Understanding the Context

Official Theatrical Movies: The Skywalker Saga and Beyond

The core theatrical lineup is officially divided into two primary sagas, with multiple installments expanding the story and characters:

1. The Skywalker Saga (Episodes IV–IX)

This is the main chronological storyline, beginning with A New Hope and concluding with The Rise of Skywalker. It includes the following films:

• Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) – The original classic that launched the franchise
  
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – Widely considered the greatest film ever made
  
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983) – The final battle of the original trilogy
  
• Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015) – Rebooted saga with new heroes and Kylo Ren
  
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017) – A bold continuation with Leia, Finn, and ban demons
  
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – Tie-up and resolution for both original and sequel characters

Key Insights

Total Skywalker Saga Feature Films: 6

2. The Prequel Trilogy (Episodes I–III)

These films set up the downfall of the Jedi Order and introduce key characters like Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala.

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
  
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Total Prequel Feature Films: 3

Final Thoughts

3. The Sequel Trilogy (Episodes VII–IX, albeit a reboot chronologically)

Though officially a sequel series, these were produced after the Skywalker Saga and are often grouped with it for fan convenience:

• Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
  
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
  
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Their placement as trilogy-ending films contrasts chronologically, but narratively and commercially are tied to the Skywalker Saga.
Solely as part of the canon saga, these count as 3 feature films.

Total Counting All Official Theatrical Films (Skywalker Saga + Prequels + Sequel Trilogy):

6 (Skywalker) + 3 (Prequels) + 3 (Sequels) = 12 Feature Movies