I Watched the Star Wars Movies in Chronological and Release Order, and Here's Which One Is the Best

Few things are more satisfying for Star Wars fans than a full movie marathon, but is it better to watch them in chronological or release order? I first heard about this debate when I was a child, when I decided to watch Star Wars for the first time and was renting the movies at my local library. I assumed I should start with Episode I, but my mother kindly informed me that I should watch the Star Wars original trilogy first.

It turns out that George Lucas started with Episode IV and then came back to do the same. Star Wars prequel trilogy several years later. While fans have many arguments in favor of both orders, I decided to see which works best when applied to all 11 live-action orders. Star Wars films. So whether you're showing the saga to someone for the first time or participating in a marathon, here's what I believe is the best Star Wars viewing order.

Pros of watching Star Wars in release order

Experiencing the Star Wars films the same way previous generations did

What I liked watching most Star Wars films in release order, even when shown repeatedly, is to experience the films as they were originally released in theaters. It's like going back in time to see Star Wars through the eyes of those who saw the first one in 1977 and then following the development of the franchise over several decades. The evolution of film technology and visual storytelling feels more natural with release order.

The release order also preserves the biggest plot twists from the original trilogywhich is especially important for those watching the films for the first time. Spoilers may not be as important on repeat viewings, but there is still something fascinating about watching a film as it was originally designed to be seen. Whatever George Lucas may think now, he initially developed the original trilogy to be seen first.

Most importantly, release order ensures that a Star Wars marathon starts on a high note with the two best films. I know this is subjective, but I think the original films are better than the prequels, so starting with A New Hope and especially The Empire Strikes Back helps instantly take me to a galaxy far, far away. A New Hope is also the smallest film in scope, the "first step to a bigger world" if you want."

As for the other films, seeing the questions raised by the originals makes you excited to go back and see the answers in the prequels. Placing the prequels in the middle also makes the sequel trilogy feel like a nice return to form after a break from the original trilogy. I also kept watching the standalone films between the sequels, which you'd think would be a distraction but actually made me anticipate returning to the Skywalker saga.

Cons of watching Star Wars in release order

Jumping through the entire Star Wars timeline

Of course, I'm not going to pretend that following the release order has its drawbacks. The most frustrating aspect of the release order for me is not finishing in Return of the Jediwhich feels even more satisfying after watching the complete story of Anakin Skywalker. The tragic ending of Revenge of the Sith It makes me want to go straight to the next episode, only to realize I've already watched it.

While I still believe A New Hope It's a better introduction Star Wars what The phantom menaceits admittedly outdated elements mean that not all first-time viewers will feel the same way. The release order also means you jump around a lot in the timeline rather than simply watching the entire saga unfold chronologically. This is especially true with the sequel trilogy and standalone films, which can be somewhat shocking even to a longtime fan like me.

Pros of watching Star Wars in chronological order

Experiencing the Star Wars story from beginning to end

Watching all Star Wars movies chronologically is, without a doubt, the simplest viewing experiencewhich I appreciated on my last rewatch. You'll see the events of the universe unfold in the order they occurred and enjoy the overarching story of the saga from beginning to end. The chronological order also groups trilogies and independent films together, rather than separating them in release order.

Return of the Jedi It's also more satisfying with chronological order because it's the culmination of eight films, and you can jump right into the sequel trilogy. While the original trilogy's plot twists will be spoiled for first-time viewers and highlighted for existing fans, watching the prequels first adds new context, allowing me to enjoy the originals differently. Independent films, particularly Rogue Onethey are a good bridge between the prequels and the originals.

Cons of watching Star Wars in chronological order

Starting and ending Star Wars on a low note

Unfortunately, the chronological order also presents several problems that became more apparent on my most recent rewatch. While many have warmed to the prequel trilogy over time, the reality is that they are deeply flawed films.especially Episodes I and II. Both seem like prologues that configure the trilogy, forcing Revenge of the Sith rush certain parts of your story. Not the best way to start the first seven hours of a Star Wars marathon.

The phantom menace It's also problematic for first-time viewers because it doesn't explain the Force or the history of the Jedi as well as A New Hope. The prequels and standalone films also make the original trilogy seem strange, as you move from more modern effects to older effects and then back to modern effects with the sequel trilogy.

However, The biggest problem with chronological order is that it makes the sequel trilogy worse. Attending The Force Awakens right after the originals look weird because of how similar it is A New Hope, The Last Jedi does away with most of what came before, and The Rise of Skywalker It's an incredibly confusing and disappointing ending. I found these sequel trilogy problems much more noticeable after watching George Lucas' film Star Wars films from beginning to end.

Final verdict: launch or chronological?

Both Star Wars orders have various strengths and weaknesses

Now that I've seen all the Star Wars films in chronological and release order, it's clear that this franchise will always be fun no matter how you watch it. However, after weighing the pros and cons of each, I'm Still Convinced That Release Order Is the Best Way to Watch Star Warsespecially if it's the first time. I think it's absolutely worth watching in chronological order, but it has a lot of problems that are hard to ignore.

Maybe I'm wrong, because after all who am I to question the man who created Star Wars in the first place? Still, it's clear that release order is more enjoyable to me when I watch all the films, and I'm not alone in that opinion. For better or for worse, the Star Wars saga was created out of order, so Experiencing films as they were made is the best way to savor them during a marathon.