Complete Star Wars Movie Release Timeline
The original Star Wars trilogy began with the release of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in 1977, followed by The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. The prequel trilogy followed with The Phantom Menace in 1999, Attack of the Clones in 2002, and Revenge of the Sith in 2005. The sequel trilogy started with The Force Awakens in 2015, continued with The Last Jedi in 2017, and concluded with The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Full chronological release order includes theatrical and streaming debuts across multiple platforms.
Standalone spin-off films expanded the timeline, including Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016 and Solo: A Star Wars Story in 2018. These films filled gaps in the saga, exploring the theft of the Death Star plans and the early life of Han Solo. The next major theatrical installment, The Mandalorian & Grogu, is currently scheduled for release in 2026, continuing the franchise into a new era of interconnected storytelling.
Production Companies and Distribution
Lucasfilm Ltd. has produced every Star Wars film since the original 1977 release, with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handling distribution after acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012. The Walt Disney Company owns the full Star Wars library and oversees all new productions, including television series like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. Disney's acquisition details are publicly documented in SEC filings that outline the $4.05 billion transaction.
20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, has co-distributed several recent Star Wars projects, including the live-action Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+. The production infrastructure spans multiple global studios, with principal photography often taking place at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom and various locations across the United States.
Box Office Performance and Franchise Rankings
The Star Wars franchise has generated over $10 billion in global box office revenue across all theatrical releases, making it one of the highest-grossing film series in history. The Force Awakens leads as the highest-grossing installment with approximately $2.07 billion worldwide, followed by The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Detailed box office data tracks each film's performance across domestic and international markets.
When adjusted for inflation, the original 1977 Star Wars film remains among the top-grossing films of all time. The franchise consistently ranks in the top five globally by total lifetime gross, competing with Marvel Cinematic Universe entries and other major tentpole properties. Upcoming projects like The Mandalorian & Grogu are expected to continue this commercial trajectory based on current pre-sale tracking and franchise demand metrics.