The Star Wars Saga: Lucasfilm marathon viewing method

The following is a seven day George Lucas movie marathon built around and inspired by George Lucas's six film Star Wars Saga. It includes some of the less popular titles in Lucasfilm's history. Walter Murch's Return to Oz is also represented because it would not exist as it does if it weren't for George Lucas. There's something wonderfully strange and Lucasian about it as well. This viewing method also includes the two Disney Star Wars prequels as they both seem to have earned Lucas's blessing in some way, and they do contribute to a singular, cohesive vision for the six part Star Wars Saga.
If you aren't familiar with some of the lesser-known films in this marathon, I encourage you to search them out. They all provide insight into George's tastes and sensibilities, and if anything they add more context to the unfolding of the Star Wars universe as it came to be. Every Star Wars fan at the very least owes it to themselves to watch THX 1138 and American Graffiti. The rest is all gravy. I hope at least one person here will appreciate this 23 film George Lucas movie marathon and maybe even give it a try.

DAY ZERO
Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Labyrinth (1986)
Howard the Duck (1986)
Willow (1988)

DAY ONE
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

DAY TWO
Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airmen at War (2012)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Red Tails (2012)

DAY THREE
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

DAY FOUR
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

DAY FIVE
More American Graffiti (1979)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

DAY SIX
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Return to Oz (1985)
Strange Magic (2015)

 

Okay, I added The Godfather (1972) into the mix. It seemed to be the missing piece in all of this. And it adds quite a bit of weight. The Lucas-Coppola-Murch trilogy, you know what I'm sayin? Tying it all together! THX, Godfather, American Graffiti. Supposedly Lucas convinced Coppola to direct Godfather, and he has credited work in the movie.
I also had to fiddle around with the ordering of DAY TWO, putting the documentary after AOTC and Red Tails, just for tonal reasons. Perhaps most of you either don't care or think I'm crazy. Well, I'm not! I'm solving the greatest riddle in all of Star Wars Fandom! Watch all 24 films in 7 days! 24/7 Order!

DAY ZERO
Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Labyrinth (1986)
Howard the Duck (1986)
Willow (1988)

DAY ONE
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

DAY TWO
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Red Tails (2012)
Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airmen at War (2012)

DAY THREE
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The Godfather (1972)

DAY FOUR
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

DAY FIVE
More American Graffiti (1979)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

DAY SIX
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Return to Oz (1985)
Strange Magic (2015)

 

"What's the best way to watch Star Wars?/What order?" etc.
My solution is to view it in the context of George Lucas's work in film as a whole. A greater anthology, informed by the beats and themes employed in the six film SW Saga. It grew out of my idea to view THX 1138 as a bridge between Episodes III and IV, to create a smoother transition from a film made in 2005 to movies made mostly in the 1970s. There are also major thematic and visual parallels in THX that make it a link between ROTS and ANH. But the more I've come to love Lucas's other productions, the more I see the parallels between them and Star Wars. Lucas has even said that THX, American Graffiti, and Star Wars form a trilogy in itself. There's a remarkable story being told not just across the Star Wars films, but the filmography of Lucas itself. People should have a chance to see that, and to do so in an organized way that mirrors the internal poetry of the SW Saga.

 

Okay, so I guess 24 movies in 7 days is pretty insane. So over 14 days, you could do like this:

DAY ONE
Twice Upon a Time (1983)

DAY TWO
Labyrinth (1986)
Howard the Duck (1986)

DAY THREE
Willow (1988)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

DAY FOUR
Radioland Murders (1994)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

DAY FIVE
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

DAY SIX
Red Tails (2012)
Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airmen at War (2012)

DAY SEVEN
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

DAY EIGHT
The Godfather (1972)

DAY NINE
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

DAY TEN
More American Graffiti (1979)

DAY ELEVEN
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

DAY TWELVE
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

DAY THIRTEEN
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Return to Oz (1985)

DAY FOURTEEN
Strange Magic (2015)

 

Or whatever. Take as many days as you want, but this order:

Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Return to Oz (1985)
Labyrinth (1986)
Howard the Duck (1986)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The Godfather (1972)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
More American Graffiti (1979)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Willow (1988)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Red Tails (2012)
Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airmen at War (2012)
Strange Magic (2015)
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

It is what it is.

 

I switched a couple things around and I added WALL·E. Is it any coincidence that its running time is 1:38:11?
The list stands at 31 films. A full month's worth of movies, one a day. The best way to watch Star Wars in a month like March.

Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Howard the Duck (1986)
Labyrinth (1986)
Willow (1988)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
The Godfather (1972)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
More American Graffiti (1979)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Return to Oz (1985)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
WALL·E (2008)
Red Tails (2012)
Strange Magic (2015)
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

 

OK, so how about this?

DAY ONE
THX 1138 (1971)
The Godfather (1972)
American Graffiti (1973)

DAY TWO
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)

DAY THREE
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

DAY FOUR
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Radioland Murders (1994)

DAY FIVE
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

DAY SIX
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Red Tails (2012)
Strange Magic (2015)

 

Or this?

