Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

So I have all the Star Wars Special Editions and wondered how they should be watched. Should I watch the order they were released (IV, V, VI, I, II, III) or the order that shows on the spine (I, II, III, IV, V, VI)? I heard somewhere that George Lucas recommended watching them in the latter as that's how he planned it, but I wasn't sure what would be best.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Assuming you haven't seen them before, I think it would be best to watch them IV, V, VI, I, II, III.

Oh and expect plenty of witty responses like: "you should watch them in this order IV, V, VI, <strike>I, II, III</strike>"

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I showed these to a girlfriend who never saw them before a couple years ago. I went 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3. I WISH I went 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 6. She liked the old ones, fell asleep to 1, indifferent to 2 and was sad at 3.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Definitely watch them in release order if you have not seen them before.

IV
V
VI
I
II
III

Some of the magic & mystery of IV, V, VI may be lost on you if you watch them in chronological order.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Definitely watch them in publication order. That is the way they are meant to be watched to avoid any spoilers. (Although not knowing the spoilers would probably mean you have been living in a cave the last 30 years.)

Basically 99% of the people that have seen these movies watched them in publication order as they came out. There really is no reason to watch the prequel trilogy first.

And lol @ George Lucas' "plan." He has had so many various contradictory "plans" over the last three decades that you really can't believe any of it. I find it hard to believe that he ever had any serious plans to begin with. It seems like he just winged the whole thing due to numerous inconsistencies between films.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I would go I, II, Clone Wars, III, IV, V, VI.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

6,2,5,star wars x-mas special,4,3,1

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Funny, I was talking to a friend about this on wednesday, as well. Go 4, 5, 6, 2, 3 - 1 is pointless IMO.

If you go in numerical order, 5 becomes meaningless.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

^ This. The 'plan' was to cash in as soon as he could figure out how to do it, while maximizing profit potential.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I would watch the bonus discs, then the commentaries, then Episode I, then the Christmas Special, then Episode VI, then the Clone Wars TV show, then Episode IV, then the Clone Wars movie, then R2-D2 Beneath the Dome, then Episode III, then the Ewok movies, then Episode V, then the Droids cartoon movie, then I would set a DVD of Episode II on fire.

Then Spaced.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Just stick with Spaceballs

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Thanks for the input, except the Christmas Special ones. Although funny, they were pointless.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

This is a great movie!

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I agree with this.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

This.

If you have any of the Clone Wars stuff, throw it in between 2 and 3, esp if you have the first Genndy Tartovsky ones.

You really need something something that shows how the relationship grew during the war.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

6, 2, 4, 1, 3, and no 5.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I actually like this order.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I II and III were made with the mindset that the audience had already seen IV V and VI.
Not only does the story work far better that way, there are several inside jokes in I II and III that can only be gotten by those who have seen IV V and VI.

(This is strongly recommended for first viewing. On repeat viewings, I usually watch them in numbered order so as to end with Return of the Jedi)

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

you should watch them in this order IV, V, VI, <strike>I, II, III</strike>

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Don't forget to watch the two Ewok movies after episode 6. They're a great bookend to the entire series IMO. This really provides closure for a first-time Star Wars viewer.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Everybody in this thread is an idiot:

2, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

For first time viewers...

IV, V, VI, then...I, II, III, IV, V, VI.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Going from III to IV is a hard pill to swallow.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

If there were 16x9 copies of the OT available, I would definitely recommend this.

The originals of IV, V, and VI, then the saga of all six with the SE versions of IV, V, and VI.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I changed my mind:

3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 2, 6, 5

Though, most people just go 3, 1, 4.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

First time through watch them in release order.

Then after a little time has passed watch them in numeric order... IMHO you get a much different vibe from it that way.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

The correct sequence is IV, V, VI, Highlander II, Star Trek V, Alien Resurrection, Superman IV, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Gigli, Episodes I, II, III. This is the only way you can be sure you won't be disappointed by the prequels.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Ahhhh...ease him into suicide eh?

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I converted mine.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

My wife, a jap that will one day stab me in my sleep, hadn't seen any of these since she didn't care about Star Wars.

Started with Episode one and worked through six. She didn't know that Palpatine would turn into the Emperor or that Anakin was Vader. It seemed to work for her since she was able to be surprised at who turned into what.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

That is a very interesting point. It has spoilers either way. Watching in presentation order you have the mystery of everyone's past and how they are connected, but once you know that then epsiodes 1 - 3 are just to see what you already know unfold. While watching in chronological order you have no clue the direction each character is headed, but in the later episodes you are watching to see how they figure it out.

Knowing the whole story, I prefer to rewatch in chronological order and in the past would recommend someone watch in presentation order. But now I'm not sure which order I would recommend to someone. There are merits to each.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I'll be serious at first and say the best way has to be order of their release. Why spoil the fun by watching the newer films first?

Let the originals be the originals.

As for the um, other reponses, you forgot the Ewok movies...

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I like the one with Bea Arthur.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Me too.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Go back in time to where you are 5 years old, watch 1 you will enjoy all the kid shit. Then speed up to age 16 so you can get a major boner over Padme watch 2 and 3. Then watch 4 5 and 6. Sorry that is the only way I can figure to enjoy 1 2 and 3.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

This is close but I wouldn't want the person who's never seen any of them knowing what happens at the end of 5 until they've seen 1-3. So my order would be:

IV - start them off with the best, not much if anything would be spoiled/revealed
I - now they can go back and see how it started, having some knowledge of the storyline and characters.
II - no other place
III - no other place
IV - if you need/want to again (did I say "it's the best")
V - I wouldn't mind if they now knew what was said at the end
VI - no other place

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Another way I've heard is to do it Godfather 2 style:

1 then 4: (both show the young hero being discovered, losing a mentor, taking part in a big battle, and taking their first step into the bigger world.

2 then 5: the stakes are raised, there's a romance, a brush with the dark side and a duel at the end where the hero loses a hand.

3 then 6: the hero's path becomes fraught with danger and he must learn to trust those around him, and he'll get to a point where he must make a decision. One hero will throw away everything for what he thinks is love, and one will throw away his weapon out of love.

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I wish I had the technical skills to do things like this...

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

Highly debatable, good sir....many people would disagree with this assessment (including me) and consider Episode V:TESB as the best of the series....

Re: Star Wars "Correct" Watching Sequence
 

I don't care what order you watch them in but make sure to watch this after part 6!








:goodbye: