May the Fourth: The Ultimate Star Wars Movie Marathon Guide

LOS ANGELES, CA — May 4 marks an annual celebration for Star Wars fans worldwide, and this year, the holiday falls on a weekend, making it an ideal time for a movie marathon. For those new to the galaxy far, far away, deciding where to start can be daunting. Here’s a breakdown of popular viewing orders for the Skywalker Saga, along with tips on which films a newbie might skip.

The Star Wars movies are grouped into three main trilogies: the original trilogy (1977-1983), the prequel trilogy (1999-2005), and the sequel trilogy (2015-2019). The original trilogy introduces characters like Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. In the prequel trilogy, audiences learn about Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader, while the sequel trilogy continues the saga decades later.

One favored viewing method is the release date order. Many fans, around 80% according to casual polls, suggest starting with the original trilogy and watching the movies as they were released. This approach maintains the original storytelling experience. You would start with ‘A New Hope,’ followed by ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ and ‘Return of the Jedi,’ then move to the prequels ‘The Phantom Menace,’ ‘Attack of the Clones,’ and ‘Revenge of the Sith,’ wrapping up with the sequels ‘The Force Awakens,’ ‘The Last Jedi,’ and ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’

Another option is to watch the films in chronological order, beginning with the prequel trilogy. This method allows viewers to witness Anakin’s rise and eventual fall before meeting his children, Luke and Leia. The sequence in this case would be ‘The Phantom Menace,’ ‘Attack of the Clones,’ ‘Revenge of the Sith,’ followed by ‘A New Hope,’ ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ ‘Return of the Jedi,’ and finally the sequels.

If viewers are only interested in the central Skywalker Saga, they can focus on the nine movies directly connected to the family, but they might miss additional stories that enrich the universe. Two notable films that fans often recommend as important additions are ‘Rogue One‘ and ‘Solo.’ ‘Rogue One’ is praised for its connection to ‘A New Hope’ and is commonly suggested to watch before or after the original trilogy. ‘Solo,’ on the other hand, is more divisive; while many enjoy it, some argue it isn’t essential to the overarching story and can be skipped or watched after the sequels.

As Star Wars Day approaches, fans are gearing up for epic marathons, whether it be chronological or by release. Regardless of the order chosen, there’s no denying that celebrating Star Wars brings together a passionate community ready to enjoy the iconic saga.