Star Wars Movies in Release-Year Order
This evergreen reference lists every major Star Wars feature film in the order they were released, from 1977 to the latest theatrical releases. It focuses on year, title, and franchise context rather than streaming or viewing order, making it easy to look up when each film arrived and how the saga evolved at the cinema.
Main Skywalker Saga (Theatrical Release Timeline)
The core saga follows the classic episodic structure across six primary films spanning original and sequel trilogies. Below is a chronological table aligned to release years and their narrative positions.
Key Release-Year Table
Film details including episode designation, release year, and informal era for quick orientation.
| Episode | Title | Release Year | Era Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV | A New Hope | 1977 | Original Trilogy |
| V | The Empire Strikes Back | 1980 | Original Trilogy |
| VI | Return of the Jedi | 1983 | Original Trilogy |
| I | The Phantom Menace | 1999 | Prequel Trilogy |
| II | Attack of the Clones | 2002 | Prequel Trilogy |
| III | Revenge of the Sith | 2005 | Prequel Trilogy |
| VII | The Force Awakens | 2015 | Sequel Trilogy |
| VIII | The Last Jedi | 2017 | Sequel Trilogy |
| IX | The Rise of Skywalker | 2019 | Sequel Trilogy |
Standalone and Spinoff Features
Beyond the main Skywalker arc, several standalone films have expanded the timeline. These were released between the core episodes and explore adjacent stories, eras, and characters.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) — A direct prequel to Episode IV, released between Revenge of the Sith (2005) and The Force Awakens (2015).
- Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) — An origin story set before Episode IV, released after The Force Awakens (2015).
Documentaries and Complementary Releases
Documentaries and retrospective features provide behind-the-scenes context but are not narrative episodes of the Skywalker saga. They accompany the film timeline rather than extend it as canon story episodes.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) — Feature-length film that preceded the animated series of the same name.
- The Making of Star Wars (1977) — Classic documentary released with select theatrical prints.
- Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy (2004) — Documentary examining the original trilogy’s production.
- Visions of the Empire (2022) — Documentary celebrating the franchise’s 45th anniversary.
Pre-2020s Theatrical Prequel Timeline (Lucas Era)
Before Disney’s acquisition, George Lucas shaped the timeline as a backward-moving saga beginning with Episode IV released first. The release sequence surprised many viewers because the story unfolds chronologically as Episodes I–III then IV–VI.
Release-Year Sequence in Lucas’s Vision
| Viewing Order | Release Year | Episode | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1977 | IV | A New Hope |
| 2 | 1980 | V | The Empire Strikes Back |
| 3 | 1983 | VI | Return of the Jedi |
| 4 | 1999 | I | The Phantom Menace |
| 5 | 2002 | II | Attack of the Clones |
| 6 | 2005 | III | Revenge of the Sith |
Disney Era Sequel Progression
After 2012, the sequel trilogy advanced the saga chronologically, releasing annually at the lower end of the 2010s. The pattern differed from the prequel strategy by following one another more closely in release and story time.
- The Force Awakens (2015) — Begins the sequel era some 30 years after Return of the Jedi.
- The Last Jedi (2017) — Continues the narrative roughly one generation later.
- The Rise of Skywalker (2019) — Concludes the Skywalker sequel arc.
How to Use This List
Treat this table as a durable reference for when each Star Wars feature reached theaters. It supports looking up individual years, tracing franchise expansion, and comparing original versus prequel versus sequel trilogy timelines without relying on streaming availability or binge-watching order.