Now you can watch the whole thing of the Star Wars franchise with a Disney+(Opens in a brand new tab) subscription. This consists of the unique trilogy, the prequel films, and the sequel collection launched over the previous couple of years. You can too watch standalone movies like Rogue One and Solo, in addition to Disney’s rising assortment of Star Wars TV exhibits, like The Mandalorian and Andor.
It is by no means been simpler to marathon the entire collection, however earlier than you press play on the primary film, it is necessary to resolve your most well-liked viewing order. Do you begin with the unique trilogy or the prequel films? What in regards to the standalone movies and the tv exhibits? Right here is find out how to watch Star Wars so as, whichever order you select.
To learn the unique submit in PC Magazine, click on right here(Opens in a brand new tab).
Theatrical Launch Order
The obvious reply is theatrical launch order, since that is how the films have been proven and what George Lucas supposed. It begins with the unique trilogy, then takes us again to the prequel films, earlier than ending with Disney’s sequel movies.
Following this order, you get the story of Luke overcoming Darth Vader, adopted by Vader’s origin story, then see Rey decide up the legacy Luke left behind. This could get slightly awkward in the event you intend so as to add the standalone Star Wars movies to your watch celebration. Going by launch date, Rogue One and Solo would interrupt the sequel trilogy.
If you happen to’re doing a re-watch and are focused on preserving the storyline of the core films, simply skip these two movies. They don’t have any impression on the overarching narrative, anyway. First-timers who need the complete expertise can actually watch them in launch order, or place the standalone movies earlier than or after the sequel trilogy.
If you wish to go by launch order, your marathon ought to appear like this:
Chronological Order
George Lucas had all the time supposed for the unique Star Wars movie to be a small a part of a a lot bigger story. So simply because it was the primary movie to be launched doesn’t suggest it is the beginning of the story. As a substitute of going with launch order, you can too attempt chronological order based mostly on when the films are presupposed to happen.
This could imply beginning with Episode I, II, and III of the prequel trilogy, earlier than shifting to IV, V, VI of the unique films, then ending with VII, VIII, IX from the sequels. If you happen to’re including the standalone movies, you possibly can match Rogue One and Solo in between Episodes III and IV, and it ought to work superb.
Nonetheless, since this order utterly ruins the Darth Vader reveal within the authentic movies, it’s not advisable that anybody ought to watch these films for the primary time on this order. Watching Star Wars in chronological order is extra of a enjoyable experiment for longtime followers to see the collection from a brand new perspective.
If you happen to have been to observe the Star Wars movies in chronological order, it might appear like this:
Machete Order
If in case you have already seen all the things in launch and chronological order, there’s one other choice to attempt: Machete Order(Opens in a brand new tab). This order splits the distinction and has you watch Episodes II and III in between Episodes V and VI.
You begin with A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Again, however then issues get wonky. Simply after Luke discovers the reality about Darth Vader, flip to the prequels as a flashback sequence. Watch Assault of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith to witness how a younger Anakin Skywalker was consumed by the Darkish Facet, earlier than ending with Return of the Jedi.
The Machete Order cuts out Phantom Menace completely, since virtually all the things within the film is self-contained and has no impact on the opposite prequels. Qui-Gon Jinn performs no significance to the higher story. Midi-chlorians are barely talked about once more. You additionally mainly keep away from Jar Jar Binks completely. It is not excellent, although, so watch at your personal danger.
If you happen to’re not completely satisfied about eradicating Episode I and are additionally questioning the place the sequel films slot in right here, the unique creator of the Machete Order has a suggestion. In an replace to his authentic submit, Rod Hilton says(Opens in a brand new tab) to observe Episodes VII, VIII, and IX after the opposite films. You possibly can then deal with Episode I as an anthology, like Rogue One and Solo.
So in the event you go by the Machete Order, you’d watch the films as follows: