The Star Wars show timeline can be confusing — but we’ve made it simple. This guide puts every Star Wars TV series and movie in chronological order. Whether you’re starting with The Acolyte or catching up on The Mandalorian, this timeline uses the BBY/ABY system to show exactly when each story happens in the galaxy.
We’ve organized all canon shows and films by galactic era — from the High Republic to the rise of the First Order. No Legends content, no filler — just the core Star Wars timeline as of 2025.
🌌 The High Republic Era (c. 132 BBY and earlier)
📺 The Acolyte (132 BBY)
Set in the final days of the High Republic. A Jedi investigates dark side corruption — leading toward the rise of the Sith.
⚔️ The Fall of the Republic (50–19 BBY)
📺 Tales of the Jedi (50–19 BBY)
Animated anthology featuring Count Dooku’s descent and Ahsoka’s early years.
🎬 Episode I: The Phantom Menace (32 BBY)
Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn discovers Anakin Skywalker — and the Sith return.
🎬 Episode II: Attack of the Clones (22 BBY)
Clones rise, war begins, and the Republic starts to crack.
📺 The Clone Wars (22–19 BBY)
A seven-season animated saga of Anakin, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan during the war.
🎬 Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (19 BBY)
The Jedi are wiped out. Anakin becomes Darth Vader.
📺 The Bad Batch (Starts 19 BBY)
Follows a rogue clone squad after Order 66.
🖤 The Dark Times / Rise of the Empire (19–5 BBY)
🎬 Solo: A Star Wars Story (13–10 BBY)
Young Han Solo joins the underworld, meets Chewbacca, and finds the Falcon.
📺 Obi-Wan Kenobi (10 BBY)
Obi-Wan hides on Tatooine but is pulled back into action to rescue Leia.
📺 Andor (5–0 BBY)
The birth of rebellion. Follows Cassian Andor as he becomes a spy.
✊ The Rebellion Era (5 BBY–4 ABY)
📺 Star Wars Rebels (5–0 BBY)
Animated series following the Ghost crew as they join the early Rebellion.
🎬 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (0 BBY)
Rebel spies steal the Death Star plans — leading straight into Episode IV.
🎬 Episode IV: A New Hope (0 ABY)
Luke Skywalker rises. The Death Star falls.
🎬 Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (3 ABY)
The Rebellion is crushed. Vader reveals the truth to Luke.
🎬 Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (4 ABY)
The Emperor is destroyed. Vader is redeemed. Peace is won.
🐉 The New Republic Era / Mando-Verse (9 ABY and beyond)
📺 The Mandalorian (9 ABY)
Din Djarin protects Grogu and navigates a fractured galaxy.
📺 The Book of Boba Fett (9 ABY)
Boba claims Jabba’s throne and seeks a new kind of rule.
📺 Ahsoka (9 ABY)
Ahsoka hunts Grand Admiral Thrawn and seeks Ezra Bridger.
📺 Skeleton Crew (c. 9 ABY, exact TBD)
Follows kids lost in space during the post-Empire rebuilding.
⚠️ The Rise of the First Order (34–35 ABY)
📺 Star Wars Resistance (34–35 ABY)
Animated series set before and during the sequel trilogy.
🎬 Episode VII: The Force Awakens (34 ABY)
Rey discovers the Force. Han dies. Starkiller destroys Hosnian Prime.
🎬 Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (34 ABY)
Luke sacrifices himself. The Resistance barely survives.
🎬 Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (35 ABY)
Palpatine returns. Rey defeats him and adopts the Skywalker name.
🧭 Understanding the BBY/ABY System
BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin — the destruction of the Death Star in A New Hope. ABY means After the Battle of Yavin. This system helps map out the galaxy’s timeline with one major event as the central point.
🎬 Looking for the movie-only timeline?
📺 Want just the shows?
❓ Frequently Asked Questions About the Star Wars Show Timeline
📅 Understanding the BBY/ABY Timeline
What does BBY and ABY mean in Star Wars?
