Where to start with Star Wars?!?!?!?!

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My 6 year old DS is desperate to watch Star Wars mainly because his friends at school talk about it and he doesn't know what it's all about. I have NO knowledge whatsoever and have never seen any of the films!! Can anyone tell me what film to start with - as far as I can tell they are all out of sequence chronologically. Do we start at the beginning from when they came out? Or go for the more modern ones first?? Help please!

At that age, do the original three in their release order (they're now also numbered 4,5,6)

Of the next three (in release order) you can skip 1 completely (I'm a fan of the machete order) but 2 and 3 are the higher certificate ones, so I'd wait until he's older.

The new ones are rubbish. Start with the oldest one - Star Wars, then Empire, then Jedi.

If he's really keen he can progress to the rubbish ones (ok, I AM biased but I'm still right )

interesting thank you! The guy I share an office with recommended skipping the originals and going for the new ones. should I stop speaking to him?!

Glacinda when you say number 4,5,6 is that the "episode" numbers - sorry for being thick! Is this what I need:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E0NHP6K/ref=s9_simh_gw_g74_i1_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=D4H786QHAJJ76Q3M01TS&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=16f14aeb-bd11-4e9e-8c26-9ca0139074ee&pf_rd_i=desktop

Yes, spot on

In release order:

The original trilogy:

1. Star Wars, now 'A New Hope'; chronological part IV
2. The Empire Strikes Back; part V
3. The Return Of The Jedi; part VI

then (aka the Prequel Trilogy) you can miss these three out, and it'll still make sense

1. The Phantom Menace; chronological part I you can definitely skip this one completely and nothing I t he story arcs are affected
2. The Attack of the Clones; part II
3. The Revenge of the Sith; part III

then the current trilogy

1. The Force Awakens; part VII

8 . In production....

1. planned.....

I'd do original trilogy (preferably the un-remastered versions) then Force Awakens and forget about the prequels altogether Aside from being really, really terrible films the prequels also mess with the plot considerably and the new films are pretty much pretending none of that ever happened so they're a bit of a waste of time.

This is the set you want, it has the remastered versions and the proper theatrical versions.

Brilliant thank you all! Hope he enjoys them!

I am so glad other people have already recommended the Machete Order - and also beating your co-worker with a stick.

Oooh, an update to the Machete Order post. I am sad i will get my light sabre and jedi robe

DS (7) has watched 4,5,6 and 7, but won't be watching the prequels for years. Anakin murdering young children and the fight where he gets burned half to death are pretty grim.

What they all said. Original 3 first and pretend parts 1, 2 and 3 don't exist. The new film is good (only after the original ones though or it won't make sense) but agree with teaplease its possibly too scarey for a 6 year old so would watch yourself first. And never ask your colleague about films again as he clearly has no taste.

Hope, Empire and Jedi. The tusken raiders at the start of Hope are a little scary but once he's past that it's okay.

Force awakens when he's a little older.

9 yr old DS wanted to watch Menace. I judged silently (and mn-etted) while he watched.

Sorry about your colleague. It must be difficult sharing a space with someone like that. ((Hugs)).

Thank you all!

Will def start with 4,5,6 and see how we get on. I think really he just wants to know what all his friends are talking about!! You never know though I may inadvertently create a Star Wars geek!

Re my colleague - I'm a little baffled, he has a star wars calendar on the office wall and calls himself a fan. I almost took his advice! Thank goodness I didn't!

Okay, I'm going to be controversial and stand up for the prequels (a bit). The acting is wooden. The script is clunky. The plots are a bit dull and nonsensical and Jar Jar Binks is an offensive abomination. But visually they're breathtaking; the sets (if you can call them that when it's all CGI), the costumes, the battles in space and on the ground are all beautiful.

DS (5) watched the Phantom Menace recently and was mesmerized, especially by the "underwater" scenes and the pod racing. He liked that hero was a little boy like him, and is too young to have noticed that the kid was a terrible actor.

Revenge of the Sith is too scary and disturbing for a 6 year old, but did add real pathos to the character of Darth Vader and the whole Skywalker family drama (even if it was badly executed).

As a longtime Star Wars aficionado, you can give the first three a miss. Start at episode IV Star Wars: A New Hope & go from there. The Empire Strikes Back, is head & shoulders above the rest

Original 3 in release order, more than once each before moving on. My 6yo watched the original 3 about 10 times each before seeing The Force Awakens, and saw that a few times before moving on to the prequels.

A 6yo needs multiple viewings to really "get" a film. (Mine only watch for about 20-25 mins at a time so can take 4 days per film, fewer viewings may be fine if yours have the concentration to focus on the plot for a whole film in one go)

I felt it was important to embed the originals before being exposed to the truly terrible prequels. My DC agree that they are terrible of course.

Originals first and preferably only them.

Is your work college young? Was he maybe introduced to stars wars the wrong way round?

I re-watched in machete order recently: 4, 5, 2, 3, 6. It works really well.

Agree that Revenge of the Smith and possibly The Force Awakens are for older kids really (as well as not as good as 4-6).

Haha *Sith

If he likes them and wants more background then you can watch the Clone Wars animated series (which many say do a better job at protraying Anakin as relatable character and his increasing frustrations than the prequels did). Then Star Wars Rebels picks up again around 15 or so years after the fall of the Jedi.

*portraying...really need to go switch a light on.