The Star Wars Movie and TV Show Timeline

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After Disney bought Lucasfilm, the Star Wars universe expanded significantly. This included a new trilogy continuing the story 30 years after the original films, two standalone movies set before the first Star Wars in 1977, and multiple streaming series that delve deeper into the franchise’s world.

It’s getting tricky to follow the order of events in Disney’s Star Wars universe! Each new movie or show adds to the existing story in surprising ways. Characters who first appeared in older, Disney-owned shows are now important in the main Star Wars storyline. Plus, new characters are winning over fans and contributing to this iconic sci-fi franchise, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in February 2027.

Star Wars Movies in Release Order

Star Wars Movies in Chronological Order

Star Wars Movies & Shows in Chronological Order

Star Wars: Visions (2021-) Is a Gorgeous Anthology Series Spanning the Star Wars Timeline

Released on Disney+, Star Wars Visions is a collection of animated shorts created by different anime studios. The series allowed these creators to explore the Star Wars galaxy with complete freedom, without being limited by existing storylines.

Star Wars: Visions offers a fresh and original perspective on the Star Wars galaxy. Each episode presents a new interpretation of the classic Jedi and Sith dynamic, and their iconic lightsaber battles. While each story unfolds at a different time within the Star Wars universe, they aren’t considered official parts of the established storyline and won’t affect the main canon timeline.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (2023-2025) Spotlights a Group of Younglings

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is a cartoon series that takes place about 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace. Set during the High Republic era, it follows a group of young Jedi as they learn the ways of the Jedi and go on exciting adventures. Though designed for kids, the series adds interesting details to the Star Wars High Republic timeline.

This is particularly crucial as the franchise plans to explore this time period further with shows like The Acolyte. Featuring characters such as Bell Zettifar, Ember, Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm, and Jedi Master Maru, the series is set right before the start of the first phase of the Star Wars: The High Republic story. It’s also designed to introduce a new generation of fans to the Star Wars universe, letting them experience the High Republic era as it unfolds.

The Acolyte (2024) Depicts the Rise of the Sith Threat

Unlike Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, which takes place during the height of the High Republic, The Acolyte is set towards the end of that era, when the Sith are becoming a greater danger. Amandla Stenberg plays a double role as Osha Aniseya, a former Jedi apprentice, and her twin sister Mae, who has been drawn to a shadowy Sith Lord. Together, Osha and her old Master must uncover the truth behind a series of killings within the Jedi Order.

Rebecca Henderson portrays Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh in the series The Acolyte. Vernestra is an important character in the Star Wars: The High Republic stories, shown at the start of her journey as a Jedi Knight. Having her in The Acolyte helps connect the series to the broader High Republic narrative. The cast also includes Lee Jung-jae, playing Sol, Osha’s previous teacher, and Manny Jacinto as Qimir, an ally of Mae.

Carrie-Anne Moss appears briefly as the Jedi Knight Indara, a nod to her iconic role as Trinity in The Matrix films. The Acolyte explores the Jedi Order during its most powerful period, hinting at the arrogance and hidden flaws that would ultimately cause its collapse. The series had a lot of promise, and a return to the story isn’t out of the question.

Tales (2022- ) Is an Anthology Series That Tells a Different Story Across Different Factions

The Tales series is a recent addition to the animated Star Wars universe. Each season presents a standalone story focusing on a different group within the Star Wars galaxy. The first season, Tales of the Jedi, explores the lives of Jedi from the prequel era, even showing events that happened before The Phantom Menace. It’s particularly great because it highlights Ahsoka Tano’s training as a Padawan, providing a fantastic introduction to her own upcoming series.

One particularly strong story focuses on a younger Qui-Gon Jinn and his mentor, Count Dooku. It shows how Dooku became disillusioned with the Jedi Order and ultimately fell to the dark side, especially after Qui-Gon’s death. This new series of self-contained stories has been great at connecting past events and revealing more about the Jedi’s history, particularly aspects that haven’t been explored much before.

Following the popularity of its first season, a new series explores the origins of characters like Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee. The recently released third season, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, features the return of bounty hunter Cad Bane and Nightsister Asajj Ventress. This series is proving to be a powerful addition to the Star Wars universe, continuing the tradition of world-building established by animated shows like The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) Begins Darth Vader’s Origin Story

While Jar Jar Binks frustrated some fans eager for a new Star Wars film after 16 years, The Phantom Menace still has a lot going for it. The dynamic between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan is enjoyable, and the movie offers a fascinating look at the Republic before it collapsed.

“Duel of the Fates” is captivating, and the film features many impressive scenes, including the podrace and the final lightsaber battle. Darth Maul is a truly frightening villain. The Phantom Menace is set during the time of the Galactic Republic, as a droid army begins to form and threaten the peace. Crucially, the movie introduces Anakin Skywalker and shows the death of Qui-Gon Jinn—key events in Star Wars that ultimately lead to the Republic’s downfall and the rise of the Empire.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002) Finally Brings Fans the Clone Wars

Before the newer Star Wars films sparked debate, Attack of the Clones was often considered the weakest in the series. The movie depicts the beginning of a war between the Republic and the Separatists, and features Anakin Skywalker secretly marrying Padmé Amidala on Naboo. While the highly anticipated romance didn’t quite resonate with audiences—a common early criticism—it effectively introduced the events and characters that would be explored in the later Clone Wars film and television series.

The film marked the debut of Temuera Morrison as Jango Fett, a character he would later reprise as Boba Fett in the Disney+ series. Attack of the Clones also introduced Count Dooku, played by Christopher Lee, who became a key figure in the Star Wars story. Lee’s performance was a deliberate connection to his frequent co-star Peter Cushing, who famously played Grand Moff Tarkin, as both actors continued to shape the franchise long after their initial appearances.

Star Wars Forces of Destiny Honors the Franchise’s Long History of Heroines

Though Forces of Destiny isn’t a typical Star Wars series, it’s still really enjoyable. The show mainly takes place around 22 BBY, featuring characters like Ahsoka Tano, but it also covers later events, even including characters like Rey who appear much further along in the timeline.

Forces of Destiny is a web series, not a traditional TV show. It featured short episodes focusing on smaller stories about key female characters from the Star Wars universe. Many of the original actors, including Felicity Jones, Ashley Eckstein, Daisy Ridley, and Mark Hamill, returned to voice their characters, adding a valuable piece to the overall Star Wars story.

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2026-05-18 19:16