BBY stands for Before the Battle of Yavin, and ABY stands for After the Battle of Yavin — the pivotal battle where Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star in A New Hope. This event serves as the central reference point for the Star Wars timeline.
Why does Star Wars use the Battle of Yavin as its timeline anchor?
The Battle of Yavin is a major turning point in galactic history. It marks the Rebellion’s first major victory against the Empire and the beginning of Luke’s hero arc. It’s considered “Year 0” in most official canon chronologies.
🎞️ Watching Order & Canon Status
Do I have to watch Star Wars in chronological order?
Not at all. Many fans prefer release order or thematic arcs (e.g., watching the Skywalker saga separately from spin-offs). But watching chronologically helps you understand the full progression of galactic history.
What is the best order to watch Star Wars shows and movies for the first time?
Here are three popular approaches:
- Chronological Timeline Order – Start with The Acolyte and follow the BBY/ABY structure
- Release Order – Watch as fans experienced them in theaters
- Original Trilogy First – Start with A New Hope and explore backward and forward as you go
Are animated shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels considered canon?
✅ Yes. All the shows listed in this timeline — including The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Bad Batch, and Resistance — are part of official Disney-era Star Wars canon.
Are the new Disney+ series like Andor and Ahsoka canon?
✅ Yes. Every Disney+ series is canon unless stated otherwise. That includes The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew.
🧭 Placement & Timeline Clarifications
Where does The Acolyte fall in the Star Wars timeline?
The Acolyte is set roughly 132 years before A New Hope (132 BBY), during the High Republic era — a golden age of the Jedi long before the events of The Phantom Menace.
When does The Mandalorian take place?
The Mandalorian is set 9 ABY, about 5 years after Return of the Jedi and the fall of the Empire. It kicks off the New Republic / post-Empire storyline now referred to as the “Mando-Verse.”
How does Skeleton Crew fit into the timeline?
Skeleton Crew is also set around 9 ABY, in the same era as The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. It follows a new cast of young characters navigating a post-Empire galaxy.
What comes immediately before A New Hope?
Chronologically, Rogue One leads directly into Episode IV: A New Hope. The final scenes of Rogue One sync with the opening of A New Hope nearly frame-for-frame.
🚀 Beginner Questions
Where should a new Star Wars fan start watching?
Here are three solid starting points:
- 🎬 The Original Trilogy – A New Hope (Episode IV) is a classic entry point
- 📺 The Mandalorian – Modern, accessible, and sets up future content
- 🧙 Chronological Deep Dive – Begin with The Acolyte and move forward in story order
Is it okay to skip the animated series?
You can, but you’ll miss essential context — especially around characters like Ahsoka Tano, Bo-Katan, and Thrawn. Shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels are critical for fully understanding modern live-action series.
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🌐 Outbound Links: Explore More Star Wars Timelines
- Official Star Wars Viewing Guide
The official StarWars.com guide offers both release and chronological orders for all movies and series, including live-action and animation. StarWars.com - Wookieepedia: Timeline of Canon Media
An extensive list of narrative-based canon media, including films, television episodes, novels, and comics, organized by in-universe chronology. Wookieepedia+1Reddit+1 - Empire Online: Star Wars Timeline
A comprehensive breakdown of every film, series, and significant era in the Star Wars universe, presented in chronological order. Empire - Star Wars Canon Timeline
An ultimate chronological timeline and release date list for all Star Wars media in the official canon, including movies, books, TV shows, and comics. starwarscanontimeline.com - GamesRadar: Star Wars Timeline
A detailed chronology of key events from the birth of Yoda to the defeat of Emperor Palpatine, covering major milestones across movies, TV shows, and canonical novels. GamesRadar+
🏁 Final Thoughts
Star Wars is more than movies — it’s a mythos. Whether you’re watching Jedi rise and fall or bounty hunters walk a lonely path, this timeline helps you track the galaxy’s most iconic moments.
Stay tuned for updates as more shows release — and may the Force be with you.
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