I Watched The Star Wars Movies In Both Chronological And Release Order, & Here’s Which One Is Better

Few things are more satisfying for Star Wars fans than a complete movie marathon, but is it better to watch them in chronological or release order? I first heard of this debate as a kid when I decided to watch Star Wars for the first time and was renting the movies at my local library. I assumed I should start with Episode I, but my mom kindly informed me that I should watch the Star Wars original trilogy first.

It turned out that George Lucas started with Episode IV and then returned to make the Star Wars prequel trilogy several years later. While fans have plenty of arguments in favor of both orders, I decided to see which holds up best when applied to all 11 live-action Star Wars movies. So, whether you’re showing someone the saga for the first time or having a marathon, here’s what I believe is the best Star Wars viewing order.

Pros Of Watching Star Wars In Release Order

Experiencing the Star Wars movies the way previous generations did

What I enjoyed most about watching the Star Wars movies in release order, even on repeat viewing, is experiencing the films the way they originally came out in theaters. It’s like going back in time to see Star Wars through the eyes of those who saw the first one in 1977 and then following the franchise’s development over several decades. The evolution of filmmaking technology and visual storytelling feels most natural with release order.

Release order also preserves the original trilogy’s biggest plot twists, which is especially important for those watching the movies for the first time. Spoilers may not be as important on repeat viewings, but there’s still something enthralling about watching a film as it was originally designed to be seen. Whatever George Lucas may think now, he initially developed the original trilogy to be seen first.

Most importantly, release order ensures that a Star Wars marathon begins on a high note with the two best films. I know this is subjective, but I think the originals are better films than the prequels, so starting with A New Hope and especially The Empire Strikes Back helps get me instantly sucked into a galaxy far, far away. A New Hope is also the smallest movie in scope, the “first step into a larger world,” if you will.”

As for the other movies, seeing questions raised by the originals makes you excited to go back and see the answers in the prequels. Placing the prequels in the middle also makes the sequel trilogy feel like a nice return to form after taking a break from the original trilogy. I also stuck to watching the standalone films between the sequel movies, which you think would be distracting but actually made me anticipate jumping back into the Skywalker Saga.

Cons Of Watching Star Wars In Release Order

Jumping all over the Star Wars timeline

Of course, I won’t pretend that sticking to release order isn’t without its downsides. The most frustrating aspect of release order for me is not ending on Return of the Jedi, which feels even more satisfying after watching the complete story of Anakin Skywalker. The tragic ending of Revenge of the Sith makes me want to go straight to the next Episode, only to realize I already watched it.

While I still believe A New Hope is a better introduction to Star Wars than The Phantom Menace, its admittedly dated elements mean that not all first-time viewers will feel the same way. Release order also means that you do a lot of hopping around the timeline instead of simply watching the entire saga unfold chronologically. This is especially true with the sequel trilogy and standalone films, which can be somewhat jarring even for a longtime fan like myself.

Pros Of Watching Star Wars In Chronological Order

Experiencing the story of Star Wars from beginning to end

Watching all the Star Wars movies chronologically is undoubtedly the simplest viewing experience, which I appreciated on my latest rewatch. You get to see in-universe events unfold in the order they occurred and appreciate the overarching story of the saga from beginning to end. Chronological order also groups the trilogies and standalone films together, rather than breaking them up like release order.

Return of the Jedi is also more satisfying with chronological order because it’s the culmination of eight movies, and you can go straight into the sequel trilogy. While the original trilogy’s plot twists are spoiled for first-time viewers and highlighted for existing fans, watching the prequels first adds new context, allowing me to enjoy the originals differently. The standalone movies, particularly Rogue One, are a good bridge between the prequels and the originals.

Cons Of Watching Star Wars In Chronological Order

Starting and ending Star Wars on a low note

Sadly, chronological order also has several problems that became more apparent on my most recent rewatch. Although many have warmed up to the prequel trilogy with time, the reality is that they are heavily flawed films, especially Episodes I and II. They both feel like prologues that set up the trilogy, forcing Revenge of the Sith to rush certain parts of its story. It’s not the best way to start the first seven hours of a Star Wars marathon.

The Phantom Menace is also problematic for first-time viewers because it doesn’t do nearly as good a job explaining the Force or the history of the Jedi as A New Hope. The prequels and the standalone movies also make the original trilogy feel awkward, as you go from more modern effects to older effects and then back to modern effects with the sequel trilogy.

However, the single biggest problem with chronological order is that it makes the sequel trilogy worse. Watching The Force Awakens right after the originals feels weird because of how similar it is to A New Hope, The Last Jedi does away with most of what came before, and The Rise of Skywalker is an incredibly messy and disappointing finale. I found these sequel trilogy problems far more noticeable after watching George Lucas’ Star Wars movies from beginning to end.

Final Verdict: Release Or Chronological?

Both Star Wars orders have several strengths and weaknesses

Now that I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies in chronological and release order, it’s clear that this franchise will always be enjoyable, regardless of how you watch it. However, after weighing the pros and cons of each, I’m still convinced that release order is the better way to watch Star Wars, especially if it’s the first time. I absolutely think it’s worth watching them in chronological order, but it has many problems that are hard to ignore.

Related

Every Star Wars Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

Looking at all nine Skywalker Saga entries and three spinoffs, we crown the best Star Wars movie in our full ranking of the galaxy far, far away.

Maybe I’m wrong, because after all, who am I to question the man who created Star Wars in the first place? Even so, it’s clear that release order is more enjoyable for me when viewing all the films, and I’m hardly alone in that opinion. For better or worse, the Star Wars saga was created out of order, so experiencing the movies as they were made is the best way to savor them when it’s time for a marathon.

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Star Wars

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

Cast

Mark Hamill
, James Earl Jones
, David Prowse
, Carrie Fisher
, Harrison Ford
, Daisy Ridley
, Adam Driver
, Ian McDiarmid
, Ewan McGregor
, Rosario Dawson
, Lars Mikkelsen
, Rupert Friend
, Moses Ingram
, Frank Oz
, Pedro Pascal

TV Show(s)

The Mandalorian
, Andor
, Obi-Wan Kenobi
, The Book of Boba Fett
, Ahsoka
, The Acolyte
, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
, Lando
, Star Wars: The Clone Wars
, Star Wars Rebels
, Star Wars: The Bad Batch
, Star Wars: Resistance
, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures
, Star Wars: Visions

Character(s)

Luke Skywalker
, Han Solo
, Rey Skywalker
, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious
, Obi-Wan Kenobi
, Ahsoka Tano
, Grand Admiral Thrawn
, Grand Inquisitor
, Reva (The Third Sister)
, The Fifth Brother
, The Seventh Sister
, The Eighth Brother
, Yoda
, Din Djarin
, Grogu
, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
, Leia Organa
, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren

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