DAY ONE
Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Howard the Duck (1986)
Labyrinth (1986)
-BONUS-
Return to Oz (1985)

DAY TWO
Willow (1988)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
Radioland Murders (1994)
-BONUS-
Jurassic Park (1993)

DAY THREE
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
-BONUS-
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

DAY FOUR
THX 1138 (1971)
The Godfather (1972)
American Graffiti (1973)
-BONUS-
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

DAY FIVE
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)
-BONUS-
More American Graffiti (1979)

DAY SIX
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
-BONUS-
Hook (1991)

DAY SEVEN
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Red Tails (2012)
Strange Magic (2015)
-BONUS-
WALL·E (2008)

 

You need to redo this now that Dial of Destiny has been released. Also, add toilet breaks.

 

[Cough] The Hidden Fortress, The Dam Busters

 

So my latest viewing order is like the others, but more condensed, and it pairs the story of Anakin Skywalker with that of Michael Corleone. I call it, the GodVader viewing order. And I'm not going to explain all the reasoning but I think it has a lot of merit.

DAY 1:
Radioland Murders (1994)
The Godfather (1972)

DAY 2
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

DAY 3
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
The Godfather Part II (1974)

DAY 4
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)

DAY 5
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

DAY 6
More American Graffiti (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

DAY 7
Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

Fixed it.
The GodVader Saga: Order 1138 (Final Cut)

DAY 1:
Radioland Murders (1994)
The Godfather (1972)

DAY 2
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

DAY 3
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
The Godfather Part II (1974)

DAY 4
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)

DAY 5
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

DAY 6
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

DAY 7
The Godfather Part III (1990)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

The GodVader Saga: Order 1138 (Chewbaccalypse Now Edition)

SUNDAY
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
The Godfather (1972)

MONDAY
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
The Conversation (1974)

TUESDAY
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
The Godfather Part II (1974)

WEDNESDAY
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
THX 1138 (1971)

THURSDAY
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

FRIDAY
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

SATURDAY
The Godfather Coda (1990)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

Okay, mostly the same movies but it got more release-ordery. I think I finally scratched the itch.

SUNDAY
The Rain People (1969)
THX 1138 (1971)

MONDAY
The Godfather (1972)
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)

TUESDAY
American Graffiti (1973)
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)

WEDNESDAY
The Conversation (1974)
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

THURSDAY
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

FRIDAY
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

SATURDAY
The Godfather Coda (1990)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

ANY DAY
Star Wars Episodes 1-9 (1977-2019)
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Enemy Mine (1985)

 

42 films over 14 days. Can it be done?

DAY ONE
The Terror (1963)
Grand Prix (1966)
The Rain People (1969)

DAY TWO
Patton (1970)
THX 1138 (1971)
The Godfather (1972)

DAY THREE
American Graffiti (1973)
The Conversation (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)

DAY FOUR
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

DAY FIVE
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
One from the Heart (1982)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

DAY SIX
The Outsiders (1983)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Rumble Fish (1983)

DAY SEVEN
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
The Cotton Club (1984)
Howard the Duck (1986)

DAY EIGHT
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Gardens of Stone (1987)
Powaqqatsi (1988)

DAY NINE
Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990)

DAY TEN
Dracula (1992)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Jack (1996)

DAY ELEVEN
The Rainmaker (1997)
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
The Virgin Suicides (1999)

DAY TWELVE
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Naqoyqatsi (2002)
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

DAY THIRTEEN
Youth Without Youth (2007)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Tetro (2009)

DAY FOURTEEN
B'Twixt Now and Sunrise (2011)
Red Tails (2012)
Megalopolis (2024)

 

Now it's 99 movies, arranged into triple features, more or less by release date, starting with THX 1138, owning up to its title Order 1138. It focuses on the careers of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Godfrey Reggio, and now Frank Oz. I made space for every movie that Lucas produced, both credited and uncredited. It includes Dragonslayer for its contributions by George Lucas and ILM, the Kurosawa pictures that Francis, George, and Spielberg helped finance and produce, and Joe Versus the Volcano, which is just a personal favorite of mine that so happens to be an Amblin production and a cult classic. There don't seem to be anymore films on the horizon from these men, so I'm hoping this list is final, for my own mental health. (I have edited this list dozens of times since it really started taking form this year.) Any comments would be appreciated.

