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- The Chronological Order of Star Wars Films, in Case You’ve Forgotten
The Chronological Order of Star Wars Films, in Case You’ve Forgotten
Everett Collection / Jonathan Olley
If you’re not a diehard Star Wars fan but you’ve still seen every film in the franchise, you deserve a pat on the back. There are a ton of them, and it’s no small task devoting all that time to Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Rey, and all the other iconic characters over the years.
While, in recent years, most new Star Wars stories have come through Disney+, a galaxy far, far, away is gearing up once again for some new movie releases. Back in April, Lucasfilm announced Daisy Ridley would reprise her role as Rey in a new Star Wars film focused on her attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. Directed by “Ms. Marvel”‘s Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, it’s set to be the first Star Wars film since “The Rise of Skywalker” was released in 2019.
Plus, there’s the news that Donald Glover is currently hard at work on a Lando Calrissian movie. The film, which will be a spinoff of 2018’s “Solo,” will see Glover return to the character first made famous by Billy Dee Williams. There are also other Star Wars films in development from creators like Taika Waititi, Dave Filoni, Shawn Levy, and James Mangold.
Then there are the many Star Wars TV series, including “The Mandalorian,” “Ahsoka,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” and the upcoming second season of “Andor.” Brand new series “The Skeleton Crew” and “The Acolyte” are also on the way.
So if you’re wondering where your favorite characters fit into the galaxy’s film timeline, this guide to the Star Wars movies will help you out.
Related: Adria Arjona, Genevieve O’Reilly, and the Women of “Andor” Break Down the Thrilling First Season
First Star Wars Movie
Technically, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” was the first Star Wars movie, released in 1977. But chronologically, the “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” prequel is the first movie that takes place in the universe.
How Many Star Wars Movies Are There?
As of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” there are 11 Star Wars movies.
Star Wars Movies in Order of Release
- “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
- “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
- “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)
- “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999)
- “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” (2002)
- “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (2005)
- “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (2015)
- “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016)
- “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (2017)
- “Solo: A Star Wars Story” (2018)
- “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019)
Keep reading to see all of the Star Wars movies in chronological order.
©Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection / Lucasfilm Ltd./Courtesy Everett Collection
"Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" (1999)
“The Phantom Menace” was the first big expansion of the Star Wars world, coming 16 years after “Return of the Jedi.” The film showed what the Jedi Order and New Republic looked like before the Empire came and destroyed it all. “The Phantom Menace” also introduced Ewan McGregor as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Natalie Portman as Padmé Amidala, Luke and Leia’s mother.
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"Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" (2002)
“Attack of the Clones” added Hayden Christensen to the cast as the adult version of Anakin Skywalker. “Attack of the Clones” is also the Star Wars film with the most romance. It shows Padmé and Anakin falling in love, and secretly marrying.
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"Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" (2005)
“Revenge of the Sith” was the culmination of everything the prequels were trying to set up. Anakin turned into Vader, Padmé gave birth to Luke and Leia before she died, Obi-Wan went into hiding, and the New Republic was destroyed.
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"Solo: A Star Wars Story" (2018)
“Solo” served as an origin story for Han Solo. In the movie, Alden Ehrenreich played the iconic smuggler. He was joined by Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. The cast also included Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Thandiwe Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Paul Bettany, plus Joonas Suotamo reprising his role as Chewbacca.
The film was not well-received at the box office, which is part of the reason why the Star Wars universe pivoted toward Disney+ shows.
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"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" (2016)
“Rogue One” tells the story of how the rebels got their hands on the plans to the Death Star. The information is essential to the destruction of the Death Star in the first Star Wars film. The cast includes Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso, Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, Ben Mendelsohn as Orson Krennic, Riz Ahmed as Bodhi Rook, and Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera. Jimmy Smits also reprised his role as Bail Organa, Princess Leia’s adopted father, from the prequel trilogy.
Though “Rogue One” is a stand-alone that ends with the death of most of its main characters, some of the cast return in the Disney+ series “Andor,” which covers the five years before the movie takes place.
Everett Collection
"Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977)
“A New Hope” is the movie that started it all. Originally, it was only greenlit as a standalone film, and its name was simply “Star Wars” until the sequels were announced. The film introduces us to Mark Hamill as Luke, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and Harrison Ford as Han Solo. The events of “Obi-Wan Kenobi” on Disney+ take place sometime before this movie.
©Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection / Copyright Lucasfilm Ltd./courtesy Everett / Everett Collection
"Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" (1980)
“The Empire Strikes Back” is generally regarded as the best Star Wars film of all. It’s where fans learned that Darth Vader was actually Luke’s father, the Jedi Anakin Skywalker who has turned to the dark side.
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"Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi" (1983)
“Return of the Jedi” was, for a long time, the most controversial Star Wars film – that is until the prequels stole that dubious honor. Harrison Ford famously wanted Han to die in the film, and many felt that the film’s cuddly Ewoks were actually too cute. “The Mandolorian,” “The Book of Boba Fett,” and “Ahsoka” take place after this movie.
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"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015)
“The Force Awakens” opened up a new chapter in Star Wars, introducing us to Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford also reprised their roles as Leia and Han. “The Force Awakens” balances nostalgia for the past films with a new story.
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"Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017)
Ask 100 Star Wars fans how they feel about “The Last Jedi,” and you’ll get 100 different answers. Directed by Rian Johnson, the movie went in a bold new direction for the franchise, and reintroduced Mark Hamill as an old Luke Skywalker. The movie also gave us Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico. It was the last Star Wars movie Carrie Fisher filmed before her death in 2016.
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"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019)
The Skywalker Saga finally ended with “The Rise of Skywalker.” The movie saw the return of Emperor Palpatine, and the demise of Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo), but not before he and Rey kissed. At the end of the movie, Rey takes the last name Skywalker for herself.
Carrie Fisher’s Leia also appeared in the movie using footage that director J.J. Abrams had collected during “The Force Awakens.”