Star Warsis one of the biggest franchises in the world. Just about every kind of product you can imagine has come out of it,from Funko Popstoboard games. However, the brand originally became big because of the movies. Since the 1970s, there have been three Star Wars trilogies as well as quite a few spin-offs.
There are plenty of Star Wars movies to watch. But which ones should you be purchasing? You have several options, but the following movies are the best the series has to offer, whether you’re new to Star Wars or already a long-term fan.
Updated June 04, 2025 by Davis Collins:May the Fourth weekend is here once again. Perhaps you’re looking to celebrate one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time, and, while, as I’m fond of saying, merch is a great way to celebrate a franchise, sometimes the best thing you’re able to do is go back and enjoy the source material itself. To that end, we’ve come back to expand and reorganize this list to include more films for you to choose from.
Where it all began
Cast
This is the movie that spawned one of the biggest franchises ever. It tells the tale of Luke Skywalker as he begins his Jedi journey. On the way, he teams with the rebels and a few of his closest allies to take on the Empire.
Originally just called Star Wars, A New Hope is where the entire franchise began. Naturally, the movie feels very important and is a must-watch for Star Wars fans. What’s more, it has legitimately stood the test of time. It’s a very exciting sci-fi adventure.
It’s more focused on space battles than lightsaber duels, so if you’re more interested in the latter, you may be disappointed. Yet, the exciting characters and the complicated relationships between them make up for the lack of laser swords. Plus, simply seeing the likes of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford working together in their primes is delightful.
Many Star Wars fans consider The Empire Strikes Back to be the best in the series. It is hard to argue with them. It’s an incredible movie that has pretty much everything a fan can want from Star Wars. It has an iconic lightsaber duel, some good spaceship action, compelling characters, and even a shocking twist. Oh, and Boba Fett is in it.
Admittedly, the shock of that shocking twist has been ruined by how well-known it is, but we shouldn’t hold that against this movie, and even if you do know it ahead of time, it’s still an exciting moment in the film that caps off a brilliant second chapter of the Star Wars story.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Balance is returned to the force
The final installment in the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi has some of the best moments in the history of Star Wars, and pays off much of what was set up by its two brilliant predecessors.
Finales are high-risk, high-reward. If you do them right, you can take advantage of what came before you to make something more incredible than you ever could’ve done without that set-up to rely on, but flubbing it will make a lot of that set-up turn out to be for nothing.
Fortunately, this movie doesn’t flub it, and its high points are some of the best moments in the franchise. The long, several-scene-long confrontation between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor is amazing to watch, and makes good on the emotional and thematic promises of the previous films.
The sequel trilogy started well
The Force Awakens serves as the beginning of a new era of Star Wars movies. It introduces several fresh faces, such as Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren, while also bringing back some legends. They’re all embroiled in a new conflict.
While the later entries in the sequel trilogy have their issues, the new era starts well with The Force Awakens. The movie is clearly inspired by A New Hope, but that isn’t exactly a bad thing, as it makes the movie feel like a true Star Wars film.
The new characters like Rey, Finn, Kylo, and Poe are compelling additions and help make the familiar tale feel fresh. Plus, the actors playing those characters deliver strong performances, which is a big reason why The Force Awakens is such an entertaining movie.
The second part of the sequel trilogy, this film has a lot of strong moments and a very good climax. Though some aspects of it feel aimless or unpolished, others work really well.
This is going to be a controversial pick. A lot of people think this movie is garbage. Obviously, we disagree. It has its flaws, but it also has some excellent moments. Though many regard Luke’s characterization in this movie as disrespectful, Hamill’s performance makes a lot of his moments work.
The climax of this movie is very good. There’s a lot of action, some genuine emotion, and a genuinely surprising reveal regarding Rey’s parents (that is sadly undone in the following film, but that’s not this movie’s fault). There’s a lot here worth checking out. If you’ve avoided it due to its reputation, we encourage you to give it a chance.
Han Solo’s life was never simple
Set before the original trilogy, Solo goes back in time to show you the origin story of the charismatic Han Solo. It depicts his time operating in the criminal underworld.
Han Solo is definitely one of the most interesting and popular characters in the Star Wars universe. His past isn’t explored in the original trilogy, so it’s no surprise that someone tried to make an origin story for him. Not everyone loves the end result, but overall, it’s a solid Star Wars flick.
Yes, perhaps it wasn’t a movie that needed to be made since it has little impact on the universe as a whole, but not every movie needs to make a significant impact on its franchise. This is just a fun and action-packed movie with plenty of exciting moments.
At least one of them was decent
The last chapter of the prequels sees the story kick into high gear. The Galactic Republic and the Jedi are in a full-scale war against the Separatists. Meanwhile, Anakin is desperate to save Padme’s life and grows closer to Palpatine in the process.
The Star Wars prequels have a mixed reputation. Some people love them, while others hate them. What is hard to deny, though, is that Revenge of the Sith is the best of the three. It simply provides more exciting action sequences and has more importance to the Star Wars series.
This is because, without going into spoilers, it tells the origin story of one ofthe most powerful and significant Sith Lords in the franchise. The tale the movie tells is a little inconsistent at times, but it’s compelling nonetheless.
More of a spy thriller than a sci-fi epic
Rogue One follows a rag-tag team of rebels who attempt to steal the Death Star plans before the events of the original movie. It contains a whole host of new characters who embark on a more understated adventure compared to the likes of Luke and Rey.
Rogue One fills in a key part ofthe Star Wars timelineas it documents what the Rebels went through to get those Death Star plans before the likes of Luke Skywalker came into the picture. However, this movie is more than just a setup for the original trilogy.
It’s a fantastic movie in its own right that is different from most other Star Wars films. This isn’t a giant sci-fi spectacle - albeit it contains some elements of one. It’s more of a spy thriller with a focus on espionage, with a bittersweet ending. This works surprisingly well for a Star Wars project, and it’s well worth watching.
FAQ
What are the nine main Star Wars movies?
The main Star Wars movies are the ones that are part of the Skywalker Saga. So, this includes A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack Of The Clones, Revenge Of The Sith, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise Of Skywalker.
What Star Wars movie should I watch first?
Some fans would say that The Phantom Menace is the movie to watch first, as it’s the first in the Star Wars timeline. However, A New Hope still works really well as your introduction to the series. After all, it was the first movie released, meaning it was designed to be an introduction to the universe. As such, it provides all the information you must know about Jedi and the Empire.
