Film ► How To Begin Star Wars?

[Light’s Master]

Hey guys, so I've never seen Star Wars ever in my life and decided I wanted to give it a try, but I dont know where to begin. I know there are 6 main movies, but how do you watch them? Do I start from IV, V, and VI? Or should I start straight from 1? I know for a lot of people there's different ways to watch the movies and get into the series, but I want to see it and understand it the way its supposed to be watched. Anything helps, thank you!

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

IV
V
VI

I
II
III

The Clone Wars
Rebels
The Mandalorian
Rogue One

VII
VIII
...IX I guess

 

[Light’s Master]

IV
V
VI

I
II
III

The Clone Wars
Rebels
The Mandalorian
Rogue One

VII
VIII
...IX I guess

thanks, just finished IV and watching V now and in IV they mention clone wars which makes me think there's a timeline? i'm going to try to get to see all of it eventually i cant believe i've never seen any of this until now

 

[Willow A113]

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: Episode IV (4): A New Hope
Star Wars: Episode V (5): The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars: Episode I (1): The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode II (2): Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: Episode III (3): Revenge of the Sith
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars Rebels
Star Wars: Episode VI (6): Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Star Wars: Episode VII (7): The Force Awakens
Star Wars: Episode VIII (8): The Last Jedi
Star Wars: Episode IX (9): The Rise of Skywalker

Not the traditional order, I know, but this is what I recomend.

 

[Face My Fears]

thanks, just finished IV and watching V now and in IV they mention clone wars which makes me think there's a timeline? i'm going to try to get to see all of it eventually i cant believe i've never seen any of this until now

YES! Episode IV is a masterpiece, it's my favourite one.

The actual time line is: Episode 1 to 9. If you're going to watch the side movies as well: Rogue One and Solo happen between Episode III and IV. The Mandalorian is after Episode VI, but before Episode VII.

My own opinion here: skip the DISNEY trilogy. If you finish Episode VI and want more, go to Episode 1-III (again my opinion, drop in quality until Episode III).

 

[Light’s Master]

YES! Episode IV is a masterpiece, it's my favourite one.

The actual time line is: Episode 1 to 9. If you're going to watch the side movies as well: Rogue One and Solo happen between Episode III and IV. The Mandalorian is after Episode VI, but before Episode VII.

My own opinion here: skip the DISNEY trilogy. If you finish Episode VI and want more, go to Episode 1-III (again my opinion, drop in quality until Episode III).

awesome thank you! made it to episode 2 just now, i really have been enjoying these movies!

 

[Face My Fears]

awesome thank you! made it to episode 2 just now, i really have been enjoying these movies!

Glad you're a fan now!

I will say that Episode VII is nice and fun, but VIII and IX are complete letdowns (especially VIII - The Last Jedi).

Let me know what you think of Episode III!

Also, did you know about Darth Vader being Luke's father before you watched Episode V? If so, what did you think about the reveal?

 

[Light’s Master]

Glad you're a fan now!

I will say that Episode VII is nice and fun, but VIII and IX are complete letdowns (especially VIII - The Last Jedi).

Let me know what you think of Episode III!

Also, did you know about Darth Vader being Luke's father before you watched Episode V? If so, what did you think about the reveal?

i enjoyed them! and when the "luke i am your father" part came up i was like WAIT WAT!?!?! even though i've heard the line with no context before and when i finally saw it i was like bruhhhhh lol i did enjoy episode 1 as well though maybe tonight i'll watch episode 2 cause those Anakin movies and the updated graphics got my attention

 

[Absent]

Bit of advice, trying watching them without other people’s opinions.
And yes the cartoon kids shows are worth it.

 

[Light’s Master]

Bit of advice, trying watching them without other people’s opinions.
And yes the cartoon kids shows are worth it.

i get you, my main reason that i never started the series earlier was due to 1. people saying the story was super long 2. people saying some of the story may be boring and 3. i felt like these were ancient movies that i never was gonna watch yet here i am lol

 

[EnchantedDominion]

I'm prob the only one who prefers to watch them in chronological order instead of the order in which they were released. I always start with episode 1. lol I can't believe you've never seen Star Wars before. o: I'm gonna rewatch those soon. I feel like watching those, LOTR and Jurassic Park.

