Might the Fourth be with you! The fourth day of Might is a superb time to be a Star Wars fan, and with the “vacation” falling on a weekend this yr, it’s additionally a good time for a film marathon. However should you’ve by no means seen any of the movies, the place do you have to begin? Right here, we’re breaking down two of the preferred “viewing orders” for the Skywalker Saga, in addition to advising on which films, if any, a beginner to the galaxy far, distant may skip. Seize a bucket of popcorn and a Star Wars-obsessed pal, and put together for an epic journey.
What do prequels, sequels, and originals imply?
First, should you’re a complete beginner to the Star Wars universe, you may want a fast explainer on how the films are grouped collectively. The unique trilogy was launched from 1977 to 1983, and it accommodates A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Again, and Return of the Jedi — it’s known as “Unique” as a result of these have been the authentic Star Wars films. The prequel trilogy, launched from 1999 to 2005, serves as prequels to the occasions of the originals. The Phantom Menace, Assault of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith concentrate on the origin story of Darth Vader. Lastly, the sequel trilogy, launched from 2015 to 2019, takes place 30 years after the unique trilogy. Which means that The Power Awakens, The Final Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker are all sequels to these authentic movies from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
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How will you watch the primary movies in launch order?
When you ask any Star Wars fan on the road how they’d suggest you watch the saga, no less than 80% of them would most likely recommend this methodology. Right here, you’ll begin at 1977’s traditional A New Hope and transfer ahead by the yr of the film’s launch, not the place it takes place on the Star Wars timeline. You’ll watch Luke (Mark Hamill), Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han (Harrison Ford) first, then you definitely’ll study Anakin (Hayden Christensen), Padme (Natalie Portman) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), and at last you’ll find yourself with Rey (Daisy Ridley), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac).
To summarize, right here’s how you’d watch the films on this order: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Again, and Return of the Jedi (the unique trilogy); subsequent The Phantom Menace, Assault of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith (prequel trilogy); lastly The Power Awakens, The Final Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker (sequel trilogy).
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How will you watch the primary movies in timeline order?
When you select to not go for a launch date order, you might watch the films as they occurred within the Star Wars timeline. This is able to have you ever begin with the prequel trilogy, then proceed to the originals, and finish on the sequels. You’ll first find out how Darth Vader got here to be, subsequent you’ll see Luke, Leia, and Han go to battle towards him, and then you definitely’ll find yourself on the more moderen sequels.
Right here’s how you’d watch the films in timeline order: The Phantom Menace, Assault of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith; then A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Again, and Return of the Jedi; and at last, The Power Awakens, The Final Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker.
When you’re solely occupied with watching the Skywalker Saga — which is to say, the films with direct connections to the Skywalker lineage and its influence on the galaxy — you possibly can watch these 9 films and cease. Nevertheless, you’d be lacking two main Star Wars theatrical releases. Right here’s the best way to incorporate them into your viewing.
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How will you watch the primary movies plus the standalones?
There are two self-contained films within the Disney Star Wars theatrical canon: Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Once more, should you walked as much as somebody carrying a Boba Fett T-shirt on the road and requested them the place they’d put these two films in a conventional marathon, you’d most likely get a superb reply… though you may hit upon a fan who recommends skipping one in all them totally.
Rogue One is broadly thought of probably the greatest Star Wars films, and we discover it arduous to consider anybody would advise you to not watch it (plus, it ties on to the critically acclaimed Disney+ sequence Andor, which is at the moment airing its second and closing season). One of the best place to place Rogue One in a viewing order is not, confusingly, when it was launched. As a result of the occasions of the movie hyperlink on to the occasions of A New Hope and it technically serves as a prequel to the occasions of that film, you may watch it earlier than the rest. Nevertheless, as a result of none of its foremost characters seem in any of the opposite movies, the place it falls in a viewing order is malleable. Some may suggest watching it after Return of the Jedi, whereas others nonetheless may reserve it till the very finish and watch it after The Rise of Skywalker. Everytime you resolve to look at it, most followers would no less than agree that it’s properly price your time… and it has an iconic Darth Vader second, too.
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Solo, however, is extra divisive. Launched in 2018 to a fanbase in turmoil after the controversial The Final Jedi, Solo didn’t precisely gentle the field workplace on hearth. Many have been skeptical of it as an entry into Star Wars canon and maintained that it wasn’t essential to see how Han Solo turned, properly, Han Solo — the smuggler with a coronary heart of gold from the Unique Trilogy. We predict that’s a disgrace as a result of Alden Ehrenreich does a superb job exploring Han Solo’s life in his youthful years. The film additionally options nice performances from Emilia Clarke of Recreation of Thrones fame, and Donald Glover as a younger Lando Calrissian. Solo is technically additionally a prequel to A New Hope, however we wouldn’t suggest beginning with it. Our suggestion can be so as to add it after Return of the Jedi, or, should you save the standalones for final, to look at it after The Rise of Skywalker. We do assume it’s best to give it an opportunity, although. It’s a enjoyable story. However should you’re going to skip one Star Wars pic, this one can be the one to choose out of since you gained’t miss too a lot in the way in which of canon.
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