The Mandalorianwas among the very first original shows on Disney+ when it launched in 2019. The number of Star Wars shows on Disney+ has grown exponentially in that six-year period, and some of them have been great television series.Andorin particular has become a critical favorite, and it has won over a vocal contingent of fans who appreciate its more mature content.
On the other end of the spectrum,Star Wars: Skeleton Crewis clearly a show made for kids, and it even features children at the center of the plot.Star Wars: Tales of the Underworldfalls somewhere in the middle, as it uses the animated medium to explore darker stories than a typical cartoon could deal with. There’s more than enough room in the Star Wars universe for all three shows to co-exist and thrive.
That’s why this is still a great time to be a Star Wars fan as the 50th anniversary of the franchise approaches. The best Star Wars shows on Disney+ remind us why we lovedStar Warsin the first place.
Andor (2022)
Andormay be the most acclaimed Star Wars series in the modern era, and it’s a very different show than the rest of the series on this list. The pace is much slower and the political side of the story is much more overt, especially since Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) has a much bigger role in the show than she ever had in the film. The rebelion exacts a heavy toll on Mon and her family, and it still may not be enough. The man at the heart of the show, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), made his first appearance inRogue One, a film that revealed how his story ends.Andormakes itself essential by revealing that Cassian wasn’t always a rebel, and it took a lot for him to become radicalized against the Empire enough to take up arms against it. It’s been a fascinating journey across two seasons, with stunning performances by Stellan Skarsgård and the rest of the supporting cast. If this is Star Wars for grown ups, then we want more shows like this.
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (2025)
Neither Cad Bane nor Asajj Ventress will ever get their own Star Wars TV shows. ButStar Wars: Tales of the Underworldgives both characters a rare chance to step into the spotlight.
Three of the episodes will focus on Bane, and touch on his path before he became a deadly bounty hunter. The other three episodes focus on Ventress, a woman who has already lived most of her life in service of the Sith as an assassin. Now, Ventress has the opportunity to become someone worthy of redemption. But first, she’ll have to fend off an Inquisitor and protect a young boy who is strong with the Force.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024)
Not everyone in the Star Wars universe is aware of their place in it. Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers), Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), KB (Kyriana Kratter), and Neel (Robert Timothy Smith) — the four kids at the heart ofStar Wars: Skeleton Crew— never even left their home world until they discovered a hidden starship and accidentially reactivated it.
These children have the grave misfortune to find themselves lost in space, and forced to rely on Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law) for help navigating the galaxy. Jod has some Force powers like a Jedi, but also the greed of a pirate. The children need Jod’s help to get home, and he’s not guiding them out of the goodness of his heart. But that won’t make any difference if they can’t find the location of the home world, which has been lost to time.
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024)
Welcome to the dark side. Disney+’s new animated anthologyStar Wars: Tales of the Empireis the thematic sequel to 2022’sTales of the Jedi. This time, the focus shifts to two women whose lives have descended into darkness: Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) and former Jedi Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger).
Barriss came to believe that the Jedi were evil inStar Wars: The Clone Wars, but she’s about to get a glimpse of real evil as she is recruited into the Jedi-hunting Inquisitors. Meanwhile, Morgan’s story unfolds at the end of the prequel trilogy era as she is forced to turn to the Empire in order to avenge herself and her fellow Nightsisters.
Ahsoka (2023)
Ahsokais the spiritual sequel toStar Wars: The Clone WarsandStar Wars Rebels, as well as a test drive for series creator and director Dave Filoni before he helms his own Star Wars movie within the next few years. Rosario Dawson reprises her role as former Jedi Ahsoka Tano from her guest appearance duringThe Mandalorianseason 2. And it seems like Ahsoka has her hands full with the potential return of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), as well as a fallen Jedi, Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), whose fighting skills far surpass her own.
Preventing Thrawn’s comeback isn’t the only thing on Ahsoka’s agenda, as her former apprentice, Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), joins her quest to rescue their long-missing friend, Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). Theoretically, they will find Ezra when they catch up with Thrawn. But will a happy reunion be in the cards?
Star Wars: Visions (2021)
Lucasfilm delivered a new spin on Star Wars with this anime anthology series that includes nine short films produced by Japanese animation studios and inspired by the beloved sci-fi saga set in a galaxy far, far away. Set throughout the Star Wars timeline — and in some cases, outside of it — the films filter the franchise through a fresh lens that also offers some fascinating new stories voiced by an all-star cast of actors.
Among the highlights inStar Wars: Visionsare the Akira Kurosawa-inspired taleThe Duel, and the surprising, post-Rise of Skywalkerstory told inThe Ninth Jedi, among other great episodes. A second volume just hit the streamer with all-new tales from such highly regarded animation studios as Aardman, PunkRobot, and Cartoon Saloon.
The Mandalorian (2019)
The blockbuster series that helped Disney+ take the lead in the “streaming wars,” Lucasfilm’sThe Mandalorianreturns after a two-year hiatus (although the character made an appearance inThe Book of Boba Fett).The journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue in season 3, which promises more action, more Darksaber fights, and more Grogu!
Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu after last season’s finale. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. Future episodes promise that the Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together to strange new worlds like Mandalore.
The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
Despite mostly being a background character for much of the franchise’s existence, Boba Fett has always been one of the most beloved Star Wars characters. Temuera Morrison returned inThe Mandalorianseason 2 to play the iconic bounty hunter, and he was finally given his own solo series in the form ofThe Book of Boba Fett.
And while the critical reaction to his story was fairly mixed,The Book of Boba Fettbrings to light some long-awaited moments, like how he escaped the Sarlacc fromReturn of the Jedi. If nothing else, the series serves as a decent companion piece toThe Mandalorianand will tie into the show’s third season.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
Star Wars Rebels (2014)
Even though it didn’t quite measure up to the highs ofThe Clone Wars,Rebelsstill garnered a much-deserved, positive critical reception for continuing the franchise’s success in the realm of animation.Star Wars Rebelsis the natural sequel toThe Clone Wars, this time largely following a new main cast of characters.
It begins 14 years into the devastating aftermath of Emperor Palpatine’sOrder 66, with Jedi now endangered and actively hunted down. And while the protagonists are mostly original, it rewards longtime fans with satisfying conclusions to story arcs started in the preceding series, with thrilling appearances by characters from the original trilogy. All four seasons ofStar Wars Rebelsare available to stream now.
