Since 1977, Star Wars has grown into a multi-era saga spanning theatrical releases, standalone stories, and streaming series. This guide focuses on all Star Wars movies in order of release, highlighting the core saga and key standalone features. Each entry notes release year, director, and runtime to help you plan viewing or research. The list omges series TV and focuses on feature films intended for theatrical distribution. Use this as a durable reference for exploring the franchise chronologically by original premiere date.
Original Trilogy (1977–1983)
Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Released in 1977, Star Wars (later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope) launched the modern franchise. Directed by George Lucas, it introduced Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo across a roughly 121-minute runtime. The film established the galaxy-spanning conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire and became a cultural touchstone.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Empire Strikes Back arrived in 1980, deepening the saga with darker stakes and iconic reveals. Directed by Irvin Kershner and running about 124 minutes, it is widely regarded as a narrative high point for the original trilogy, culminating in decisive Imperial momentum.
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Return of the Jedi, released in 1983 and directed by Richard Marquand, concluded the original Skywalker arc at roughly 132 minutes. The film delivered major character resolutions and signaled the close of the core nine-film saga initially envisioned by Lucas.
Prequel Trilogy (1999–2005)
Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Nearly two decades after Return of the Jedi, Episode I arrived in 1999. Under George Lucas’s direction, the film ran about 133 minutes and explored the origins of Anakin Skywalker. Its release marked the beginning of the prequel era and introduced new planets and political dynamics.
Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Attack of the Clones delivered in 2002, stretching to approximately 142 minutes under Lucas’s direction. The film advanced the Clone Wars setup and deepened the Anakin and Padmé relationship, while expanding the scope of galactic conflict.
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Revenge of the Sith, released in 2005 and running about 140 minutes, concluded the Skywalker prequel arc. Directed by Lucas, it portrayed Anakin’s fall and the rise of the Empire, directly linking the prequels to the original trilogy.
Disney Era and Sequel Trilogy (2015–2019)
The Force Awakens (2015)
In 2015, The Force Awakens rebooted mainstream interest in Star Wars under director J.J. Abrams. With a runtime near 138 minutes, it introduced new heroes while echoing themes from the original saga, launching a new trilogy and broad merchandising momentum.
The Last Jedi (2017)
The Last Jedi, released in 2017 and directed by Rian Johnson, ran approximately 152 minutes. The film presented a bold narrative shift, challenging franchise conventions and deepening the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.
The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Rounding out the sequel trilogy, The Rise of Skywalker arrived in 2019 under J.J. Abrams, closing the Skywalker saga at about 142 minutes. The film aimed to reconcile lingering plot threads and provide a definitive end to the nine-film story arc.
Standalone Films (Anthology and Spin-Offs)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rogue One, released in 2016 and directed by Gareth Edwards, ran about 133 minutes. Unlike numbered episodes, this standalone film directly bridges to Episode IV, depicting the Rebel mission to steal the Death Star plans with a darker, war-centric tone.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo delivered in 2018, directed by Ron Howard and running roughly 135 minutes. The film explored Han Solo’s origins, charting his early partnerships and providing a character-driven narrative outside the main saga timeline.