Let’s go on a hyperspace ride through the Star Wars galaxy! If you want to watch the whole Star Wars story in the actual order it happened (not just the order it came out in theaters), buckle up. This is your ultimate Star Wars watching guide, covering every movie and TV show from the High Republic all the way to the rise of the First Order. You’ll meet heroes, scoundrels, villains, and a lot of folks who can’t decide which side they’re on. There’s a bit of everything: galaxy-shaking battles, sneaky espionage, ancient Jedi magic, and even some adorable droids and baby aliens. Whether you’re a fresh Padawan or a seasoned Jedi Master, this timeline has all the key events and connections you need to enjoy the entire saga as one giant story.
High Republic: The Golden Days (Way Before the Movies)
Let’s start way back. Like, WAY back. The High Republic era is the Jedi at their peak. The galaxy is peaceful, the robes are fresh, and most people don’t even know what a Sith is.
- The Acolyte (about 100 years before Episode I) – This series dives into the High Republic, when the Jedi act more like galactic sheriffs than battered warriors. But the Force has a dark side, and this show is where you see the first cracks. Jedi start to realize something’s not right. There’s a darkness bubbling up. A Sith threat is growing, hidden in the shadows. Basically, the whole mood starts shifting from golden to… well, kind of ominous. And it sets up why the Jedi in Episode I seem a little too confident for their own good.
The Prequels: Republic in Peril
Now, fast-forward a century. Politics get messy. And that’s when the story of Anakin Skywalker, the “Chosen One,” kicks off.
- The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (32 BBY) – Obi-Wan Kenobi’s still got a braid. Qui-Gon Jinn finds Anakin Skywalker, a slave kid with wild Force abilities. Darth Maul shows up and swings a double-bladed lightsaber. And meanwhile, Senator Palpatine starts playing chess with the entire galaxy. Spoiler: He’s way better at chess than anyone else. By the end, Qui-Gon’s gone, Obi-Wan steps up, and Anakin gets pulled into the Jedi world. Oh, and Palpatine gets just a little bit more power. He’s in no hurry.
- Attack of the Clones (Episode II) (22 BBY) – Skip ahead ten years. The Republic’s falling apart. Jedi are stretched thin. Anakin’s grown up, and his feelings for Padmé Amidala are totally not allowed, but they don’t care. Count Dooku leads a Separatist army. There’s a mysterious clone army, and nobody seems to ask enough questions. Anakin and Padmé get married in secret. War is on the horizon, and Palpatine gets even more power. Sense a pattern yet?
- The Clone Wars (Movie & Animated Series) (22–19 BBY) – If you skip this, you’ll miss so much. The animated Clone Wars covers what the movies skim over. Every Jedi, clone, and droid gets more depth. And most importantly, Anakin gets a Padawan named Ahsoka Tano. She’s stubborn, smart, and a total game-changer. You’ll see her bond with Anakin and why she matters later. Watch as clones develop personalities, battle droids get snarky, and the Republic slides closer to doom. And don’t sleep on the final season: It runs right alongside Episode III and gives you a gut-punch perspective on Order 66.
- Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) (19 BBY) – Here’s where everything falls apart. Palpatine reveals himself as Darth Sidious. Anakin turns into Darth Vader, betrays everyone, and helps wipe out the Jedi in Order 66. Padmé dies, but not before giving birth to twins, Luke and Leia. Yoda goes into hiding, Obi-Wan delivers the babies to secret homes, and the Empire is officially born. Vader gets the suit. The galaxy gets darker.
The Dark Times: Rise of the Empire
The Republic’s gone. The Empire rules. Jedi are nearly extinct, and hope is hard to find. But not gone.
- The Bad Batch (starts right after Episode III, 19 BBY) – This animated series picks up as the Clone Wars end. Meet Clone Force 99 (the Bad Batch), misfit clones with special skills. They don’t follow Order 66 like the rest, and they’re suddenly outlaws. These guys try to find their way in a new Empire, and along the way, they pick up Omega, a mysterious young clone. Expect early Imperial cloning experiments, hints of Palpatine’s future plans, and a lot of action.
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (13–10 BBY) – Han Solo’s origin story slides into the timeline here. Watch a scrappy kid become the charming scoundrel we all know. Han escapes Corellia, befriends Chewbacca, meets Lando Calrissian, and wins the Millennium Falcon. Heists, betrayals, and a cameo from a certain ex-Sith crime boss (Darth Maul) spice things up. You get a real sense of what life is like under the Empire—gangs, syndicates, and everyone looking out for themselves.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi (9 BBY) – Obi-Wan’s laying low on Tatooine, haunted by regret, just watching over young Luke. But when Leia gets kidnapped, he’s pulled back into action. The Inquisitors—Vader’s crew of Jedi hunters—are sniffing around. Obi-Wan faces Vader again. Their duel is fierce, sad, and absolutely delivers. By the end, Obi-Wan finds a bit of peace, Leia’s back home safe, and everyone’s secrets are kept for a few more years.
