How to watch Star Wars movies and shows? (Timeline of the Movies with respect to BBY and ABY)
New Delhi : The Star Wars saga has become one of the most popular sagas in the world. Started in the year 1977, with the release of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’, it has been over 40 years to its introduction to the world.
With new generations growing and discovering the Star Wars universe, it has been one of the most frequently asked and debated over questions how to watch the Star Wars movies and TV shows in the best possible order.
Where to watch the Star Wars movies?
In India, The Star War movies can be seen via OTT Hotstar, JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar, which also includes the spin-off show “The Mandalorian”, but you would require a subscription with a monthly fee.
In the US, you already have all of them (except The Last Skywalker) on Disney+ and it also requires a subscription.
The BEST order to watch the movies-
In normal scenarios, people prefer to go by release chronology, but sometimes watching a series according to the occurrence of events make it more interesting. For Star Wars especially, I personally prefer to spice it up a little.
My recommendation of the best order to watch the Star Wars films would be-
*[BBY stands for Before Battle of Yavin and ABY stands for After Battle of Yavin which is the battle that takes place in A New Hope, so basically 10 BBY means that the movie/story/event takes place 10 years before the happenings of A New Hope and 10 ABY mean it takes place 10 years after]
Note- Contains SPOILERS
1) A New Hope [Episode IV] - {Battle of Yavin}*
Being the very first movie in the saga, it treats every person watching the movie as a new watcher who doesn’t know anything about the Republic or the Empire, about the Jedi or the Force.
2) Rogue One - {Takes place moments before A New Hope}
This movie takes place just moments before the events of A New Hope. This movie will help you understand who created the Death Star and why it was so easily destroyed.
3) Empire Strikes Back [Episode V] - 3 ABY*
Taking place 3 years after the events of A New Hope, this movie shows us the beginning of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training with Yoda which in the end leads to a showdown between Luke and Darth Vader.
4) The Phantom Menace [Episode I] - 32 BBY
This movie is the first movie in the timeline or in the chronological order. We met young Obi-Wan Kenobi with his master Qui-Gon Jinn as they stumble upon young Anakin Skywalker.
5) Attack of the Clones [Episode II] - 22 BBY
This movie begins to explain us how Darth Vader became what he is. With his mother’s death and falling in love with Padme, one thing leads to another and he falls prey to the dark side. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan discovers an army of clones.
6) Revenge of the Sith [Episode III] - 19 BBY
Being the last [main] prequel movie (till date), it wraps up the story of Anakin’s youth and builds up the later events. Getting visions of Padme’s death at childbirth, Anakin becomes vulnerable and falls pray to the emperor, becoming what we know him as – Darth Vader.
7) Solo - 12 BBY
This movie deals with the origin story of our good old boy Han Solo. This movie is optional and can be skipped.
8) Return of the Jedi [Episode VI] - 4 ABY
Now that we’ve learned Anakin’s background, it’s time to watch him sort of redeem himself with all that knowledge in hand. Plus, after saving Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, we see Luke trying to defeat his father and the Emperor, all while Han and Leia work to demolish a nearly completed second Death Star. Also, there are teddy bears with stone-age technology that help destroy the Empire, too.
9) [OPTIONAL] The Mandalorian - {Around 9 ABY}
This is a Disney+ original Star Wars series and is COMPLETELY optional.
10) The Force Awakens [Episode VII] - 34 ABY
We see that there's a new conflict emerging between the budding Republic, led by Leia Organa-Skywalker and The First Order, which rose from the ashes of the Empire. Caught between this all is a young girl named Rey who seems to be really strong with the Force.
11) The Last Jedi [Episode VIII] - 34 ABY
After tracking down Luke Skywalker, Rey’s next challenge is convincing him to train her. Luke is unwilling due to his failures with Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, the remaining Republic forces are on the verge of total annihilation thanks to The First Order, leaving Rey and Luke as their only hope.
12) The Rise of Skywalker [Episode IX] - 35 ABY
When it's discovered that the evil Emperor Palpatine did not die at the hands of Darth Vader, the rebels must race against the clock to find out his whereabouts. Finn and Poe lead the Resistance to put a stop to the First Order's plans to form a new Empire, while Rey anticipates her inevitable confrontation with Kylo Ren.
The BEST Order at a glimpse
• Episode IV: A New Hope
• Rogue One
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• Solo
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
• Optional: The Mandalorian
• Episode VII: The Force Awakens
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
The Chronological Order
If you want to watch the movie in the order of the events then here you go-
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• Solo
• Rogue One
• Episode IV: A New Hope
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
• Episode VII: The Force Awakens
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker
The Release Date Order
If you want to watch the movies in the order of which they were released, then here you go-
• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
• Rogue One (2016)
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
• Solo (2018)
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
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