What Is THE *CORRECT* Order To Watch 'Star Wars?'

There is a longstanding debate on the best order to introduce the Star Wars franchise to the uninitiated. After lengthy, heated discussions with many friends and frenemies, I concede there may be more than one way. Think about the age of the viewer. Also, consider including the television shows, too.

My recommended order is to show the movies in release date order but intersperse them with the excellent television shows. Save the currently running show, The Mandalorian, until the end.

Film or TV Show U.S. Release Date

Episode IV – A New Hope May 25, 1977

Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back May 21, 1980

Episode VI – Return of the Jedi May 25, 1983

Episode I – The Phantom Menace May 19, 1999

Episode II – Attack of the Clones May 16, 2002

Star Wars: Clone Wars 3D Animated Movie August 15, 2008

The Clone Wars TV Series 2008 – 2014 (Season 1 – 6)

Episode III – Revenge of the Sith May 19, 2005

The Clone Wars TV Series 2020 (Season 7)

Rebels 2014 - 2018

Episode VII – The Force Awakens December 18, 2015

Rogue One December 16, 2016

Episode VIII – The Last Jedi December 15, 2017

Solo May 25, 2018

Resistance 2018 – 2020 (Season 1 – 2)

Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker December 20, 2019

The Mandalorian 2019 - Present

Release Order

The best way to take a person through this franchise is still in release order interspersed with the television shows. I am proud that I saw all of the movies in the theater close to or on release night. (Yes, I really am that old. Skincare matters, people!) I have taken many a young adult noob through this franchise before and after the existence of Episodes I – III and VII – IX.

Showing the franchise in release order keeps all of the reveals and surprises intact. To go in any other order ruins this. I get that most everyone with an internet connection knows who Luke Skywalker's father is. However, having this reveal and foreknowledge is critical for the remaining episodes when immersed in the movies.

Age Before Beauty

I have taken young children through the franchise as well. Before the release of Episodes I – III, we had only had the original trilogy. It was super easy to take someone through the franchise. Then you could start to woo them into reading the comics and books of the day. Nowadays, I concede for some younglings, starting with Episode I may be the right way to go. The pacing of Episode IV is sometimes a little slow for younger, frenetic minds.

The TV Shows

You can just show the movies and then show television shows in release order after the films. However, they add so much color to the post-original trilogy content that they are worthy of inclusion in between the movies. They can break up the monotony of sitting through the other films. I recommend watching them in between the films in partial chronological order, as shown above.

Franchise fans do not love all the films released post-original trilogy equally. Episodes I – III have some ardent younger fans. Due to the TV shows, they are acceptable to us older fans for continuity's sake. This Gen Xer has her issues with them to be discussed at another time. The same cannot be said for the final three, Episodes VII – IX. Show them so that a budding Star Wars fan can put the Skywalker saga, such as it is, to rest.

The Rogue-ness of Rogue One

I was surprised to learn that after the release of Rogue One, many are now opting to show this one first. The thought is that showing this prequel first sets the proper stage for Episode IV. This is unnecessary. The first movie that started the franchise does not need any other prep. We do not need to see Darth Vader do bad things in Rogue One to know he's the big bad in Episode IV. Rogue One only works because of the foreknowledge of everything that came before it.

There you have it, folks. The best, most immersive way to introduce someone to this franchise is in order of release interspersed with the television shows. I highly recommend watching all of the recently added and previously hard-to-find content from the 'in-between' years for your uninitiated friend's consideration, too. They are not necessary for understanding Star Wars. However, there is some great content there. Genndy Tartakovsky's 2D animated Clone Wars series is beautiful to watch.

How do you introduce your friends to Star Wars?

Written By Leana Ahmed

Syndicated From Culture Slate

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