Which Star Wars movies to watch first for a first time viewer?

[GotNoRice]

Soon I am going to watch all 6 Star Wars movies with a friend who has never seen any of them.

I'm just not sure if it would be best to watch them in order or watch the old trilogy before the new trilogy (prequels).

From my perspective having already seen all of them and being kind of anal I'd probably prefer to watch the prequels first, but that would have a lot of implications for a first time viewer. Vader being Luke's father for example obviously would not be a surprise, etc. It does sort of seem like the prequels were made with the idea people would already have seen the old trilogy.

The pros/cons on each side seem to balance each other out in my mind so I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

[DonIago]

Well, one Pro of watching them in order IMO is that TPM is my least favorite of the films, so if you watch them in order you get it over with and never have to look back, or "look forward" to watching it.

 

[Rii]

OT first, that way your friend is able to watch Vader without having Jake Lloyd/Hayden Christensen in the back of his mind.

 

[Aragorn]

In production order. Watching the prequels first spoils a few things.

 

[Dream]

I know everyone will recommend watching OT first, but I think this is a pretty good order.

ANH
ESB
TPM
AOTC
ROTS
ROTJ

The two best movies first. After ESB with the whole "I'm your father reveal", the PT is like one long flashback. Then conclude the entire saga with ROTJ.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Watch them the way they came out. Original Trilogy (4-5-6) then Prequel Trilogy (1-2-3).

For a few reasons.

1) This film series became legendary and beloved this way. If its good enough for billions of fans, its good enough for future viewers

2) the Prequels are DEPENDENT on knowledge of what happens to be remotely effective. I'm trying not to spoil here... but would anyone sit through Jake Lloyd's obnoxious kid character in Episode I if they DIDN'T know where his character would lead? There's endless examples of things in the prequels that would SUCK without future knowledge. Really, future knowledge and "hey that's a cool connection!" are all that hold the prequel up. Without it you just have tons of bad dialogue and stiff acting.

 

[maneth]

Yeah, definitely in production order, for the reasons Stone Cold Sisko stated.

 

[pookha]

I know everyone will recommend watching OT first, but I think this is a pretty good order.

ANH
ESB
TPM
AOTC
ROTS
ROTJ

The two best movies first. After ESB with the whole "I'm your father reveal", the PT is like one long flashback. Then conclude the entire saga with ROTJ.

this order actually seems to work

and it makes return of the jedi look that much better.

 

[Delta1]

Star Wars
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Star Wars: A New Hope SE
The Empire Strikes Back SE
Return of the Jedi SE

All six movies, in the proper viewing order.

 

[Nardpuncher]

Star Wars
Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi

Go out for beer and wings.

 

[T'Baio]

I find the difference is if the person watching the films for the first time is generally a bit of a genre fan and whether they have a mind for minutiae in movies. I know it'd be odd to find a genre fan that hasn't seen the Star Wars films, but you'd be surprised.

So, if they're a bit of a genre fan and remember fine details of movies, go OT and then PT.

But if they don't like genre stuff and tend to lean towards the "I forget the details of movies soon after seeing them" end of the spectrum, go PT then OT.

I have split it up like this for various people and it seems to work best. I've had girls not into fantasy and just casual film goers crying throughout the saga watching 1-6.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

First time: IV - V - VI - I - II - III

Second time: (I)* - II - III - IV - V - VI


* optional

 

[Lindley]

I find it curious that people are so hard on Episode 1. For me, it wasn't until AOTC that I started to lose interest in the prequels. I've still only seen that and ROTS once in full.

 

[Saul]

Watching in production order means you'll have more surprises. Watching 1-3 first might spoil somethings to come later. I think it depends on how much you know about the films. If you know basic spoilers then watching 1-6 is an interesting view of Vader's character and how he became who he was since he is an iconic movie baddie. If you don't know anything about Vader then introduce yourself to him in the original movies first.

 

[SeerSGB]

Production order, the only way to really watch all of them.

If you had pick only one, then it depends on the person:

-- More serious sci-fi go with Empire Strikes Back
-- More popcorn, fun, family sci-fi go with A New Hope

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I say you have to watch Star Wars (I'm too old for that A New Hope crap...) first. I could see different arguments after that. I'm assuming this person knows the big "secret" of ESB already.

I find it curious that people are so hard on Episode 1. For me, it wasn't until AOTC that I started to lose interest in the prequels. I've still only seen that and ROTS once in full.

Yeah, unlike most, I've come to enjoy TPM. I didn't care much for ROTS, though I need to watch that again for final judgment.

 

[DonIago]

I'm hard on TPM because for me it feels far too much like "Disney does Star Wars!"

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I'm hard on TPM because for me it feels far too much like "Disney does Star Wars!"

Please, it's not like it ends with a parade in The Magic Kingdom, oh wait...

 

[jefferiestubes8]

first time viewer?

Soon I am going to watch all 6 Star Wars movies with a friend who has never seen any of them.

Perhaps your friend should check this out
"Star Wars: A New Hope" NPR radio serial 1981

Then your friend's imagination will create the fantasy world visually. After listeing to the 1981 radio serial on audio CD then see the
"Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" film


then listen to the
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 1984 radio serial and then see
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) film.

You will know the story before seeing the films and be able to enjoy it a little more after your imagination creates all the visuals.

Then see Return of the Jedi and then the prequel films.

 

[MarianLH]

I know everyone will recommend watching OT first, but I think this is a pretty good order.

ANH
ESB
TPM
AOTC
ROTS
ROTJ

The two best movies first. After ESB with the whole "I'm your father reveal", the PT is like one long flashback. Then conclude the entire saga with ROTJ.

I wouldn't recommend that for the first viewing, but for someone already familiar with the films, that's an interesting variation. I've been meaning to sit down and watch them all sometime soon, and I may do it this way.


Marian