The Star Wars Canon Timeline: A Definitive Guide to the Order of All The Films, Shows, Books, Comics and Games

In this post, we will be going over the Star Wars canon timeline. This is a guide that takes all of the films, shows, books, comics and video games and puts them in chronological order so you can sort by release date or chronology at any point.

It includes every piece of Star Wars canon media since 1977 when Star Wars was released. We also have a brief overview of where each piece falls in the overall story arc to help you better understand how everything connects together.

What’s in the Star Wars Canon Timeline?

I only include material on this timeline if it is canon. Most licensed material beginning in 2015 and moving forward is be part of this timeline. The only pre-2015 material that is currently included is the films, The Clone Wars, and Rebels, a few story-group approved novels, and Rebels tie-in material. This timeline includes the following:

• The Official Films: The original 6 films, and all official films released by Lucasfilm since 2015.
• Star Wars Television: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Resistance, The Mandalorian and any non-parody or non-experimental animated and live-action shows since then.
• Books: Any adult and junior novels released since September of 2014, starting with A New Dawn.
• Comics: Any official canon comics since Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir.
• Short Stories: Some canon short stories included in various magazines and other outlets.
• Video Games: Some games made since 2015 are part of this timeline.

Let’s get started with this table, which breaks everything down into a single spreadsheet. Don’t forget that you can sort this table by chronological or release order, as well as by title. Enjoy!

Star Wars Timeline: Movies and TV Shows in Chronological Order

If you’re only interested in the films and shows, then this is what you are looking for. I’ve included all of the films and shows that we know of in one single list.

• The Acolyte (TBA, Disney Plus)
• Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
• Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) 
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars Seasons 1-7 (2008-2020)
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1 (2021-)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
• Obi-Wan Kenobi series (2022)
• Star Wars Rebels Seasons 1-4 (2014-2018)
• Rogue One series: Andor (2021)
• Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
• Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
• The Mandalorian (2019)
• The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
• Ahsoka (TBA)
• Rangers of the New Republic (TBA)
• Star Wars Resistance Season 1 (2018)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
• Star Wars Resistance Season 2 (2019)
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

But I know a lot of you are not just here for the films and TV shows. So that brings us to my next section.

Star Wars Books Timeline

There are actually a lot of books to be included in the Star Wars canon. This list is every canon book that we know of, minus the choose your own adventure books. It includes full novels, junior novels for middle grade readers, and young adult books. I’ve bolded my favorites.

• The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (2020)
• The High Republic: Into the Dark (2020)
• The High Republic: The Great Jedi Rescue (2021)
• The High Republic: A Test of Courage (2020)
• Master and Apprentice (2019)
• Queen’s Peril (2020
• Queen’s Shadow (2019)
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Chaos Rising (2020)
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good (2021)
• Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil (2021)
• Dark Disciple (2015)
• Rogue One: Catalyst (2016)
• Ahsoka (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Escape (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Snare (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Nest (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Steal (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Dark (2016)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Cold (2017)
• Adventures in Wild Space: The Rescue (2017)
• Lords of the Sith (2015)
• Tarkin (2014)
• Most Wanted (2018)
• Lando’s Luck (2018)
• Solo: A Star Wars Story (novelization, 2018)
• Solo: Tales from Vandor (2018)
• A New Dawn (2014)
• Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy (2014)
• Ezra’s Gamble (2014)
• Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice (2015)
• Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy (2015)
• Leia: Princess of Alderaan (2017)
• Thrawn (2017)
• Thrawn: Alliance (2018)
• Thrawn: Treason (2019)
• Pirate’s Price (2019)
• The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear! (2018)
• Guardians of the Whills (2017)
• Rebel Rising (2017)
• Rogue One (novelization, 2016)
• A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farmboy (2015)
• From a Certain Point of View (2017)
• Battlefront II: Inferno Squad (2017)
• Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo Adventure (2015)
• Heir to the Jedi (2015)
• The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure (2015)
• The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi (2015)
• From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back (2020)
• Battlefront: Twilight Company (2015)
• Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure (2015)
• Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side! (2015)
• Aftermath (2015)
• Alphabet Squadron (2019)
• Shadow Fall (2020)
• Victory’s Price (2021)
• Aftermath: Life Debt (2016)
• Aftermath: Empire’s End (2017)
• Lost Stars (2015)
• Last Shot (2018)
• Poe Dameron: Free Fall (2020)
• Bloodline (2016)
• Phasma (2017)
• Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away (2016)
• Join the Resistance (2017)
• Join the Resistance: Escape from Vodran (2017)
• Join the Resistance: Attack on Starkiller Base (2018)
• Before the Awakening (2015)
• Force Collector (2019)
• The Force Awakens (novelization, 2015)
• The Last Jedi: Cobalt Squadron (2017)
• The Legends of Luke Skywalker (2017)
• A Crash of Fate (2019)
• Canto Bight (2017)
• The Last Jedi (novelization, 2018)
• Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire (2019)
• Resistance Reborn (2019)
• Spark of the Resistance (2019)
• The Skywalker Saga (2019)
• The Rise of Skywalker (novelization, 2020)

