dramatizes the formation of the Rebel Alliance with Diego Luna as Cassian Andor. Its acclaimed two-season run — 12 episodes apiece — leads directly into the events of Rogue One. Where to watch: Disney+.
13. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Movie, 2016). The first standalone spin-off, set just before A New Hope, follows a band of Rebels — Cassian among them — as they steal the Death Star plans. The ensemble includes Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, and Mads Mikkelsen. Where to watch: Disney+.
The Original Trilogy: The Heart of the Skywalker Saga
14. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Movie, 1977). The film that launched everything. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) begins Jedi training under Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and sets out to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). Where to watch: Disney+.
15. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Movie, 1980). Set three years later, the darker middle chapter sends Luke to train with Yoda while Darth Vader tightens his grip — and delivers one of cinema's most famous revelations. Where to watch: Disney+.
16. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Movie, 1983). Set a year after The Empire Strikes Back, the trilogy's finale follows the Rebel fleet's assault on the second Death Star and Luke's final confrontation with Vader. Where to watch: Disney+.
The New Republic Era: The Mandalorian and Beyond
17. Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Series, 2019–Present). Set in the gap between the fall of the Empire and the rise of the First Order, this space western follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and the foundling Grogu. Season 3 takes place after The Book of Boba Fett. Where to watch: Disney+.
18. The Book of Boba Fett (Series, 2021). A Mandalorian spin-off set around the same period, with Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett trading bounty hunting for the throne once held by Jabba the Hutt across seven hour-long episodes. Where to watch: Disney+.
19. Star Wars: Ahsoka (Series, 2023). The former Jedi Knight investigates a rising galactic threat. Per actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Sabine Wren), the series runs along the same timeline as The Mandalorian Season 3 — and a second season is officially in development. Where to watch: Disney+.
20. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Series, 2024). Set concurrently with The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, this Goonies-inspired adventure follows suburban kids from the planet At Attin swept into a space-pirate caper, with Jude Law as Jod Na Nawood. Where to watch: Disney+.
21. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (Movie, 2026). Picking up right after The Mandalorian Season 3, the film lands around 12–13 ABY — the same neighborhood as Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew. It is the first Star Wars film in theaters since the sequel trilogy wrapped. Where to watch: In theaters.
The Rise of the First Order and the Sequel Trilogy
22. Star Wars: Resistance (Animated Series, 2018–2019). The first look at the emerging First Order, following young pilot Kazuda Xiono, recruited by Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) to spy on the enemy just before the sequel trilogy. Where to watch: Disney+.
23. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Movie, 2015). The sequel trilogy opens with Rey (Daisy Ridley), ex-Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega), and pilot Poe (Oscar Isaac) joining the Resistance — led by Leia (Carrie Fisher) — against Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Where to watch: Disney+.
24. Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (Movie, 2017). Picking up immediately after The Force Awakens, Rey seeks Luke's guidance while Finn and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) aid the Resistance's escape. The film is lovingly dedicated to Carrie Fisher. Where to watch: Disney+.
25. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (Movie, 2019). The sequel trilogy's finale and the close of the Skywalker Saga sees the Resistance face Kylo Ren and a returning Emperor Palpatine. IGN's review called it a tribute to the saga's legacy even as it juggled decades of story. Where to watch: Disney+.
Beyond the Saga: New Stories in the Galaxy
26. Star Wars: Visions (Anime Series, 2021–Present). A non-canon anthology of animated shorts, each crafted by a different Japanese studio with full creative freedom. Two volumes are available to stream. Where to watch: Disney+.
Star Wars in Release Order
Prefer to experience the saga the way audiences first did — original trilogy twists intact? Here is every canon film and series in the order it premiered:
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (Movie, 1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Movie, 1980)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Movie, 1983)
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Movie, 1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (Movie, 2002)
- Star Wars: Clone Wars (Animated Series, 2003–2005)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (Movie, 2005)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Movie, 2008)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated Series, 2008–2020)
- Star Wars Rebels (Animated Series, 2014–2018)
- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (Movie, 2015)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Movie, 2016)
- Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (Movie, 2017)
- Star Wars: Resistance (Animated Series, 2018–2019)
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (Movie, 2018)
- Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (Movie, 2019)
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Series, 2019–Present)
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Animated Series, 2021–Present)
- Star Wars: Visions (Anime Series, 2021–Present)
- The Book of Boba Fett (Series, 2021)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (Series, 2022)
- Star Wars: Andor (Series, 2022–2025)
- Young Jedi Adventures (Animated Series, 2023–Present)
- Star Wars: Ahsoka (Series, 2023)
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Series, 2024)
- Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (Series, 2026–Present)
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (Movie, 2026)
Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show
The galaxy keeps expanding. Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord has already been renewed for a second season, and The Mandalorian and Grogu is the first major Star Wars film since The Rise of Skywalker. Several more confirmed projects are in production or development:
- Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi (Series, 2026). A miniseries spinoff continuing Production I.G.'s acclaimed "The Ninth Jedi" shorts from Visions.
- Star Wars: Starfighter (Movie, May 28, 2027). Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, this standalone is set roughly five years after The Rise of Skywalker — further down the timeline than any title to date — and is reportedly unrelated to the Skywalker Saga.
- Star Wars: Ahsoka Season 2 (In Production). Filming has wrapped, with a release window still to be confirmed.
- Maul: Shadow Lord Season 2 (In Production). Sam Witwer's Maul returns after a well-received first season.
The longer list of undated projects in development includes Taika Waititi's Star Wars movie (reportedly on hold), James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi film, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's New Jedi Order movie with Daisy Ridley, and Simon Kinberg's new trilogy — evidence the franchise's future is as crowded as its past.
Why Fans Are Buzzing
With a new movie in cinemas, fresh animated series streaming, and a deep bench of films and shows still to come, interest in Star Wars is surging again — and newcomers want a clear on-ramp. The good news is that every canon title now lives under one roof on Disney+, so whether a viewer chooses the chronological journey from The Phantom Menace to Star Wars: Visions or the original release-order route through A New Hope, the entire saga is just a few clicks away. For longtime fans, it is a chance to revisit the galaxy with the timeline fully mapped; for new ones, there has never been an easier moment to take that first hyperspace jump.
