NEW SERVICE · Platform not yet announced · MAY 28, 2027
Star Wars: Starfighter: what to watch first
The short answer, the optional warm-up films and the official release date.
No earlier film is required
StarWars.com says Starfighter is set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker. If you'd like a warm-up, Episodes VII–IX are the closest saga films in the timeline (7h 12m); Episodes I–VI are optional.
StarWars.com has published an official synopsis. We don't repeat it here, to keep this guide spoiler-free.
Your warm-up list
ESSENTIAL: 0 · RECOMMENDED: 3 · OPTIONAL: 6
Essential
Combined runtime: 0h 0m
No titles in this group.
Recommended
Combined runtime: 7h 12m
- Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens2h 18m
The closest saga film in the timeline before Starfighter, with Episodes VIII and IX.
- Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi2h 32m
Episode VIII. Watch it after Episode VII.
- Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker2h 22m
Episode IX. Starfighter is set about five years after it.
Optional
Combined runtime: 13h 25m
- Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace2h 16m
Episode I. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
- Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones2h 22m
Episode II. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
- Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith2h 20m
Episode III. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
- Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope2h 5m
Episode IV. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
- Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back2h 7m
Episode V. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
- Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi2h 15m
Episode VI. Optional: no earlier film is required for Starfighter.
Not needed
Combined runtime: 202h 53m
1 runtime still to be verified
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars1h 38m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 19h 2m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 28h 52m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 39h 4m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 49h 1m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 58h 22m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 65h 0m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Rebels – Season 15h 41m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Rebels – Season 28h 23m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Rebels – Season 38h 15m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story2h 14m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Rebels – Season 46h 7m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Solo: A Star Wars Story2h 15m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Resistance – Season 18h 5m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars Resistance – Season 27h 34m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- The Mandalorian – Season 15h 16m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Season 75h 0m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- The Mandalorian – Season 25h 31m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Season 18h 32m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- The Book of Boba Fett – Season 15h 28m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Obi-Wan Kenobi4h 40m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Andor – Season 19h 42m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi – Season 11h 39m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Season 27h 42m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- The Mandalorian – Season 35h 58m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Ahsoka – Season 16h 15m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch – Season 37h 3m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: Tales of the Empire – Season 11h 27m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- The Acolyte – Season 15h 29m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: Skeleton Crew – Season 15h 28m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Andor – Season 210h 30m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – Season 11h 32m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord – Season 13h 56m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu2h 12m
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
- Ahsoka – Season 2Runtime to be verified
Outside this warm-up list; no need to watch it first.
The saga films vs. Starfighter, spoiler-free
| TOPIC | Films | New title |
|---|---|---|
| Story | Nine Skywalker Saga films (1977–2019), set from 32 BBY to 35 ABY. | Set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, according to StarWars.com. |
| Cast | The casts of the nine saga films. | See the official StarWars.com film page. |
| Length | 20h 37m for all nine saga films; 7h 12m for Episodes VII–IX. | Runtime not yet announced. |
| Where (US) | Streaming on Disney+; rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home. | In theaters from May 28, 2027. |