With so many entries in the Star Wars franchise, it can be hard to know what to watch before each movie or TV show, including Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. As the final entry of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith brought George Lucas’ saga full circle by revealing how Anakin Skywalker finally turned to the dark side of the Force. Because the prequels were made after the Star Wars original trilogy, fans have debated whether the first six films should be viewed in release order or in-universe chronological order.
✕ Remove Ads
However, it’s also worth considering what other Star Wars stories should be viewed before Revenge of the Sith to enhance the experience for newcomers. Alternatively, existing fans who have already seen the movie can rewatch it from a new perspective by learning more about the characters and plotlines through another medium. All the Star Wars movies can be enjoyed separately by design, but fans and newcomers can utilize the franchise’s transmedia storytelling to make a first viewing even better. For this reason, this list will include as few specific spoilers for Revenge of the SIth as possible.
12 What Star Wars Movies To Watch Before Revenge Of The Sith
Newcomers should stick with release order
Close
✕ Remove Ads
The first challenge newcomers face when getting into Star Wars is deciding in what order to watch the movies, which can make it difficult to know which ones to watch before Revenge of the Sith. The three most popular viewing methods are release order, chronological order, and machete order. George Lucas prefers chronological order, and some fans agree because it’s the simplest way to watch the saga from beginning to end. However, others argue that watching the originals first preserves iconic plot twists and allows new viewers to experience the movies as originally intended.
|
Release Order |
Chronological Order |
Machete Order |
|---|---|---|
|
Star Wars (A New Hope) |
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace |
Star Wars (A New Hope) |
|
The Empire Strikes Back |
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones |
The Empire Strikes Back |
|
Return of the Jedi |
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (OPTIONAL) |
|
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace |
Star Wars (A New Hope) |
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones |
|
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones |
The Empire Strikes Back |
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
|
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |
Return of the Jedi |
Return of the Jedi |
✕ Remove Ads
The machete order severs as a compromise, preserving the biggest plot twists of the originals and allowing newcomers to still end with Return of the Jedi. Despite the benefits of the other two orders, release order is still the best option, so new fans should watch the originals and the first two prequels before Revenge of the Sith. Watching the original trilogy in its entirety raises questions that are answered in the prequels, meaning Revenge of the Sith brings everything full circle. The evolution of filmmaking technology also feels more natural when the movies are viewed in release order.
11 The Original Clone Wars TV Show
Star Wars: Clone Wars 2D Micro-Series
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Another Star Wars story that fits with release order is the Star Wars: Clone Wars 2D micro-series, which came out during the three-year gap between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Although the series is no longer part of the official Star Wars canon, its brilliant animation, epic action sequences, and deep emotional payoffs make it a must-watch. Because the series was originally released as shorts, Clone Wars‘ total runtime is about two hours, making it a perfect bridge if a newcomer wants to go right to Revenge of the Sith afterward.
The story notably expands on Anakin Skywalker’s journey between the films while offering viewers a glimpse at the other characters. The season 2 finale also served as the onscreen debut of General Grievous, allowing fans to see how he made a name for himself before the events of Revenge of the Sith. Aside from seeing the main characters transition from one film to another, the final Clone Wars episodes lead directly into Revenge of the Sith, meaning those who have watched the series will already understand the events recapped in the opening crawl.
✕ Remove Ads
10 Count Dooku’s Backstory
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi season 1, episodes 2–4
Close
Moving from 2D to 3D animation – and earlier in the timeline – Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi reveals the backstory of a prominent prequel trilogy villain. After being introduced to Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones, viewers will naturally want to know why he left the Jedi Order. Dooku’s three-episode arc in Tales of the Jedi, while short and to the point, does an excellent job showing how he became disillusioned with the Jedi and the Republic. It also ties in nicely with the Star Wars prequel trilogy and even some later episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Related Tales Of The Jedi Timeline: When Each Episode Takes Place
Tales of the Jedi spans the Star Wars timeline going as far back as before The Phantom Menace, up to the reign of the Empire before A New Hope.
Posts
✕ Remove Ads
Watching these Tales of the Jedi episodes before Revenge of the Sith makes the conclusion of Dooku’s story much more impactful. It shows the parallels between Dooku and Anakin, two Jedi who wanted to change things for the better but gradually lost their way in trying to achieve their goals. Seeing the origins of Dooku’s Separatist ideology also makes the conflict of Revenge of the Sith more engaging after witnessing how the Jedi and the Republic failed. Dooku may have less screen time in Revenge of the Sith, but watching Tales of the Jedi first helps make up for it.
