Watch order guide · John Williams

How to watch the John Williams movies in order

Updated October 21, 2026 · 20 min read · 29 titles · 68 hours

These are the films John Williams scored, in release order, from Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977) through E.T., Jurassic Park and Schindler's List to the Harry Potter films and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). Watch them as listed, or follow a series (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter) on its own timeline.

Titles
29
Films
29
Watch time
68 hours
Box office
$17.4 billion
Avg IMDb
7.5
Open the interactive timeline

John Williams movies in release order

Here is every John Williams title in the order it came out, 1975 to 2023: 29 films.

#TitleYearTypeRuntimeIMDb
1Jaws1975Film2h 4m8.1
2Star Wars1977Film2h 1m8.6
3Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977Film2h 17m7.6
4Superman1978Film2h 24m7.4
5The Empire Strikes Back1980Film2h 4m8.7
6Raiders of the Lost Ark1981Film1h 55m8.4
7E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial1982Film1h 55m7.9
8Return of the Jedi1983Film2h 12m8.3
9Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom1984Film1h 58m7.5
10Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade1989Film2h 7m8.2
11Home Alone1990Film1h 43m7.8
12Hook1991Film2h 22m6.8
13JFK1991Film3h 9m8
14Jurassic Park1993Film2h 7m8.2
15Schindler's List1993Film3h 15m9
16Saving Private Ryan1998Film2h 49m8.6
17Star Wars: The Phantom Menace1999Film2h 16m6.5
18Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone2001Film2h 32m7.7
19Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets2002Film2h 41m7.5
20Catch Me If You Can2002Film2h 21m8.1
21Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban2004Film2h 21m7.9
22Memoirs of a Geisha2005Film2h 26m7.3
23Munich2005Film2h 44m4.7
24Lincoln2012Film2h 30m7.3
25Star Wars: The Force Awakens2015Film2h 16m5.8
26Star Wars: The Last Jedi2017Film2h 32m4
27Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker2019Film2h 22m6.3
28The Fabelmans2022Film2h 31m7.5
29Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny2023Film2h 35m6.5

Release or chronological: which order is best?

For John Williams, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.

Where to start

Brand new to it

Start with Jaws and go in release order.

Short on time

The whole thing is 68 hours. At two hours a night that is about 35 evenings.

Only the best

The three highest rated: Schindler's List (9), The Empire Strikes Back (8.7), and Star Wars (8.6).

Every John Williams movie, explained

One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.

Jaws poster

No. 01 · 1975 · Film · 2h 4m

Jaws

When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police, a young marine biologist, and a grizzled shark hunter embark on a desperate quest to kill the beast before it strikes again.

Why it matters: Two alternating low notes stand in for a shark that is barely seen, and won Williams an Oscar.

Box office
$471 million on a $7 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 97%
Star Wars poster

No. 02 · 1977 · Film · 2h 1m

Star Wars

Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.

Why it matters: The main title fanfare and a full symphonic score, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Director
George Lucas
Box office
$775 million on a $11 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Close Encounters of the Third Kind poster

No. 03 · 1977 · Film · 2h 17m

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

After an encounter with UFOs, an electricity linesman feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

Why it matters: A five-note phrase becomes the language humans use to speak with the aliens.

Box office
$307 million on a $20 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Superman poster

No. 04 · 1978 · Film · 2h 24m

Superman

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works as a reporter at the Daily Planet alongside his crush, Lois Lane. Clark must summon his superhero alter-ego when the nefarious Lex Luthor launches a plan to take over the world.

Why it matters: Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.

Box office
$300 million on a $55 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 87%
The Empire Strikes Back poster

No. 05 · 1980 · Film · 2h 4m

The Empire Strikes Back

The epic saga continues as Luke Skywalker, in hopes of defeating the evil Galactic Empire, learns the ways of the Jedi from aging master Yoda. But Darth Vader is more determined than ever to capture Luke. Meanwhile, rebel leader Princess Leia, cocky Han Solo, Chewbacca, and droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are thrown into various stages of capture, betrayal and despair.

