What is recommended way to watch the Star Wars series?

First watch these:
Star Wars Holiday Special
The Ewok Adventure
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
When you have finished those, you should be filled with hate and suffering. You will welcome the dark side. Now you are ready.
Start watching
The Phantom Menace.
Stop watching before the pod race ends.
Play the videogame
Star Wars: Pod Racer.
Crash the first pod race, killing little Anakin.
Congratulations!
You've stopped the evil Sith lords from rising to power. You've saved the Ewoks. You've saved Jarjar. Balance in the universe remains balanced. You truly are one with the force. You are ready for the light side.
Watch
Clone Wars
The animated series that aired on Cartoon Network. Not "The Clone Wars"!!! That's different. Don't watch that one. It sucks. You want the one made by Genddy Tartakovski, known for his masterpieces, Samurai Jack and Dexter's Laboratory and his pivotal work in the series The Powerpuff Girls.
You wont need to watch anything else.
You wont want to watch anything else.
Ever.
- Season 7 of the Clone Wars is actually worth watching, and ties up a few loose ends. Other than that, I would add read the books. The good stories all happen well away from the cinematic stuff.

Watch in release order. This is the way they were written so it will make the most sense as a first time viewer.
You will hear about the Machete order if you research Star Wars viewing orders, but this is best for subsequent watches.
Aside from the OT and PT, the projects I recommend are the Clone Wars series (it's a lot though), Rogue One, Andor, and the Mandalorian.
Kenobi was meh but had some really good moments.
Watch the sequel trilogy once if you must, but I think they're pretty bad and forgettable.
- Watch in release order. This is the way they were written so it will make the most sense as a first time viewer.
  This, but for nearly everything lol

I'm a fan of the Machete Order.
There may be some spoilers in that blog post, it's been a while since I read it, so here it is in summary:
A New Hope (4)
Empire Strikes Back (5)
Attack of the Clones (2)
Revenge of the Sith (3)
Return of the Jedi (5)
Phantom Menace is omitted because it's the weakest of the prequel trilogy and everything that happens in it is summarized at the beginning of Attack of the Clones anyway. If you want to be a completionist then watch it between Empire Strikes Back and Attack of the Clones.
There's good reasons for following this order, but it's hard to describe them without spoiling anything. Basically, Lucas assumed you'd watched the original trilogy when he made the prequels, so it's got a bunch of spoilers in it that the Machete Order preserves quite nicely.
- The Phantom Menace goes together with Rogue One as interesting expansions that aren't crucial to the main plot. Better watched after all the others.
  
  Rogue One is far and away a better movie though
- This is the way

I'd do my best to watch them in the order they were commercially released so you can appreciate how damaging and awful the edits are.
- Either or, but the commercial release order is more dramatic. 1-3 are technically prequels, so they are more answering questions and laying backstory. Release order also follows the evolution of the sfx.
  
  There's also the Machete Order. The TL;DR is to watch the movies in the order of: IV, V, II, III, VI. The reasons why are explained at that link and can't be discussed without spoilers.
- Do you mean watching the theatrical release of the original trilogy, then watching the specialized edition, then the DVD re-releases, then the prequels, then the blu-ray re-releases, then the sequel trilogy?
  
  "Is this an episode of The Big Bang Theory?"
  
  Yes.

Fan orders are a terrible idea don't do them. Watch in release order, feel free to skip parts that aren't interesting. The fact of the matter is that the entire series has been written by the seat of the pants of the people making it, meaning that there are absolutely no insights to be gained by watching prequels before the originals, and every entry in the series has taken great pains to be comprehensible on its own. If you skip stuff you might miss out on some "I RECOGNIZE THAT!" moments in later material, but that's fine.
Also... the prequels are really bad. You may want to skip them entirely. I would suggest watching the Original Trilogy, The Clone Wars (the 2D animated tv movie, not the 3D animated tv show), the Mandalorian season 1, and then Andor seasons 1 & 2. Those series represent everything worthwhile in the Star Wars TV and movie canon, literally nothing else is worth your time.
- Completely agree except you forgot Rogue One.
  Also, the Han Solo movie was OK.
  Prequels were bad, sequels were worse. Mandalorian was good but ended meh. Ahsoka looks promising.
  
