Star Wars Timeline

The Star Wars franchise from the original 1977 film through the prequels, sequels, television series, and modern streaming era.

📅 22 events🎬 Pop Culture1973-2023Updated Oct 2026
Pro members can copy this timeline
and customize everything.

About this timeline

A release-history timeline of the Star Wars franchise, including theatrical films, animated series, live-action television, and major expansions of the galaxy far, far away.

Every event in this timeline

Jan 1, 1973

Star Wars announced as a film project

George Lucas develops the space-fantasy concept that becomes Star Wars.

May 25, 1977

Star Wars: A New Hope released

The first Star Wars film opens in theaters and becomes a global cultural phenomenon.

May 17, 1980

The Empire Strikes Back released

The second film deepens the mythology and becomes a major critical and commercial success.

May 25, 1983

Return of the Jedi released

The original trilogy concludes with the defeat of the Galactic Empire.

Jan 1, 1991

Dark Horse publishes Star Wars comics

A new era of licensed comics expands the franchise between the original trilogy and the prequels.

Jan 1, 1996

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

A multimedia project bridges the original trilogy and becomes an important example of expanded-universe storytelling.

May 19, 1999

The Phantom Menace released

The first prequel film introduces a younger Anakin Skywalker and the political origins of the saga.

May 16, 2002

Attack of the Clones released

The second prequel depicts the beginning of the Clone Wars and Anakin’s fall toward the dark side.

Oct 3, 2003

Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series

The first major animated Clone Wars series expands the story between Episodes II and III.

May 19, 2005

Revenge of the Sith released

The prequel trilogy concludes with the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader.

Aug 15, 2008

The Clone Wars film released

The animated film launches the longer-running The Clone Wars television series.

Oct 3, 2008

The Clone Wars television series

The series becomes a major part of the modern Star Wars canon and introduces important characters and arcs.

Oct 30, 2012

Lucasfilm sold to Disney

The Walt Disney Company acquires Lucasfilm and announces plans for new Star Wars films.

Dec 18, 2015

The Force Awakens released

The sequel trilogy begins and introduces a new generation of central characters.

Dec 16, 2016

Rogue One released

The first theatrical anthology film tells the story of the mission to steal the Death Star plans.

Dec 15, 2017

The Last Jedi released

The sequel trilogy continues with a major expansion of the Jedi mythology.

May 25, 2018

Solo released

The second theatrical anthology film explores the early life of Han Solo.

Nov 12, 2019

The Mandalorian premieres

The first live-action Star Wars series launches with Disney+.

Dec 20, 2019

The Rise of Skywalker released

The Skywalker saga concludes with the ninth episodic film.

May 4, 2021

The Bad Batch premieres

An animated series follows an elite clone squad after the rise of the Empire.

Sep 21, 2022

Andor premieres

The live-action series explores rebellion, surveillance, and politics in the years before Rogue One.

Aug 22, 2023

Ahsoka premieres

The live-action series brings the animated character Ahsoka Tano into a major live-action story.

Make this timeline your own

Copy it, add your own events, change the style - Pro members can customize everything.

Go Pro - $12/mo