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.

A note on The Clone Wars: In my Aquilone order, watch the final four episodes of Season 7 after Revenge of the Sith; those episodes overlap the film’s events. The first episode of The Bad Batch also begins during that period before moving beyond it.

CASUAL

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

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

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

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

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

The Acolyte (2024) – Live-Action TV series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

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

Andor (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

Star Wars Rebels (2014) – Animated TV series

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

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

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

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

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

The Mandalorian (2019) – Live-Action TV Series

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

Ahsoka (2023) – Live-Action TV Series

Skeleton Crew (2024) – Live-Action TV Series

Star Wars Resistance (2018) – Animated TV series

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

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

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.

The Acolyte (2024) – Live-Action TV series

Andor (2022) – Live-Action TV Series

Star Wars Rebels (2014) – Animated TV series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Film

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

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

The Mandalorian (2019) – Live-Action TV Series

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

Ahsoka (2023) – Live-Action TV Series

Skeleton Crew (2024) – Live-Action TV Series

Star Wars Resistance (2018) – Animated TV series

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

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

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.