 

[Absent]

I'm prob the only one who prefers to watch them in chronological order instead of the order in which they were released. I always start with episode 1. lol I can't believe you've never seen Star Wars before. o: I'm gonna rewatch those soon. I feel like watching those, LOTR and Jurassic Park.

Its because they’re a new viewer. The OT is perfect for new viewers because it sets up the world and explains everything in a more natural way. The PT expects the viewer to already know a bare minimum of the world to be engaged.
I never realized it but the PT throws a lot of vital information right away in the dialogue. However the dialogue is so...questionable that most viewers never realize how important it is. Even me who’s seen them multiple times still find something new in the dialogue.

Spoiler Show

The biggest one for me is the sudden hate for the Jedi. Even after watching the PT multiple times I couldn’t understand how the public and senate could turn against the Jedi, luckily one day it clicked for me after watching them straight.
People thought the Jedi orchestrated the war because of the mysterious clone army that was ordered by Syfo Dyad(Jedi). The secrecy and shadiness bothered everyone, especially when you realize how interconnected the Jedi had become to politics. The Jedi’s reputation went through the mud while the Chancellor’s was admired as a champion.

To put it simply, the OT is better for new viewers because it’s easier to digest, compared to the PT which is filled with many themes and imagery.

 

[MATGSY]

VI
V
VI
Hand of Thrawn Book Trilogy
Knights of the Old Republic

Then stop.

 

[Absent]

VI
V
VI
Hand of Thrawn Book Trilogy
Knights of the Old Republic

Then stop.

 

[Xickin]

So there's this thing called the Machete Order for the original 6 movies. It goes: 4, 5, 2, 3, then 6. 4 and 5 for the story, 2 & 3 immediately after the Darth Vader revelation, and 6 to conclude it. You really don't need 1.

 

[Light’s Master]

So there's this thing called the Machete Order for the original 6 movies. It goes: 4, 5, 2, 3, then 6. 4 and 5 for the story, 2 & 3 immediately after the Darth Vader revelation, and 6 to conclude it. You really don't need 1.

i see why they call it the machete order cause you just slash out an entire 2hrs from the saga hahaha

all jokes aside thank you guys i havent had the time to watch episode 3 yet but im excited to start clone wars as soon as i finish ep.3!

 

[Face My Fears]

You should look up the Darth Jar Jar theories

 

[EnchantedDominion]

I just rewatched episode 1 and I don't find it overwhelming or hard to follow at all. They focus on a simple plot of a trade takeover and a battle that follows it. You slowly get introduced to the Sith and the overlying story.

 

[Sean Wheeler]

Might as well just start at Episode I. The only thing the release order has going for it is the Darth Vader being Luke's father reveal which has been memed to death that it's a miracle that there are people who don't know Darth Vader is Luke's father. And there is the way you would take the twist. Would you deny Vader being Luke's father? Would you see that twist as poor writing? Would you hate Obi-Wan for lying to Luke? Also, when the Clone Wars gets casually mentioned in Episode IV, you'd wonder what that was all about and imagine seeing the main characters fighting evil clones of themselves and set yourself up for disappointment when you see Attack of the Clones and they turned out to be Republic stormtroopers. And when you see the Return of the Jedi DVD before the prequels, you wouldn't recognize Anakin's ghost. But if you watch the movies in numerical order and started with the prequels, while you'd know Obi-Wan was lying about Luke's father being murdered because Revenge of the Sith was all about Anakin becoming Darth Vader. But when he explains why he lied in Return of the Jedi, a person who saw the prequels would probably get what he's saying better than people who decide to watch the original trilogy first who would be as mad as Luke was about Obi-Wan lying. And after seeing Revenge of the Sith, Anakin's ghost would be very recognizable on the Return of the Jedi DVD and any re-releases after. But if you're watching a copy before 2004 like the VHS release, then Anakin's ghost would be even more unrecognizable after you see the prequels because of the old guy playing him looking nothing like Anakin because Sebastian Shaw only other appearance as Anakin was the unmasking scene where he was bald and full of scars. Despite what people hate about the ghost being changed to Hayden Christensen, that's actually better because Anakin is more recognizable that way and his younger pre-Mustafar look makes more sense than a "What-if-Anakin-never-burned" look.