9 Meet Anakin Skywalker’s Apprentice
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Movie)
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Apart from the live-action films, viewers can also watch the Star Wars: The Clone Wars theatrical movie before Revenge of the Sith. Not only does The Clone Wars show more of Anakin and Ob-Wan between Episodes II and III, but it also reveals that Anakin had his own Padawan learner: Ahsoka Tano. A 14-year-old Togruta, Ahsoka was originally requested by Obi-Wan, until Master Yoda decided she should train with Anakin. Although he dismissed the idea at first, Ahsoka’s tenacity impressed Anakin, kicking off a journey that would see her become one of the most beloved Star Wars characters.
Watching The Clone Wars movie first adds new context to Revenge of the Sith, especially since the live-action films never implied that Anakin had a Padawan. The fact that he trained his own apprentice during the Clone Wars makes some of Anakin’s frustrations with the Jed Council more understandable in Revenge of the Sith. It’s also crucial to have seen The Clone Wars movie before watching the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series, which includes several outstanding story arcs that make Revenge of the Sith even better.
✕ Remove Ads
8 General Grievous’ Backstory
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, episode 10 “Lair of Grievous”
Close
While the Star Wars Expanded Universe, now known as “Legends,” delved into General Grievous’ backstory before Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars is the only time it has been explored onscreen. Season 1, episode 10 “Lair of Grievous” has a squad of Jedi and Clones track down the recently escaped Viceroy Nute Gunray, only to realize they have been led into a trap inside Grievous’ home. Dissatisfied with the ongoing stalemate in the Clone Wars, Count Dooku has set up a test to see if Grievous is still a formidable warrior.
✕ Remove Ads
One of the most memorable aspects of this episode is how it hints at Grievous’ history by showing several statues of him that gradually change from room to room. The episode also delves into Grievous’ psychology and motivations for becoming a cyborg, as well as fleshing out his tense relationship with Dooku. Most importantly, the episode highlights Grievous’ obsession with wielding power, a weakness that foreshadows the events of Revenge of the Sith. “Lair of Grievous” is a quick and entertaining way to learn more about the titular villain before finishing the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
7 Who Exactly Are The Separatists?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3, episode 10 “Heroes on Both Sides”
One of the most mysterious lines in Revenge of the Sith‘s opening crawl is the Clone Wars having “heroes on both sides,” an idea that was never fully explored in the prequel trilogy. Thankfully, the aptly titled Clone Wars episode “Heroes on Both Sides” explores this concept perfectly, making it good to watch before Revenge of the Sith. Tired of the unending violence of the Clone Wars, Padmé Amidala reaches out to an old friend in the Separatist Senate who also wants the fighting to end. Despite their best efforts, the two ultimately fail to create peace between their governments.
✕ Remove Ads
Attack of the Clones hinted at the motivations behind the Separatist movement, but the films and The Clone Wars primarily showed the war from one perspective. “Heroes on Both Sides” allows viewers to understand and even empathize with the Separatists, as they mean well but don’t realize how Dooku has manipulated them for his own ends. When Padmé begins to doubt supporting the Republic in Revenge of the Sith, her reasoning makes more sense after seeing this episode. The last battles of the Clone Wars carry more weight when one knows why the war happened in the first place.
6 The Umbara Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 7–10
Close
✕ Remove Ads
One of the darkest Clone Wars arcs, and one of the best to watch before Revenge of the Sith, is the 4-episode Umbara storyline. When Anakin is recalled to Coruscant, clone Captain Rex and the 501st are left under the command of the renowned Jedi General Pong Krell. However, Krell is infamous among clones for his high casualty rates, and the situation becomes more tense as he actively disregards Rex and the other clones. This forces Rex to reflect on what it truly means to be a good soldier and when clones should disobey orders.
The Umbara arc humanizes the Clones and highlights the brutality of war particularly well, allowing viewers to empathize with their struggle before Revenge of the Sith. The episodes also show the Republic in a different light than most other arcs, with the clones invading Umbara under the command of a cruel and morally dubious Jedi Master. The events of the final episode foreshadow the events of Revenge of the Sith and complement the movie’s themes, making the clones’ role in the final prequel film more devastating.
5 Obi-Wan Goes Undercover
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 15–18
✕ Remove Ads
Although viewers who have seen the other Star Wars movies know Obi-Wan’s ultimate fate, it was still quite shocking when he was seemingly killed in The Clone Wars season 4. However, it’s quickly revealed that Obi-Wan faked his death to go undercover as a bounty hunter and learn about a Separatist plot to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine. The only catch is that Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council chose not to tell Anakin about the plan, meaning he spends a good portion of the arc believing his mentor and friend was murdered.
Obi-Wan pretending to be a criminal and working alongside bounty hunters is already an amazing concept, but the real draw of this arc is how it taints his relationship with Anakin. It’s heartbreaking to see how devastated Anakin is by Obi-Wan’s apparent death, and his efforts to avenge his master remind viewers how far Anakin is willing to go for the people he loves. Anakin’s sense of betrayal about being left out of the plan also gives him another reason to resent Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council in Revenge of the Sith, pushing him ever closer to the dark side.
