Complete List of All Star Wars Movies in Release Order
The Skywalker saga includes nine main episodic films released by Lucasfilm and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures since 1977. The original trilogy spans episodes IV, V, and VI, followed by the prequel trilogy (episodes I, II, III) and the sequel trilogy (episodes VII, VIII, IX). The standalone anthology films include Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story. The complete chronological order by release date is: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983), The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002), Revenge of the Sith (2005), The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One (2016), The Last Jedi (2017), Solo (2018), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). As of the latest public data, the franchise has earned over $10 billion at the global box office, making it one of the highest-grossing film series in history. For detailed financial performance and industry analysis, see the Forbes overview of the Star Wars franchise.
Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 and now controls the Star Wars film slate, streaming content, and merchandising rights. The company has structured the franchise around a mix of theatrical releases and exclusive streaming projects for Disney+. The sequel trilogy, produced under Disney's ownership, introduced new central characters alongside legacy figures from the original trilogy. The standalone films expand the timeline with heist and rebellion narratives set between the main episodes. The first episode in the franchise, Star Wars, premiered on May 25, 1977, and was later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in subsequent re-releases. The most recent mainline episode, The Rise of Skywalker, concluded the nine-film saga in 2019.
Chronological Story Order vs. Release Order
For viewers following the in-universe timeline, the chronological order begins with The Phantom Menace, which introduces the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the Clone Wars. Attack of the Clones continues the story with the rise of the Separatist movement and Anakin's secret marriage. Revenge of the Sith depicts the fall of the Republic, the Jedi Purge, and Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader. The story continues with Rogue One, which details the theft of the Death Star plans, followed by the original Star Wars. The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi cover the Rebel Alliance's conflict with the Empire and Vader's redemption. The sequel era begins with The Force Awakens, followed by The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Solo fills in backstory for Han Solo and Chewbacca between the original and prequel trilogies. This internal timeline helps new viewers understand character arcs and political events across the galaxy.
Release order remains the most common viewing approach because it matches the historical experience of the original audience and preserves the narrative reveals designed by George Lucas and subsequent directors. The original trilogy was produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by 20th Century Fox before Disney's acquisition. The prequel trilogy was also distributed by Fox and introduced digital filmmaking techniques that influenced the industry. The sequel trilogy was the first produced entirely under Disney's ownership and utilized advanced visual effects and global marketing campaigns. The standalone films were developed to explore side stories without the episode numbering of the main saga. For information on corporate ownership and studio structure, refer to the official Disney corporate filings and the Lucasfilm acquisition details.
Key Directors, Cast, and Franchise Impact
George Lucas directed the original trilogy and wrote and produced the prequel trilogy. Directors of the sequel trilogy include J.J. Abrams, Rian Johnson, and Colin Trevorrow. Gareth Edwards