So you want a Star Wars binge and want to watch the movies in order.
Between 1977 and 2018 there have been a total of 10 Star Wars movies and if you are keen enough, a Star Wars marathon would take 22 hours and 25 minutes. That’s a long day!
Rather confusingly, the Star Wars movies were released out of order with Episode IV starting the original trilogy, a prequel and now a sequel trilogy along with two stand alone movies. It sure is confusing!
Quick Links
- The Star Wars Movies in Order
- Episode I – The Phantom Menace
- Episode Ii – Attack of the Clones
- Episode Iii – Revenge of the Sith
- Solo – A Star Wars Story
- Rogue One – A Star Wars Story
- Episode Iv – A New Hope
- Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
- Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi
- Episode Vii – The Force Awakens
- Episode Viii – The Last Jedi
- Episode Ix – The Rise of Skywalker
The Star Wars Movies in Order
Warning! Possible spoilers ahead…
Episode I – The Phantom Menace
Released: 1999
Box Office: $431m
IMDB: 6.5
The Phantom Menace kick starts the story where Obi-Wan Kenobi is the young apprentice under the wise eye of Qui-Gon Jinn. At this point, Luke Skywalker’s father, Anakin Skywalker, is a 9 year old boy who catches the eye of Qui-Gon. The Sith are starting to make their move and we are introduced to one of the coolest Sith Lords to ever grace the screen – Darth Maul. Sure the movie also has Jar Jar Binks but the epic showdown in this more than makes up for it.
Episode Ii – Attack of the Clones
Released: 2002
Box Office: $302m
IMDB: 6.6
Attack of the Clones is set ten years after The Phantom Menace. The Republic is still going to hell and the Jedi is struggling to keep things under control. The Sith are still pulling the strings behind the scenes and this sees many of the pieces falling into place ready for the Emperor to strike. Of course the greatest thing about Attack of the Clones would have to be getting to see Yoda in action with his lightsaber.
Episode Iii – Revenge of the Sith
Released: 2005
Box Office: $380m
IMDB: 7.5
Even though it’s only been 3 years since Attack of the Clones, things have moved on quite dramatically with the war in full swing. General Grievous makes a great enemy but is nothing compared to the darkness brewing within Anakin Skywalker stirred by Chancellor Palpatine. One of the darkest and saddest movies in the franchise, Revenge of the Sith brings this trilogy to a close and ties in nicely with the original trilogy. There are of course some epic lightsaber battles in this movie and the fight choreography is stunning.
Solo – A Star Wars Story
Released: 2018
Box Office: $213m
IMDB: 7.0
A movie full of nostalgia, especially for fans of the original trilogy. Despite positive reviews from critics, this movie was a relative flop compared to others. This movie tells the story of a young Han Solo and his misadventures with Chewbacca and the Millennium Falcon. Han Solo joins forces with a gang of galactic smugglers to right a debt from the gangster Dryden Vos.
Rogue One – A Star Wars Story
Released: 2016
Box Office: $532m
IMDB: 7.8
A very enjoyable watch, this stand alone Star Wars movie tells the story of scientist Galen Erso and his daughter Jyn. Galen is forced to become the lead engineer of the most feared weapon in the galaxy, the Death Star. Rogue One follows the story of Jyn who joins forces with the resistance in order steal plans that could be the end of the Death Star. It really does tie in nicely in with the franchise.
Episode Iv – A New Hope
Released: 1977
Box Office: $307m
IMDB: 8.6
A New Hope is the Star Wars movie that started it all and sees Princess Leia held hostage by Darth Vader and a rebellion in full swing against the Empire. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo join forces along with R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the princess in distress. The film that started it all, A New Hope was a beautiful beginning.
Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
Released: 1980
Box Office: $209m
IMDB: 8.8
Full of iconic movie quotes that will stand the test of time, The Empire Strikes Back is one of the highest rated Star Wars movies, and for good reason. So many great moments from the AT-AT walks on the ice planet Hoth, Luke training with Yoda and of course Luke’s daddy issues.
Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi
Released: 1983
Box Office: $252m
IMDB: 8.3
The final movie in the original introduced us to Ewoks, Jabba the Hut and of course, Princess Leia’s gold bikini. As build ups and showdowns go, this is a big one with Luke confronting Darth Vader and the Emperor. Bye bye Dark Side, for now.
Episode Vii – The Force Awakens
Released: 2015
Box Office: $936m
IMDB: 8.0
You’d think the evil Empire was done and dusted but thirty years later the First Order have taken over the mantle as the big bads, the resistance is still fighting the good fight with Leia at the helm as general. Rey and Finn start their “will they, won’t they”, Kylo Ren has extreme Dark Side angst and everyone is on the lookout for Luke Skywalker.
Episode Viii – The Last Jedi
Released: 2017
Box Office: $620m
IMDB: 7.2
Rey has caught up with Luke Skywalker and is taught to use the force. The connection between Rey and Kylo Ren gets ever stronger and it’s clear that the end of the trilogy will have one hell of an epic showdown. The resistance also takes one hell of a beating and if they weren’t the underdogs before, they are now.
Episode Ix – The Rise of Skywalker
Release: December 20th, 2019
That takes us up to ‘present day’ in terms of the timeline for the currently released movies. We haven’t had a more controversial ending since the last episode of Game of Thrones! Love it or hate it, The Rise of Skywalker was the final installment and it was chocked full of throwbacks and fan service to keep most people happy.
Image Credit: StarWars.com
Eden
Wednesday 5th of June 2019
The correct order in which one should watch the films is frequently contested. Some argue myself included that they are best enjoyed in the order they were released, starting with the original 1977 film. Others say the films are easiest to follow when they are watched in the order which the events occur in the franchise s internal chronology. Regardless of how you personally feel on this issue it s likely you agree the whole affair is getting harder and harder to keep straight. Below you ll find the timeline in which the events of the Star Wars universe occur in canonical, chronological order.