Star Wars in chronological order

The full timeline, from a century before the prequels to thirty-five years after the Battle of Yavin. Excellent as a rewatch, risky as a first watch.

Updated 4 August 2026 · 27 titles tracked

Star Wars is unusual among franchises: the in-universe chronology is not a fan reconstruction. Lucasfilm dates everything against the Battle of Yavin — the destruction of the first Death Star — which is why you see BBY and ABY on official material.

So this timeline is a matter of record. Whether you should watch it this way is a different question, and the answer for a newcomer is no.

The complete Star Wars timeline

Grouped into the eras Lucasfilm itself uses, dated against the Battle of Yavin.

Open the interactive Star Wars list

What chronological order costs you

The reveal at the end of The Empire Strikes Back is the most famous twist in cinema. Chronological order spends three films setting it up first, so it arrives as a reminder rather than a shock.

It also front-loads the weakest stretch. Opening on The Acolyte and The Phantom Menace is a much harder sell than opening on A New Hope, and a lot of first-time viewers do not make it through.

If this is a first watch, use the release order guide instead.

When chronological order is the better choice

On a rewatch, it is genuinely superb. The prequels stop being a detour and become the tragedy the originals are the consequence of. Anakin's fall, the Jedi's complacency, Palpatine's patience — all of it reads properly forwards.

It also integrates the series far better. The Clone Wars slots into the prequel era, Rebels and Andor build the Rebellion in parallel, and Rogue One hands directly to A New Hope.

The eras, in order

The High Republic — The Acolyte, a century before everything. Fall of the Jedi — the prequels, The Clone Wars, ending at Revenge of the Sith. Reign of the Empire — The Bad Batch, Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Age of Rebellion — Andor, Rebels, Rogue One and the original trilogy. The New Republic — The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew. Rise of the First Order — the sequels.

The awkward placements

A few titles resist clean ordering even with official dating.

The Clone Wars ran for seven seasons and overlaps Attack of the Clones through Revenge of the Sith entirely. It is placed at its start.
Andor and Rebels cover the same years from completely different angles and never intersect.
The Book of Boba Fett contains two episodes that are effectively The Mandalorian season 2.5.
Rogue One ends minutes before A New Hope begins. Watch them together at least once.

Common questions

What is the chronological order of Star Wars?

The Acolyte, then the prequel trilogy with The Clone Wars, then the Empire era (Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, Rebels), Rogue One, the original trilogy, The Mandalorian era, and finally the sequel trilogy.

Should I watch Star Wars in chronological order the first time?

No. It spoils the central reveal of The Empire Strikes Back by setting it up across three films first, and it opens on the weakest stretch of the saga.

What does BBY and ABY mean?

Before and After the Battle of Yavin — the destruction of the first Death Star in A New Hope. Lucasfilm uses it as the zero point for all official dating.

Where does The Clone Wars fit chronologically?

Between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. The animated film comes first, then the seven-season series, which overlaps that entire period.