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Star Wars: How to watch the Skywalker Saga and more in chronological or release order

All you need to know to watch Star Wars, either in the order it came out or the order it takes place

Star Wars: Ahsoka
Image credit: Lucasfilm

By this point, it’s become clear how rooted in the larger mythology of Star Wars that Disney+’s Ahsoka really is, with the show acting as a continuation of both Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, as well as tying in with both the prequel trilogy and the ongoing storyline from The Mandalorian, to boot. It’s almost enough to make you want to strap into hyperspace and go back and revisit a galaxy far, far away for an extended stay… maybe even rewatching the entire thing, perhaps. (All of that might be a good way to prepare for the three new movies announced at this year’s Star Wars Celebration, come to think of it.)

The thing is… there’s actually a lot of Star Wars out there. So what’s the best way to watch it? If that’s a question you’ve been asking yourself, then congratulations: you’ve come to the right place.

The full history of Star Wars is a vast one that stretches millennia of story time, and almost as long in terms of time commitment to go through it all. (Okay, that’s a slight exaggeration.) For sake of ease, in this piece, we’ll be focusing on the movies and television shows – live-action and animated – and how to watch them in canonical order. Watching them in release order is fun (and easy), but breaking the series down into canonical order elevates your viewing experience, and can help you appreciate the Star Wars universe on a whole new level. It should also be noted that The Clone Wars was released out of order in its initial run, and Disney+ has not put it in canon order. You will need to plan out your viewing with this in mind.

We have also noted the in-universe years – also known as the Galactic standard calendar – for when these movies and shows take place on the Star Wars timeline. These years are then broken down further with BBY-ABY dating system – "Before the Battle of Yavin" and "After the Battle of Yavin." The Battle of Yavin is best known to most people as the Battle of the Death Star when said Death Star was destroyed in Episode 4: A New Hope.

It is also crucial to note that some things are no longer considered canon, but rather, are considered 'Legends' (previously known as the extended universe). Since Disney’s buyout of Star Wars in 2012, anything made after the buyout and including the movies made prior to the buyout (Episodes 1-6) and The Clone Wars are considered canon. Therefore Ewoks, Droids, and of course, The Holiday Special, are not a part of the canon. Micro-series, such as Blips, Forces of Destiny, and the shows on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel – Galaxy of Adventures, Roll Out, and Galaxy of Creatures, are also not canon but are nice additions for fans of all ages. Visions is also not a part of the canon, despite being released in 2021. Instead, Visions gives fans a chance to see the Star Wars universe through a different lens.

As for upcoming movies and TV series, in most cases we do not know exactly where they fit beyond being in certain ages. We'll wait until we have more information (and can actually watch them!) to place them on these lists - but we're tracking all of them in our guide to the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows.

Everything on this list can be found on Disney+ or on whichever physical media copies you have!

Star Wars in chronological order

Obi-Wan Kenobi
Image credit: Lucasfilm

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (television show)

Star Wars year: 232 BBY

Year released: 2023

  1. The Young Jedi / Yoda's Mission (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  2. Nash's Race Day / The Lost Jedi Ship (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  3. Get Well Nubs / The Junk Giant (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  4. Lys and the Snowy Mountain Rescue / Attack of the Training Droids (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  5. The Jellyfruit Pursuit / Creature Safari (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  6. Squadron / Forest Defenders (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY
  7. The Jedi and the Thief / The Missing Kibbin (Season 1, episode 1) 232 BBY

Episode 1: The Phantom Menace (film)

Star Wars year: 32 BBY

Year released: 1999

Episode 2: Attack of the Clones (movie)

Star Wars year: 22 BBY

Year released: 2002

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (television show)

Star Wars year: 22-19 BBY

Year released: 2008-2020

  1. Cat and Mouse (season 2, episode 16) 22 BBY
  2. Hidden Enemy (season 1, episode 16) 22 BBY
  3. The Clone Wars (animated movie) 22 BBY
  4. Clone Cadets (season 3, episode 1) 22 BBY
  5. Supply Lines (season 3, episode 3) 22 BBY
  6. Ambush - Trespass (season 1, episode 1 - 15) 22 BBY
  7. Blue Shadow Virus - Liberty on Ryloth (season 1, episode 17 - 21) 21 BBY
  8. Holocron Heist - Children of the Force (season 2, episode 1 - 3) 21 BBY
  9. Bounty Hunters - The Zillo Beast Strikes Back (season 2, episode 17-19) 21 BBY
  10. Senate Spy - Duchess of Mandaore (season 2, episode 4 - 14) 21 BBY
  11. Death Trap - Lethal Trackdown (season 2, episode 20 - 22) 21 BBY
  12. Corruption (season 3, episode 5) 21 BBY
  13. The Academy (season 3, episode 5) 21 BBY
  14. Assassin (season 3, episode 5) 21 BBY
  15. ARC Troopers (season 3, episode 2) 21 BBY
  16. Sphere of Influence (season 3, episode 4) 21 BBY
  17. Evil Plans (season 3, episode 8) 21 BBY
  18. Hostage Crisis (season 1, episode 22) 21 BBY
  19. Hunt for Ziro (season 3, episode 9) 21 BBY
  20. Heroes on Both Side (season 3, episode 10) 21 BBY
  21. Pursuit of Peace (season 3, episode 11) 21 BBY
  22. Senate Murders (season 2, episode 15) 21 BBY
  23. Nightsisters - Wookiee Hunt (season 3, episode 12 - 22) 20 BBY
  24. Water War - Revenge (season 4, episode 1 - 22) 20 BBY
  25. A War on Two Fronts - Point of No Return (season 5, episode 2-13) 20/19 BBY
  26. Revival (season 5, episode 1) 20 / 19 BBY
  27. Eminence (season 5, episode 14) 19 BBY
  28. Shades of Reason - The Wrong Jedi (season 5, episode 15 - 20) 19 BBY
  29. The Unknown - Sacrifice (season 6, episode 1 - 13) 19 BBY
  30. Gone With A Trace - Together Again (season 7, episode 5 - 8) 19 BBY
  31. The Bad Batch - Unfinished Business (season 7, episode 1 -4) 19 BBY
  32. Old Friends Not Forgotten - Victory and Death (season 7, episode 9 - 12) 19 BBY

Revenge of the Sith (movie)

Star Wars year: 19 BBY

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (television show)

Star Wars year: 19 BBY

SEASON 1:

  1. Aftermath (season 1) 19 BBY
  2. Cut and Run (season 1) 19 BBY
  3. Replacements (season 1) 19 BBY
  4. Cornered (season 1) 19 BBY
  5. Rampage (season 1) 19 BBY
  6. Decommissioned (season 1) 19 BBY
  7. Battle Scars (season 1) 19 BBY
  8. Reunion (season 1) 19 BBY
  9. Bounty Lost (season 1) 19 BBY
  10. Common Ground (season 1) 19 BBY
  11. Devil’s Deal (season 1) 19 BBY
  12. Rescue on Ryloth (season 1) 19 BBY
  13. Infested (season 1) 19 BBY
  14. War-Mantle (season 1) 19 BBY
  15. Return to Kamino (season 1) 19 BBY

SEASON 2:

  1. Kamino Lost (season 1) 19 BBY
  2. Spoils of War (season 2) 19 BBY
  3. Ruins of War (season 2) 19 BBY
  4. The Solitary Clone (season 2) 19 BBY
  5. Faster (season 2) 19 BBY
  6. Entombed (season 2) 19 BBY
  7. Tribe (season 2) 19 BBY
  8. The Clone Conspiracy (season 2) 19 BBY
  9. Truth and Consequences (season 2) 19 BBY
  10. The Crossing (season 2) 19 BBY
  11. Retrieval (season 2) 19 BBY
  12. Metamorphosis (season 2) 19 BBY
  13. The Outpost (season 2) 19 BBY
  14. Pabu (season 2) 19 BBY
  15. Tipping Point (season 2) 19 BBY
  16. The Summit (season 2) 19 BBY
  17. Plan 99 (season 2) 19 BBY

Solo: A Star Wars Story (movie)

Star Wars year: 13-10 BBY

Obi-Wan Kenobi (television show)

Star Wars year: 9 BBY

EPISODES

  1. Part I
  2. Part II
  3. Part III
  4. Part IV
  5. Part V
  6. Part VI

Andor (television show)

Star Wars year: 5-0 BBY

SEASON 1

  1. Kassa - 5 BBY
  2. That Would Be Me - 5 BBY
  3. Reckoning - 5 BBY
  4. Aldhani - 5 BBY
  5. The Axe Forgets - 5 BBY
  6. The Eye - 5 BBY
  7. Announcement - 5 BBY
  8. Narkina 5 - 5 BBY
  9. Nobody’s Listening! - 5 BBY
  10. One Way Out - 5 BBY
  11. Daughter of Ferrix - 5 BBY
  12. Rix Road - 5 BBY

Star Wars: Rebels (television show)

