May the 4th Be With You: 6 best Star Wars movies and TV shows to watch today
The Empire Strikes Back
Widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back is the sequel to Star Wars (1977). It is the second film in the series and is set three years after the events of Star Wars. The all-time classic follows the battle between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, led by Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Directed by Irvin Kershner, the ensemble cast stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz in lead roles. The Empire Strikes Back is available to stream on Disney+.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Written and directed by George Lucas, A New Hope is the first film of the legendary franchise. The ensemble cast was led by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, and James Earl Jones.
A New Hope follows a resistance movement called the Rebel Alliance as they attempt to destroy the Death Star, the Galactic Empire's major weapon. The classic is available for streaming on Disney+
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
A decade ago, Rogue One made headlines for its aesthetics and narrative. The film takes place a week before Star Wars, when the rebels steal the Death Star's schematics. It details their first win over the Empire. Directed by Tony Gilroy, the marquee cast list includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. The movie is available to stream on Disney+.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the hit TV series in Star Wars' slate of content for streaming. It brought back Ewan McGregor as the surviving Jedi Master who comes out of hiding to rescue the kidnapped Princess Leia from the Empire's Inquisitors. The mission puts him on a collision course with his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader. The series is available to stream on Disney+.
The Mandalorian
Baby Yoda, or as the series told us his name later — Grogu, became a viral sensation upon The Mandalorian's release in 2019. The miniseries has seen three seasons, as it follows bounty hunter Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu's adventures after he rescues the latter from the Imperial forces in the debut season. All three seasons of The Mandalorian are streaming on Disney+
Star Wars: Ahsoka
Created by Dave Filoni, Ahsoka sees the return of Rosario Dawson's Jedi powerhouse as she attempts to prevent the return of General Thrawn. The series was met with positive critical acclaim, with the second season set to premiere in 2026. Season 1's cast includes Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ray Stevenson, Ivanna Sakhno, Diana Lee Inosanto, David Tennant, Eman Esfandi, Evan Whitten, Genevieve O'Reilly, Hayden Christensen, Ariana Greenblatt, Lars Mikkelsen, and Anthony Daniels. Season is streaming on Disney+