ORDER 1138: The THX Method

THX 1138 (1971)
Duel (1971)
The Godfather (1972)

American Graffiti (1973)
The Conversation (1974)
The Sugarland Express (1974)

The Godfather Part II (1974)
Jaws (1975)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
More American Graffiti (1979)
Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Black Stallion (1979)
1941 (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Kagemusha (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Dragonslayer (1981)

Body Heat (1981)
One from the Heart (1982)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982)
Poltergeist (1982)
The Dark Crystal (1982)

The Black Stallion Returns (1983)
The Outsiders (1983)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Rumble Fish (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

The Cotton Club (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
Return to Oz (1985)

Latino (1985)
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
Ran (1985)

The Color Purple (1985)
Labyrinth (1986)
Howard the Duck (1986)

Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
An American Tail (1986)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Gardens of Stone (1987)
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Powaqqatsi (1988)

Willow (1988)
Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988)
The Land Before Time (1988)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Always (1989)

Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Dreams (1990)
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990)

What About Bob? (1991)
Hook (1991)
Housesitter (1992)

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Jurassic Park (1993)
Schindler’s List (1993)

Radioland Murders (1994)
The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)
Jack (1996)

The Rainmaker (1997)
In & Out (1997)
Amistad (1997)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Bowfinger (1999)
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
The Score (2001)
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Minority Report (2002)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Naqoyqatsi (2002)

The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Terminal (2004)
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

War of the Worlds (2005)
Munich (2005)
Death at a Funeral (2007)

Youth Without Youth (2007)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Tetro (2009)

B'Twixt Now and Sunrise (2011)
The Adventures of Tintin (2011)
Red Tails (2012)

War Horse (2012)
Lincoln (2013)
Visitors (2014)

Strange Magic (2015)
Bridge of Spies (2015)
The BFG (2016)

The Post (2018)
Ready Player One (2018)
West Side Story (2021)

The Fabelmans (2002)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Megalopolis (2024)

 

It's 108 movies now. Renamed, and updated to include John Milius's directorial features in time for his birthday.
-------------
DEMENTIA 1138
-------------
WEEK 1

DAY ONE
Dementia 13 (1963)
You’re a Big Boy Now (1966)
Finian’s Rainbow (1968)

DAY TWO
The Rain People (1969)
THX 1138 (1971)
Duel (1971)

DAY THREE
The Godfather (1972)
Dillinger (1973)
American Graffiti (1973)

DAY FOUR
The Conversation (1974)
The Sugarland Express (1974)
The Godfather Part II (1974)

DAY FIVE
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Jaws (1975)
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

DAY SIX
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Big Wednesday (1978)
More American Graffiti (1979)

WEEK 2

DAY SEVEN
Apocalypse Now (1979)
1941 (1979)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

DAY EIGHT
Kagemusha (1980)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Dragonslayer (1981)

DAY NINE
Body Heat (1981)
One from the Heart (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (1982)

DAY TEN
E.T. the Extraterrestrial (1982)
Poltergeist (1982)
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)

DAY ELEVEN
The Dark Crystal (1982)
The Outsiders (1983)
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

DAY TWELVE
Twice Upon a Time (1983)
Rumble Fish (1983)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

WEEK 3

DAY THIRTEEN
Red Dawn (1984)
The Cotton Club (1984)
The Goonies (1985)

DAY FOURTEEN
Return to Oz (1985)
Ran (1985)
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)

DAY FIFTEEN
Latino (1985)
The Color Purple (1985)
Labyrinth (1986)

DAY SIXTEEN
Howard the Duck (1986)
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

DAY SEVENTEEN
Gardens of Stone (1987)
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Powaqqatsi (1988)

DAY EIGHTEEN
Willow (1988)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)
Tucker: The Man and his Dream (1988)

WEEK 4

DAY NINETEEN
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Farewell to the King (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

DAY TWENTY
Always (1989)
Dreams (1990)
The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (1990)

DAY TWENTY-ONE
Flight of the Intruder (1991)
What About Bob? (1991)
Hook (1991)

DAY TWENTY-TWO
Housesitter (1992)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)
Jurassic Park (1993)

DAY TWENTY-THREE
Schindler’s List (1993)
Radioland Murders (1994)
The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

DAY TWENTY-FOUR
Jack (1996)
The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)
In & Out (1997)

WEEK 5

DAY TWENTY-FIVE
The Rainmaker (1997)
Amistad (1997)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)

DAY TWENTY-SIX
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Bowfinger (1999)
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN
The Score (2001)
Jurassic Park III (2001)
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002)

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT
Minority Report (2002)
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Naqoyqatsi (2002)

DAY TWENTY-NINE
The Stepford Wives (2004)
The Terminal (2004)
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

DAY THIRTY
War of the Worlds (2005)
Munich (2005)
Death at a Funeral (2007)

WEEK 6

DAY THIRTY-ONE
Youth Without Youth (2007)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Tetro (2009)

DAY THIRTY-TWO
B’twixt Now and Sunrise (2011)
The Aventures of Tintin (2011)
War Horse (2012)

DAY THIRTY-THREE
Red Tails (2012)
Lincoln (2013)
Visitors (2014)

DAY THIRTY-FOUR
Strange Magic (2015)
Bridge of Spies (2015)
The BFG (2016)

DAY THIRTY-FIVE
The Post (2017)
Ready Player One (2018)
West Side Story (2021)

DAY THIRTY-SIX
The Fabelmans (2022)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Megalopolis (2024)