Why it matters: The score that introduced the Imperial March as Darth Vader's theme.

Box office
$538 million on a $18 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Raiders of the Lost Ark poster

No. 06 · 1981 · Film · 1h 55m

Raiders of the Lost Ark

When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.

Why it matters: The 1981 original and the place to start.

Box office
$390 million on a $18 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.4 · Rotten Tomatoes 94%
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial poster

No. 07 · 1982 · Film · 1h 55m

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.

Why it matters: Spielberg's boy-and-alien classic.

Box office
$797 million on a $11 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 99%
Return of the Jedi poster

No. 08 · 1983 · Film · 2h 12m

Return of the Jedi

Luke Skywalker leads a mission to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, the Emperor prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star, and the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor.

Why it matters: The original trilogy closes with new themes for Luke and Leia, the Emperor and the Ewoks.

Director
Richard Marquand
Box office
$573 million on a $32 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 83%
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom poster

No. 09 · 1984 · Film · 1h 58m

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone. He agrees – and stumbles upon a secret cult plotting a terrible plan in the catacombs of an ancient palace.

Why it matters: A prequel set in 1935, a year before Raiders.

Box office
$333 million on a $28 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 77%
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade poster

No. 10 · 1989 · Film · 2h 7m

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In 1938, an art collector appeals to eminent archaeologist Dr. Indiana Jones to embark on a search for the Holy Grail. Indy learns that a medieval historian has vanished while searching for it, and the missing man is his own father, Dr. Henry Jones Sr.. He sets out to rescue his father by following clues in the old man's notebook, which his father had mailed to him before he went missing. Indy arrives in Venice, where he enlists the help of a beautiful academic, Dr. Elsa Schneider, along with Marcus Brody and Sallah. Together they must stop the Nazis from recovering the power of eternal life and taking over the world!

Why it matters: Indy and his father search for the Grail.

Box office
$474 million on a $48 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 84%
Home Alone poster

No. 11 · 1990 · Film · 1h 43m

Home Alone

Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. When thieves try to break into his home, he puts up a fight like no other.

Why it matters: Kevin defends the house at Christmas.

Box office
$477 million on a $18 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 66%
Hook poster

No. 12 · 1991 · Film · 2h 22m

Hook

The boy who wasn't supposed to grow up—Peter Pan—does just that, becoming a soulless corporate lawyer whose workaholism could cost him his wife and kids. During his trip to see Granny Wendy in London, the vengeful Capt. Hook kidnaps Peter's kids and forces Peter to return to Neverland.

Why it matters: Peter Pan grown up.

Box office
$301 million on a $70 million budget
Scores
IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 37%
JFK poster

No. 13 · 1991 · Film · 3h 9m

JFK

Follows the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy led by New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison.

Why it matters: Oliver Stone cut his assassination thriller to music Williams wrote before seeing the whole film.

Director
Oliver Stone
Box office
$205 million on a $40 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8 · Rotten Tomatoes 85%
Jurassic Park poster

No. 14 · 1993 · Film · 2h 7m

Jurassic Park

A wealthy entrepreneur secretly creates a theme park featuring living dinosaurs drawn from prehistoric DNA. Before opening day, he invites a team of experts and his two eager grandchildren to experience the park and help calm anxious investors. However, the park is anything but amusing as the security systems go off-line and the dinosaurs escape.

Why it matters: The 1993 original.

Box office
$1.06 billion on a $63 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Schindler's List poster

No. 15 · 1993 · Film · 3h 15m

Schindler's List

The true story of how businessman Oskar Schindler saved over a thousand Jewish lives from the Nazis while they worked as slaves in his factory during World War II.

Why it matters: A solo violin theme played by Itzhak Perlman; Williams won the Oscar.

