Every ‘Star Wars’ Movie & Show in Chronological Order

Star Wars has grown well beyond the original trilogy. While the expanded storyline used to be something hardcore fans engaged with through books, comics, and video games, ever since Disney acquired the franchise, the overall larger story for Star Wars has expanded on screen. Star Wars now includes spin-offs, prequels, sequels, prequels to prequels, and standalone stories. With a bit of a lull in the franchise following the conclusion of Andor and before the series returns to the big screen with The Mandalorian & Grogu, now is a great time to catch up on anything you may have missed.

The expansive universe of the galaxy far, far away is packed with lore, and most of the stories are deeply intertwined. Many Star Wars shows and movies can be enjoyed as standalone pieces, but their overall impact is significant when you understand why things happen and how each individual production is connected to others. Of course, this introduces a slight issue: with so much media in the franchise, where do you start? What’s the timeline, and how do you enjoy it all from start to finish?

Although not depicted in-universe, Lucasfilm and fans of the series use the Battle of Yavin, also known as the first Star Wars movie, as the franchise’s focal point. Events are either Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) or After the Battle of Yavin (ABY). From the earliest days of the High Republic to the revival of the once-fallen Jedi, you can experience this incredible shared universe as one cohesive story of events that plays out like history. Here’s how to watch every Star Wars film and show in chronological order.

‘The Acolyte’ – 132 BBY

The Acolyte is now the first entry in the Star Wars timeline. Set 100 years before The Phantom Menace, and therefore 132 years before the Battle of Yavin in Star Wars, The Acolyte takes place in the final days of the High Republic Era. The series is a murder mystery centered on a mysterious pair of twins, Mae and Osha, with one on the light side and the other on the dark side of the Force. The series was sadly canceled after one season. However, the series’ final episode features some interesting ties to the later films, including the appearance of the legendary Darth Plagueis the Wise, the master of Emperor Palpatine.

‘Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace’ – 32 BBY

The Phantom Menace marks the beginning of what is now known as “The Skywalker Saga.” The film introduces how Anakin Skywalker was found on the planet of Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn and later trained as a Jedi by Obi-Wan Kenobi. It also introduces Padmé Amidala, the future mother of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. The film’s main action, a trade blockade orchestrated by Darth Sidious to manipulate himself into becoming Palpatine, the Chancellor, marks the beginning of the end for the Republic.

‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ – 22 BBY

Attack of the Clones is set 10 years after the events of The Phantom Menace, and shows a now young adult Padawan, Anakin Skywalker, and his master Obi-Wan Kenobi, brought in to protect Senator Amidala following a series of assassination attempts, leading to an investigation that eventually gets the entire galaxy involved in what will be dubbed The Clone Wars. The movie not only features the debut of the villain Count Dooku, but also introduces the Clone Troopers, which not only set the stage for the rise of the Empire but also became a vital part of the franchise moving forward. This film also further develops the romance that will doom the galaxy.

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (Film) – 22BBY

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the only theatrically released animated Star Wars film. Essentially a feature-length pilot to the popular animated series, the film introduces audiences to Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker’s padawan. Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes place during the early days of the Clone Wars, shortly after Anakin Skywalker has been appointed a Jedi Knight. The film also introduces Rotta the Hutt, a character that is set to return in The Mandalorian & Grogu. The film also marks the canon debut of Asajj Ventress, Dooku’s secret apprentice, who will play a larger role in the franchise.

‘Tales of the Jedi’ – 50 BBY, 40 BBY, 32 BBY (Dooku) & 36BBY, 22 BBY, 18BBY (Ahsoka)

Tales of the Jedi is one of three anthology short series that go through the timeline. Three of the episodes are centered on Dooku, with two taking place before The Phantom Menace and the third set during the fallout of the first prequel’s finale following the death of Qui-Gon Jinn at the hands of Darth Maul. The other set of episodes follows Ahsoka Tano, the Jedi who will become Anakin’s padawan as a child before the events of The Clone Wars, one episode training with Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars, and the final episode set after the events of The Clone Wars.

