Every “Star Wars” fan has an opinion on the best way to view the expansive catalogue. Even if someone claims they don’t, they probably still have a preferred order to watch the movies in, usually depending on whether they like the prequels, originals or sequels best. If you are someone who has expressed any sort of interest in delving into “Star Wars,” you’ve probably heard what people will tell you is the “right way” to watch them. I’m here to say that there is no inherent “right way” — at least, there’s not just one.
There are two main routes for watching all of the “Star Wars” projects — chronologically and by release order. To watch chronologically, viewers follow the timeline of events within the universe, starting with “The Acolyte” and ending with “The Rise of Skywalker.” To watch by release order, viewers follow the order that the projects were originally released, starting with “A New Hope” and ending with the most recent release, “Maul — Shadow Lord.” It may not seem like a significant difference to a casual viewer, but each option creates a drastically different viewing experience. For “Star Wars” newbies, the best option is release order, but longtime fans might find that chronological viewing is the better choice.
You only get to start a franchise for the first time once, so it’s important to make that first watch the best it can be. It makes sense to experience the movies and TV shows the way that everyone else did when they were originally released. Episode IV, “A New Hope,” was the movie that first hooked audiences in 1977. The earliest chronological projects, “The Acolyte” and “The Phantom Menace,” may not capture the attention of a first-time viewer as much as what has been tried and tested. Besides being a more “authentic” viewing experience, release order also showcases the journey and evolution of building this expansive universe.
Another major reason to avoid watching chronologically is that certain twists happen too early and lose much of their impact if you don’t watch in release order first. Even though many may know the reveals from general pop culture, it’s a totally different experience to watch them in the context of the whole movie. A lot of foreshadowing that occurs in the prequel projects also gets overlooked if viewers watch them before the original films. Many fan-favorite, more obscure character cameos also won’t make much sense to a first-time watcher, and would not only diminish the impact of the surprise, but would also make the story more confusing. Some viewers may choose a chronological viewing because it seems to make the timeline more clear and easier to follow. However, it could actually become more complicated when it comes to the TV shows, since many of them overlap in between seasons and even episodes. For example, the events in “Tales of the Empire,” “Tales of the Jedi” and “Tales of the Underworld” overlap with various other projects, ranging from before “The Phantom Menace” to “The Mandalorian.” This would make for a jarring and overcomplicated viewing experience, as it is less immersive to have to switch between movies and shows mid-season.
After criticizing a chronological viewing experience, it is fair to acknowledge that it may be a preferable choice for those already familiar with most of “Star Wars.” After all, creator George Lucas has said that the movies should be watched beginning with episodes I, II and III before IV, V and VI. This approach centers the Skywalker story, creating a more cohesive and linear narrative and delivering on the “space opera” element. Watching events unfold in real time with the characters makes “Star Wars” seem more like one big story than disjointed separate adventures. It can also bring clarity to the timeline and how certain events impact others. For example, the events of “The Clone Wars” TV show add nuance and emotional clarity to the events of “Revenge of the Sith,” particularly for the clones and Anakin Skywalker.
While these are all valid reasons to watch “Star Wars” chronologically, the benefits still don’t outweigh the drawbacks for a first-time viewer. For those who have already seen most of the movies and shows, however, it could shed a new light on the development of character arcs and political dynamics. There is also an added emotional weight when the viewer already knows what will happen and how it influences future events, but experiences it alongside the characters as events unfold.
But what if you’ve already watched “Star Wars” by release order and chronologically? There are still numerous other ways to spice up your viewing experience as a diehard fan. Someone could take a longer approach, rewatching certain relevant movies before and after shows for more context and increased emotional impact. For example, a viewer might watch “Rogue One” before and after watching “Andor,” to add the element of an inevitable fate and complete narrative for Cassian Andor. Another creative way to watch “Star Wars” is to pick a favorite character (ideally not one of the main characters!) and watch every project in which they appear in chronological order, to see their entire character arc and how they develop and influence the story. A few intriguing picks that come to mind are Darth Maul or Mon Mothma.
As someone who first watched in release order, I can confidently say that the way you choose to view “Star Wars” has a big impact on what the story can become for you, which only makes your first watch that much more important. This May 4 (and “Revenge of the Fifth”), make sure to plan out your “Star Wars” viewing journey. Whether you’re starting your first ever watch (hopefully with “A New Hope”), or you’re on your 66th, may the Force be with you and your “Star Wars” watch party this May 4.