✕ Remove Ads
4 The Jedi Youngling Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episodes 6–9
Close
The Jedi youngling arc of The Clone Wars season 5 was designed as a potential backdoor pilot for a spinoff series, and while this never came about, it stands well on its own merit. These episodes offer a glimpse into the life of Jedi younglings, including a rite of passage called “the Gathering” where they construct their lightsabers. Each youngling must face their greatest fears and vices to find their kyber crystals, and when their ship is attacked by pirates, they must work together to defend themselves and later to rescue Ahsoka Tano.
One of the Jedi younglings in this arc would eventually return in
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
.
✕ Remove Ads
Learning more about the youngest generation of Jedi makes the events of Revenge of the Sith carry more weight, especially when the younglings are mentored by Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan. It shows how much Ahsoka has grown since the beginning of the series, passing on what she knows to the younglings the same way Anakin taught her. The Clone Wars excelled at making audiences care about characters who only appeared in the background in the movies, and fleshing out the Jedi younglings takes this sentiment to another level.
3 The Wrong Jedi Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episodes 17–20
Close
✕ Remove Ads
Perhaps the most gut-wrenching arc of The Clone Wars is the final four episodes of season 5. When a terrorist bombs a hangar in the Jedi Temple, Anakin and Ahsoka are assigned to catch the culprit, only for Ahsoka to be framed as the mastermind behind the attack. While Anakin has no doubts about Ahsoka’s innocence, the Jedi and the Republic military aren’t as easily convinced, creating some of the show’s most compelling drama. Seeing Ahsoka abandoned by the order she dedicated her life to is heartbreaking and showcases how the war has changed the Jedi and the Republic.
The tragic outcome explains why Ahsoka is not present in
Revenge of the Sith
and adds yet another reason for Anakin not to trust the Jedi Council.
This makes the Wrong Jedi arc one of the best to watch before Revenge of the Sith, especially if viewers have already seen previous Clone Wars episodes. The tragic outcome explains why Ahsoka is not present in Revenge of the Sith and adds yet another reason for Anakin not to trust the Jedi Council. The real culprit’s motives for bombing the Jedi Temple perfectly foreshadow what happens in Revenge of the Sith and add another layer to Ahsoka’s sense of betrayal. These episodes cemented Ahsoka as an amazing Star Wars character and a crucial part of Anakin’s story.
✕ Remove Ads
2 The Clone Conspiracy Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 6, episodes 1–4
Close
Although the Kaminoans told Obi-Wan that the clones were trained to take any orders without question, they also spent three years fighting alongside the Jedi, making their actions in Revenge of the Sith somewhat confusing. This was addressed in the first arc of The Clone Wars season 6, which saw a clone trooper mysteriously lose his mind and murder a Jedi. Clone trooper Fives’ investigation led to the shocking discovery that every clone had an inhibitor chip in their brain which could control them if necessary. The Kaminoans also managed to keep “Protocol 66” a secret from the Jedi.
✕ Remove Ads
Not only does this arc make the clones’ actions in Revenge of the Sith more believable, but it also has an overwhelming sense of tragedy by the end. No matter how much Fives wants to tell the Jedi the truth, there’s always a nagging sense that he won’t succeed, leading to a terrible outcome that the Sith will take advantage of. These episodes also build off the themes of the Umbara arc, with the clones continuing to question whether they are truly men with free will or merely mindless puppets to be exploited as tools.
1 Yoda’s Journey Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 6, episodes 10–13
Close
The original series finale before the show was revived for a seventh season, Yoda’s quest to learn how to become a Force Ghost is the final Clone Wars arc worth watching before Revenge of the Sith. These episodes admittedly have the heaviest foreshadowing of the series, but due to the nature of Yoda’s visions, newcomers can still watch it first if they choose. As the old and wise Jedi Master everyone else turns to for advice, it’s rare to see Yoda feel uncertain and lost, but it leads to some of his best character development in the Star Wars franchise.
✕ Remove Ads
Yoda’s arc also expands on one of Yoda’s final lessons to Obi-Wan that was only hinted at in Revenge of the Sith. The final lesson Yoda learns allows these episodes to perfectly tie into the end of the war and the larger Star Wars saga, showing how there is always hope in the face of despair. Yoda’s journey sets up and embraces the inevitable tragedy of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith but also looks beyond it to the future, making it worth watching before the final Star Wars prequel.
-
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10 Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
23 9.2/10 Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the sixth film in the Star Wars franchise and chronologically the third in the Skywalker Saga. Set three years after the events of Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker is tasked with keeping an eye on Chancellor Palpatine while other Jedi battle across the galaxy. In the background, however, a mysterious Sith lord begins to make their move to destroy the Jedi once and for all.
- Star Wars 10/10
Your Rating
10 stars9 stars8 stars7 stars6 star5 stars4 stars3 stars2 stars1 star Rate Now 0/10
Your comment has not been saved
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
Star Wars 10/10✕ Remove Ads