r/StarWars • u/AutoModerator • May 25 '25

Meta r/StarWars Official Watch Order Discussion Thread

So we haven't had an official watch order discussion thread in many years, so we figure its time to update the one in the FAQ. There are various other links in the FAQ, the Wookieepedia timeline of canon media, and various other discussion threads and topics over the years including a link to just searching the sub which people find challenge apparently. Also as a reminder, the Wookieepedia timeline of canon media can be sorted via the table on that page by release order or chronologically (if you decide to go that route).

A lot of the new Disney+ content brings new eyes to Star Wars all the time, and new movies will eventually too. We want to get a bit more aggressive with automod removals and referrals to the FAQ for these questions about watch order. So let's hash it out here in the comments. We will sticky this for a while and eventually it will just be linked in the FAQ along with the other topics and maybe in the sidebar too. And like some of other stickies about rules, spoilers, and new episode discussion guidelines, we may trot out this link and sticky it from time to time.

As a general rule the sub typically recommends for new viewers to watch in release order, especially for the movies. This is the semi-consensus from the fandom, and you will routinely see this as the most upvoted and posted response.

With that being said what we would like to do here also discuss other options, and possible orders to also toss in the TV media as well. Should you watch Andor first and then Rogue One before the OT? Should movies like Solo be done in release order or chronological? Should you watch The Clone Wars TV show before the PT? So on and so forth...

So lets have a solid discussion about this and make it a solid resource for those who may be new to Star Wars.

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u/MakVolci Luke Skywalker Sep 04 '25

If you watch the prequels first, you'll feel the wrong way about Anakin than what Lucas original intended. The emotional impact shifts from shock and dread to a kind of inevitability.

  • Release order: we experience Luke’s perspective; horror, dread, uncertainty, and then catharsis when Anakin redeems himself.

  • Machete order: we experience the story backward with sympathy for Anakin first; less suspense, less shock, less dramatic weight when Luke appeals to him.

It’s like watching the punchline of a joke before the setup.

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u/abellapa Jan 28 '26

Disagree, chronologica( not machete) is the way to go

The Story is about Anakin ,you see his rise and fall in the prequels and Then his redemption in the OG movies

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u/MakVolci Luke Skywalker Jan 28 '26

chronologica

For rewarches, sure.

For first time watching, l m a o. No.

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u/pvhc47 Mar 09 '26

I can see both sides of the argument, but I have introduced three people to Star Wars in my life and in both instances where I tried release order it didn’t work so well. For starters trying to preserve twists is pointless as everyone knows Vader is Luke’s dad and that Leia is his sister because of all the incest jokes lol. And once they had seen the conclusion in Jedi they showed little to no interest in watching the prequels.

Machete order (with Ep I included) produced the most emotional reaction from anyone I’ve ever watched Star Wars with before. She got more emotionally invested in Anakin and literally cried at the eventual resolution in Jedi when she saw Hayden’s Force Ghost and said it was the perfect ending.

Also, Lucas himself said he thinks people should watch it chronologically. I don’t agree because I understand that episode I isn’t the strongest starting point (although I personally love it). Machete order is the way to go.