How to watch the Star Wars movies and TV shows in timeline order
By Gabii Rayner
The amount of Star Wars movies and TV shows to contend with can be a little overwhelming. The franchise spans from 1977 to the present day, and each new product seems to jump back and forth across the galaxy’s timeline. To lend a hand, here are all the official Star Wars movies and TV shows in order, in chronological timeline order as opposed to in release order. Minimal spoilers only!
Similarly to the way we use BCE and CE to structure our history’s timeline (‘Before Current Era’ and ‘Current Era’), the Star Wars timeline is often centred around the Battle of Yavin, the key battle in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. This provides the year notations BBY and ABY (‘Before the Battle of Yavin’ and ‘After the Battle of Yavin’), helping place each movie and TV show in the Star Wars timeline.
The Star Wars movies and TV shows in timeline order
Tales of the Jedi (2022) | TV series — 50-18 BBY
This TV miniseries explores a number of Jedi stories long before the crux of the franchise. Although it begins 18 years before the first movie in the timeline, the show stretches into the midst of the prequel trilogy, and includes characters such as Ahsoka Tano, Count Dooku, Mace Windu, and Qui-Gon Jinn.
Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace (1999) | Movie — 32 BBY
The movie franchise kicks off in a galaxy far, far away with the young Anakin Skywalker being released from slavery. The mysterious Jedi Order believe he could be The Chosen One that will join them to bring balance between light and dark across the planets. The evil Sith have other plans, and begin to put them into motion.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) | Movie — 22 BBY
A grown up Anakin, in the midst of his Jedi training under Obi-Wan Kenobi, falls for the beautiful Senator Padmé Amidala, despite being forbidden by the Jedi code. Meanwhile, Separatist forces fight against the Galactic Republic’s leadership, leading to war.
Clone Wars (2008) | Movie — 22 BBY
An animated addition to the prequel story, Clone Wars follows the now Jedi Knight Anakin and his Master Obi-Wan against the plans of the Sith Lord Count Dooku.
The Clone Wars (2008-2014, 2020 final season) | TV series — 22-19 BBY
Delving more into the characters of the prequels and building on the Clone Wars movie, the series tells multiple stories during the war between the Galactic Republic’s clone troopers (led by the Jedi) and the Separatist Army. Many episodes focus on Anakin and his Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano, fleshing out the characterisation and relationships of both Jedi.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) — 19 BBY
At the culmination of the Clone Wars, the evil Sith enact their final plan for domination of the galaxy in the final Episode of the prequel trilogy. Against this, Anakin is torn between the love of his life and his Jedi responsibilities, with devastating results.
The Bad Batch (2021-present) | TV series — 19 BBY
Another animated series, The Bad Batch follows a ragtag group of clone troopers post-Clone Wars. They travel the galaxy aimlessly, getting into trouble and searching for their new purpose.
Solo (2018) | Movie — 13-10 BBY
Around a decade before we meet him officially in Episode IV, the Solo movie introduces us to a young Han Solo. From his life as an orphan, to the Imperial Navy, to gang heists, the film gives us more of Han’s backstory, including how he came to be part of an iconic duo with the world’s most famous Wookie.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) | TV series — 9 BBY
Fan favourite Ewan McGregor reprised his role as the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Disney+ miniseries. Embodying the character made famous by Sir Alec Guinness in the original trilogy, we follow a disillusioned Kenobi keeping his Jedi identity a secret whilst he keeps a watchful eye on the young Luke Skywalker. He then receives an urgent cry for help from the father of a young Princess Leia, one he cannot refuse — even if it means facing old enemies.
Andor (2022-present) | TV series — 5 BBY
Cassian Andor is a downcast Ferrix resident before he becomes a fugitive of the law, and then the oppressive Empire itself. He then becomes entangled in the spark of Rebellion igniting across the galaxy, whilst Senator Mon Mothma struggles with entanglements of her own.
