Do I Need To Watch the Clone Wars Before Revenge of the Sith?

You recently discovered Star Wars, but you are unsure of the correct order to watch the saga. You conducted research and discovered The Clone Wars became Star Wars Canon since Disney took control of the franchise. 

So should you watch The Clone Wars before Revenge of the Sith?

The Clone Wars debuted in 2008, three years after Revenge of the Sith. While you will gain extensive knowledge of events that occurred between 22 and 19 BBY, you don’t need to watch the animated series first. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. 

Should I Watch The Clone Wars Before Revenge of the Sith?

Whether you should watch The Clone Wars before Revenge of the Sith is more subjective to your preferences. If you would like to watch Star Wars in complete chronological order, you would need to watch most of The Clone Wars before you dive into Revenge of the Sith. 

However, if you’re looking for the same Star Wars experience as fans who fell in love with the series back in 1977, you would watch The Clone Wars following Revenge of the Sith. Just as you would watch the Original Trilogy before the Prequel Trilogy. 

Although you don’t need to watch The Clone Wars before Revenge of the Sith, there are at least two movies you need to watch before you witness the tragic fall of the Republic. 

What Should I Watch Before Revenge of the Sith?

Before you sink your teeth into Revenge of the Sith, you must understand the movie takes place after The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. 

Set 19 years Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY), Revenge of the Sith chronicles Anakin Skywalker’s time as a Jedi Knight during the final days of the Galactic Republic. 

Its prequel, Attack of the Clones, tells the tale of the Separatist Crisis. Whose events in 22 BBY led to the Battle of Geonosis and ignited the Clone Wars. 

Finally, The Phantom Menace shows us who discovered Anakin Skywalker and how he went from being a slave on Tatooine to becoming a Jedi Padawan under Obi-Wan Kenobi in 32 BBY.  

Whether or not you decide to watch Revenge of the Sith before you experience the seven-season Clone Wars series, you must watch The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones to understand what’s going on in the TV series and the third Star Wars film. 

Should I Watch Revenge of the Sith While Watching The Clone Wars?

If you want to watch the entire saga in the exact chronological order it takes place, you must watch most of The Clone Wars’ seven seasons before you shift gears into Revenge of the Sith. 

For “max emotional impact,” as Real Context News calls it, prepare for a lot of flipping back and forth between The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith. 

So as a forewarning, this method is not for the faint-hearted. So even if you are a die-hard stickler for chronological order, the following recommendations may motivate you to just watch The Clone Wars before Revenge of the Sith, or vice versa. 

Still interested in true chronological order and emotional impact? Keep reading. 

1. First watch The Clone Wars film. 
2. Watch The Clone Wars from Season 1, Episode 1, until Season 7, Episode 8. 
3. Open your phone or laptop and watch the deleted scene above from The Clone Wars before you begin watching Season 7, Episode 9. 
4. Start watching Episode 9. When you reach 16:22, flip over to Revenge of the Sith. 
5. Watch Revenge of the Sith until the 27:27 mark, then flip back to 16:22 of Season 7, Episode 9. 
6. Finish Episode 9 and watch Episode 10 to the 2:57 mark. 
7. Flip back to Revenge of the Sith and watch until 52:24. 
8. Finish Episode 10. 
9. Watch the rest of Revenge of the Sith. 
10. Watch Episodes 11 and 12. 

The process lasts around four hours. So it’s best to complete the 10 steps described above when you are taking a day off from work or other commitments. 

The YouTube video linked below gives you a snippet of what to expect when you watch Revenge of the Sith and the final arc of The Clone Wars in complete chronological order. 

Do I Need to Watch Anything Before The Clone Wars?

You need to watch The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones before you watch The Clone Wars. 

While The Clone Wars introduces you to characters that do not appear in the Prequel Trilogy like Ahsoka Tano, Asajj Ventress, and Barriss Offee, it still contains prominent characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Yoda, Darth Sidious, and Count Dooku. 

Further, characters like Ahsoka Tano that appear in The Clone Wars also play roles in other movies and TV series. For example, Tano appears in The Mandalorian and her voice makes a cameo in The Rise of Skywalker. 

Conclusion 

You don’t need to watch The Clone Wars before Revenge of the Sith. And whether you should or shouldn’t depends on your personal preferences. 

You will have a greater understanding of the events leading to Revenge of the Sith, but you won’t be lost if you flip from Episode II to Episode III without watching all 133 episodes of The Clone Wars. 

Sion Fawkes

Sion Fawkes has been covering Star Wars since January 2022, expanding his expertise in both Star Wars Canon and Legends. When not writing, you can find Sion in the gym or running trails. He also likes watching sports and listening to audiobooks.