- Star Wars Rebels (5–0 BBY) – You can’t skip this animated gem. Follow Ezra Bridger, a street-smart kid, and his rebel family: ex-Jedi Kanan, pilot Hera, Mandalorian artist Sabine, grumpy Zeb, and the droid Chopper. They battle Imperials on Lothal and help the Rebel Alliance grow from scattered cells to a real threat. Rebels packs in epic stories—like the return of Ahsoka Tano, battles with Grand Admiral Thrawn, and cameos from Leia, Mon Mothma, and even Maul (yes, again). The finale? Ezra vanishes with Thrawn thanks to space whales (purrgil!), leaving big questions for later.
- Andor (5–0 BBY) – This one’s gritty. Cassian Andor’s story shows the dark, desperate side of the rebellion. He’s a survivor first, hero second. You see how hard it is to rebel under Imperial rule. Mon Mothma’s working behind the scenes, and Luthen Rael is playing both sides. The show’s full of betrayals, prison breaks, and moral gray areas. It all leads right up to Rogue One and the moment the Rebellion really gets its first big win.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (0 BBY) – Time to steal those Death Star plans! Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, and a motley crew take on an impossible mission. Every single one of them knows it’s a one-way trip. The battle on Scarif is intense, the sacrifices are huge, and in the end, they succeed. The plans reach Leia, and hope officially survives another day. Plus, Darth Vader’s hallway rampage scene is unforgettable.
Classic Trilogy: Rebellion vs Empire
We’re in familiar territory now. The fight between the Rebellion and the Empire heats up. Everything is on the line.
- A New Hope (Episode IV) (0 ABY) – The original adventure. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Chewbacca blast off from Tatooine to Alderaan and straight into the belly of the beast. Obi-Wan sacrifices himself facing Vader. Han comes back just in time. Luke trusts the Force and blows up the Death Star. The heroes get medals. The galaxy gets hope.
- The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) (3 ABY) – The Rebels get thrashed on Hoth, Han and Leia fall for each other, and Luke trains with Yoda on Dagobah. Vader’s on their heels. Cloud City’s a trap. Han gets frozen in carbonite and carted off by Boba Fett. And the bombshell: Vader is Luke’s father. That’s a lot to process.
- Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) (4 ABY) – One last battle. Han’s rescued. Luke faces Vader and the Emperor. The Ewoks help topple Imperial forces on Endor. Luke redeems his father. Vader destroys the Emperor, sacrificing himself to save his son. The second Death Star explodes. Celebrations break out everywhere. The Empire falls. And the Force ghosts smile down at the victory.
New Republic Era: Picking Up the Pieces
The Empire’s gone, but not everyone’s ready for peace. Chaos lingers on the edges. And new threats start to creep in.
- The Mandalorian (Seasons 1–2) (9 ABY) – The galaxy’s still wild. Enter Din Djarin, a Mandalorian bounty hunter with serious armor and even more serious rules. But things get complicated when he meets Grogu (yeah, that’s Baby Yoda’s real name). They dodge bounty hunters, Imperial warlords, and all kinds of trouble. Moff Gideon, a ruthless Imperial, wants Grogu for his own creepy cloning project. Din finds unlikely allies—Bo-Katan, Ahsoka Tano, and, yes, even Boba Fett. Luke Skywalker shows up in the season finale to take Grogu for Jedi training, and it’s one of the coolest moments in Star Wars TV. You’ll cheer and maybe cry a little.
- The Book of Boba Fett (9–11 ABY) – Boba Fett crawls out of the Sarlacc pit (seriously), learns from the Tuskens, and decides he wants more than bounty hunting. He teams up with Fennec Shand and claims Jabba’s old territory on Tatooine. But running a crime syndicate isn’t easy, especially with the Pykes and Hutts gunning for you. The show jumps back and forth between Boba’s past and present. Din Djarin and Grogu pop in for a few episodes, showing what they’ve been up to since Grogu left with Luke. Spoiler: Grogu decides he’d rather stick with Din than become a Jedi (for now). By the end, Boba’s earned respect, not just fear, and Tatooine has a new kind of boss.
- The Mandalorian (Season 3) (11 ABY) – Din’s on a mission to make things right after breaking Mandalorian rules (helmet stuff, don’t ask). Grogu’s back at his side. Bo-Katan teams up with them, and the quest to retake Mandalore is on. There are epic battles, mysterious monsters, and Darksaber drama. Mandalorians finally unite and reclaim their home. Moff Gideon returns for one last stand, this time with some wild cloning tricks. Mandalore’s back on the map, and Din takes on a new gig as a freelance agent for the New Republic. Din Grogu, anyone?