  Ahsoka looks promising.
  It's a Rebels sequel (which is a decent enough show on its own, just more for children than the average Star Wars), so kinda hard to recommend.
- It's 2025 and people are still parroting "prequels bad" when the Disney sequels were a literal trainwreck. ishygddt.

Don't listen to anything the fans have to say. It's well-known that the worst thing about SW is the fans. Especially their opinions.
I suggest watching them in release order, including the sequels. That's how the rest of the world experienced it.
I didn't hate the OT remasters. I actually liked the continuity with the prequels. CGI is about what you can expect from a 2000s remaster of a 1970s-era movie.
I liked the prequels, I grew up with them. Jar Jar is funny. #1 is a bit more slow-paced and deals with politics more than action, but it's enjoyable (and quite relatable at the moment).
Disregard anything the fans have to say. The worst thing about Star Wars is the fans.
Fan theories are an absolute waste of time, and if you go down that rabbit hole, you'll get more hate than you've ever experienced before. SW fans suck.

Ctrl+f: "holiday special" - Phrase not found.
This thread epic fail.
- Why is it good?
  
  It is the single best demonstration of the damage cocaine does to people. Before there was "this is your brain on drugs", there was the Star Wars Holiday Special.
  Watch it with your children so that they think "Holy crap, if this is what people come up with on coke, I never want to even try the stuff!"

Go for release order. People (including me) can complain about episode 1 all they want, I think it's better to get a good grasp of "what was intended" first before understanding the whole fan recommendations

Definitely 456-123 order, I know some people have different ways they prefer to watch but I think that kind of detracts from watching how the franchise evolves over the years.
If you want more after that, rogue one and andor is pretty good, clone wars/bad batch has some good stuff (though I'd recommend finding a watch guide for clone wars, some episodes are straight up kids stuff, other episodes are almost literally Vietnam war and decapitations)
I think the sequels are interesting to watch, I'm a bit of an 8 apologist in some areas, but you have to go in with the expectation that there's a general decline in story progression and making sense from movie to movie.
Honestly though I think the series has a general decline after 5. It's all not bad, and there's some good stuff, but if you find yourself uninterested don't force yourself to continue after like episode 6.
- Add Rebels into the mix as well, it delves into some of the nature of the force (plus, more Sam Witwer being awesome as his character.) And leads into Ahsoka.

skip it and watch stark trek TNG instead

4 5 6 stop

get 6 screens and watch them all simultaneously, no audio, just subtitles.

Make sure to watch Rogue One between E 3 & 4.

I'd recommend watching them in release order, as that's how most people have experienced them. You'll have a better understanding of the commonly ascribed strengths and weaknesses of the respective films and trilogies if you watch them this way. It is also very common opinion that each trilogy is substantially worse than the previous one, so if you watch them this way then you have an off-ramp at the end of the first and second trilogies if/when you've decided you've had enough - you'll never have to sit through bad films to get to the good ones.
The Machete Order is an interesting idea but I'm a little hesitant to recommend it because so many of these fan edits are designed by people who are in so deep that they tend to skim/omit information that is actually relevant to first time viewers who have no idea what is happening. Star Wars fans, like all fans of these geek franchises, often have a hard time seeing things from the perspective of people who don't share their obsession. For that reason, I also strongly recommend against watching any of the TV series or filler/standalone films until you've finished at least the first two trilogies, because they are written for Star Wars fans to flesh out the events around the main films and are filled with tons of irrelevant references and fan service that are just going to confuse and/or bore you.

