You’ve got options, and each gives a slightly different “first-time experience.” Here’s a clear breakdown of what order do you watch Star Wars and why each path is popular.

TL;DR: Best simple answer

If it’s your first time and you mainly care about the movies:

  1. Episode IV – A New Hope
  2. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Episode I – The Phantom Menace (optional; some skip it)
  4. Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  5. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  6. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
  7. Episode VII – The Force Awakens
  8. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
  9. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

This is a popular hybrid of release order and Machete order , keeping the big twist and still giving you the full Skywalker story.

The main watch orders (and which is “best”)

1. Release order (classic way)

This is how the world originally experienced Star Wars, and it’s still the go‑to for many fans.

Movies only (simple version):

  1. Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
  2. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  3. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
  4. Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
  5. Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)
  6. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
  7. Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)
  8. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)
  9. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Pros:

  • Preserves the original “I am your father” twist in Empire.
  • Lets the story expand the way the franchise actually grew.
  • Great for first-timers who want to feel what audiences did in the late 70s and 80s.

Cons:

  • The timeline jumps around; prequels feel like a long flashback.
  • The big visual and CGI jump from VI to I can feel jarring.

2. Chronological order (story timeline order)

This is the order of events inside the Star Wars universe itself.

Core movies in timeline order:

  1. Episode I – The Phantom Menace
  2. Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  3. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  4. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  6. Episode IV – A New Hope
  7. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
  8. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
  9. Episode VII – The Force Awakens
  10. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
  11. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Pros:

  • The story flows straight through from Anakin to the sequels.
  • Character arcs (especially Anakin’s) feel more linear and tragic.

Cons:

  • You lose the “Vader twist” impact, because the prequels spoil it.
  • Early movies (I–III) may be weaker hooks for some new viewers.

3. Machete order (fan-favorite twist-preserving method)

Machete order is a fan-created structure that treats the prequels as an extended flashback between Empire and Jedi.

Classic Machete order (original version):

  1. Episode IV – A New Hope
  2. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  4. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  5. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi

Here, Episode I is skipped entirely.

Modernized Machete (keeping Episode I + sequels):

  1. Episode IV – A New Hope
  2. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Episode I – The Phantom Menace (optional, but nice for a full intro)
  4. Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  5. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  6. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
  7. Episode VII – The Force Awakens
  8. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
  9. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

Pros:

  • Preserves the big twist in Empire and uses the prequels as context.
  • Makes Vader’s story more emotionally powerful going into Jedi.
  • Cuts or downplays what some fans consider weaker parts of the saga.

Cons:

  • A bit more confusing to explain to total newcomers.
  • Some people don’t like skipping any “Episode” movies.

With shows included (simple but complete path)

If you want movies + the most important shows without going super hardcore, a lot of modern guides suggest something like this streamlined route.

A balanced “everything” path

Use Release/Machete for the films, then tuck key series around them:

  1. Episode IV – A New Hope
  2. Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Episode I – The Phantom Menace (optional)
  4. Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  5. The Clone Wars (series – can sample, but last arc is great)
  6. Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  7. The Bad Batch (optional but fun bridge)
  8. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  9. Star Wars Rebels
  10. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  11. Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
  12. The Mandalorian (seasons 1–3)
  13. The Book of Boba Fett
  14. Ahsoka
  15. Episode VII – The Force Awakens
  16. Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
  17. Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

This mixes popular fan suggestions and curated timelines from modern guides.

Which order should you pick?

Use this quick guide based on your vibe:

  • Total beginner, wants the “classic” experience:
    Go Release order (IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX).
  • Story-first, doesn’t care about twists being spoiled:
    Go Chronological with Solo and Rogue One slotted before IV.
  • You like clever structure and emotional payoff:
    Go Machete (modern): IV, V, I, II, III, VI, then VII–IX.
  • Already a fan, now binging deeper:
    Add Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka in the timeline order for a richer canon experience.

Quick comparison table

[5][3] [6][3] [7][2] [9][1][3][7]
Order type Example sequence Best for
Release order IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX First-timers wanting the original experience.
Chronological I–III, Solo, Rogue One, IV–VI, VII–IX People who like linear timelines and lore.
Machete (modern) IV, V, I, II, III, VI, VII–IX Viewers who want maximum twist/emotional impact.
With shows IV, V, I–III, Clone Wars, Rebels, VI, Mando, etc. Fans ready to dive into the whole saga.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.

TL;DR at the bottom: For most people asking “what order do you watch Star Wars” , start with IV → V → I → II → III → VI → VII → VIII → IX, then add shows if you get hooked.