- Ahsoka (11 ABY) – Now, if you’ve watched Rebels, this is a huge deal. Ahsoka Tano is hunting for Grand Admiral Thrawn, who vanished with Ezra Bridger years ago. She teams up with Sabine Wren (who once trained with her), Hera Syndulla, and droid Chopper. Dark side troublemakers Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati complicate things. They discover a whole new galaxy out there, and Thrawn’s looking to make a comeback. Ezra returns. Thrawn escapes. Ahsoka and Sabine get stuck in the new galaxy, but they find some peace with Anakin’s spirit watching over them. Meanwhile, Thrawn’s ready to rally the Imperials for a new war. If you thought the Empire was done, think again.
- Skeleton Crew (11 ABY) – This one’s got a fresh vibe. It follows a bunch of kids who get lost in the galaxy after stumbling onto a ship. Think classic Amblin adventure. They’re just trying to find their way home, dodging pirates and getting caught up in bigger galactic messes. It’s a side story, but it’s got links to the Mando-verse—some familiar faces, but mostly new perspectives on how wild and unpredictable the New Republic era really is.
And here’s the thing: these shows are all connected. Characters hop from one show to another. Storylines cross over. The Mandalorian, Boba Fett, and Ahsoka all tie together. Grand Admiral Thrawn’s threat looms large, and it’s building toward a huge showdown in a future movie. This era bridges the gap between the old war with the Empire and what’s coming next.
Sequel Era: The Next Generation and the First Order
The galaxy gets some peace, but not for long. Shadows linger, and a new threat is brewing.
- Star Wars Resistance (34–35 ABY) – Want to know what everyone else was doing before the sequels? This animated show lets you hang with Kazuda Xiono, a rookie pilot and spy. He gets recruited by Poe Dameron to watch for First Order shenanigans on a fueling station called the Colossus. It starts out light, but gets real quick. When the First Order blows up the New Republic capital, everything changes. The show covers both the run-up to The Force Awakens and what happens during and after. Kaz and friends join the Resistance, and you see how the fight spreads across the galaxy.
- The Force Awakens (Episode VII) (34 ABY) – Jump thirty years from the original trilogy. The New Republic rules, but the First Order is lurking. Rey, Finn, and Poe step up as the new heroes. Han Solo and Leia are back. The galaxy is hunting for Luke Skywalker, who’s disappeared. Kylo Ren, Han and Leia’s son, leads the bad guys. Han dies. The Starkiller Base destroys planets. Rey discovers she’s Force-sensitive and faces Kylo in a snowy duel. The Resistance wins a battle, but the war is just getting started.
- The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) (34 ABY) – The Resistance is on the run. Rey tries to convince Luke to help, but he’s lost faith in the Jedi. Meanwhile, the First Order chases the Resistance across the stars. Finn and Rose head off on a wild mission. Luke pulls off an epic Force trick, stalling Kylo Ren and saving the last of the Resistance. He becomes one with the Force, and hope sparks across the galaxy again. Kylo kills Supreme Leader Snoke and claims the top spot. Rey turns down his offer to join him, determined to walk her own path.
- The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) (35 ABY) – Palpatine’s back (somehow). He’s got a new fleet, the Final Order. Rey and friends go on a quest to stop him, learning that she’s actually Palpatine’s granddaughter. Ben Solo (Kylo Ren) finally turns back to the light, helping Rey take down the Emperor once and for all. Both make huge sacrifices. Rey chooses to honor Luke and Leia by calling herself a Skywalker, and a new dawn rises for the Jedi. The Resistance, with a galaxy-wide citizen fleet, takes down the Final Order. Evil is finally defeated—at least for now.
The Force is Forever: Why the Timeline Matters
Watching Star Wars in this timeline isn’t just a fun experiment—it’s the best way to see how the galaxy changes, grows, and heals. You’ll spot characters who jump from show to show. You’ll see how Palpatine pulls strings across decades, how families split and come together, and how hope keeps finding new faces. Plus, the animated series like The Clone Wars and Rebels aren’t just side quests—they’re major parts of the saga. If you skip them, you’ll miss out on huge payoffs in the later live-action shows.
Each era has its own flavor. You get politics and prophecy in the prequels, pure heroics and betrayal in the original trilogy, and galaxy-sized legacy questions in the sequels. The newer shows fill the gaps, giving you heroes who don’t always fit the classic mold but who matter just as much. Watch it all, and you’ll see the Force move through generations, never staying in one place for long.
The best part? The saga isn’t over. More shows are coming. That next big battle with Thrawn and the Imperial Remnant is on the horizon. And somewhere out there, the next hero is probably picking up a lightsaber for the very first time.
So grab some blue milk and start your marathon. May the Force be with you, always.