Definitely in chronological order of release as the other comment says, but make sure to find the despecialized edition fan re edit which brings the high quality changes to the resolution and sound, but leaves the movies as they were originally shown without the terrible edits from Lucas in the late 90s.
Also, feel free to skip all of the sequels. They are nonsensical and self defeating with every successive installment. I gave the episode 7 a pass on their rehashing of the original and was excited to see a female hero taking up the mantle, but 8 and 9 just undo any positive or coherent story/message structure that could have spun from 7.
Edit: Do not miss Rogue One or Andor. I'd watch those after the prequel trilogy and in order of release too
- I'd suggest if you're going to watch both Rogue One and Andor, to watch Andor first.
  
  I thought it hit super hard in release order but I get the argument for timeline lol

Another vote for Machete order. Simply put, it is a good way to watch the original trilogy, experience the story plot in episode 5 and get the back story in the subsequent trilogy.
Watching it in episode order for new viewers will mean they will experience episode 5 very differently.

Just posted this in a thread about watching the show Andor. Additional context, I’d watch the movies first before you decide to get into any of the shows
——-
I highly recommend Rogue One as well. It follows Cassian Andor as a spy for the rebellion immediately after the second (and final) season of the show.
Rogue One is a story set immediately before the first movie: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Immediately as in the final scene of Rogue One is the first scene of A New Hope.
Similar to the other commenter, the problem is that Rogue One is by far the best movie of the entire franchise, so you start at the high point.
If you like the movie and want more Star Wars, I recommend this order. I’ll list the title and the “episode” number
Rogue One (3.9)
A New Hope (4)
The Empire Strikes Back (5)
The Phantom Menace (1)
Attack of the Clones (2)
Revenge of the Sith (3)
Return of the Jedi (6)
There are three more movies after #6, but there’s almost no point in watching them.
It’s really important to remember that a lot of the Star Wars movies aren’t good but they’re cultural institutions and you kinda have to accept them as they are. The writer/director of the original trilogy spent a lot of time tweaking and editing them after their original releases including adding new scenes digitally created decades after the release.
- I'd disagree with Rogue One as a first intro to Star Wars simply because there's a lot of assumptions of knowledge of things explained at a minimum in ANH. If anything, ANH first, then Rogue One to cover the stolen plans story that is mentioned all throughout.
  The only benefit for seeing Rogue One before ANH is to explain why Vader is so pissed at the princess.
  
  I’d disagree with Rogue One as a first intro to Star Wars simply because there’s a lot of assumptions of knowledge of things explained at a minimum in ANH.
  This is the problem with getting viewing recommendations from fans - they are so obsessed with the franchise that they fail to realise/appreciate how many of the additional films and TV series are designed and written for them to the exclusion of everyone else. Rogue One is a film written for existing Star Wars fans, filled with fan service and references designed specifically to excite viewers of the original trilogy. As an actual standalone story it is pretty fucking boring, as are its main characters who exist purely to service the main plot. Speaking of the plot, it is designed entirely around explaining a minor plot hole from the original film - something only massive fans of the franchise care about. It's a terrible recommendation for a first-time viewer.

The prequels were made with the idea in mind that people had seen the originals, and after they saw the prequels, they would watch it in Prequel->OT order.
The correct way to watch Star Wars if you've never seen it before is Original Trilogy, then Prequel Trilogy.

watch them in release order for sure, starting with Episode IV and ending with Episode III.
As for prequel versions, wherever you got the 4kXX files from should also have Schorman's HDTV rips of the prequels that I recommend. That way you get to see ugly ass puppet yoda in The Phantom Menace the way god intended, but you don't have to suffer DVD quality. If you can't find them, shoot me a DM or just download any blu-ray/disney+ rip, the prequels didn't change too much over the years besides some effects being re-rendered here and there.
Also big recommend the Andor TV show and Rogue One once you're done with the prequels. They connect the two eras nicely.
edit: oh yeah, i totally forgot. watch the Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars Miniseries between Episode II and Episode III. It's not super important to the story but I have a lot of nostalgia for it, and you'll enjoy seeing General Grievous actually looking cool before they completely squander him in the movie.
- What's the current recommend for the original trilogy? Last re-watch I picked up some fanmade recolours of the OG rips, but not sure what's hotness today. For clarity, I'm looking for watching Alderaan explode like a poorly rendered image of a candle, not any remastered shit.

