What order to watch Star Wars movies?

When Star Wars first released, no one had a clue that it would change movies forever. It changed the way movies were made and the way we watched them. Star Wars was an unknown prior to its release in 1977, made by an up-and-coming filmmaker and containing a cast of relative unknowns. More than four decades later, every character from the original Star Wars trilogy has not only become a household name but a pop culture icon as well.  

About Star Wars

George Lucas, the visionary behind the Star Wars saga, had intended the Star Wars story to to play out in nine ‘episodes’. The first trilogy that hit theatres were Episodes IV, V, and VI. For a very long time, the saga seemed destined to be limited to only these three movies. Then came Episode I in 1999. Now the dream of the all the Star Wars story episodes becoming real movies was turning into a reality

Cut to 2019, and with The Rise Of Skywalker, the Star Wars saga reached its epic, final conclusion. For millions of fans worldwide, the final episode was a landmark moment. Most of them had grown up watching the Stars Wars movies: An experience they never forgot.  

Now comes the best part.

How to watch star wars in order?

Star Wars did something unique. Rather than release the episodes in chronological order, George Lucas and co decided to mix things up a bit. The first move of the saga to release was Star Wars; Episode IV A New Hope. Here’s some trivia that makes this landmark release even more interesting. Star Wars was supposed to be just a standalone film. That’s right; no trilogy, no sequels, no prequels; only one movie. It was the blockbuster success of Episode IV A New Hope  that led to everything else that followed. 

In fact, the 1977 film was just known as Star Wars for years. It only got its opening title, Episode IV – A New Hope, for its 1981 theatrical re-release. Then came the 1980s The Empire Strikes Back and the last film of the first trilogy, 1983’s Return of the Jedi. 

Now diehard Star Wars fans have no problem keeping track of the true chronological order of the entire saga. But for those who are just discovering ‘A galaxy far, far away’, it can be a bit confusing to know which episode to watch first. Not to worry. Our very own diehard team has got the correct chronological for you to watch Star Wars. 

First up is 1999’s The Phantom Menace. 

George Lucas went back to his Star Wars universe in 1999 with three controversial “prequel” movies. These started on a sour note with The Phantom Menace, a movie so bogged down in its own lore and self-importance that fans barely recognised the spirit of the earlier films – and its attempts at comedy relief didn’t help. The following two movies (both shot entirely in Australia, by the way) were much better. 

With the arrival of JJ Abrams’ The Force Awakens in 2015, fans were happy to see the and feel the spirit of the original trilogy. This was followed by The Last Jedi with the climactic end to the Star Wars saga coming in the The Rise Of Skywalker.       

What order to watch star wars in?

Here is the correct order to watch the Star Wars Saga. All of these films are available to watch with Disney Plus in Australia.

Movie	Provider
Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)	Disney Plus
Episode II – Attack Of The Clones   (2002)	Disney Plus
Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith (2005)	Disney Plus
Solo: A Star Wars Story	Disney Plus
Rouge One: A Star Wars Story	Disney Plus
Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)	Disney Plus
Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1982)	Disney Plus
Episode VI – Return OF The Jedi (1985)	Disney Plus
Episode VII  – The Force Awakens (2015)	Disney Plus
Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)	Disney Plus
Episode IX – The Rise OF Skywalker (2019)	Disney Plus

Where can I watch star wars movies online? 

Star Wars movies can be watched in Australia with Disney Plus. There are two Disney Plus plans you can choose from. A monthly subscription costs $11.99 per month, whilst an annual plan will save you a few dollars over the 12 months at $119.99. So right now, the best way to watch everything Star Wars is to sign up for Disney Plus, pull up a comfy couch and get ready to binge.

Last audited 1 April 2024

Summary: May the Force Be With You!

So there you go: You’re all set to kick back and dive into the Star Wars universe in whatever way works for you. There are other fan-preferred orders suggested, some of which even omit Episode 1m but if you’re new to the saga or are looking for a refresher before watching The Rise of Skywalker, one of the above options is going to be exactly what you need. And the best thing is that it’s all there on Disney Plus, with truly stunning picture and sound quality. Disney Plus also includes all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the Pixar catalogue, and hundreds of classic Disney movies and shows. At $8.99 a month, it’s a bargain. You can read our full review of Disney Plus here as well!

Devices for watching Star Wars

The following is a list of compatible internet-connected devices for which you can stream Star Wars whether at home or on the go.