How-To
How to Start the Star Wars Saga on Disney Plus
By Jordan A. · · 4 min read
Star Wars is one of the biggest stories ever told, and that is exactly the problem for a newcomer. Open Disney+ and you are hit with movies, animated series, and live-action shows stretching across decades, with no obvious front door. The good news is you do not have to watch all of it, and you definitely do not have to watch it in the order it was made. There is a simple, low-stress way in, and this week gives you the perfect reason to take it.
Here is how to start the saga without drowning in it.
The easiest on-ramp right now: The Mandalorian and Grogu
If you want one clean entry point, start here. The Mandalorian and Grogu arrived on Disney+ on September 2, and it is currently the number one title overall on the platform in most countries the charts follow. Directed by Jon Favreau and running a brisk 132 minutes, it made 345.7 million dollars in theaters earlier this year and works beautifully as a standalone adventure. You do not need to know the lore to enjoy a bounty hunter looking after a small, powerful kid. It is warm, self-contained, and it hooks newcomers without asking for any homework.
Two ways to order the rest
Once you are in, there are two sensible paths through the saga, and neither is wrong. Pick the one that matches how your brain likes to travel:
- Release order: watch things roughly in the order they came out, so the surprises land the way they were designed to. Best if you care about the big twists hitting hard.
- Timeline order: follow the story chronologically for a smoother sense of history. Best if you value a clean, connected narrative over preserving shocks.
For most first-timers, a hybrid works fine: start with an accessible modern entry like the one above, then branch out based on what grabbed you.
The shows worth prioritizing
Star Wars on Disney+ is as much about television as film now, and the series are some of the best of it. The Mandalorian is the natural companion to the movie you just watched, following the same corner of the galaxy, while Andor is the one even skeptics tend to love for its grounded, grown-up storytelling. Prioritize the shows that match the tone you enjoyed, rather than trying to consume everything at once. You can always circle back.
What you can safely skip at first
Here is permission most guides will not give you: you do not have to watch it all, and you certainly do not have to start with the oldest films if they are not calling to you. Skip the deep-cut animated spinoffs and the corners aimed at longtime fans until you actually want them. Chasing completeness is how newcomers burn out. Follow your curiosity instead, and let the galaxy open up at your own pace.
If ordering a big franchise is your idea of fun, our guide to how to watch the Alien movies in order tackles another sprawling saga, and movies like Dune points you to more grand science fiction once the Star Wars itch is scratched. To see what else is worth your login, check the best Disney Plus shows of 2026.
Why a clean entry point matters
Huge franchises have a dropout problem, and it almost always happens at the start. A newcomer opens the app, sees forty titles, tries to research the correct order, gets overwhelmed, and quietly gives up before pressing play on anything. That is a shame, because the barrier is entirely artificial. You do not need to understand decades of continuity to enjoy a single great story, and treating the first watch like a homework assignment is the fastest way to kill the fun.
The smarter approach is to think of your first title as a taste test, not a commitment. Watch one accessible, self-contained entry and simply notice how it makes you feel. Did you love the scrappy, lived-in world of a lone gunslinger and his tiny companion? Chase more of that. Were you more drawn to sweeping space battles and grand mythology? The galaxy has plenty of that too. Let your reaction guide the next pick instead of some stranger's definitive viewing order.
This is also why a current hit is such a gift for beginners. When a film like the latest one is topping the charts, there is a wave of new fans starting exactly where you are, plus fresh energy and conversation around it. Riding that wave beats trying to catch up on something everyone else finished years ago. Jump in where the momentum is, follow your curiosity from there, and the rest of the saga stops looking like a wall and starts looking like a map.
The saga will still be there in all its sprawling glory once you are in. There is no prize for finishing it fast and no shame in skipping the parts that do not grab you. Start with one great story, let it earn your curiosity, and let the galaxy reveal itself at whatever pace feels fun. That is how a lifelong fan is actually made, one entry at a time.
A galaxy this big should feel like an invitation, not a chore. Start with one great entry point, follow what you love, and skip the rest until you want it. If you would rather have the next step chosen for you, BingeNext maps a path through any franchise based on your taste. Get TV recommendations and begin the saga the easy way.
Topics covered: star-wars, disney-plus, mandalorian-and-grogu, watch-order, beginners
About the author
Jordan A., Founder, BingeNext
Jordan A. is the founder of BingeNext and is responsible for every guide published on this site. He built the recommendation engine after one too many nights lost to the streaming menu. Dates, season counts and where-to-watch details in these guides are checked against official sources before publishing, and corrections are welcome at Jordan@Bingenext.com.