Over the past 50 years, 11 Star Wars movies have been released and it's all about theatrical distribution. Rather, the real question is: in what order should you look at them? This is in fact a hotly debated topic, the problem that arises both those who intend to watch the series for the first time and those who want to try to watch it in full again. There are 3 very popular viewing orders to choose from: by release date, by chronological order or by following the Rinster method (i.e. rearranging the films to make them easier to understand). Whatever your choice, remember that an "official" way to see them does not exist and you should choose the one you think will be the most enjoyable for you.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Watch Series Based on Release Date
Step 1. For the original experience, watch the movies in the order they came out
If you want the authentic experience of seeing Star Wars movies in their original order, watch them in the order of release. It's the best method according to fans, but it has several drawbacks. The change of tone in the transition from Return of the Jedi to The Phantom Menace may indeed screech a little and also, since you are watching the films without following a narrative order, the story may be a bit confusing.
Starting with older films could prove to be a bit tricky choice if the intention is to watch them with small children, accustomed to contemporary animation
Exit order:
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) - 2005
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) - 2016
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) - 2017
Solo (A Star Wars Story) - 2018
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - 2019
Step 2. Start by watching the original trilogy
Check out the original trilogy first, starting with 1977's A New Hope, ending with 1983's Return of the Jedi. The original films are considered classics by both critics and fans, so starting with Luke Skywalker's iconic story is a great way to approach the series.
There are 2 different versions of the original trilogy: the "original" one, in fact, and the remastered version of 1997. The latter is no different from the point of view of the narrative (the characters and the plot points are the same), but since the animation has been updated, it is a good choice if you intend to watch it with young viewers. Purists, however, tend to avoid updated versions
Step 3. When you're done watching the original trilogy, watch the prequels
Once you've completed the Luke Skywalker character arc, move on to the prequels. Start with The Phantom Menace and continue with Attack of the Clones. Close the second trilogy with Revenge of the Sith to complete Darth Vader's past story and learn more about Luke's origins. You'll also get to see young Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker, which is fun if you like making connections between movies.
- Prequels aren't critical to understanding what's going on in the original trilogy, and the tone they have is completely different from other Star Wars movies (they're more bizarre and emphasize comedy). Some adult viewers, more interested in the action and main story, choose to ignore the prequels altogether.
- From a narrative point of view, this trilogy takes place before the original one (in other words: the events happen before the start of A New Hope, from 1977). Following the story, therefore, can become difficult if you take long pauses between watching one series and the next, because the events that happen at the end of the last prequel (Revenge of the Sith) are linked to the first film (A new one). hope).
Step 4. Look at the Disney editions in order of release (including "stories" if you like)
Once you're done watching the prequels, watch Disney's newest movies. Start with The Force Awakens and then continue with The Last Jedi and finally conclude the series with The Rise of Skywalker. If you want, you can see Rogue One after The Force Awakens and Only After The Last Jedi, but these 2 films are called "stories" and, in case you don't want to watch them, be aware that they are not indispensable to the main story.
- The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker are collectively referred to as the "sequel trilogy" and are an extension of the main storyline, which runs from the prequels to the original trilogy.
- Rogue One and Solo are called "stories" because both films carry the subtitle A Star Wars Story. They provide some context and background to the main films, but watching them isn't strictly necessary. It is up to you to decide whether to include them or not. However, be aware that critics consider them a valid addition to the Star Wars universe.
Method 2 of 4: View the Series in Chronological Order
Step 1. To get a good understanding of the plot, choose to view the films in chronological order
One of the disadvantages of watching movies in order of release is that it can be difficult to follow the story. This is especially true if you go from the first trilogy to the prequels and then from these to the sequels. To make it easier to follow the story, change the order in which to watch the movies and put them in chronological order.
Prequels tend to be a bit more comical and light-hearted than other movies, which makes them a good choice if you want to share the view with smaller viewers. They also facilitate the understanding of history; understanding the plot, in fact, can prove to be a problem for younger people
Chronological order:
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) - 2005
Solo (A Star Wars Story) (optional) - 2018
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) (optional) - 2016
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) - 2017
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - 2019
Step 2. Start the series by looking at the prequels first
By following the films in chronological order, we go back through the narrative arc to the time when Darth Vader is still a child. Start with The Phantom Menace, then watch Attack of the Clones and, finally, Revenge of the Sith.
One of the downsides of this method is that it places the prequels first, considered by all to be the worst in the series. Furthermore, starting with these films could make viewers with the most critical eye lose interest
Step 3. After Revenge of the Sith, watch Solo, followed by Rogue One
Solo and Rogue One are optional, but if you want to include them, watch them after the last prequel. In this way, you will have the opportunity to follow the interesting past of some key characters of the original trilogy. Among other things, they are considered by all to be excellent films. However, if you decide to discard them, know that you will not get lost completely anyway.
Rogue One is primarily about the origin of the Death Star and the Empire's first attempt to conquer the universe. Solo, on the other hand, tells the story of Han Solo and will introduce you to Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian and the Millennium Falcon
Step 4. Watch the original trilogy after the prequels or after the "stories"
After you've finished watching the prequels and seen (or discarded) the stories, watch the original trilogy. A new hope picks up right where Revenge of the Sith left off, so it's easier for you to identify the main characters, know what's driving each of them, and follow the unfolding of events.
- One of the good things about this method is that the Empire's violent behavior at the start of A New Hope will make a little more sense.