Whew, that was a lot to get through! But there’s a lot more to it than just that. Next we’ll look at just the comics.

Star Wars Comics Timeline

The comics are one of the most complicated parts of the Star Wars canon timeline. So I have chosen not to include some of them here. Any comics that take place in single issues, including the Star Wars Adventures line from IDW, are not included on this list. Instead this list consist primarily of the main comics that have been collected into trade paperbacks. As with the books, I’ve bolded my favorites.

• The High Republic Vol. 1 (2021)
• Darth Maul (2017)
• Obi-Wan & Anakin (2016)
• Jedi of the Republic — Mace Windu (2018)
• Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir (2014)
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, Vol. 1 (2017)
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, Vol. 2: Legacy’s End (2018)
• Jedi Fallen Order – Dark Temple (2019)
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, Vol. 3: The Burning Seas (2018)
• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, Vol. 4: Fortress Vader (2019)
• Lando: Double or Nothing (2018)
• Star Wars: Han Solo – Imperial Cadet (2019)
• Target Vader (2019)
• Vader: Dark Visions (2019)
• Kanan: The Last Padawan Vol. 1 (2015)
• Kanan Vol. 2: First Blood (2016)
• Thrawn (comic)
• Tales from Vader’s Castle (2019)
• Return to Vader’s Castle (2020)
• Rogue One (comic adaptation, 2017)
• Princess Leia (2015)
• Chewbacca (2016)
• Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes (2015)
• Darth Vader Vol. 1: Vader (2015)
• Star Wars Vol. 2: Showdown on Smuggler’s Moon (2016)
• Darth Vader Vol. 2: Shadows and Secrets (2016)
• Vader Down (2016)
• Star Wars Vol. 3: Rebel Jail (2016)
• Darth Vader Vol. 3: The Shu-Torun War (2016)
• Star Wars Vol. 4: The Last Flight of the Harbinger (2017)
• Darth Vader Vol. 4: End of Games (2016)
• Star Wars Vol. 5: Yoda’s Secret War (2017)
• Doctor Aphra, Vol. 1 (2017)
• The Screaming Citadel (2017)
• Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among the Stars (2017)
• Doctor Aphra Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and the Enormous Profit (2018)
• Star Wars Vol. 7: The Ghosts of Jedha (2018)
• Doctor Aphra Vol. 3: Remastered (2018)
• Star Wars Vol. 8: Mutiny at Mon Cala (2018)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 4: The Catastrophe Con (2019)
• Star Wars Vol. 9: Hope Dies (2018)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 5: Worst Among Equals (2019)
• Star Wars Vol. 10: The Escape (2019)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 6: Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon (2019)
• Star Wars Vol. 11: The Scourging of Shu-Torun (2019)
• Lando (2016)
• Han Solo (2017)
• Star Wars Vol. 12: Rebels and Rogues (2019)
• Doctor Aphra Vol. 7: A Rogue’s End (2020)
• Star Wars Vol. 13: Rogues and Rebels (2020)
• Darth Vader Vol. 1: Dark Heart of the Sith (2020)
• Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny Path (2020)
• Bounty Hunters Vol. 1: Galaxy’s Deadliest (2020)
• Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 1 — Fortune and Fate (2021)
• Star Wars Vol. 2: Tarkin’s Will (2021)
• Shattered Empire (2015)
• TIE Fighter (2019)
• The Rise of Kylo Ren (2020)
• Poe Dameron, Vol. 1: Black Squadron (2016)
• Poe Dameron, Vol. 2: The Gathering Storm (2017)
• Poe Dameron, Vol. 3: Legend Lost (2017)
• Poe Dameron, Vol. 4: Legend Found (2018)
• Adventures: Flight of the Falcon (2019)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens (comic adaptation, 2016)
• Captain Phasma (2017)
• The Legends of Luke Skywalker: The Manga (2020)
• Galaxy’s Edge (2019)
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi (comic adaptation, 2018)
• Poe Dameron Vol. 5: The Spark and the Fire (2018)
• Allegiance (2019)

Had enough of these long lists? Me to. Next let’s take a look at some of the actual eras and events in the Star Wars timeline.

