The Best Star Wars Watch Order Isn’t What You Think (And It Changes Everything)
DISCLAIMER: If you haven’t seen Star Wars yet, refrain from reading the explanations before watching the film.
Okay, hear me out—I think I’ve found a way to bring balance to the Force… or at least to your Star Wars watchlist.
It all started as a happy mistake. Revenge of the Sith was back in theaters for its 20th anniversary, and I was determined to finally get my girlfriend into Star Wars. But I had a dilemma: if I showed her The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones first, I knew there was a real risk that she’d check out before the story even took off. I love the prequels, but I’ll admit—they’re not the easiest entry point for a newcomer.
So, I made a bold choice. Instead of starting at the beginning, I jumped straight into Revenge of the Sith. The stakes were high, the story was gripping, and just like that, she was hooked. It worked. And it got me thinking—what if there was a better way to watch the entire Star Wars saga? A way that changed how we feel about the characters, their struggles, and Anakin’s tragic downfall. Well, after experimenting with a new order, I can confidently say: this is the way.
EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH
If you’re introducing someone to Star Wars, they’re either going to like it or never watch it again — so you might as well go all in.
Most people approach Star Wars chronologically (Episode I onward) or in release order (Episode IV onward). But starting with Revenge of the Sith shifts everything. It throws you right into the violent, dramatic collapse of democracy, the Jedi, and Anakin Skywalker. While this might seem like an intense starting point, it’s exactly the kind of urgency modern audiences need to get hooked. You’re not easing into the galaxy—you’re diving straight into a massive war, political collapse, and the emotional fall of its most powerful characters.
Even though you’re jumping into the third chapter of the story, Anakin’s conflicts feel timeless. His fall isn’t just about evil for evil’s sake—it’s the emotional unraveling of a man torn apart by fear, love, and manipulation, someone whose choices, though terrible, feel tragically human. The fractured brotherhood of Anakin and Obi-Wan, leading to their epic battle on Mustafar that defines the term blockbuster. It’s not just a fight between Jedi—it’s the devastating end of a relationship that was never supposed to collapse. It gives you the sense that this universe is complex, layered, and already in motion; you’re eager to understand how everything got this bad, and what could possibly come next.
If someone watches this movie and doesn’t feel something, then Star Wars probably just isn’t for them. But if they do? You’ve got them hooked. This isn’t the safest entry point—but it’s the boldest, and arguably the most rewarding.
It’s also the best one.
2. OBI-WAN KENOBI SERIES (THE PATTERSON CUT)
It’s almost hard to believe how much the Patterson Cut fixes the Kenobi series. Clocking in at just over two hours and working solely with the footage already shot, this fan edit pulls off what feels like a minor miracle, delivering a tight, focused narrative that feels like a genuine Star Wars film on a fraction of the budget Disney had at their disposal. Cutting unnecessary filler and awkward side plots to focus on what we’re all here for: Obi-Wan and Vader. The pacing is smoother, the tone more consistent, and most importantly, the character work lands harder. Leia is still in the mix, whilst no longer being bloated by excess. Her connection with Obi-Wan is more meaningful, and lays the groundwork for why she later refers to him as her “only hope.”
You also get to see Darth Vader in full, unapologetic badass mode—the edit gives him the dominant, terrifying presence fans have always craved. His rage, power, and obsession with Obi-Wan now feel fully realized. Every scene he’s in hits harder, that moment where he rips down the ship? Chills. You’re reminded that Anakin didn’t fall because he was weak—he fell because he was emotionally broken, and terrifyingly powerful. It establishes him as the true threat of the galaxy.
And in doing so, it arguably delivers the story Kenobi was always meant to tell. It even feels like a return to the project’s original intention, being reportedly conceived as a feature film before the pandemic and streaming emergence pushed it into miniseries territory.
The Patterson Cut honours the best parts of the show while reshaping it into a lean, cinematic epilogue to Revenge of the Sith. It's not just a better version—it’s the only version worth watching.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH: THE PATTERSON CUT
3. EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE
At this point, you’ve been sold on Star Wars enough that you don’t mind going back to 1970s visual effects. It almost feels like a refreshing stylistic change of pace. Yet, you’ve seen this all before…
In this order, A New Hope takes on new depth as a powerful farewell to Obi-Wan, the character you’ve come to know most intimately. After seeing his pain and history, his sacrifice feels like closure, not just duty. Every word Obi-Wan says now carries more weight, especially his vague recounting of Anakin’s past. You know what he’s leaving out. You understand the pain behind his half-truths. And when he faces Vader again aboard the Death Star, that moment becomes so much more than a symbolic duel—it’s a man stepping back into the fire, fully aware of what’s coming, for the sake of the next generation. Because of what you know now, Obi-Wan’s death at Vader’s hands feels less like a plot beat and more like the final page of a decades-long personal saga. He’s not just dying—he’s letting go, hoping Luke can succeed where he and Anakin both failed. And as he fades out, Luke’s story truly begins—it’s a quiet, poetic handoff between two eras.
And now by the time Leia appears again in A New Hope, you’ve already seen the Patterson Cut of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which adds context to her lineage and the immense responsibility she carries as a leader. This background makes her character richer and more compelling. She leads the Rebellion with the strategic mind of her father and the grace of her mother. You’ve already witnessed the galaxy’s struggles, the fight for freedom, and the hope Leia embodies. Her role feels far more profound—it's clear she was always meant to rise to this moment. She’s not just a princess; she’s a beacon of hope in a galaxy filled with chaos.
4. EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Ah, The Empire Strikes Back—your parents’ favourite Star Wars movie. It’s always been the critical crown jewel of the saga, but in this order, it lands with an emotional weight that feels almost Shakespearean.
Luke is training in the ways of the Force, but he isn’t a Jedi yet. And as a viewer, you know what he doesn’t: the weight of the name Skywalker. Every scene between him and Vader is laced with dramatic irony. You’re not just watching a hero face off against a villain—you’re watching a son unknowingly confront the broken legacy of his father. That knowledge shifts everything. You wonder if Luke’s path is already written, if he’s destined to repeat Anakin’s fall. And even when he resists the darkness, the shadow still looms.
Meanwhile, Han and Leia’s romance gives the film warmth and grounding, even as the galaxy spirals deeper into chaos. The characters face increasingly difficult choices, and the certainty of their cause feels less solid. The cracks within the Rebellion start to show, and the idealism of A New Hope begins to fray. It’s a darker, more complicated galaxy now.
And then…the cliffhanger. The greatest in the saga. Han is frozen. Luke is wounded—physically and emotionally. Vader’s reveal is still gutting, even when you know it’s coming. The heroes don’t win. They barely survive.
You’re left asking the same question they are: What happens next?
5. EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE
Now this is where the fun begins: a sentence no one has ever said about The Phantom Menace. Instead of charging straight into Return of the Jedi, you rewind to the very beginning of the saga. And yeah, on paper, it sounds insane. You’ve just hit the darkest, most emotionally devastating cliffhanger in the entire saga, and now you’re jumping to trade negotiations and podracing? But trust me—this move pays off.
By this point in the watch order, it’s easy to forget that Anakin was ever the Chosen One. The title’s been mentioned, but it’s hard to reconcile with the image of Darth Vader. The Phantom Menace brings that boy back into focus and reminds us why he is the Chosen One. Qui-Gon Jinn’s unshakable belief in him hits differently now. We know what’s coming, and that casts a haunting shadow over Qui-Gon’s faith. Was he wrong? Or did the prophecy take a darker path to being fulfilled? And on some level—did Qui-Gon know?
The Phantom Menace also pulls back the veil on the Jedi themselves, exposing their blind spots. The most seasoned and revered order in the galaxy, who pride themselves on their clarity and foresight, are completely outwitted by Palpatine. This reveals how their arrogance and rigid belief in their own righteousness blind them to the growing darkness right under their noses. Watching Palpatine's fixation on Anakin at such a young age also shows how his fall into Palpatine's control wasn't sudden—it was the result of a decades-long scheme.
We also get to revisit Obi-Wan in his early days. His dynamic with Qui-Gon adds even more depth to the man we said goodbye to in A New Hope. And that final duel with Darth Maul? It’s not just an incredible fight—it highlights the contrast between the Jedi of the Old Republic, raised and trained from birth, and someone like Luke, who’s just beginning to understand what the Force really means.
The positioning, along with all these layers of complexity and intrigue make The Phantom Menace almost feel like a narrative masterpiece—so much so that it nearly excuses the presence of Jar Jar Binks.
6. EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES
While the movie may not win any awards for subtlety, there’s an undeniable tension in Anakin’s arc that feels earned in Attack of the Clones. The film begins to hint at the emotional turmoil that will soon explode, but what it does best is set up Anakin’s obsession with control and his refusal to accept the natural course of life and death, pushing him further toward the dark side. It’s not just his love for Padmé that drives him—it’s his fear of loss, a fear that has haunted him since his childhood, especially after the traumatic death of his mother. The weight of that loss lingers over him, fueling his desperate need to protect the people he loves.
Padmé and Anakin's love story also serves as a powerful reminder of what truly mattered to Anakin. By the time we return to him in Return of the Jedi, it’s easier to see the man beneath the suit once more.
In a fitting bit of poetic symmetry, we see Anakin lose his hand in this film, just as his son will in The Empire Strikes Back. Their stories, more than ever, feel intertwined—not just by blood, but by fate.
7. EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI
If you’ve made it to Return of the Jedi, it kind of feels like you’ve reached the happy ending of the saga already—like the universe is finally catching a break. The tone lightens, the heroes have momentum, and even the forest moon of Endor feels like a theme park compared to the dread of earlier chapters. Oh, and we can’t forget about the Ewoks.
When Luke returns, it genuinely feels like time has passed—not just within the story, but in your experience of watching. Because you’ve taken that detour into the prequels after Empire, you’ve lived through Anakin’s rise and fall. You’ve seen the Jedi at their height, their failure, and their legacy. And now, watching Luke walk calmly into Jabba’s palace, wielding not just power but restraint, it’s clear: he’s not that reckless kid from Hoth anymore. He’s a Jedi.
Coming off Attack of the Clones and The Phantom Menace, you’ve just revisited Anakin’s past. Now, when you meet Luke again in Return of the Jedi, it’s impossible not to see the parallels. The resemblance is uncanny—not just in their abilities, but in their inner battles. But where Anakin grasped for control and certainty, Luke chooses trust and restraint. That moment when he throws away his lightsaber and refuses to strike down his father is the most rewarding in this order. You’re not just watching Luke resist the dark side; you’re watching him succeed where his father failed. And in that refusal, he doesn’t just save himself—he redeems Anakin, too. It’s a full-circle moment that feels poetic without needing to be spelled out, and in this sequence, it becomes the emotional payoff for everything you’ve watched so far.
By the end of this story, the galaxy finds peace, the Jedi are restored, and balance is finally brought to the Force. It feels like a true ending—one that earns its sense of hope. So let it end here. You don’t need the sequels. The saga has come full circle, and everything that needed to be said has been.
Congratulations—whether this was your first journey through the galaxy or your 900th, you’ve come out the other side a better person, with a deeper appreciation for Star Wars, sand, and the power of redemption.
You can watch the entire saga on Disney+.
I'd love to hear your thoughts! Drop your favorite Star Wars watch order in the comments and let me know what you think of mine—let’s get the debate going!