Created by George Lucas in 1977, Star Wars is an epic space opera set "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away."
The saga explores the eternal struggle between good and evil, embodied in the mystical energy field known as the Force. Two opposing orders -- the Jedi, guardians of peace who follow the light side, and the Sith, who embrace the dark side through anger and ambition -- serve as the central conflict.
Key themes include the hero's journey (Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, and Rey all follow Joseph Campbell's monomyth structure of growth, temptation, and destiny), balance of power (the Force represents harmony, with imbalance leading to tyranny or chaos), family and legacy (generational struggles, particularly within the Skywalker family, drive much of the narrative), rebellion versus Empire (political allegory of freedom fighters resisting authoritarian regimes), and technology versus humanity (droids, clones, and superweapons raise questions about identity, morality, and war).
Although the Star Wars films were released beginning in 1977 with Episode IV: A New Hope, the saga's internal chronology unfolds quite differently. The prequel trilogy (Episodes I-III, released 1999-2005) depicts the fall of the Republic and Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader, events that preceded the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI, 1977-1983), which follows the rise of Luke Skywalker and the defeat of the Empire. Decades later, the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX, 2015-2019) continues the story with a new generation of heroes and villains. Standalone films like Rogue One and Solo further complicate the timeline, filling narrative gaps between the main episodes. This non-linear release order has become a hallmark of the franchise, inviting audiences to experience the story both as mythic history and as a constantly expanding universe.
In chronological order, by release date, the theatrical films within the franchise have thus far included Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005), Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Upcoming Star Wars films are expected to include The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars: Starfighter, and other yet untitled films.
Telelvision series based on the Star Wars franchise include The Clone Wars (2008-2020), Rebels (2014-2018), Resistance (218-2020), The Mandalorian (2019-present), The Book of Boba Fett (2021), The Bad Batch (2022-present), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), Andor (2022-present), Tales of the Jedi (2022), Ahsoka (2023), The Acolyte (2024), Skeleton Crew (2024), Tales of the Empire (2024), and Tales of the Underworld (2025).
The Star Wars franchise has profoundly shaped global culture. Phrases like "May the force be with you" and "I am your father" are universally recognized. Darth Vader, Yoda, and lightsabers have also become cultural icons. The Star Wars franchise pioneered blockbuster filmmaking, advanced special effects, and popularized trilogies as a storytelling format. Star Wars has also proven to be a merchandising powerhouse, with action figures, LEGO sets, and collectibles creating a multi-billion-dollar industry. The franchise has inspired countless other films (The Matrix, Guardians of the Galaxy), parodies (Spaceballs, Family Guy specials), and even real-world space exploration, as Elon Musk named the Falcon space rockets after the Millennium Falcon.
Although this is within a category for movie titles, topics relating to the television series or sites devoted to the overall Star Wars franchise may be listed here rather than creating another category within the television programs section of our guide.
Recommended Resources
Complete Star Wars Timeline, The
This is an impressive fan-created resource that currently covers all nine films of the "Skywalker Saga," released and in chronological order. It also attempts to integrate spin-off series, novels, comics, and games into a single chronology. It includes major events from "Episode I" through "Episode IX," as well as "The Clone Wars," "Rebels," and the "Mandalorian" era, and it also provides date-stamped entries for key moments and crossover tie-ins in prose format.
https://starwarstimelines.com/
This is the official website of Lucasfilm Ltd., one of the world's leading entertainment companies. Founded in 1971, Lucasfilm is renowned as the home of the legendary Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. The site offers information on career opportunities at Lucasfilm and its divisions, along with recruiting alerts and guidance on how to begin a career in this storied studio environment. The site also lins to fan communities and official forums for in-depth discussions about the franchise.
https://www.lucasfilm.com/
One of the best resources on the web for all the latest in Star Wars movies, the television series, comics, games, and more. You can access full episodes of "The Clone Wars" show here. The website also features podcasts and comics that delve into the Star Wars universe. There is also an online store where you can purchase branded Star Wars clothing, lightsabers, and other items. Other resources include Star Wars-themed games, mobile applications, and virtual reality immersive experiences.
https://www.starwars.com/
Star Wars Kids is Lucasfilm's online hub for young Star Wars fans, featuring bite-sized videos, interactive activities, creative challenges, and a kid-friendly storefront designed to ignite imaginations and develop early Jedi skills. Featured is a constantly updated lineup of animated shorts and clips, hands-on projects such as coloring pages and printable crafts, Jedi training challenges, mindful-moment exercises to keep them engaged and learning, and a curated online store.
https://www.starwarskids.com/
A dedicated fan site, Star Wars News Net seeks to cover everything happening in the Star Wars universe, from films and television shows to books, comics, games, and collectibles. It features the latest updates on upcoming releases, trailer breakdowns, reviews of comics based on the Star Wars franchise, and coverage of Star Wars at significant events, such as the Emmys. Categories include Films, TV Series, Animation, Books & Comics, Games & Toys, Parks & Events, and Editorials.
https://www.starwarsnewsnet.com/
Describing itself as a hub for new and evergreen "Star Wars" content, the website invites fans to "experience the next great chapters of the Star Wars universe." Included are deep-dive articles on iconic battles, cross-property comparisons, curated book guides, collectible spotlights, franchise lore explainers, news, and announcements. The site uses a magazine-style listing of "threads" with a cover image thumbnail, title, date, author, view count, and reply count.
https://starwarsnow.com/
The long-running fan site is dedicated to the Star Wars franchise. The latest news on the franchise is covered, with dates, times, and ticket information, along with an overview of the expanded Star Wars universe and collectibles, gaming, and literature based on the franchise, birthday shoutouts for Star Wars actors and anniversaries of major releases, and active discussions on its forum, powered by XenForo. Participation in forum discussions is free, but requires membership and a login.
https://theforce.net/
