Not that long ago, comparatively speaking, Star Wars was the little franchise that could. It was a mere trilogy for decades, but then it exploded. The prequels, panned though they were, became massive hits that reshaped cinema, and the sequel trilogy proved Star Wars still had room to grow with new audiences.
But that sequel trilogy, facilitated by Disney’s surprising purchase of Lucasfilm, also opened the door for new expansions. The result is something loosely considered the Star Wars anthology. These stories aren’t part of the main numbered franchise, and instead, expand the universe beyond the Skywalkers and the Jedi. While there are a handful of duds, most of these are considered modern classics, which is why we’ve taken the opportunity to rank every Star Wars anthology movie and TV show, with the vast majority available for streaming on Disney+.
9. The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)
While The Mandalorian may be the best thing to happen to Star Wars, it may be the worst thing to happen to Boba Fett. The legendary bounty hunter, most well-known for dying in a Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi (1983), returned in the second season to help save Grogu from the Empire. But the popularity of Boba meant he was never going to just be a guest star. The Book of Boba Fett is a Mandalorian spin-off that sees Boba take over as Tatooine’s top crime lord, but not even a tie-in to Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (2008) narrative saved this one.
So how middling is The Book of Boba Fett? Well, about halfway through the show, Boba’s arc comes to a screeching halt so it can become The Mandalorian Season 2.5, focusing on wrapping up Grogu’s arc from Season 2. Like most Star Wars anthology entries, The Book of Boba Fett isn’t as bad as people make it out to be, but it eschews its most interesting ideas to instead focus on a fairly uninteresting plot.
8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
How do you build a franchise around some of the most iconic characters ever committed to film when the actors who played them are in their 70s? The answer is a recast and a prequel, which is exactly what we got in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. Unfortunately, the film seemed to be snakebit from the outset. Production was notoriously troubled, with directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller fired four months into filming and Ron Howard taking over the helm.
It’s difficult to call Solo outright awful, but the movie just doesn’t live up to expectations. Alden Ehrenreich doesn’t fall for the trap of trying to do a Harrison Ford impression, but it’s just distracting enough to occasionally take you out of it. The biggest problem is Solo’s predictable, by-the-numbers plot. There’s a lot of Easter eggs, but there’s nothing revolutionary here. A popcorn movie at its finest, but don’t expect to get any actual massive revelations about Han Solo here.
7. The Acolyte (2024)
The Acolyte promised a lot ahead of its release, and in many cases, it delivered. The first live-action property set in the High Republic era and the earliest Star Wars show on the timeline to date, The Acolyte promised to be a Star Wars murder-mystery, revolving around a mysterious assassin and the shocking deaths of multiple Jedi. Where The Acolyte wound up really shining was its action, with a more martial arts-inspired take on the traditionally flashy lightsaber combat.
The series expanded Star Wars lore in exciting ways, including the first live-action appearance of Darth Plagueis. The action, choreographed in the spirit of the best Hong Kong action, is a revelation, and the darker tone is really refreshing considering how light Star Wars has been outside of Andor. However, The Acolyte’s slow-burning story and predictable twists really let this one down even for fans who are enjoying the series.
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Even before Disney came into the picture, fans were clamoring to see Ewan McGregor return to the iconic role of Obi-Wan Kenobi following Revenge of the Sith (2005). The resulting Obi-Wan Kenobi series was a long-gestating project, bouncing around for years as a movie before finally being realized as a Disney+ series.
The story sees Obi-Wan forced out of his exile on Tatooine to save a kidnapped Leia Organa. The series was rightfully praised for the performances of both McGregor and a returning Hayden Christensen, especially in the series’ final showdown between Kenobi and Vader. If you’re able to take Obi-Wan Kenobi at face value, then you’re in for a hell of a ride. However, it is blatantly obvious that this was a two-hour movie stretched out into a six-episode mini-series, as the pacing is atrocious and the story happens very, very slowly.
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
With the Disney purchase of Star Wars, fans were obviously excited for the potential of new films that served as sequels to the original trilogy. However, plans quickly expanded to also kick off the titular Anthology line, stories which expanded the world beyond the Skywalkers and the Jedi. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the first of these, exploring for the first time in canon how the plans for the Death Star were stolen by the Rebel Alliance prior to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977).
Rogue One was praised for its cinematography and action at release and has become a modern classic over the years, thanks largely to the success of Andor. If you really dug Andor and want to see how it ends or prefer your Star Wars to be about the wars, Rogue One warrants a watch.
4. Ahsoka (2023-Present)
While The Mandalorian is important for how it started Star Wars on Disney+, Ahsoka represents the potential for expanding not just the new universes, but those that came before. Bringing Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano back from The Mandalorian, Ahsoka serves as a sequel to both the classic animated series Rebels (2014) and Revenge of the Sith.
Ahsoka is a brilliant adventure series with a weird world and the long-awaited live-action debut of beloved characters like Grand Admiral Thrawn. It also notably features the final performance of actor Ray Stevenson as one of the franchise’s most interesting new characters, the mercenary Jedi Baylan Skoll. While you may find yourself a little lost if you were never into Rebels, Ahsoka is still a must-watch Star Wars series.
3. The Mandalorian (2019-2023)
It really can’t be stressed enough just how important The Mandalorian has been to the greater efforts of the Star Wars universe. The first effort at a Star Wars series when Disney+ was in its infancy, the show follows a Mandalorian bounty hunter who finds himself thrust into fatherhood when he finds Grogu, a child-like Force-user being hunted by Imperial remnants.
Honestly, the decision to just make a Star Wars western was pretty genius, and the first season is rife with twists and turns amidst its white-knuckle action. We’re already years removed from it, but anyone who was there for the shockingly well-kept Grogu reveal in Season 1 remembers just how good The Mandalorian can be when it’s at its peak. While the series has seen the story quality diminish over the years, it’s poised to return to full-throttle mayhem when The Mandalorian and Grogu brings Star Wars back to the big screen in 2026.
2. Skeleton Crew (2024-2025)
The success of Andor may not be unexpected, but Skeleton Crew being a surprise hit might be. Set in the increasingly crowded time frame of the decade following Return of the Jedi and the rise of the new Republic, Skeleton Crew follows a band of children who find themselves lost across the galaxy. Aided by a Force-sensitive pirate captain, the children must find their way home.
Skeleton Crew deftly blends its darker moments with a lighter tone, resulting in an all-ages Star Wars romp akin to The Goonies (1985). While Skeleton Crew likely won’t redefine Star Wars for you, it will prove to be the most entertaining weekend you’ve spent in a while.
1. Andor (2022-2025)
It should come as no surprise that Andor: A Star Wars Story stands tall as the highest-rated Star Wars anthology series. For many, it even surpasses the original trilogy as the best example of Star Wars storytelling. Gritty, human, and, at times, horrifying, the series follows Cassian Andor as he grows from a scoundrel to a legendary Rebel soldier.
The second season pushes the boundaries even further, proving that Star Wars really is at its best when focusing on the wars and their ramifications rather than Jedi and their drama. Andor is a gripping, haunting narrative about war, humanity, and the sacrifices to keep it. If you’re ready to see classic Star Wars realized as the finest drama of a generation, Andor is what you’re looking for.
