(Photo Credit: Des Willie | Lucasfilm Ltd / Disney+)
Surprisingly, the list of best Star Wars TV shows isn’t very long, partly due to a lack of quantity, but also to a lack of overall quality. Despite being a cinematic blockbuster, the franchise had only dipped its toe into small-screen productions before the Disney acquisition. So, outside of the series dealing with the Clone Wars, all of these are relatively recent releases. Unfortunately, the Star Wars TV shows are as much a mixed bag as the rest of the franchise has been lately, but there are a few diamonds in the rough, which you can see below.
What are the best Star Wars TV shows as of 2026?
Star Wars hasn’t had the most auspicious TV history. The Holiday Special was the franchise’s first entry on the medium, which has been widely panned since its first broadcast. Things got better in the 2000s with Clone Wars and The Clone Wars (note the capital letters), but Disney’s efforts have been mixed.
The most recent animated series Stars Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord is fortunately turning this ship around. As it stands, the series currently has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, though technically we’re only working with the first four episodes at the time of this article’s release. So far, so good. Fortunately, besides this recent entry, there are a few decent Star Wars TV series to choose from, which we’ve listed for you below in release-date order.
Star Wars: Clone Wars (2008)
Photo Credit: Cartoon Network Studios | Lucasfilm
Star Wars: Clone Wars is an animated series produced by Lucasfilm and Cartoon Network Studios for Cartoon Network. Set during the Star Wars prequel trilogy, it features iconic characters such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and others. The series premiered in 2003 and was directed by animation legend Genndy Tartakovsky. While some might be quick to skip animated work in favor of more recent live-action shows, Clone Wars is essential viewing for franchise fans.
Star Wars: Clone Wars ran for three seasons and earned multiple awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. It was also the first Star Wars television series to follow the short-lived Ewoks from the 1980s. Its success played a crucial role in paving the way for Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Photo Credit: Disney+ | Lucasfilm
Considered part of the official Star Wars canon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars helped redeem George Lucas after the late 1990s, early 2000s prequel trilogy landed with a resounding “meh” for many fans and critics. Sure, the prequels became part of the elder millennial zeitgeist, but they still left a lot to be desired.
The Clone Wars took the awkward plots of the prequel era and gave them depth through smart storytelling, layered political intrigue, and real character development (we see you, Padmé!). Not to mention, Anakin’s turn to the dark side finally feels earned. Set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the series revisited characters, expanded the universe’s mythology, and added emotional weight and nuance where the films often fell flat.
The show ran from 2008 to 2020 with 133 episodes — so if you haven’t started yet, there’s plenty to catch up on.
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Star Wars Rebels (2014)
Photo Credit: Disney XD
Star Wars Rebels (2014–18) is a 3D animated adventure series that follows a scrappy, street-smart crew aboard the starship Ghost as they rise up against the growing power of the Empire. Set fifteen years after The Revenge of the Sith, the ragtag crew made up of a pilot, a former Lasat honor guard, a Mandalorian warrior, a Jedi padawan, and a droid. After running into a Force-sensitive outcast, the group becomes a central part of the spark of rebellion against the Empire.
Tasked with the tough job of following The Clone Wars, the series does a good job of bridging the narrative gap between Episode III and Episode IV. With a stellar 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Rebels is both a critical and fan favorite. The show delivers a strong script, memorable original characters with meaningful development, plus new animation that moved us away from the style seen in The Clone Wars.
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The Mandalorian (2019)
Photo Credit: Disney+ | Lucasfilm
From creator Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian was the first live-action Star Wars TV series — and it quickly became a cultural phenomenon. The premise is classic rogue space western: “After the fall of the Galactic Empire, a lone gunfighter makes his way through the outer reaches of a lawless galaxy.”
Add Pedro Pascal in the lead role for the first two seasons, and surround him with unexpected yet compelling actors like Werner Herzog, and you’ve got a show that appeals to everyone, from die-hard franchise fans to highbrow indie film aficionados.
There’s plenty to unpack in terms of critical reception, fan response, and the series’ current direction. (Spoiler: Season three took some hits, and season four is unlikely.) Still, The Mandalorian remains essential viewing in the Star Wars universe.
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Andor (2022)
Photo Credit: Des Willie | Lucasfilm
Andor sits at the top of virtually every ranked list of Star Wars TV shows — and for good reason. While its premise might sound straightforward — following Cassian Andor, a thief who becomes an unexpected leader during the rise of the Rebel Alliance — the series delivers so much more.
Gritty and grounded, Andor removes the sheen of the Star Wars universe. In doing so, the central conflict between the Empire and the Rebellion feels less like a space opera and more like a meticulously crafted World War I drama about inching the front line forward. Add political intrigue, and you’ve got a good show.
While we might root for our titular figure, the series doesn’t push a narrative of clear heroes or villains, and that moral ambiguity makes for seriously compelling television. Critics and fans agree: If you haven’t checked this show out yet, start here.
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Ahsoka (2023)
Ahsoka brings back the titular fan-favorite character for her first live-action adventure. The show is a spin-off of The Mandalorian, and revolves around a fallen Jedi and his apprentice attempting to find Grand Admiral Thrawn in the hope he’ll return and defeat the New Republic. Along the way, Ahsoka reunites with her former Padawan, Sabine Wren, and must come to terms with her past.
The series is a great payoff if you’re invested in the “Filoniverse.” It’s essentially a sequel to Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Enjoyment of Ahsoka isn’t dependent on seeing those two series, but you might be lost if you don’t at least check out a wiki about them.
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Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord (2026)
(Photo Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.)
Despite Darth Maul’s death in The Phantom Menace, we were left a little disheartened because the character was just so good. Definitely one of the most uncomfortable-looking characters out there, and the guy only got roughly six minutes on camera. We wanted more! We needed more! And it only took thirty years to answer our call.
The most recent release takes us after The Clone Wars (2008-2020), when Darth Maul plots to rebuild his criminal organization on the planet Janix, which has not yet been touched by the Empire. He’s also looking for an apprentice. The animation is fantastic, the writing is great, and so far, we’re hooked on the characters and storyline. Though we’re just going off the first four episodes, we have a feeling they’re a strong indication of how the rest of the series will go, with more to come in double-bites until all 10 episodes of the first season are out.
How we picked the best Star Wars TV shows
With so many Star Wars TV shows to choose from, narrowing it down to just five was no easy task. Our picks are based on a combination of critical acclaim, fan reception, and each show’s significance within the franchise.
If you’re thinking of making your own list and want to watch every Star Wars TV show or film in release order, you can stream them all on Disney+. Stay tuned, there’s more to come.
