Buzz
Over the past 50 years, 11 Star Wars films (A New Hope) have been released — and that’s just the movies shown in theaters. Whether you're watching the series for the first time or revisiting it in preparation for a new installment, the question of how to watch Star Wars has always sparked debate. There are three popular viewing orders: release order, chronological order, or the Rinster method, which organizes the films to make the story easier to follow. But remember, once you decide to watch, there are no hard and fast rules — so choose the method that feels most comfortable to you!
Steps
Watch in Release Order
Watching the films in release order provides the nostalgic experience of how audiences saw them originally. If you want to capture the classic movie experience, watch the films in the order they were released. Many Star Wars fans consider this to be the best approach, but there are some drawbacks. The shift in style from Return of the Jedi to The Phantom Menace might feel jarring, and the storyline could be confusing since you're not watching the events in chronological order.
- If you're watching with children, this order may be harder for them because the older films lack modern visual effects.
Release Order:
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) - 2005
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) -2016
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) -2017
Solo (A Star Wars Story) - 2018
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - 2019
Watch the Original Trilogy First. Start with A New Hope (1977) and finish with Return of the Jedi (1983), the iconic trilogy that is considered a classic by both fans and critics. There’s no better way to begin the saga than with the legendary Luke Skywalker.
- There are two versions of this trilogy: the original release and the 1977 special edition. The special edition isn’t a new story — everything from characters to plot remains the same — only the visual effects were enhanced. This might be a better choice for watching with younger kids, though hardcore movie fans often prefer the original version.
Watch the Prequel Trilogy After the Original Trilogy. Once you've completed Luke Skywalker's story, move on to the prequels. Start with The Phantom Menace and proceed with Attack of the Clones (The Clone Wars), concluding the prequel trilogy with Revenge of the Sith to wrap up the tale of Darth Vader and learn the origins of Luke. You’ll also witness Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker as young men, a fun addition if you enjoy making connections between the films.
- Watching the prequels isn’t crucial to understanding the events of the original trilogy, and the tone of the films differs from the others (more childish and comedic). Many mature viewers tend to skip the prequels due to their action-heavy plots and often weaker storylines.
- The prequels take place before the original trilogy, meaning they lead up to A New Hope (1977). This viewing order may be tricky if you’ve been away from the series for a while, as the events of the prequels will eventually connect to the beginning of the original trilogy.
Watch in Disney’s Release Order, including the Anthology Films if You’d Like. After finishing the prequels, move on to the films produced by Disney. Begin with The Force Awakens (2015), followed by The Last Jedi (2017), and conclude with The Rise of Skywalker (2019). You may also watch Rogue One after The Force Awakens and Solo after The Last Jedi if you wish, but these films are considered standalone anthologies and do not directly impact the main story, so they can be skipped.
- The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker are collectively known as the “Sequel Trilogy.” They continue the story introduced in the prequels and original trilogies.
- Rogue One and Solo are considered spinoffs, with the subtitle A Star Wars Story. These films provide additional background and stories related to the main saga but are not essential for understanding the core narrative. Whether you watch them or not depends on your personal preference, though they do offer extra depth to the Star Wars universe.
Watch in Chronological Order
You can choose to watch the films in chronological order of events. One of the drawbacks of watching movies by release date is that it can be hard to follow the storyline. You need to watch the original trilogy, then jump back to the prequels, and then back again to the sequels. To make it easier to follow, you can rearrange the movies in the order the events happen according to a linear timeline.
- Since the prequels have a lighter and more humorous tone, this is a good viewing order if you’re watching with children. It’s also easier to follow the story, especially for younger viewers.
Linear Timeline Order:
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) – 2005
Solo (A Star Wars Story) (Optional) - 2018
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) (Optional) -2016
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) -2017
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - 2019
Start with the prequel trilogy first. If you’re watching Star Wars in linear order, begin with the prequel trilogy about a young Darth Vader. Start with The Phantom Menace, then move to Attack of the Clones, and finish with Revenge of the Sith.
- One downside to this method is that you’ll be watching the prequels first, which some consider the weakest parts of the saga. If you're viewing with a critical mindset, the prequels might be hard to get into initially.
Watch Solo and Rogue One after finishing Revenge of the Sith. Both Solo and Rogue One are optional, but if you want to watch them, do so after Revenge of the Sith. These films provide interesting backstories for key characters in the original trilogy, and they’re generally well-regarded. However, if you skip them, the main storyline won’t be disrupted.
- Rogue One focuses mainly on the origins of the Death Star and the early days of the Empire’s conquest of the galaxy. Solo tells the story of Han Solo, revealing more about Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and the Millennium Falcon.
Watch the Original Trilogy after finishing the prequels and spinoffs. After completing the prequels, whether you watch the spinoffs or not, begin with the original trilogy. A New Hope picks up right after the events of Revenge of the Sith, so it will be easier to recognize the key characters, understand their motivations, and follow the revealed events in the story.
- The advantage of this order is that the violent actions of the Empire in the opening of A New Hope become much more understandable.
- Unfortunately, the surprise twist at the end of The Empire Strikes Back will no longer be a shock, as it’s already been clarified in the prequels. This might be the biggest drawback of the linear viewing method.
Watch the Disney sequels to catch up on the latest events. Finish your Star Wars journey by watching the three sequels. Start with The Force Awakens, then The Last Jedi, and wrap it up with The Rise of Skywalker to conclude the entire saga.
- The events in these sequels may include several references to key moments from the original trilogy, and characters from the original films make appearances in the sequels as well.
Watch in Rinster Order
Choose the Rinster method to enhance the impact of Return of the Jedi. The Rinster order is named after the fan who created it – Ernest Rinster. The purpose of this method is to preserve the surprise of The Empire Strikes Back's ending. You begin with the first two parts of the original trilogy, then watch the prequels, and finish with the final part of the trilogy. This order is a combination of linear and release-date viewing, where the prequels serve as a lengthy flashback before concluding the original trilogy.
- For die-hard Star Wars fans, this is considered the best viewing method as it reduces the prequels to mere flashbacks. It preserves the story’s continuity while amplifying the emotional impact of the final film in the original trilogy. This method also increases the emotional weight of Return of the Jedi, as you’ve already explored Vader's backstory.
Rinster Order:
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (Optional for machete method) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) – 2005
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) -2017
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) – 2019
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) -2016
Solo (A Star Wars Story) - 2018
Watch the first two films of the original trilogy. To follow the Rinster order, start with A New Hope, then move on to The Empire Strikes Back. Once you've finished these two, set aside the final film to watch later.
Insert the prequels before concluding the original trilogy with Return of the Jedi. After finishing The Empire Strikes Back, move on to the prequels. Watch The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. The Empire Strikes Back ends with a major revelation about the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, while the prequels explore Vader’s youth and his descent into the dark side, giving you a deeper understanding of both Vader and Luke once you’ve watched Return of the Jedi!
- Since Return of the Jedi concludes on the emotional peak of the original trilogy, it's best to watch the prequels first to absorb everything before diving back into the original trilogy's conclusion.
Watch Disney's current movies and save Rogue One and Solo for later. Complete the sequel trilogy, following the stories of Rey, Kylo Ren, and Finn — characters who are the spiritual successors of Luke, Vader, and Han Solo. Many characters from the original trilogy appear in the sequels, giving you a nostalgic glimpse at how they’ve evolved and aged! Save Rogue One and Solo to watch afterward.
- In the Rinster order, Rogue One and Solo are side stories not directly related to the main saga. This viewing order stays true to the intent of the films, as Rogue One and Solo don’t affect the core storyline.
Typical Adjustments
Fit Rogue One between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back to enhance the story. Whether you’re following the linear timeline or the Rinster order, you can watch Rogue One after A New Hope and before The Empire Strikes Back if you prefer. Rogue One provides critical background on the Death Star and the motivations behind the Rebel Alliance’s fight against the Empire, which enriches the experience of The Empire Strikes Back.
- The struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire is only vaguely addressed in the main saga. Rogue One offers crucial details on why these two factions are enemies right from the start.
Watch Rogue One and Solo before diving into the original trilogy for better context. Whether you go with the linear timeline or the Rinster method, you can watch these two films first. This helps you grasp many of the background stories of the original trilogy without spoiling any key plot twists or important details, as neither film affects the main storyline.
- It doesn’t matter which of the two films you watch first.
Skip The Phantom Menace and continue with the Rinster method. This method, often called the “Machete Method,” is favored because it removes what many fans consider the weakest entry. It's a great choice if you're aiming for a more streamlined story since The Phantom Menace doesn’t add much to the overall plot, and its events don’t significantly impact the sequels.
- The Phantom Menace is visually striking, but its story has been criticized as dull and absurd. However, if you enjoy action and cool visuals, it’s still an enjoyable watch.
Watch the prequels last and treat them as a flashback. Many diehard fans dislike all of the prequels, opting to watch them at the end to preserve the tone, storyline, and pacing of the original trilogy. You can also skip them entirely if you don't enjoy them.
Tip: Don’t dismiss the prequels just because of others’ opinions. Plenty of fans still love these films, and you might be one of them. If you haven’t watched The Phantom Menace, give it a shot. If after an hour it doesn’t grab you, feel free to skip it.
Tip
- If you're interested in watching the popular animated series Clone Wars, start it right after finishing the second prequel, The Clone Wars. This will give you the most context for Revenge of the Sith. The TV show spans six seasons, so be prepared to invest time in it.
- New films produced by Disney are available for streaming. If you don’t own the DVDs, you’ll need to rent the movies elsewhere.
