While there are many ways to watch STAR WARS, I personally think it breaks down to three different approaches: CASUAL, COMPLETE, and AQUILONE (modified Machete Order). Here I hope to present each approach.

CASUAL

Casual viewing consists basically of all the movies to give you the over-arching story and the flavor of the universe.

  1. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (1999) – Film

  2. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (Episode II) (2002) – Film

  3. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) (2005) – Film

  4. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

  5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Film

  6. Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV) (1977) – Film

  7. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) (1980) – FIlm

  8. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) (1983) – Film

  9. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII) (2015) – Film

  10. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) (2017) – Film

  11. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) (2019) – Film

COMPLETE

Complete viewing consists of all canonical content that has been released in chronological order.

  1. The Acolyte (2024) – Live-Action TV series

  2. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (1999) – Film

  3. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (Episode II) (2002) – Film

  4. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie, 2008) – Animated Film

  5. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (series, 2008) – Animated TV series

  6. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022) – Animated TV series

  7. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) (2005) – Film

  8. Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024) – Animated TV series

  9. Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (2025) – Animated TV series

  10. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021) – Animated TV series

  11. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

  12. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

  13. Andor (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

  14. Star Wars Rebels (2014) – Animated TV series

  15. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Film

  16. Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV) (1977) – Film

  17. Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) – TV Movie Special (hard to find)

  18. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) (1980) – FIlm

  19. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) (1983) – Film

  20. The Mandalorian (2019) – Live-Action TV Series

  21. The Book of Boba Fett (2021) – Live-Action TV Series

  22. Ahsoka (2023) – Live-Action TV Series

  23. Skeleton Crew (2024) – Live-Action TV Series

  24. Star Wars Resistance (2018) – Animated TV series

  25. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII) (2015) – Film

  26. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) (2017) – Film

  27. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) (2019) – Film

And yes, the holiday special is not canonical thanks to the Star Wars shows including things up until then only mentioned in the Holiday Special (like Life Day). And I know people may disagree or not be happy about that but it appears to be the case.

AQUILONE

The Aquilone order is a modified Machette Order which includes all canonical items in a specific order to maintain the thrill of surprises, twists and turns.

  1. The Acolyte (2024) – Live-Action TV series

  2. Andor (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

  3. Star Wars Rebels (2014) – Animated TV series

  4. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Film

  5. Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV) (1977) – Film

  6. Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) – TV Movie Special (hard to find)

  7. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) (1980) – FIlm

  8. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Episode I) (1999) – Film

  9. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (Episode II) (2002) – Film

  10. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie, 2008) – Animated Film

  11. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (series, 2008) – Animated TV series

  12. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022) – Animated TV series

  13. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) (2005) – Film

  14. Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024) – Animated TV series

  15. Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (2025) – Animated TV series

  16. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021) – Animated TV series

  17. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

  18. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

  19. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) (1983) – Film

  20. The Mandalorian (2019) – Live-Action TV Series

  21. The Book of Boba Fett (2021) – Live-Action TV Series

  22. Ahsoka (2023) – Live-Action TV Series

  23. Skeleton Crew (2024) – Live-Action TV Series

  24. Star Wars Resistance (2018) – Animated TV series

  25. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Episode VII) (2015) – Film

  26. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) (2017) – Film

  27. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX) (2019) – Film

EXTRAS

This lists the officially created but not canonical content.

  • The Ewok Movie: Caravan of Courage (1984) Live-Action TV movie (hard to find, watch before Return of the Jedi)

  • Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985) Live-Action TV movie (hard to find, watch before Return of the Jedi)

  • Star Wars: Visions (2021), Animated TV series.