Star Wars Watch Order

This post will be a spinoff of sorts of "Into the Fray". There is enough debate in the subject matter for it to be similar, but also different enough since the goal is not to declare a definitive winner. Akin to "Into the Fray," there are contenders, but dissimilarly there is not criteria to choose them. They simply are, and there are more than four. It could be measurable by another set of criteria, but which is best really depends on objective. Still, some common criteria are inevitable.

Star Wars: The Watch Order Debate

Star Wars has a public history of nearly fifty years, with the novelization of the first film predating even it by around seven months. To date, there have been twelve films theatrically released, eleven of them live-action (plus another scheduled to release shortly). Since the single fully animated movie, The Clone Wars, was actually a big screen pilot for the small screen series of the same name, we are only looking at the live-action films. Long-time fans have attempted to determine how best to introduce Star Wars to potential new fans. To me, the debate is basically whether it is more advantageous for a first-timer to watch them in order of release or in chronological order. And what about those of us ready to explore the galaxy far, far away from a different point of view? In this post, we are going to explore five orders to watch the Star Wars films, plus succinctly comment on variants of a couple of them. As already alluded to in the preface, the format of a typical "Into the Fray" will not serve us well. So, I am going to first name each watch order and outline it and follow with a brief description. I will then use the "+/-" review format which is really just pros & cons for this purpose, some of which is in comparison to others. Also, before we even begin, one criterion is obvious to be common among all entries, "Does one watch all the films or not?" Since I am a completist, I will generally treat this as a positive, but "Spectatori decernatur." (May the viewer decide.) As it will be helpful, here is an abbreviation legend that includes the list of the films with year of release and its in-universe chronology using the ABY-BBY dating system, which refers to years in relation to the Battle of Yavin as seen in A New Hope.

Legend: 

• BBY: Before Battle of Yavin, ABY: After Battle of Yavin
• ANH or IV: Star Wars; Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) (0 BBY)
• TESB or V: Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) (3 ABY)
• ROTJ or VI: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) (4 ABY)
• TPM or I: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) (32 BBY)
• AOTC or II: Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) (22 BBY)
• ROTS or III: Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (19 BBY)
• TFA or VII: Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) (34 ABY)
• R1: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) (0 BBY, Prologue 13 BBY)
• TLJ or VIII: Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) (34 ABY)
• Solo: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) (Act I 13 BBY, Acts II & III 10 BBY)
• TROS or IX: Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) (35 ABY)
• OT: Original Trilogy: ANH, TESB, and ROTJ 
• PT: Prequel Trilogy: TPM, AOTC, and ROTS
• ST: Sequel Trilogy: TFA, TLJ, and TROS
• TSS: The Skywalker Saga (all three trilogies)

Now, let the debate begin!

Release Order [IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, R1, VIII, Solo, IX]: This is the way many long-time fans experienced the Star Wars saga, and it indeed remains one of the more logical ones.

+ All eleven films are included. The cinematically important revelation in TESB that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father is preserved. Films can be appropriately assessed in the context of their created order. Musical score has its greatest effectiveness by its presentation in order, particularly throughout TSS.

- The in-universe chronology is convoluted. The OT is one block of time in order, and the PT is another block in order but much earlier. Then the ST and "Story" films are bouncing back and forth in the timeline between occurring much, much later than the PT and in between the PT and OT. The "Story" films also break up the ST, which are better as their block in chronological order. Solo partially presents as unnecessary exposition on the origin of multiple elements associated with the character's iconography. It seems merely trivial to be included in the penultimate film, which is magnified by the fact that most of the emotional weight of the character's death was felt three full films prior.

Chronological Order [I, II, III, Solo, R1, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX]: Prior to the Disney era, Star Wars creator George Lucas said the intended watch order is chronological. That is also logical, considering nine of the eleven films are literally numbered.

+ All eleven films are again included. The timeline is, of course, more or less linear, only that the prologue of R1 occurs before Acts II and III of Solo. As a result, some events occur more organically. A great example is negating the issues of Solo when watching in release order, as there is no baseline to compare him. By learning things as an audience before the characters, some suspense is ever present. 

- Probably no surprise that I would have such a strong feeling, but the shock of the revelation of TESB is severely lessened. Watching films with dates of creation of such a wide range with even some back and forth is a bit jarring. For examples, the time differential between the release of R1 and ANH is nearly forty years, and between ROTJ and TFA is over thirty-two. At least with the latter, around that much time had passed in universe, too.

Modified Release Order [R1, IV, V, VI, I, II, III, VII, VIII, IX]: This is technically a variant, but it truly requires its own spot. The two modifications are that R1 is experienced in its correct placement chronologically, and Solo is eliminated.

+ Release order is mostly maintained by default, so many of the advantages are commensurately maintained. Most important to release order, the Vader-Luke revelation is yet preserved. The in-universe chronology is less complicated with only two major shifts in time, one after ROTJ and the other after ROTS. TSS is contiguous with R1 serving as a prologue to it.

- The Star Wars cinematic experience is rendered incomplete with the elimination of Solo. If that choice is irreconcilable, the best point to place it is also in its chronological spot, before R1. But that creates the scenario of a double prologue, the first of which is character centric, making it a modest introduction to a very grand universe. Also, this watch order does not correct the jarring effect of watching two movies back to back with an almost forty-year gap in release.

Flashback Order [IV, V, I, II, III, VI]: This is a watch order that predates the Disney era. It intermixes release and chronological orders with the intention of highlighting Anakin Skywalker's redemption. I believe it was originally proposed years ago on the Star Wars forum.

