So You Want to Have a ‘Star Wars’ Marathon? George Lucas Has the Correct Order to Do That In
Right now, the outside world is a bit of a mess, to say the least. And while a movie about intergalactic war and space wizards isn’t any less chaotic, there truly isn’t a wrong time to binge-watch Star Wars. Everyone has a preference on which trilogy is the best or how best to watch them, but what does George Lucas say is the best order? If you’re going to conduct a self-quarantined Star Wars marathon, it’s best to hear how the creator himself suggests to watch them.
A ‘Star Wars’ marathon is a great idea for when you’re stuck at home
Whether it’s during a pandemic or just a weekend staycation, a Star Wars marathon is always a good way to go. Why? Well, for starters, there are so many movies. Between the three trilogies, two spinoff movies, and television shows, your marathon can literally be endless.
Also, it’s one of the best escapist movies. Star Wars deals with real-world problems but is set in such a different world that it’s just enough to forget about yours. It’s relatable, but it’s also unique enough that it won’t remind you of your anxieties. Unless, of course, your anxieties include exploding Death Stars or mechanical, asthmatic villains. We can’t help you there.
George Lucas ended the argument around which order to watch ‘Star Wars’ in years ago
In case you’re unfamiliar, the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977. At the time, it was just called Star Wars, but now it’s known as Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. Why did he make Episode IV first? Well, according to Looper, Lucas wasn’t sure that his movie would perform well. He had a rough plan of where he wanted to go with a series of movies, but he thought it best to just start with Luke Skywalker’s first meeting with Ben Kenobi and Darth Vader’s attack on Princess Leia.
When that did so well, Episodes V and VI naturally followed. He always wanted to tell this core story of Luke in a galaxy far, far away. But he also had the backstory tucked away for later, in case this series blew up. And blow up it did. It went on to become one of the greatest franchises in history, which allowed Lucas to make Episodes I — III to tell that prequel origin story of Anakin Skywalker.
But it’s now a debate on which trilogy to start with when you want to watch them all at once. The originals first, because they came first? Or the prequels, since they start the story? “Start with one,” Lucas said in 2015, according to The Independent. “That’s the way to do it right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. That’s the way they’re supposed to be done. Just because it took a long time to film it doesn’t mean you don’t do it in order.” He said this before the sequels, but it’s safe to assume he’d put those last.
The chronological ‘Star Wars’ order tells the story of Anakin Skywalker, his prophecy, and the fight to bring balance to the Force
While that settles it from the creator’s standpoint, it does make quite a lot of sense. The prequels set up Anakin Skywalker’s journey from a naive boy who was a slave on Tatooine, to becoming one of the deadliest villains of all time. It also establishes where the Republic is heading up to the Clone Wars and how it was able to fall and become the Galactic Empire.
The prequels also show Obi-Wan Kenobi’s origins, why Luke and Leia were separated, and how the Jedi Order fell. Not to mention it sets up Darth Sidious’ rise to Chancellor and how the Jedi were so blind to the Dark Side, setting up the perfect scenario to overthrow democracy.
There are so many ways to actually binge all the ‘Star Wars’ movies but do NOT skip any
However, let’s be clear here: there is no wrong way to watch Star Wars. Even if you’ve never seen the movies and start with Rogue One or The Force Awakens, it won’t confuse you. You could start with those, then the sequel trilogy, and work your way back to the start of the prequels if you wanted. Or if you need that nostalgic kick and watch the originals first followed by the sequels, you can too.
The most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t skip any of the films if you’re truly trying to do a Star Wars marathon. While people have their preferences, doing something like the “machete method” — where you skip The Phantom Menace — isn’t ideal. You miss key story elements when you skip movies in the beginning, for starters. And also, you’re missing one of the best duel scenes in the whole franchise, which is Darth Maul vs. Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
And be warned: binging all of Star Wars has a really good chance of also making you want to watch The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars. But good news: if you haven’t had the chance to watch those series before, now is the perfect time. Buckle up, and may the Force be with you.
