Revisiting a Classic Star Wars is one of the greatest film series of all time. It started with the original trilogy in the 70s and 80s, and truly changed the cinematic world forever. Its compelling storyline, amazing aliens, and iconic characters captivated audiences around the world. Now, over four decades later, people of all ages are still watching, talking about, and debating how to best experience the epic saga.
But if you’re a newcomer to the Star Wars fandom or need a refresher on the cinematic saga, the task of watching them can seem daunting. With nine feature films and other content like series, video games, and books, the universe can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, we’ve got a breakdown of the best ways to view the epic space opera.
View by Chronological Release Order
The simplest and straightforward way to watch the Star Wars movies is in chronological order of their release. Start with the original trilogy of “A New Hope”, “The Empire Strikes Back”, and “Return of the Jedi”. That’s followed by the prequels “The Phantom Menace”, “Attack of the Clones”, and “Revenge of the Sith”.
Then, you can watch the first of the new trilogy “The Force Awakens” which was released in 2015. “The Last Jedi” came out in 2017 and is the new middle of the trilogy. And “The Rise of Skywalker” is the exciting conclusion of the saga in 2019.
View by Chronological Story Order
For some viewers, the chronological release order may seem a bit confusing. So, the preferred way to watch Star Wars is from the chronological story timeline. This means starting with the prequel trilogy and move forward with “The Phantom Menace”, “Attack of the Clones”, and “Revenge of the Sith”. This order eases viewers into the Star Wars storyline with the more peaceful and innocent times, rather than starting off with galactic civil war.
Then, viewers proceed to the original trilogy of “A New Hope”, “The Empire Strikes Back”, and “Return of the Jedi”. This will bring viewers up to speed with the iconic characters, and how the unexpected rise of a certain protagonist (spoiler!) changes the entire course of the galaxy. This is followed by the new trilogy “The Force Awakens”, “The Last Jedi”, and “The Rise of Skywalker”, which finish off the story.
Alternative Viewing Options
Looking for a more creative approach to watching the Star Wars films? There are several alternative ways that could make the process more entertaining. Here we’ve listed some of the most popular ways to enjoy the galaxy and experience Star Wars like never before.
I. Phantom Menace Marathon
Watch the three prequel films back to back without any breaks. Fans have nicknamed this event a “Phantom Menace Marathon”, as “The Phantom Menace” is generally considered the weakest of the nine films.
II. Randomizer
If you’re looking for a more exciting way to watch, you can use the “Star Wars Randomizer”. This tool will generate a random Star Wars viewing list for you to watch.
III. Character Order
This alternative style is perfect for those who are looking to get to know the fascinating characters of the saga. Simply start with the film that introduce the character or group of characters and move through their story arc.
IV. Special Editions
The Star Wars films have been re-released multiple times. The “Special Edition” versions have added more depth and details not seen before. So, if you’re looking to watch the classic films in a new and unique way then the special edition could be the best choice.
V. Rogue One Crossover
Similar to the character order, this style is great for those who want to fully understand the Star Wars Story. Starting with “Rogue One” — the prequel to “A New Hope” — you get a better understanding of how the events of the original film come to be.
VI. Disney+ Marathon
Disney+ offers a “Star Wars Marathon” option which allows viewers to watch the films consecutively with a few scenes from the cartoon series in between.
The Force is With You
So, if you’re ready to embark on the amazing journey that is the Star Wars Saga then you have several options. We recommend starting with the chronological story order in order to better understand the characters and the events of the saga. Or, if you’re feeling more daring, the Randomizer or Special Edition routes could be more exciting.
No matter which order you choose, let the force be with you as you explore the amazing universe of Star Wars. May the force be with you!