The Complete Star Wars Timeline of Events

let’s break down the Star Wars canon timeline by era and with key events. These eras are officially designated by Lucasfilm, which is why use the specific wording for each of these eras.

The High Republic Era

The High Republic Era is extremely popular, it takes place roughly 200 years before the films. It’s also the setting for the TV series The Acolyte, though as of this writing that show has not yet aired.

This era deals with the golden age of the Jedi, when they are described as the Jedi Knights of the Round Table. But during this time a great disaster takes place, and new threats arise that the Jedi are not prepared to face. While this era is ongoing, and we don’t know where it’s going to go exactly, we can presume that it will lead to events that will show the eventual decline of the Jedi, or the reason why that decline started.

Personally, this is my favorite era of the new canon, since I’ve always preferred the Jedi in the force, i.e. the magical elements of Star Wars. I’m hoping that there will one day be an Old Republic era, but that is probably a little ways off.

Key dates:

• ~900 BBY: Yoda is born.
• ~200 BBY: this area is the golden age of the Jedi when the Jedi were at their height.
• 232 BBY: the events of the great disaster unfold, watching the start of the high Republic stories.

Key stories:

• The High Republic: Light of the Jedi
• The High Republic: Into the Dark
• The High Republic Vol. 1

The Fall of the Jedi

This is the era that leads into the Rise of Emperor Palpatine. It starts with the events of The Phantom Menace and continues on through the Clone Wars all the way to Revenge of the Sith. Essentially, this is the prequel era of Star Wars.

This error is marked by the rise of Emperor property from a lowly senator to the ruler of a Galactic Empire, along with the creation of a clone army, and the fabrication of a war with the intention of gaining power and killing Jedi.

Whether you like the prickles are not, you should definitely check out The Clone Wars animated series, because the stories told there are some of the best stories in Star Wars Canon. Period. I cannot recommend it enough.

Key dates:

• 41 BBY: Anakin Skywalker is conceived by the Midichlorians through his mother Shmi.
• 32 BBY: the events of the Phantom Menace, where the trade Federation escalates trade dispute and blockades Naboo. The death of Qui–Gon Jinn, and the taking on of Anakin as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprentice. During this time, Jedi Master’s Sifo-Dyas commissions a clone army for the Republic.
• 22 BBY: the events of attack of the clones. After an attempt on Senator Amidala’s life, Obi-Wan Kenobi is sent to investigate the assassin, and Anakin is sent to guard Padme. All this ends in the first battle of the clone wars on Geonosis. Shortly thereafter, Anakin takes on an apprentice named Ahsoka Tano.
• 22-19 BBY: the events of The Clone Wars. Anakin becomes a Jedi Knight, his paddle on Ahsoka Tano grow strong in the force, and many battles are won on both sides.

Key stories:

• Master and Apprentice
• The Phantom Menace
• The Queen’s Shadow Trilogy
• Attack of the Clones
• Dooku: Jedi Lost
• The Clone Wars TV Show
• The Thrawn Prequel Trilogy
• Revenge of the Sith

Reign of the Empire

Following the events of Revenge of the Sith, the Empire establishes itself throughout the galaxy. This is also the time when the Death Star is created, and when Luke and Leia grow up unaware that their father is the former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, now the dark Lord Darth Vader.

This era is darker than many of the others, but is filled with a number of hidden gems, including the TV series Star Wars Rebels, and movies like Solo and Rogue One.

This is also the time, when the TV series Kenobi and Andor take place.

Key dates:

• 17 BBY: Galen Erso, who had been forced to work on the death Star, escapes from the Empire with his wife and daughter, Jyn, with the help of Saw Gerrera.
• 13 BBY: Director Krennic tracks down the Erso family, kills Galen’s wife, but leaves Jyn.
• 10 BBY: the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story, where Han Solo meets Chewbacca for the first time and pulls a heist on the crime syndicate Crimson Dawn.
• 5 BBY: Ezra Bridger a for sensitive young man joins the crew of the ghost along with Jedi fugitive Kanan Jarrus and pilot Hera Syndulla.
• 4 BBY: it is learned that a rebel informant known as Fulcrum is actually Anakin’s old apprentice, Ahsoka Tano.
• 3 BBY: Darth Maul blinds Kanan Jarrus in battle, and Ahsoka faces her old master, now Darth Vader, for the first time.
• 2 BBY: Obi-Wan Kenobi kills Mall for the last time.
• 1 BBY: Kanan Jarrus sacrifices himself for the rest of the ghost crew. Ezra Bridger disappears into the unknown regions along with Grand Admiral Thrawn.
• 0 BBY: the battle of Scarif in the events of Rogue One. The rebels gain the plans for the Death Star.

Key stories:

• Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith Comic Series
• Rogue One: Catalyst
• Tarkin
• Jedi: Fallen Order
• Solo: A Star Wars Story
• A New Dawn
• Star Wars Rebels TV Series
• Servants of the Empire Series (surprisingly good junior novel series)
• Leia: Princess of Alderaan
• Thrawn Trilogy
• Rogue One

Age of Rebellion

The Age of Rebellion is probably the age that is most familiar to most Star Wars fans. It begins with the original movie, Star Wars, now known as Episode IV: A New Hope, and ends with the third in the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi.

In this era the rebellion grows, and so to do the rebellions heroes: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo. By the end of the trilogy they are able to overthrow the Emperor and Darth Vader, as well as destroy to Death Stars while they’re at it.

Key dates:

• 0 BBY: Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star, and becomes a hero of the rebellion.
• 0-3 ABY: Darth Vader recruits but what that to hunt down Luke Skywalker and learn more about him. He discovers that Luke Skywalker is his son.
• 3 ABY: the rebels are forced to evacuate from the planet Hoth when they are discovered by the Empire. Luke trains with Yoda on Dagobah. He fights Darth Vader and loses. Han Solo is frozen in Carbonite, and taken away to Jabba’s palace.
• 4 ABY: Han Solo was rescued from Jabba’s palace, and the rebellion scores another victory against the Empire by destroying the second death Star. Luke confronts his father, who kills the Emperor.
• 5 ABY: Han Solo helps Chewbacca liberate the planet Kashyyyk from Imperial rule. A great battle at the planet Jakku is the decisive victory that marks the end of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic.

Key stories:

• Star Wars: A New Hope
• The Star Wars 2015 Marvel Comics run
• The Darth Vader 2015 Marvel Comics run
• The Doctor Aphra 2017 comic run
• Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• The Aftermath Trilogy
• Shattered Empire
• The Alphabet Squadron Trilogy
• Lost Stars
• Battlefront II

The New Republic

Next comes the Rise of the New Republic, which is the era that takes place between Return of the Jedi in the sequel trilogy starting with The Force Awakens.

This era is notable for being the time period of the Mandalorian, and all of the spinoff TV shows that are associated with it. This is a developing era in the Star Wars universe that I am excited to see where it goes.

Jumping ahead we get the rise of the First Order and Kylo Wren, a.k.a. Ben Skywalker the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo. A lot happens in this build up to the sequel trilogy, so I recommend you take a look at my list of key stories below

Key dates:

• 9 ABY: the Mandalorian encounters a youngling of the same species as Yoda, known as Grogu. He travels around the galaxy protecting the youngling from the remnants of the Empire. Along the way he encounters Jedi such as Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker, and other Mandalorians like Bo Katan.
• 21 ABY: the first order begins to use crime syndicates to help increase its military activity.
• 28 ABY: the truth about Leia’s parentage is leaked to her political enemies resulting in a scandal that forces her to resign from the Senate.
• 28-34 ABY: Ben Solo is persuaded by Supreme Leader Snoke to turn to the dark side. He kills most of his fellow apprentices, which causes Luke to go into exile.

Key stories:

• The Mandalorian TV Series
• The Book of Boba Fett TV Series
• Bloodline
• Phasma
• The Rise of Kylo Ren
• Before the Awakening
• Star Wars Resistance Season 1
• The Poe Dameron comic run

Rise of the First Order

By this point the first order has become a huge threat in the Star Wars galaxy. But we also see an “awakening” with the discovery of characters like Rey on the planet of Jakku, along with the defection of the storm trooper, Finn.

This era contains the entirety of the sequel trilogy, from The Force Awakens to The Rise of Skywalker. It sees the definitive end of the Skywalker saga, but perhaps the start of a new era.