+ When the Star Wars saga was only six episodes, I used to say it could be subtitled The Rise, Fall and Redemption of Anakin Skywalker. By treating the PT as a flashback for Darth Vader virtually immediately after he tells Luke Skywalker, "No, I am your father," it creates for the viewer the consideration that Anakin is stirring from dormancy. For maximum effect, it might be even better to watch ROTJ until Vader is left briefly alone when on Endor, immediately after stormtroopers have led Luke away after he has turned himself in, watch the PT, and then finish ROTJ.

- Of course, there are five films missing. A three-film flashback is excessive in any circumstance.

Variant 1: Flashback Plus Order [IV, V, I, II, III, VI, VII, VIII, IX]: + This order adds the remaining films of TSS, mostly correcting the missing films issue. - The excessive flashback remains, and it also reduces the concentrated focus on Anakin's story alone.

Variant 2: Machete Order [IV, V, II, III, VI]: + Created by Rod Hilton in 2011, this order cuts TPM, essentially correcting the issue of an excessive flashback, while not overly losing the effect. - Another film is skipped, bringing the total to six, meaning over half of the live-action films.

Variant 3: Machete Plus Order [IV, V, II, III, VI, VII, VIII, IX]: + This order is the most condensed form of TSS, telling both Anakin/Vader's story and his legacy. - It yet remains there are three films unwatched and has the same issue of losing focus on Anakin alone.

Parallel Order (Release) [IV, I, VII, V, II, VIII, VI, III, IX]: Over the past four weeks, I discussed parallels throughout TSS. The first three were by episode position in each trilogy. Since this will be summarized, I suggest the additional reading: Position I, Position II, and Position III.

+ Purposefully, this presentation accentuates the parallels among the films. Through that emphasis, it improves certain aspects of both the PT and ST from a creative standpoint by their shared themes. For example, Luke's introduction is like Anakin's introduction, and in turn Rey's introduction is akin to both. Being in trilogies of first episodes, second episodes, and third episodes, the creation dates are earliest to most recent in each.

- Aside from skipping two films, this is not a watch order for plot focus even for TSS. Throughout, it has the same in-universe timeline issues of the latter half of release order. Since the ST broke some conventions established by the OT and PT, those also become more obvious.

Variant: Parallel Order (Chronological) [I, IV, VII, II, V, VIII, III, VI, IX]: + Nearly the same as Parallel Order (Release) except each positional trilogy presents in timeline order, creating a different dynamic. - Also similarly, the two films skipped remain so, the watch order is yet not focused on plot, and the ST’s lack of following formula is still more pronounced, for better or worse. 

The conclusion of the matter is…it still depends on the objective. Thus, I will give my opinion on the two major scenarios.

First Time: This is for a long-time fan to use or give advice if asked by someone wanting to watch through Star Wars.

My #1 pick is Modified Release Order. This ensures the viewer will watch the best live-action Star Wars film from the Disney era, Rogue One, and it is even better in its proper chronological spot. Even though the spoiler embargo is long since passed and most people know Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father, seeing the reveal for the first time in proper context, i.e., without the PT beforehand, is still better. (The same applies to the little green guy Luke meets first on Dagobah is indeed Yoda.) A word of warning regarding the nearly forty years between R1 and ANH is essential for framing, though. 

My #2 pick is Chronological Order. With the backing of "the maker" for the original six-film saga, it is a watch order to be given more weight based on that alone. This is the completist in me speaking, but it is the only way iconographic origins do not detract from the best parts of Solo, its story and Donald Glover's performance as a young Lando Calrissian. That same word of warning as to release gaps is still a good idea.

A Different Point of View: This is for the long-time fan who has seen all the films a few or more times and including at least one time each in release and chronological order. The goal is to find a renewed experience.
My #1 pick is Modified Release Order. For the same reason of Rogue One being the best Disney era film, this is my favorite watch order, as it would be difficult to skip. It is also a really good Star Wars movie and a great film overall. Also, by being a slight variation of release order, it eases a fan in, different yet comfortable.

My #2 pick is Flashback Order. Darth Vader may be a cliché for favorite Star Wars character, but such that it is, he is an intriguing one. This order of the George Lucas cinematic saga focuses on Darth Vader, turned from Anakin Skywalker. The best characters are flawed, and the best villains have depth. Watching the PT as a flashback adds emotional weight to both Vader's redemptive arc and to Anakin's fall. I accept the excessive flashback for two reasons, one to this purpose and the other unrelated. First, by seeing Anakin as a young boy, it contrasts his purity with his later impurity while establishing for the audience his proclivity to attachment. The second is the duel between Qui-Gon Jinn & Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul. It is one of the best visuals ever put to screen for both Star Wars and science-fiction as a genre, so if you're watching Star Wars anyway...

 

Full disclosure, I have not watched the films in every order discussed here, but I would like to try them all eventually. Film is an art form and thus open to multiple interpretations as to what is the best approach. But I have found the most rewatchable movies to be the ones that have both a really good story and well-written characters. The 1980s proved that with the right characters, that a simple tried and true plot is sufficient. All that to say, that is why my picks are what they are. But Star Wars is filled with underlying themes, so one of the parallel orders is the best way to experience it for deeper analysis.

Next up...Underappreciated: UHF!

Disclaimer: The link to Mr. Hilton's blog post regarding Machete Order is only included to give credit where credit is due. Respectfully, his opinions do not necessarily reflect my own.