Star Wars year: 5-0 BBY

SEASON 1

  1. Spark of Rebellion - 5 BBY
  2. Spark of Rebellion Part 2 - 5 BBY
  3. Droids in Distress - 5 BBY
  4. Fighter Flight - 5 BBY
  5. Rise of the Old Masters - 5 BBY
  6. Breaking Ranks - 5 BBY
  7. Out of Darkness - 5 BBY
  8. Empire Day - 4 BBY
  9. Gathering Forces - 4 BBY
  10. Path of the Jedi - 4 BBY
  11. Idiot’s Array - 4 BBY
  12. Vision of Hope - 4 BBY
  13. Call to Action - 4 BBY
  14. Rebel Resolve - 4 BBY
  15. Fire Across the Galaxy - 4 BBY

SEASON 2

  1. The Siege of Lothal Part 1 - 4 BBY
  2. The Siege of Lothal Part 2 - 4 BBY
  3. The Lost Commanders - 4 BBY
  4. Relics of the Old Republic - 4 BBY
  5. Always Two There Are - 4 BBY
  6. Brothers of the Broken Horn - 4 BBY
  7. Wings of the Master - 4 BBY
  8. Blood Sisters - 4 BBY
  9. Stealth Strike - 4 BBY
  10. The Future of the Force - 3 BBY
  11. Legacy - 3 BBY
  12. A Princess on Lothal - 3 BBY
  13. The Protector of Concord Dawn - 3 BBY
  14. Legends of the Lasat - 3 BBY
  15. The Call - 3 BBY
  16. Homecoming - 3 BBY
  17. The Honorable Ones - 3 BBY
  18. Shroud of Darkness - 3 BBY
  19. The Forgotten Droid - 3 BBY
  20. The Mystery of Chopper Base - 3 BBY
  21. Twilight of the Apprentice Part 1 - 3 BBY
  22. Twilight of the Apprentice Part 2 - 3 BBY

SEASON 3

  1. Steps into the Shadow Part 1 - 2 BBY
  2. Steps into the Shadow Part 2 - 2 BBY
  3. The Holocrons of Fate - 2 BBY
  4. The Antilles Extraction - 2 BBY
  5. Hera’s Heroes - 2 BBY
  6. The Last Battle - 2 BBY
  7. Imperial Super Commandos - 2 BBY
  8. Iron Squadron - 2 BBY
  9. The Wynkahthu Job - 2 BBY
  10. An Inside Man - 2 BBY
  11. Visions and Voices - 2 BBY
  12. Ghosts of Geonosis Part 1 - 2 BBY
  13. Ghosts of Geonosis Part 2 - 2 BBY
  14. Warhead - 2 BBY
  15. Trials of the Darksaber - 2 BBY
  16. Legacy of Mandalore - 2 BBY
  17. Through Imperial Eyes - 2 BBY
  18. Secret Cargo - 2 BBY
  19. Double Agent Droid - 2 BBY
  20. Twin Suns - 2 BBY
  21. Zero Hour Part 1 - 2 BBY
  22. Zero Hour Part 2 - 2 BBY

SEASON 4

  1. Heroes of Mandalore Part 1 - 1 BBY
  2. Heroes of Mandalore Part 2 - 1 BBY
  3. In the Name of the Rebellion Part 1 - 1 BBY
  4. In the Name of the Rebellion Part 2 - 1 BBY
  5. The Occupation - 1 BBY
  6. Flight of the Defender - 1 BBY
  7. Kindred - 1 BBY
  8. Crawler Commandeers - 1 BBY
  9. Rebel Assault - 1 BBY
  10. Jedi Night - 1 BBY
  11. Dume - 1 BBY
  12. Wolves and a Door - 0 BBY
  13. A World Between Worlds - 0 BBY
  14. A Fool’s Hope - 0 BBY
  15. Family Reunion – and Farewell Part 1 - 0 BBY
  16. Family Reunion – and Farewell Part 2 - 0 BBY

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (movie)

Star Wars year: 0 BBY

A New Hope (movie)

Star Wars year: 0 ABY

The Empire Strikes Back (movie)

Star Wars year: 3 ABY

Return of the Jedi (movie)

Star Wars year: 4 ABY

The Mandalorian/The Book of Boba Fett/Ahsoka (television shows)

Star Wars year: 9 ABY

THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 1

  1. Chapter 1: The Mandalorian - 9 ABY
  2. Chapter 2: The Child - 9 ABY
  3. Chapter 3: The Sin - 9 ABY
  4. Chapter 4: Sanctuary - 9 ABY
  5. Chapter 5: The Gunslinger - 9 ABY
  6. Chapter 6: The Prisoner - 9 ABY
  7. Chapter 7: The Reckoning - 9 ABY
  8. Chapter 8: Redemption - 9 ABY

THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 2

  1. Chapter 9: The Marshal - 9 ABY
  2. Chapter 10: The Passenger - 9 ABY
  3. Chapter 11: The Heiress - 9 ABY
  4. Chapter 12: The Siege- 9 ABY
  5. Chapter 13: The Jedi - 9 ABY
  6. Chapter 14: The Tragedy - 9 ABY
  7. Chapter 15: The Believer - 9 ABY
  8. Chapter 16: The Rescue- 9 ABY

THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT SEASON 1

  1. Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land - 9 ABY
  2. Chapter 2: The Tribes of Tatooine - 9 ABY
  3. Chapter 3: The Streets of Los Espa - 9 ABY
  4. Chapter 4: The Gathering Storm - 9 ABY
  5. Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian - 9 ABY
  6. Chapter 6: From the Desert Comes a Stranger - 9 ABY
  7. Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor - 9 ABY

THE MANDALORIAN SEASON 3

  1. Chapter 17: The Apostate - 9 ABY
  2. Chapter 18: The Mines of Mandalore - 9 ABY
  3. Chapter 19: The Convert - 9 ABY
  4. Chapter 20: The Foundling - 9 ABY
  5. Chapter 21: The Pirate - 9 ABY
  6. Chapter 22: Guns for Hire - 9 ABY
  7. Chapter 23: The Spies - 9 ABY
  8. Chapter 24: The Return - 9 ABY

AHSOKA SEASON 1

  1. Part One: Master and Apprentice - 9 ABY
  2. Part Two: Toil and Trouble - 9 ABY
  3. Part Three: Time to Fly - 9 ABY
  4. Episode 4 [Title TBA] - 9 ABY
  5. Episode 5 [Title TBA] - 9 ABY
  6. Episode 6 [Title TBA] - 9 ABY
  7. Episode 7 [Title TBA] - 9 ABY
  8. Episode 8 [Title TBA] - 9 ABY

Star Wars: Resistance Season 1

Star Wars year: 34 ABY

The Force Awakens (movie)

Star Wars year: 34 ABY

The Last Jedi (movie)

Star Wars year: 34 ABY

Star Wars: Resistance Season 2 (television show)

Star Wars year: 34 - 35 ABY

  1. Into the Unknown - 34 ABY
  2. A Quick Salvage Run - 34 ABY
  3. Live Fire - 34 ABY
  4. Hunt on Celsor 3 - 34 ABY
  5. The Engineer - 34 ABY
  6. From Beneath - 34 ABY
  7. The Relic Raiders - 34 ABY
  8. Rendezvous Point - 34 ABY
  9. The Voxx Vortex 5000 - 34 ABY
  10. Kaz’s Curse - 34 ABY
  11. Station to Station - 34 ABY
  12. The Missing Agent - 34/35 ABY
  13. Breakout - 34/35 ABY
  14. The Mutiny 34 ABY
  15. The New World - 34 ABY
  16. No Place Safe - 34 ABY

The Rise of Skywalker (movie)

Star Wars year: 35 ABY

How to watch Star Wars in release order

Star Wars Attack of the Clones Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala, and Anakin Skywalker holding their lightsabers.
Image credit: Lucasfilm

If you’re watching Star Wars with someone who’s never seen it before, watching it in release order is a great way to avoid spoilers. This is slightly easier to do as you will not need to jump between episodes in The Clone Wars television show. All you need to do is sit down and start watching! As an added bonus, viewers will be watching this order the same way original fans watched Star Wars as it came out.

  1. Episode 4: A New Hope
  2. Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Episode 6: Return of the Jedi
  4. Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
  5. Episode 2: Attack of the Clones
  6. Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith
  7. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  8. Star Wars Rebels
  9. Episode 7: The Force Awakens
  10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  11. Episode 8: The Last Jedi
  12. Star Wars: Resistance
  13. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  14. Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker
  15. The Mandalorian, season one
  16. The Mandalorian, season two
  17. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, season one
  18. The Book of Boba Fett, season one
  19. Obi-Wan Kenobi, season one
  20. Andor, season one
  21. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, season two
  22. The Mandalorian, season three
  23. Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
  24. Ahsoka, season one
  25. The Acolyte, season one (coming sometime in 2024)
  26. Skeleton Crew, season one (coming sometime in 2024)
  27. Star Wars: The Bad Batch, season three (coming sometime in 2024)
  28. Andor, season two (coming in August 2024)

If that's not enough Star Wars for you, why not check out our extensive reading guide to Marvel's Star Wars comic canon?

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About the Author
Lauren Sisselman avatar

Lauren Sisselman

Contributing writer

Lauren Sisselman comes with years of prior experience, beginning with The Overstreet Price Guide before jumping into the online space with Bleeding Cool. They have written for local, Maryland-based tourism magazines and websites, and they have contributed their knowledge to a number of other books including The Art of Betty and Veronica, and Mine! from ComiXology. Lauren enjoys writing about their love of wrestling, old anime, pinball, and of course, old comic books.

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