With so many entries in theStar Warsfranchise, it can be hard to know what to watch before each movie or TV show, includingStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. As the final entry of theStar Warsprequel trilogy,Revenge of the Sithbrought George Lucas' saga full circleby revealing how Anakin Skywalker finally turned to the dark side of the Force. Because the prequels were made after theStar Warsoriginal trilogy, fans have debated whether the first six films should be viewed in release order or in-universe chronological order.
However, it’s also worth considering what otherStar Warsstories should be viewed beforeRevenge of the Sithto 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 theStar Warsmoviescan 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 forRevenge of the SIthas possible.
12What Star Wars Movies To Watch Before Revenge Of The Sith
Newcomers should stick with release order
The first challenge newcomers face when getting intoStar Warsis deciding in what order to watch the movies, which can make it difficult to know which ones to watch beforeRevenge 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 twistsand allows new viewers to experience the movies as originally intended.
Return of the Jedi
The machete order severs as a compromise, preserving the biggest plot twists of the originals and allowing newcomers to still end withReturn of the Jedi. Despite the benefits of the other two orders, release order is still the best option, so newfans should watch the originals and the first two prequels beforeRevenge of the Sith. Watching the original trilogy in its entirety raises questions that are answered in the prequels, meaningRevenge of the Sithbrings everything full circle. The evolution of filmmaking technology also feels more natural when the movies are viewed in release order.
11The Original Clone Wars TV Show
Star Wars: Clone Wars 2D Micro-Series
AnotherStar Warsstory that fits with release order is theStar Wars: Clone Wars2D micro-series, which came out during the three-year gap betweenAttack of the ClonesandRevenge of the Sith. Although the series is no longer part of the officialStar Warscanon, 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 toRevenge of the Sithafterward.
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 ofRevenge of the Sith. Aside from seeing the main characters transition from one film to another,the finalClone Warsepisodes lead directly intoRevenge of the Sith, meaning those who have watched the series will already understand the events recapped in the opening crawl.
10Count Dooku’s Backstory
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi season 1, episodes 2–4
Moving from 2D to 3D animation - and earlier in the timeline -Star Wars: Tales of the Jedireveals the backstory of a prominent prequel trilogy villain.After being introduced to Count Dooku inAttack of the Clones, viewers will naturally want to know why he left the Jedi Order.Dooku’s three-episode arc inTales 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 theStar Warsprequel trilogy and even some later episodes ofStar Wars: The Clone Wars.
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.
Watching theseTales of the Jediepisodes beforeRevenge of the Sithmakes 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 ofRevenge of the Sithmore engagingafter witnessing how the Jedi and the Republic failed. Dooku may have less screen time inRevenge of the Sith, but watchingTales of the Jedifirst helps make up for it.
9Meet Anakin Skywalker’s Apprentice
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Movie)
Apart from the live-action films, viewers can also watch theStar Wars: The Clone Warstheatrical movie beforeRevenge of the Sith. Not only doesThe Clone Warsshow 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 belovedStar Warscharacters.
WatchingThe Clone Warsmovie first adds new context toRevenge 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 inRevenge of the Sith. It’s also crucial to have seenThe Clone Warsmovie before watching theStar Wars: The Clone WarsTV series, which includes several outstanding story arcs that makeRevenge of the Sitheven better.
8General Grievous' Backstory
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1, episode 10 “Lair of Grievous”
While theStar WarsExpanded Universe, now known as “Legends,” delved into General Grievous' backstory beforeRevenge of the Sith,The Clone Warsis 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.
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 ofRevenge of the Sith. “Lair of Grievous” is a quick and entertaining way to learn more about the titular villain before finishing theStar Warsprequel trilogy.
7Who Exactly Are The Separatists?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 3, episode 10 “Heroes on Both Sides”
One of the most mysterious lines inRevenge 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 titledClone Warsepisode “Heroes on Both Sides” explores this concept perfectly, making it good to watch beforeRevenge 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.
Attack of the Cloneshinted at the motivations behind the Separatist movement, but the films andThe Clone Warsprimarily 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 inRevenge 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.
6The Umbara Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 7–10
One of the darkestClone Warsarcs, and one of the best to watch beforeRevenge 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 beforeRevenge 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 ofRevenge of the Sithand complement the movie’s themes, making the clones' role in the final prequel film more devastating.
5Obi-Wan Goes Undercover
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 4, episodes 15–18
Although viewers who have seen the otherStar Warsmovies know Obi-Wan’s ultimate fate, it was still quite shocking when he was seemingly killed inThe Clone Warsseason 4. However, it’s quickly revealed thatObi-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 inRevenge of the Sith, pushing him ever closer to the dark side.
4The Jedi Youngling Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episodes 6–9
The Jedi youngling arc ofThe Clone Warsseason 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 inStar Wars: The Bad Batch.
Learning more about the youngest generation of Jedi makes the events ofRevenge of the Sithcarry 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 Warsexcelled 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.
3The Wrong Jedi Arc
Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 5, episodes 17–20
Perhaps the most gut-wrenching arc ofThe Clone Warsis 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 heartbreakingand showcases how the war has changed the Jedi and the Republic.
The tragic outcome explains why Ahsoka is not present inRevenge of the Sithand adds yet another reason for Anakin not to trust the Jedi Council.
This makes the Wrong Jedi arc one of the best to watch beforeRevenge of the Sith, especially if viewers have already seen previousClone Warsepisodes. The tragic outcome explains why Ahsoka is not present inRevenge of the Sithand 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 inRevenge of the Sithand add another layer to Ahsoka’s sense of betrayal.These episodes cemented Ahsoka as an amazingStar Warscharacter and a crucial part of Anakin’s story.