- Sadly, the big twist at the end of Empire Strikes Back won't be so surprising, as it's explained very well in the prequels. In fact, this is considered the biggest drawback when looking at the series in chronological order.
Step 5. Watch Disney movies to catch up with the latest events
Conclude your Star Wars experience by watching the sequel trilogy. Watch The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker to finish watching the Star Wars movies.
The sequel trilogy features events that contain many references to the original trilogy, of which it features many characters
Method 3 of 4: Choose the Rinster Order
Step 1. Choose this order to increase the impact of Return of the Jedi
This method is named after Ernest Rinster, the fan who invented it. The aim you want to achieve by preferring it to others is to preserve the twist at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Basically, you start with the first 2 films of the original trilogy and, before seeing the third, you watch the prequels. It's a cross between the chronological order and the release order: the prequels are treated as a long flashback before concluding the original trilogy.
For many diehard Star Wars fans this is the best way to see them, precisely because it reduces the role of the prequels to a lengthy reenactment of previous events. Additionally, it preserves the clarity of the narrative while increasing the emotional impact of the latest film in the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi, as you are much more involved in the story of Vader's past
The Rinster Order:
A New Hope (Episode IV) - 1977
The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) - 1980
The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (optional for the machete order) - 1999
Attack of the Clones (Episode II) - 2002
Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) - 2005
Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) - 1983
The Force Awakens (Episode VII) - 2015
The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) - 2017
The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) - 2019
Rogue One (A Star Wars Story) - 2016
Solo (A Star Wars Story) - 2018
Step 2. Watch the first 2 films of the original trilogy
To follow the Rinster order, first watch A New Hope, then continue with The Empire Strikes Back. Once you have completed these 2 movies, hold back from watching the third one and set it aside for another moment.
Step 3. Continue with the prequels before you finish watching the Return of the Jedi trilogy
When you're done watching The Empire Strikes Back, the prequel trilogy begins. Watch The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The Empire Strikes Back ends with a great revelation regarding the relationship between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and the prequels are entirely dedicated to Darth Vader's youth and his progressive decline towards evil; you will therefore be much more knowledgeable about these two characters by the time you finish watching Return of the Jedi.
Since Revenge of the Sith concludes just before the climax of the original trilogy, when you resume watching the original films it should be fun enough for you to follow the story
Step 4. Watch contemporary Disney movies, leaving Rogue One and Solo for last
Finish watching the sequel trilogy that follows the new characters Rey, Kylo Ren and Finn, the spiritual successors of Luke, Vader and Han Solo. Many characters from the original trilogy feature in these films, so you'll have a lot of fun seeing how they change as they get older. Leave Rogue One and Solo for last (if you want to watch them).
With the Rinster order, Rogue One and Solo in a sense serve to separate stories that are not related to the main story arc. This way the order stays true to the intended purposes of the films, as Rogue One and Solo are not core parts of the main story
Method 4 of 4: Making Simple Changes
Step 1. Insert Rogue One between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back to delve into the background story
If you want, you can watch Rogue One after A New Hope, but before The Empire Strikes Back. This applies whether you decide to follow the chronological order or if you want to opt for the Rinster one. Rogue One will give you a lot of context about the Death Star and why the rebels fight against the Empire, which will enrich the viewing experience of Empire Strikes Back.
The nature of the conflict between the rebels and the Empire is unclear in the original films: those who sided with the Empire are seen simply as the bad guys and the rebels are assumed to be the good guys. Rogue One, on the other hand, first of all wants to provide a lot of information on why these two factions are fighting each other
Step 2. Watch Rogue One and Solo before starting the original trilogy to learn more about the saga's context
Whether you're following the chronological or Rinster order, you can choose to start the series by watching the two optional films. This way you will discover a lot of background to the original trilogy. Also, seeing these films right away will not spoil or reveal any twists, because they are not necessary for understanding the main story.
If you start with these 2 movies, the order you watch them doesn't matter
Step 3. Eliminate The Phantom Menace to ease the Rinster order
This method is commonly called the "machete method" because it cuts the first prequel movie, which many fans consider to be the least successful of the series. It's a good choice if you want to lighten the story, as The Phantom Menace adds no important information and many of the events are irrelevant to the other films.
The phantom menace is visually interesting, but the story is often criticized as boring and ridiculous. However, it's not a bad viewing experience if you are one who appreciates action scenes and beautiful scenery
Step 4. Watch the prequels last and treat them as a flashback
Many avid fans don't like any of the prequel movies, so they choose to place them at the end of the series to keep the tone, story, and pace of the original trilogy and sequels consistent. If they don't seem interesting to you, you can also avoid seeing them completely.
Advise:
do not discard prequels a priori based only on the opinion of others. There are people who love these films very much and you could be one of them. If you've never seen them, check them out. Try watching The Phantom Menace - if after an hour it hasn't won you over, simply stop watching.
Advice
- If you are also interested in the famous animated series The Clone Wars, watch it directly from the second episode of the prequels, which is called Attack of the Clones: it will provide you with a lot of context for Revenge of the Sith. If it intrigues you, know that it was preceded by a film of the same name which is basically its pilot episode. However, if you intend to add it to your other films, make sure you have enough time, as 6 seasons have already come out; the seventh (last), streamed on Disney +, will end in 2020.
- The Star Wars movie series is commercially available in DVD or Blu-ray format. The most demanding can see it in 4K. Many episodes, then, are also available for viewing in streaming.
