List of All Star Wars Movies (Release Order, Chronological Order, Ranking, Box Office): Every Star Wars film opens with the iconic text, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” The nine main films, identified by numbers, also feature the famous opening crawl narrating the backstory, accompanied by the iconic Star Wars theme.

Star Wars movies can be categorized into four groups: the original trilogy (1977-1983), prequel trilogy (1999-2005), sequel trilogy (2015-2019), and anthology films (2016-2018). The anthology films are two Star Wars spin-offs enriching specific narratives, positioned between the prequels and original trilogies. In total, there are eleven Star Wars movies, comprising nine main ones constituting the “Skywalker Saga,” and two spin-off films.

In addition, viewers can delve into the animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV Series 2008–2020), which unfolds between Episode II and Episode III. For fans of The Mandalorian (TV Series 2019–), the series is set 5 years after Episode VI and 25 years before Episode VII.

Here are all Star Wars movies ordered by release date:

1. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Episode I – The Phantom Menace kicks off the Star Wars prequel trilogy and initiates the Skywalker saga. This film, the fourth in the franchise, arrives 16 years after Return of the Jedi, achieving immense financial success with over $1.42 billion in global earnings.

This prequel transports audiences back 32 years before the original narrative. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi journey to the planet Naboo to alert its queen about a looming galactic menace posed by the malevolent Trade Federation. As the conflict unfolds, they seek refuge in the desolate world of Tatooine, where they encounter a young boy named Anakin Skywalker, displaying potent Force abilities. Together, they confront Darth Maul, the formidable Dark Lord of the Sith.

2. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Senator Padmé Amidala narrowly escapes an assassination attempt as she strives to push forward a motion requesting Jedi assistance to combat the looming threat posed by Count Dooku and his separatist movement. To ensure her safety, she is assigned the protection of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. While Obi-Wan embarks on a mission to uncover details about the assassination plot and uncovers the existence of a clone army, Anakin is entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding Padmé. As they spend time together, Anakin and Padmé’s relationship deepens, eventually blossoming into a romantic involvement.

3. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the third and last part of the prequel trilogy and the sixth film in the franchise altogether. It depicts the happenings three years after the War of Clones. The movie is regarded as the best prequel in the Star Wars saga.

Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker pursue Count Dooku in order to save the captured Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin kills Dooku while Obi-Wan goes after General Grievous, who manages to escape the ordeal. Anxious about the nightmares he’s been having about his wife Padmé’s death at childbirth, Anakin falls prey to Palpatine’s luring to the dark side.

4. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

This is the inaugural installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, later designated as Episode IV: A New Hope. The narrative centers around Luke Skywalker’s mission to rescue Princess Leia, a prominent leader in the rebel alliance, from the clutches of the malevolent Darth Vader. Aided by his allies, including Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, Skywalker embarks on an additional quest—to destroy the Death Star, a menacing space station.

Episode IV – A New Hope garnered widespread critical acclaim, securing seven out of ten Oscar nominations. It also held the distinction of being the highest-grossing film until the arrival of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982.

5. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The events in this one take place three years after Episode IV. After a brutal attack by the Imperial forces, the group of allies breaks up. Solo and Leia manage to get away in Millenium Falcon but are soon betrayed and captured by Vader. Meanwhile, Skywalker departs to the swamps of Dagobah to learn the ancient Jedi skill from the fabled Jedi Master Yoda, enabling him to go look for his friends and save them.

Although it was deemed unsuccessful at the beginning, Episode V – The Empire Strikes Backs slowly gained acclaim, emerging as the best movie of the Star Wars chronicle and also one of the best features ever filmed.

6. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is part three of the original Star Wars trilogy. As the new Death Star is being built by the evil Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker is on a mission to save Han Solo from the imprisonment of Jabba the Hutt. His endeavor turns out successful and the Rebel Alliance has assembled once again in their efforts to battle and defeat the powerful and antagonistic Empire.

7. Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Episode VII – The Force Awakens is part one in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, being the seventh part of the franchise and chronologically following the events of Return of the Jedi.

Thirty years after the fall of the Empire, a new threat arises – the First Order and its leader, Kylo Ren, set on ruling the galaxy. A scavenger Rey stumbles upon a droid that contains the directions to where the fabled Jedi Master Luke Skywalker is. Joining forces with an ex-stormtrooper Finn, as well as the legendary Han Solo and Chewbacca, Rey takes the droid to General Leia Organa of the Resistance and gets herself in the middle of a battle between good and evil.

8. Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

Episode VIII – The Last Jedi is part two in the Star Wars sequel trilogy coming after The Force Awakens, and the eighth installment in the Skywalker saga. Having found Luke Skywalker, Rey asks him to teach her to develop her skills with the Force. Meanwhile, the Resistance, with princess-turned-general Leia, ex-stormtrooper Finn, and Poe Dameron, try hard to keep the First Order at bay and deal with its tyrannical threat.

9. Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker portrays the events occurring after the previous installment. A few of the remaining Resistance members assemble once again in their attempt to put an end to Kylo Ren and the First Order once and for all. However, the malevolent Emperor Palpatine somehow returns from the dead and draws Kylo to his wicked side. With one more deadly enemy, Rey will have to summon all her strength in the Force, while learning about her origins and destructive secrets.

10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Begun, The Clone Wars have. As the war to shape the galaxy waves on, Anakin Skywalker unexpectedly gets a new apprentice by the name of Ahsoka Tano. But is Anakin able to prove himself a capable master, or will his reckless behavior corrupt his new apprentice?

11. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story belongs to the Star Wars spin-off films. It is part one of the Star Wars anthology series, set just before Episode IV – A New Hope. The Rebel Alliance finds out about the Empire building a new deadly weapon – the Death Star meant to inflict immense destruction. Its members, one of them being the daughter of the scientist who was forced to take part in the Death Star creation, set off on a mission to steal the plans detailing the flaws of the weapon and thus terminate it.

12. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Solo: A Star Wars Story is the saga’s spin-off focusing on Han Solo and incorporating Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian as well. It is the second movie in the Star Wars anthology series.

Depicting the happenings 10 years before the ones in the Star Wars narrative, the film portrays the path Han Solo took to become the galaxy’s most prominent smuggler. Expelled from the Imperial Flight Academy, Solo meets a gang of space pirates and wants in. The group’s leader throws him into a pit where an old prisoner is supposed to devour him – the prisoner being Chewbacca himself. Since Solo comprehends the Wookie language, he convinces Chewbacca to help him escape, and together they plan to hijack a shipment of coaxium. However, things do not exactly go to plan.

Star Wars Movies in Order of Chronological Events

Since Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) is the beginning of the story, we will use that one as a zero point and go from there. Here is the order:

• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – beginning of the story
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – 10 years after Episode I
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – 3 years after Episode II
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – 9 years after Episode III
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – 10 years after Solo, 19 after Episode III, just before Episode IV
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – 19 years after Episode III
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 3 years after Episode IV
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – 1 years after Episode V
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – 30 years after Episode VI
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – right after Episode VII
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – 1 year after Episode VIII

Alternative ‘Ninja’ Watch Order

When it comes to the watching order, if you choose to do it by the release order, two spin-off movies (Solo and Rogue One) can make it confusing, because they were released in between the sequel trilogies. On the other hand, chronological order will not only reveal Dart Vader’s past, but you will also transition from the newer and better-looking movies to the old ones done 40 years ago, and some don’t like that. Alternatively, if you are not in favor of either of those, you can watch it in the order listed below:

• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – original movie
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 3 years after Episode IV
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – 1 year after Episode V
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – 32 years before A New Hope
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – 10 years after Episode I
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – 3 years after Episode II
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – 9 years after Episode III
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – 10 years after Solo, 19 after Episode III, just before Episode IV
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – 30 years after Episode VI
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – right after Episode VII
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – 1 year after Episode VIII

All Star Wars Movies Ranked According to IMDb

• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 8.7 with 1,129,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – 8.6 with 1,200,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – 8.3 with 925,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – 7.9 with 843,000 votes
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) 7.8 with 537,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – 7.5 with 692,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – 7.0 with 546,000 votes
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – 6.9 with 276,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – 6.6 with 343,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – 6.5 with 711,000 votes
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – 6.5 with 624,000 votes

All Star Wars Movies Box Office Performance

• Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – $2.068 billion
• Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – $1.333 billion
• Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – $1.074 billion
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – $1.056 billion
• Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – $1.027 billion
• Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – $868 million
• Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – $775 million
• Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – $654 million
• Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – $558 million
• Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – $475 million
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – $393 million