“Star Wars” quickly became a beloved franchise since its initial theater release in the late 70s. Fans often debate which movies are the best and in which order to watch them. The franchise is a three-part series where we follow the story of the force-sensitive “chosen one” Anakin Skywalker, a farm boy turned warrior, Luke Skywalker, and a local scrapper, Rey.
All three characters represent a different story and part of the Star Wars saga. While many debate which movies are the best, there are several other ways to watch the series.
In Timeline Order: This order of movie series follows Anakin Skywalker’s rise and the years after his appearance and disappearance.
Series 1
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Series 2
- A New Hope (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
Series 3
- The Force Awakens (2015)
- The Last Jedi (2017)
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Release Order: The series begins with Luke Skywalker and his fight against Darth Vader and the Empire. This series follows the movies that were released in order.
Series 1
- A New Hope (1977)
- The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Return of the Jedi (1983)
Series 2
- The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Series 3
- The Force Awakens (2015)
- The Last Jedi (2017)
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
This list excludes the movies Rogue One and Solo, the Star Wars television series, and other sagas throughout the Star Wars universe.
The Debate of the Series:
Released Movies First: While many agree that watching it chronologically is the best way to do it, others feel the suspense of Luke Skywalker’s story, with the big bad guy Darth Vader being the more remarkable story, and prefer to watch it first. For many first-time viewers in the current Gen Z era, watching the Luke Skywalker series first has been positively viewed for the surprise factor and the curiosity behind certain characters (without giving spoilers) and the relationships that share with Skywalker.
Many people like to view the series from a completely different perspective and learn the back story later in the second series. This way of watching leaves viewers curious about how things came to be, later finding it out as they watch.
Chronological Order: Following the series in the order the story starts and ends is one way people love it, with more of a focus on Anakin Skywalker and his abilities in the Force. Watching Anakin Skywalker’s growth and the government’s state unfold during that time is something that anyone can find appealing. Many viewers enjoy the story of Anakin and his growth within the series as an apprentice, as well as seeing the state of the Star Wars universe in different eras of time.
This order is for people who like to learn about the characters’ stories from the start and know characters who appear later on from the beginning. Chronological order helps viewers see how things can change in time within the universe and how certain events go down.
Writer’s Opinion: You should watch the series chronologically and see how the universe unfolds over time. Characters such as Chewbacca are introduced from the start, and you see where they end up within the universe. Anakin is genuinely who the story is about, and his essence within the story makes up the entire series.
While I enjoy the series and like Luke’s perspective on the story, I prefer to watch him later on and enjoy how the story plays out when he arrives.
Let us know what you think. Do you prefer chronological order or when the movies were released?
