Star Wars Day (May the 4th) is just around the corner, making it an excellent time to revisit the franchise's best films and TV shows. Since 1977, the franchise has spawned 17 TV shows and 12 movies, including widely popular new shows, like The Mandalorian, and timeless classics like the original trilogy.
Viewers looking for the best of Star Wars can use our guide to find the 10 best Star Wars movies and TV shows according to JustWatch’s streaming charts. Compiling data across six years and 60 million users from 140 countries, JustWatch has identified the most popular Star Wars projects available to stream on platforms like Disney+, Netflix, and more.
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is, by far, the most popular Star Wars title, holding a massive 23.15% share of the overall popularity and outperforming the original trilogy by 25%. Its popularity isn’t surprising considering The Mandalorian’s unique tale has appealed to longtime fans and franchise newcomers. Set in 9 ABY, the series centers on a new character, Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter who betrays his client to protect his target, a creature named Grogu. The Mandalorian contains plenty of fan service with the appearances of familiar characters like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), but also delves into new territory with its deep dive into the Mandalorians and heartwarming tale of Djarin and Grogu’s father-son bond.
Andor
Andor isn’t far behind The Mandalorian in popularity, boasting a 9.79% share. While it is also one of the franchise’s newer live-action series, it has a very different tone from The Mandalorian. Serving as a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the show follows Andor (Diego Luna), tracking his rise from a petty thief to one of the heroes of the Rebel Alliance. Andor plays out like a gritty spy thriller, leaning into political commentary and mature themes of oppression and tyranny. The series probes new territory and bolder ideas while staying true to the movies, which have always been ripe with political allegories and commentary.
Ahsoka
Ahsoka is nearly tied with Andor in popularity, with a 9.66% share. Both series surged in popularity in 2024 due to their newness. While live-action, the show serves as a sequel to the animated series, Star Wars: Rebels, tracking Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson) on her mission to find her long-lost friend, Ezra (Eman Esfandi), while hearing whispers of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s (Lars Mikkelsen) return. Ahsoka provided answers for Star Wars: Rebels fans waiting years to learn of Ezra and Thrawn’s fate while delving into Star Wars Legends, mystical lore, and providing a much-needed female-led space adventure for viewers.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is one of the few Star Wars original/prequel stars to get a solo series, making it understandable that his self-titled miniseries is the fourth most popular title. The show takes place 10 years after the prequel trilogy, in which Obi-Wan is forced out of hiding after Order 66 to rescue Princess Leia (Vivien Lyra Blair) from the inquisitors. Obi-Wan Kenobi tells a previously unknown adventure of a fan favourite character, while poignantly exploring his feelings following the devastating losses of his fellow Jedi and his former Padawan. The action and old-school Star Wars vibes are strong, although the story has little impact on the wider Star Wars franchise.
The Book of Boba Fett
The Book of Boba Fett, another miniseries centered on a Star Wars movie character, is right behind Obi-Wan Kenobi in popularity. In the show, Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison) and his mercenary ally, Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen), struggle to maintain their hold on Jabba the Hutt’s former territory and rise to the top of the criminal underworld. The Book of Boba Fett feels less like a solo series than Obi-Wan Kenobi, as it ties in heavily to The Mandalorian. Still, it’s a light, action-packed side story about two hardened anti-hero-esque figures vying for respect in Star Wars’ criminal landscape.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the most popular animated series and the sixth most popular Star Wars title overall. The series is set during the Clone Wars and before Anakin Skywalker’s (Matt Lanter) turn to the Dark Side. Hence, it follows Anakin’s adventures with his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), and Padawan Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein) as they struggle to win the war. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is beautifully animated with stunning fight sequences and incredible storytelling skills. It demonstrated the potential of Star Wars animation and added new and heartbreaking layers of depth to Obi-Wan, Anakin, and their relationship.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is just behind Star Wars: The Clone Wars with a popularity share of 4.62%. The series is set in the High Republic, a period not well-trodden in the franchise, and follows Force-sensitive twins Osha and Aniseya (Amandla Stenberg) as a series of crimes forces them to confront their past and complicated connection to the Jedi and a mysterious coven of witches. The Acolyte is one of the most ambitious and daring Star Wars projects yet, diving into fresh lore and timelines and viewing the Jedi through a more nuanced lens. The show’s newness and astounding lightsaber fight scenes have also aided its popularity.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
While the shows boast an advantage of newness, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope isn’t far behind them with a popularity share of 4.11%, making it the most popular movie in the franchise. The film follows Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a young farm boy who learns his father was a member of the near-extinct Jedi, sending him on a mission to rescue his long-lost sister and fight the Galactic Empire. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope is a timeless classic with its underdog hero, sense of adventure, and good vs. evil tale. It transported viewers wholly into its fantasy realm and laid the foundation for one of the biggest film franchises ever.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the first film in the prequel trilogy, comes in just behind Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope with a popularity share of 3.94%. In the movie, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) track down a Force-sensitive boy, Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), prophesied to bring balance to the Force. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace earned harsh reviews at the time due to the high expectations set by the original films. However, its high popularity today confirms its importance in the Star Wars timeline as it expanded the universe and lore and established Obi-Wan and Anakin as staples of the franchise.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Star Wars: The Bad Batch rounds out the top ten Star Wars projects with a popularity share of 3.50%. The animated series follows a group of Clone Troopers, whose mutations allowed them to resist the Galactic Empire’s Order 66 and sent them on the run in a rapidly changing galaxy. Star Wars: The Bad Batch serves as a solid spinoff of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, boasting even more detailed and dazzling animation, while delving deeper into the complex lore of the clones. In doing so, it explores interesting ideas about the humanity and treatment of Clones in the Star Wars universe.
Where to watch the most popular Star Wars movies and shows online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the United States, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
