When Star Wars arrived in theaters in 1977, it was a self-contained adventure that became something much bigger. George Lucas’ space fantasy quickly evolved into a multigenerational franchise, one that would expand across decades, stories, and formats.
The original trilogy — A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983) — established the core mythology, following Luke Skywalker’s journey to becoming a Jedi, Darth Vader’s redemption arc, and the conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the evil Galactic Empire.
But even as Lucasfilm explored projects like the made-for-television Ewok films Caravan of Courage (1984) and The Battle for Endor (1985), the cinematic story appeared finished.
However, that all changed in 1999 with The Phantom Menace, which launched the prequel trilogy. It was followed by Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), with the series focusing on Anakin Skywalker’s fall and the political decay of the Republic.
Years after the trilogy concluded, the prequel era expanded with 2008’s animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a theatrical feature that bridged the gap between Episodes II and III and helped lay the groundwork for a new generation of storytelling.
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After Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Star Wars made its long-awaited return to cinemas with The Force Awakens in 2015. The sequel trilogy, continuing through The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), revisited the Skywalker story but focused mostly on newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
The films proved commercially successful but divisive overall, ultimately closing the book on the Skywalker Saga in 2019.
Alongside the episodic films, Lucasfilm experimented with standalone entries. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) chronicled the theft of the Death Star plans, while Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) explored Han Solo’s early years. Both films leaned into different corners of the timeline, proving that Star Wars could function beyond its numbered episodes.
That idea now defines the franchise’s future on the big screen. The Mandalorian & Grogu, set for release in 2026, will bring the Disney+ era back to theaters after more than six years, continuing a story first told on television. A year later, Star Wars: Starfighter, also described as “standalone” and moving even further from the Skywalker saga, will follow.
Nearly 50 years after its debut, Star Wars remains a cinematic constant, evolving from a single film into a sprawling collection of stories. The Skywalker Saga may be complete, but the stories from the faraway galaxy are far from over.
Which is your favorite Star Wars movie? And which new installment are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments down below!