Watch versions as close as possible to the original theatrical versions of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. Don't even bother watching anything else with the words "Star Wars" on it, life's too short to sit around watching boring, shitty media that wastes your time. Can't say I recommend almost any of the novels, either.

456 123 789

The machete method Is my recommendation, I did this with a newbie and they really enjoyed it. 4, 5, 2, 3, 6

with a lightsaber handle in your butt. and a droid on your lap.

4 (A New Hope) 5 (The Empire Strikes Back)
Aaaaand.... STOP

I think that 4K77, 4K80, and 4K83 are the best way of watching the original trilogy. As for the order I think that's really up to you if you prefer the release order, or chronological order, or something else.

Machete order or bust.

Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Maybe Rogue One
The rest are not so good.

Only watch OG trilogy pre-90's edits and leave the rest to your imagination

Watch the odd-numbered ones first, then the evens.

While I don't recommend it for a first watch, I have access to a copy of the fulcrum cut, a super-cut of the last three episodes of Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith.
You can DM me if you want it

Try to find the original versions of the first three movies without the added CG that messes with the story a little.
- Could you explain how they mess with the story? Didn't know about that.
  
  After Han steps on Jabba's tail you tend to shit and cry for a good 20 minutes and that usually prevents you from having a clear undestanding of the following scenes.

I have a master playlist on my Plex server with every Star Wars show and film in timeline order, including episodes in between episodes and seasons in between seasons (mostly for the Tales of the X series and for Rebels/Andor). It took me ages to set up, but it’s based on an article I saw somewhere. If I can find it,I’ll edit this post and link it here. But, as I recall, googling “Star Wars timeline order” should get you a pretty good and authoritative set of lists. Some differ, but they all tend to explain their decisions.
I also did this for all of the Star Trek series and films. That’s a lot longer. The Star Wars one is ~8 days. The Trek one is 33 days.

I've watched/have the Anti-cheese Edits of the Prequels I-III, and the De-Specialized Edits of Episodes IV-VI, and truly enjoyed both.
I don't recall seeing 4k versions of either of these available yet, nor am I aware of suitable source re-leases that could be used to make such. Best of luck to you.
- The goal of Project #4K77 is simply to create a version of the 1977 Pre-Special Edition version of Star Wars, that will look good on a 4K Television or monitor. Most of the source material is 35mm film scanned at 4K, processed at 4K and rendered at 4K. When no 4K footage is available, an upscale from either the SSE or the Official Blu-ray will be used.
  Source
  This is basically the same thing for each individual release.
  
  You added a "y" at the begging of the url which screws-up the link, but thanks. My own search had only turned up stale forum garbage. Figured I was out-of-date.

Don’t bother with the sequels. Tfa was okay, but it’s shit by og standards.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uQCgrP5jelY

The only Star Wars I’ve ever seen is the holiday special, can’t say I’d recommend it. :0 I guess to some degree that’s one way to experience the franchise though!

Just watch Andor and Rogue One, the rest is for children.

Watch the L8Wrtr edits of the prequel trilogy, then the Despecialized versions of the OG trilogy. Some say to watch in release order. I don't think it matters as much as watching the content as it was originally created, and without the stupid fluff in the prequel trilogy.

Watch the original Star Wars, then The Empire Strikes Back, then Return of the Jedi. The versions you found are good.
Here's the important bit, turn off Jedi as soon as you see a fat fuzzy walking teddy bear creature. The introduction of the Ewoks is when Star Wars dies.

Unpopular opinion: just watch Visions S1&2 and then forget about the rest.

Rogue One, A New Hope, The Blackened Mantle, Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and you're done.
- Not a fan of Empire Strikes Back?
  
  It's the worst Star Wars movie

Main question