Star Wars Rebels (2014-2018) | TV series — 5-1 BBY
The Empire is ruling with a tyrannical iron fist, and the Rebellion is emerging. The animated Rebels series chronicles the missions of the Ghost freighter crew; they rescue slaves, steal weaponry, and even confront the dreaded Sith Lord Darth Vader, voiced by James Earl Jones.
Rogue One (2016) | Movie — 0 BBY / 0 ABY
In the lead up to the turning point of the Star Wars franchise, Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor team up with one simple mission: to steal the plans to the Galactic Empire’s planet-destroying Death Star.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) | Movie — 0 BBY / 0 ABY
Episode IV is, strangely, where it all began back in 1977. The young and naïve Luke Skywalker becomes embroiled in the arduous fight against the Empire, meeting Jedi Master Ben Kenobi, feisty Princess Leia, and mercenary duo Han Solo and Chewbacca.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | Movie — 3 ABY
The villainous Darth Vader and the Emperor take devastating action against the Rebel Alliance, chasing them from their secret base. Luke, following Jedi training from wise Master Yoda, faces Vader in an iconic battle of light versus dark.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) | Movie — 4 ABY
In the final chapter of the original trilogy, the Rebels discover the Empire’s new superweapon. It must be destroyed in order to protect the galaxy from its violence and the oppressive domination by the Sith Lords behind it. Luke comes face to face with his nemesis Darth Vader once again.
The Mandalorian (2019-present) | TV series — 9 ABY
The warriors of the planet Mandalore are masked up, heavily armoured, and strictly religious. The titular Mandalorian, whilst on a bounty mission, becomes attached to his target, and it is clear the feeling is mutual. Mando spends the rest of the space-Western series running to protect his ‘bounty’ from former Empire leaders and other bounty hunters.
The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022) | TV series — 9 ABY
Bounty hunter Boba Fett — a genetic replica of his ‘father’ Jango, from whom all the Republic’s clones derived — wants the throne of the crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Decked out in his iconic Mandalorian armor, he teams up with Master Assassin Fennec Shand, giving us more of the fearsome bounty hunter that fans came to love in the original trilogy.
Stars Wars Resistance (2018-2022) | TV series — 34 ABY
Set just before and in the midst of the Episode VII-IX trilogy of movies, Resistance adds to the animated repertoire of the Star Wars universe. Centred around Resistance pilot Kaz, the show explores his covert intelligence missions, spying on the emerging First Order as they become a growing threat to the galaxy.
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) | Movie — 34 ABY
Over three decades after the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope, the third movie trilogy of the franchise begins. The protagonist is Rey, a young orphan girl who scavenges on the desert planet of Jakku for food and money. When a deserter stormtrooper pulls her into the world of political resistance and Jedi myth, the fight against the new, menacing First Order (including the warrior Kylo Ren) begins.
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) | Movie — 34 ABY
The Last Jedi tells the second chapter of the new Star Wars story, reintroducing the original trilogy’s beloved Luke Skywalker as he attempts to train Rey in the Jedi ways of The Force. Meanwhile, former stormtrooper Finn and pilot Poe Dameron act as part of the Resistance team fighting to escape the First Order’s attacks.
Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) | Movie — 35 ABY
Bringing the Skywalker saga of nine movies to an official close is The Rise of Skywalker. Rey takes on Kylo Ren, and Finn and Poe head up the Resistance’s last stand against the dangerous First Order.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny (2017-2018) | TV series — 22 BBY-35 ABY
Similarly to Tales of the Jedi, Forces of Destiny is another animated TV series that spans across many years of the Star Wars universe, this time both before and after the Battle of Yavin. The franchise’s female characters are given a well-needed spotlight in this show, with stories starring Rey, Leia, Maz Kanata, Hera Syndulla, Padmé Amidala, and Rose Tico to name a few.
And that’s it so far! This list only includes the canonical Star Wars content, but you can also catch the Droids, Ewoks, and original Clone Wars miniseries as part of the non-canon Star Wars Legends continuity.
All the movies and shows in the list can be watched now on Disney+.
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