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (Television Series) – 22BBY to 19BBY

Following the film, The Clone Wars takes place between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The series is set over three years, showing various conflicts of the war between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist forces. The series dives into a variety of Jedi knights and introduces many fan-favorite characters who will return in later entries in the franchise, including Bo-Katan, Hondo Ohnaka, Cad Bane, and Captain Rex. It also fleshes out many characters from both the prequels and the original trilogy, including the return of Darth Maul and the rise of a young Boba Fett. The main focus of the series is, of course, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano, while also fleshing out the Clones from mindless soldiers to flesh-and-blood characters. The Clone Wars’ final four episodes sync up with the climax of Revenge of the Sith, enhancing the viewing experience of both.

‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith’ – 19BBY

The third and final film in the Star Wars prequels, Revenge of the Sith, concludes the Clone Wars as Anakin Skywalker succumbs to the dark side, aids Palpatine in hunting down and destroying the Jedi Knights, and becomes the infamous Darth Vader. The film sets the stage for the original trilogy, while also establishing many of the in-between stories that will unfold during the 19-year gap between Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars, known as The Reign of the Empire.

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‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ – 19BBY to 17BBY

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Release Date

2021 – 2023

Directors

Brad Rau, Steward Lee, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz

Writers

Jennifer Corbett, Dave Filoni, Matt Michnovetz, Tamara Becher, Amanda Rose Munoz, Gursimran Sandhu, Christian Taylor, Damani Johnson

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The Bad Batch is a spin-off of The Clone Wars and follows Clone Force 99, or ‘The Bad Batch,’ in the early days of the Empire. The first episode takes place during the events of Revenge of the Sith, including Order 66 and the transition from the Republic to the Empire. The series sees The Bad Batch go on the run from the Empire with a female clone child named Omega, one who is key to the Emperor’s grander plans to cheat death. The Bad Bitch offers viewers an insight into the early days of the Empire, the transition from Clone Troopers to Stormtroopers, and how the galaxy adapted to this new normal, as well as how many began to fight for survival.

‘Tales of the Empire’ – 20BBY, 3BBY, 9ABY (Morgan Elsbeth) and 19BBY to 10BBY (Barriss Offee)

Another installment in the Tales series that jumps around the timeline, Tales of the Empire, focuses on the characters Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee. Morgan’s storyline begins in 20 BBY, concurrently with the Season 4 Clone Wars episode “Massacre”. Her story jumps forward to shortly before the events of Rebels, where she meets Grand Admiral Thrawn, and her final episode is shortly before her live-action debut in The Mandalorian Season 2.

Barriss Offee, a former friend of Ahsoka Tano’s who later framed her for blowing up the Jedi Temple, is a redemption story for the fan-favorite character. Her first episode is one of many stories set in the immediate aftermath of Revenge of the Sith and Order 66, where she joins the Inquisitors. The second episode takes place shortly after, showing her questioning the Empire’s methods. Her third episode date is unknown, but it is sometime after Obi-Wan Kenobi since it features The Fourth Sister.

‘Tales of the Underworld’ – Before ‘The Phantom Menace’ (Cad Bane) and 16BBY (Asajj Ventress)

Tales of the Underworld follows two separate stories centered on fan-favorite characters Cad Bane and Asajj Ventress. Cad Bane’s stories follow him from a kid to a bitter young man and finally to the beginning of his bounty hunter career. No date is confirmed, but it is inferred that these events took place before The Phantom Menace, given that Cad Bane is a seasoned veteran by the time of The Clone Wars. The Asajj Ventress story is easier to track. The opening prologue of her episode takes place after the book Dark Disciple, set in 19 BBY, shortly before Revenge of the Sith. The three-episode stories take place three years after the conclusion of The Clone Wars.