It is that magical time of year again, a time when we celebrate all things Star Wars. Today is May the 4th, better known as Star Wars Day! To celebrate, you may wear your favorite Star Wars shirt or bring out your trusty lightsaber. Or you might plan a Star Wars movie binge-watching marathon.
There is no right way to watch the Star Wars movies. Maybe you watch them in order of release. You could pick your favorites and go in whichever order you want. But for those of you who want to attempt Star Wars chronologically, we have this handy guide for you to follow.
1. Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace
The Phantom Menace kicked off the prequel trilogy. Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) started the movie by mediating a disagreement between the planet Naboo and the Trade Federation. Things escalate rather quickly, and they go to the planet to aide Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman).
Hiding out on the desert planet Tatooine, the group meets an overly confident child named Anakin Skywalker—who will become Darth Vader. The fan-favorite Sith, Darth Maul, does his best to stop the Jedi’s mission with his double-sided lightsaber.
2. Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones
The next movie has a bit of a time jump. Anakin did a complete glow-up from kid to the wonderful Hayden Christensen. Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and a mysterious Darth Tyranus configure into the takeover plot from the first film.
Amidala (now just going by Padmé) has shifted her public service role from Queen to Senator. Yet, she still needs Anakin as her bodyguard, for reasons. Through fear-mongering and fake news, the Galactic Senate votes to give Senator Palpatine emergency powers to govern. That won’t end badly, right?
3. Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith
The war that started in the last movie seems to be nearing an end. Yet, we know it can’t end well. Palpatine activated a control chip in the clone soldiers and killed most of the Jedi. Focusing heavily on Anakin’s turn from angry Jedi to Sith Lord, the end of the prequel trilogy feels pretty heavy. However, the birth of Luke and Leia at the end ensures hope will continue in the universe.
4. Solo: A Star Wars Story
We have all wondered how Han Solo and Chewbacca met. Well, Solo gives us that back story and a young Lando Calrissian played by Donald Glover. The movie is set just as the Empire secured its stranglehold on the galaxy.
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Rebel Alliance formed under the nose of the Empire, yet they are struggling for a notable win against them. Most fans went into this movie knowing it would be a one-shot because it shows the suicide mission that got the Rebel Alliance the plans for the Death Star. However, Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and their crew were so wonderful, you hope that maybe they all secretly survived.
6. Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) entered the conflict when droids R2-D2 and C3PO arrived on Tatooine looking for Obi-Wan Kenobi to save Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher). Old Ben Kenobi shockingly turned out to be Obi-Wan and enlisted Luke in the epic conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. They hire smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to rescue Leia and confront the evil Darth Vader.
7. Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back
Leia and Han keep the Rebel Alliance fighting while Luke pursues his Jedi training. The darker-toned movie ends with Luke losing his hand, finding out who his daddy really is, and Han frozen in carbonite.
8. Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi
Luke does his best to finish Jedi school and finds out that Leia is his sister. This movie is all about the comeback. This means getting the old team back together (like thawing out Han) before taking down an Empire.
9. Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens
The beginning of the finale trilogy takes place some thirty years after Return of the Jedi. General Leia and the Resistance fight against her son, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), and the fascist First Order. Far from the action, we find Rey (Daisy Ridley) on a trash desert planet before meeting defected Storm Trooper Finn (John Boyega) and droid BB-8. They must travel into space on a broken-down Millenium Falcon to find the Resistance and reunite with Finn’s boyfriend, Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac).
10. Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi
The new trio of Poe and Finn add Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) to their exclusive friend group. In a space version of a high-speed chase, the Resistance tried to outrun the First Order. Thinking they have a better plan than General Holdo, they split up and try to solve things on their own with mixed results. Rey finds a bearded and jaded Luke Skywalker who she tries to convince she should be a Jedi.
11. Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker
The Resistance has been through a lot and few of their ranks remain. Emperor Palpatine reveals himself as the real threat (and Rey’s grandpa) to the galaxy. An epic battle between freedom and fascism comes down to Palpatine and Rey (also aided by a reformed Kylo Ren now going by Ben Solo again). There was a fan service kiss, but not the Finn/Poe one I was holding out for. The Jedi are reborn through Rey who makes her own cool new lightsaber and takes the last name of Skywalker.
However you choose to watch the movies (or just the Finn/Poe scenes for hours at a time), may the Force be with you!
(feature image: Disney/Lucasfilm)