Key dates:

• 34 ABY: Rey discovers the map to Skywalker on the planet of Jakku. Finn defects to the Resistance, and the Resistance manages to destroy Starkiller Base and avoid more universe-wide catastrophes.
• 34 ABY: Rey discovers Luke Skywalker but he refuses to help until the last minute. The resistance is hunted down by the first order and is nearly wiped out before they can be saved by Rey. Rey and Kylo Ren nearly team up, killing Supreme Leader Snoke and all of his guards in the process, but Kylo Ren remains with the dark side.
• 35 ABY: we learned that the Emperor is somehow still alive and has yet another plot to overtake the galaxy. Rey manages to thwart this plot, redeem Kylo Ren, and save the galaxy.

Key stories:

• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire
• Star Wars Resistance Season 2
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Where to Start Reading/Watching Star Wars Canon?

Getting into the canon can be daunting, particularly if you have no idea where to start. Thankfully most of the books and comics stand on their own and don’t need much Star Wars knowledge for you to understand what’s going on.

Obviously, you should start with the films. Beyond that, my next recommendation would be The Mandalorian and The Clone Wars.

For books, I recommend starting with the Aftermath trilogy or Bloodline.

Thrawn is another really good book about the origin story of a new character you won’t find in the films. Or you could simply start chronologically and work from there. This timeline basically sums up all of the canon stories and assembles them in an easy-to-follow timeline for your convenience.

Questions about the Timeline

in addition to all of the information above, there are a lot of other questions that I get frequently related to the Star Wars timeline. Let’s go over a few of those.

Where does the Mandalorian fit in the Star Wars timeline?

The Mandalorian takes place five years after return of the Jedi, or 9 ABY.

Where is Solo in the Star Wars timeline?

Solo takes place nine years after Revenge of the Sith, or 10 years before A New Hope. Basically, it takes place right in the middle of the reign of the Empire.

When does Rogue One take place in the Star Wars timeline?

Rogue One takes place right before A New Hope, ending literal moments before the start of that film. It’s date is 0 BBY.

When does Star Wars Rebels take place in the timeline?

Star Wars rebels starts five years before A New Hope in the year 5 BBY, and slowly progresses until it connects with the events of Rogue One and A New Hope.

When does Kenobi take place in the Star Wars timeline?

Kenobi takes place in the year 9 BBY, which is 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, or nine years before the start of A New Hope.

When does Andor take place in the Star Wars timeline?

Andor takes place five years before A New Hope, meaning it starts around the exact same time as Star Wars Rebels in the year 5 BBY.

When does the High Republic take place in the Star Wars timeline?

The High Republic era starts approximately 200 years before The Phantom Menace.

What does BBY or ABY stand for in the Star Wars timeline?

BBY stands for before the Battle of Yavin, the key event at the end of a New Hope. ABY refers to events after the Battle of Yavin. All years in the Star Wars galaxy are approximately the same length as they are on Earth.

How many years is A New Hope after Revenge of the Sith?

A New Hope takes place 19 years after Revenge of the Sith.

Is the Old Republic the same as the High Republic?

No, the Old Republic is part of Star Wars Legends and takes place thousands of years before the films. The High Republic is part of Star Wars Canon, and takes place only 200 years before the start of the films.

Questions about Star Wars Canon

Additionally, some of the most common questions I get are all about the status of “canon” for certain stories. Let’s talk about a few of those.

Is Star Wars Visions canon?

No, Star Wars Visions is not canon, but we have high hopes that some of them might be in the future.

Is Lego Star Wars canon?

No, the Lego Star Wars shorts and TV series and games are not canon. However, certain elements of the Lego series may transfer to canon. For example, there may be a canon version of the Freemakers.

Is Star Wars Rebels canon?

Yes, Star Wars Rebels is canon.

Is The Clone Wars canon?

Yes, The Clone Wars is canon.

Is Star Wars Resistance canon?

Yes, Star Wars Resistance is canon.

Is Star Wars Legends canon?

No, Star Wars Legends is not canon, but makes up its own universe with its own chronology. Check out my Star Wars Legends timeline for more on that.

Is the Star Wars Holiday Special canon?

No! The Star Wars Holiday Special is not canon, thank the maker.

Is Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order canon?

Yes, Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is canon.

Is The Old Republic canon?

No, the Old Republic is not canon. It is part of the Legends timeline, though certain elements have made their way into Star Wars canon.

Is The High Republic canon?

Yes, the High Republic is part of Star Wars canon.