16
Best watch order for first-time viewers? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 years ago by threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to c/star_wars@lemmy.world
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've got a couple friends who have never seen Star Wars, but would like to. What is the best order to introduce "Star Wars virgins" to the franchise?

I was raised on the release order (4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3), and prefer it when introducing the movies to first-time viewers, but I recognize that I could be biased.

I know there are a bunch of different orders (chronological, machete, etc.), each with their proponents and detractors.

What is your recommended order, and why?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] jedibob5@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Personally, I prefer release order, especially for first-time watchers, but whatever you do, don’t start with TPM. The prequels are a terrible introduction to Star Wars, and if they're watched before the viewer has an emotional investment in the franchise, it can cause them to lose interest in continuing.

[-] wjrii@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

For first time viewing, release is the only order that makes any sense whatsoever. Every movie was originally made by people who had seen the prior movies, for an audience that had seen them.

The callbacks won’t work right as foreshadowing, and no other movie introduces an audience to the setting like ANH does. Themes are built upon over time, reveals happen in the context of actually giving a shit about people and events from earlier movies.

Even if George wanted people to watch the PT first, and I’m not at all convinced he did, it just doesn’t work that way.

this post was submitted on 02 May 2024
16 points (100.0% liked)

Star Wars

6304 readers
4 users here now

Discussion for all things Star Wars. Movies, books, games, TV shows and more are welcome.

  1. Keep it civil. Don’t insult other community members in posts or comments, and don’t make posts designed to insult other community members or parts of the fandom with different opinions.

  2. Posts must be on-topic.

  3. No real life politics. That means no political advocacy, and no real life political discussions vaguely dressed up as on-topic posts. If you want to discuss real life politics, you are free to start your own community.

  4. No memes/low-effort spam/Youtube poops style posts. !starwarsmemes@lemmy.world is a place for those.

  5. Posts must be coherent.

  6. If a post is otherwise allowed but has realistic gore or nudity, please mark it NSFW.

Community icon art from DeviantArt user DavidDeb.

Banner art by Ralph McQuarrie.

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world