You can’t really go wrong, but there are 3 popular ways to watch the Star Wars movies, depending on whether it’s your first time and how “pure” you want the story surprises to feel.

1. Classic Release Order (Best for First-Timers)

This is how the world originally experienced Star Wars and how a lot of fans still recommend watching it.

Main movies only (no shows):

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

Where the spin‑off movies fit (optional but fun):

  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Watch right before Episode IV.
  • Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Usually slotted before Episode IV or right after Episode III.

Why this order works

  • Preserves the original “I am your father” and other big reveals the way they were intended.
  • Lets you fall for Luke, Han, and Leia first, then go back and see how Anakin became Vader.
  • Matches the cultural conversation and most online discussions and memes.

If you’re showing Star Wars to someone who knows almost nothing, this is usually the safest, most satisfying path.

2. Chronological (Story Timeline) Order

This is the “in-universe timeline” way: you follow the story from young Anakin all the way through Rey and the sequel era.

Movies in chronological order:

  1. Episode I: The Phantom Menace
  1. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  1. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  1. Solo: A Star Wars Story
  1. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  1. Episode IV: A New Hope
  1. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  1. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
  1. Episode VII: The Force Awakens
  1. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
  1. Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Pros

  • The galaxy’s history unfolds in a straight line, from the fall of the Republic to the rise and fall of the Empire, then the First Order.
  • Good if you already know the famous twists and just want the “historical” progression.

Cons

  • You lose the shock value of the original trilogy reveals, especially about Vader and certain family ties.
  • The tone swings: you start with politics and prophecy (prequels) instead of the scrappy adventure vibe of the original trilogy.

This order is great if you’re doing a deep lore dive, or a rewatch after you already love the saga.

3. “Machete Order” (Fan-Favorite Hybrid)

This is a famous fan-created order that tries to maximize character arcs and twists while trimming some fat.

The classic Machete Order (originally made before Disney’s sequels) is:

  1. Episode IV: A New Hope
  1. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
  1. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
  1. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
  1. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Modern tweaks often re-add Episode I and then tack on the sequels:

  • Optional front‑load: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (before II and III).
  • After Return of the Jedi, watch Episodes VII, VIII, IX in order.

Why fans like it

  • You watch IV and V, hit the big Vader reveal, then flash back to Anakin’s fall in II and III, then return to VI for the resolution.
  • It tightens the emotional focus on Luke, Vader, and Anakin’s tragedy.

This order is amazing if you want the saga to feel like one big Luke/Anakin story with an elegant flashback structure.

4. Simple Table: Which Order Should You Choose?

Here’s a quick glance at which order fits which vibe.

[6][3][5] [3][9][5] [4][3] [1][3][5] [4][9][1] [6][3][5] [5][2] [2][5] [5][2]
Order Who it’s best for Main benefit Main drawback
Release order First-time viewers, people who want the “classic” experience. Preserves original reveals, mirrors how the saga evolved culturally. Story timeline jumps back and forth in time.
Chronological (timeline) order Lore fans, rewatchers, people who like linear histories. Straight-line story from Anakin to Rey. Big twists are softened or spoiled.
Machete order Fans who want a clever storytelling structure. Emphasizes Vader/Anakin arc and keeps the major reveals strong. Slightly more complicated to explain and set up.

5. If You Also Want the Shows (2020s Binge Mode)

Since Star Wars is now way more than just the 9 saga films, many modern guides give full “everything” watch lists.

A popular approach is:

  • Start with the movies in release order.
  • Then slot shows near where they happen in the timeline on a rewatch (for example:
    • The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch after Episode II/before Episode III.
* Rebels between Episodes III and IV.

* The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew after Episode VI.

* The Acolyte far before Episode I.

Because there are now prequels-to-prequels and spin-offs wedged around the original films, full “everything” orders tend to be long lists best suited for dedicated marathons.

6. Today’s Fandom & Forum Vibes

Discussions about “what order do you watch the Star Wars movies in” are still all over forums and social media, especially whenever a new show drops or on May the 4th each year.

You’ll usually see three loud camps:

  • “Release order, always” – strongest chorus, especially on fan subreddits.
  • “Chronological, it just flows better” – common among newer fans binging on streaming platforms.
  • “Machete or bust” – smaller but passionate group, often linking long blog posts defending the structure.

A nice, modern compromise that a lot of people land on now is: first watch in release order, then do a big chronological rewatch including the shows.

TL;DR

If you want a quick recommendation:

  • For your first time, watch in release order (IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX, with Rogue One and Solo tucked near IV).
  • On rewatch, try chronological or Machete Order to see the saga in a whole new light.

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