The primary benefit to this order is it preserves the Luke/Vader surprise but still allows you to experience Anakin’s entire back-story before learning his ultimate fate. Some fans also suggest a third way to watch the films, sometimes called “the machete order,” which involves starting with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, then going back to watch the prequel trilogy, before returning to the natural release order with Return of the Jedi and continuing on to The Force Awakens from there. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)ġ1. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)ĩ. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)ħ. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)Ħ. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)ĥ. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)Ĥ. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)ģ. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)Ģ. You get some of the franchise’s strongest films right up front, and several of its big surprises are preserved for their proper reveal. Watching the Star Wars films in the order of their release also has its benefits. Appearances are made by pretty much every living saga character (and even some of the dead ones), and the story wraps up the Skywalker saga in epic fashion. (Seriously!) And it’s up to Rey and her sequel-trilogy friends Poe ( Oscar Isaac) and Finn ( John Boyega) to save the galaxy once and for all. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of SkywalkerĮmperor Palpatine has returned. Set directly after the events of The Force Awakens, Rey continues her Jedi training under a reluctant Luke and forms an unlikely bond with a conflicted Kylo Ren, while the rest of the Resistance – a Rebel Alliance-esque offshoot commanded by Leia – fights back against the First Order, the evil regime that rose up to replace the fallen Empire. The film takes place about 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. The focus, however, turned to a new generation of heroes and villains, including Rey ( Daisy Ridley), a poor junk-trader with a strong connection to the Force, and Kylo Ren ( Adam Driver), a masked menace whose bloodline is deeply rooted in Star Wars lore. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakensģ2 years after the original cast wrapped up their battle against the Empire (and three years after Star Wars creator George Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm, to Disney), Hamill, Fisher and Ford returned to the fold for director J.J.
Also included: A second Death Star, a bunch of ferocious (but cute) teddy-bear-like creatures called Ewoks, and a conclusion to the Skywalker saga that stood until … The last installment of the original trilogy takes place about a year after the events of Empire Strikes Back and features the final confrontation between Luke, Vader, and Vader’s master – Emperor Palpatine ( Ian McDiarmid), a Sith Lord who has been skirting around the fringes of the franchise since the beginning. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi A wise puppet named Yoda shows up to train Luke in the ways of the Force, and Darth Vader reveals the truth to Luke that … 40-year-old spoiler alert … he is Luke’s father! (One of the demerits of watching the films in chronological order is that this classic twist gets ruined many films in advance.) Largely considered the best of the Star Wars films (and for good reason), The Empire Strikes Back takes place about three years after the events of A New Hope and finds our heroes on the run from ruthless Imperial forces. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back