Start with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) , then continue in release order (V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX).

Quick Scoop

For a first‑time watcher, most fans and guides recommend release order, beginning with A New Hope , because:

  • It introduces the galaxy the way audiences originally experienced it.
  • The biggest twist in The Empire Strikes Back lands properly if you start with IV then V.
  • The tone and effects grow with each era, so the jump from newer movies back to 1970s films doesn’t feel jarring.

Recommended First Watch Order

Core “Skywalker Saga” only (clean first run):

  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)

This is the classic “originals → prequels → sequels” path many fans on forums describe simply as “release order.”

What About Rogue One and Solo?

If you want to add the standalone films on a first watch, a common fan suggestion is:

  • Watch Rogue One right before A New Hope , since it leads directly into it.
  • Watch Solo sometime between Episodes III and IV, or after you’ve finished the main nine if you prefer to keep things simple.

A slightly “spiced up” but still beginner‑friendly path is:

  • Rogue One → IV → V → VI → I → II → III → Solo → VII → VIII → IX.

Other Popular Orders (If You Like Experiments)

Online discussions often bring up alternatives once you already know the big twists.

  • Chronological order (story timeline): I → II → III → Solo → Rogue One → IV → V → VI → VII → VIII → IX.
  • Machete order (a fan edit style): IV → V → II → III → VI, then add the sequels and spin‑offs however you like.

Most people still say: for your very first time, stick with starting at A New Hope and going in release order.

Simple TL;DR

  • If you only remember one thing:
    → Watch A New Hope first.
  • Then go: IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX.

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