Box office
$321 million on a $22 million budget
Scores
IMDb 9 · Rotten Tomatoes 98%
Saving Private Ryan poster

No. 16 · 1998 · Film · 2h 49m

Saving Private Ryan

As U.S. troops storm the beaches of Normandy, three brothers lie dead on the battlefield, with a fourth trapped behind enemy lines. Ranger captain John Miller and seven men are tasked with penetrating German-held territory and bringing the boy home.

Why it matters: Little music in battle, then Hymn to the Fallen over the end credits.

Box office
$482 million on a $70 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 94%
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace poster

No. 17 · 1999 · Film · 2h 16m

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Anakin Skywalker, a young slave strong with the Force, is discovered on Tatooine. Meanwhile, the evil Sith have returned, enacting their plot for revenge against the Jedi.

Why it matters: Episode I: young Anakin Skywalker is found; the earliest film in the saga.

Director
George Lucas
Box office
$1.05 billion on a $115 million budget
Scores
IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 54%
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone poster

No. 18 · 2001 · Film · 2h 32m

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle's house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he's a powerful wizard—with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As he learns to harness his newfound powers with the help of the school's kindly headmaster, Harry uncovers the truth about his parents' deaths—and about the villain who's to blame.

Why it matters: Harry arrives at Hogwarts: the place to start.

Box office
$1.03 billion on a $125 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets poster

No. 19 · 2002 · Film · 2h 41m

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Cars fly, trees fight back, and a mysterious house-elf comes to warn Harry Potter at the start of his second year at Hogwarts. Adventure and danger await when bloody writing on a wall announces: The Chamber Of Secrets Has Been Opened. To save Hogwarts will require all of Harry, Ron and Hermione's magical abilities and courage.

Why it matters: Year two, and an early clue to Voldemort's Horcruxes.

Box office
$877 million on a $100 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 82%
Catch Me If You Can poster

No. 20 · 2002 · Film · 2h 21m

Catch Me If You Can

A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. An FBI agent makes it his mission to put him behind bars. But Frank not only eludes capture, he revels in the pursuit.

Why it matters: A jazzy, saxophone-led score for Spielberg's 1960s con-man chase.

Box office
$352 million on a $52 million budget
Scores
IMDb 8.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 96%
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban poster

No. 21 · 2004 · Film · 2h 21m

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter's life is in danger once more as dangerous wizard Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban Prison and is heading to Hogwarts.

Why it matters: Year three introduces Sirius Black and Lupin.

Box office
$790 million on a $130 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 90%
Memoirs of a Geisha poster

No. 22 · 2005 · Film · 2h 26m

Memoirs of a Geisha

In the years before World War II, a penniless Japanese child is torn from her family to work as a maid in a geisha house.

Why it matters: Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman play the solos in a Golden Globe-winning score.

Director
Rob Marshall
Box office
$162 million on a $85 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 35%
Munich poster

No. 23 · 2005 · Film · 2h 44m

Munich

During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, eleven Israeli athletes are taken hostage and murdered by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. In retaliation, the Israeli government recruits a group of Mossad agents to track down and execute those responsible for the attack.

Why it matters: A Prayer for Peace carries Spielberg's film about Israel's secret revenge mission.

Box office
$131 million on a $70 million budget
Scores
IMDb 4.7
Lincoln poster

No. 24 · 2012 · Film · 2h 30m

Lincoln

The revealing story of the 16th US President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

Why it matters: A restrained score, recorded in Chicago, for Spielberg's film about the 13th Amendment.

Box office
$275 million on a $65 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 90%
Star Wars: The Force Awakens poster

No. 25 · 2015 · Film · 2h 16m

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.

Why it matters: Episode VII begins the sequel trilogy, 30 years after Return of the Jedi.

Director
J.J. Abrams
Box office
$2.07 billion on a $245 million budget
Scores
IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 93%
Star Wars: The Last Jedi poster

No. 26 · 2017 · Film · 2h 32m

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Rey develops her newly discovered abilities with the guidance of Luke Skywalker, who is unsettled by the strength of her powers. Meanwhile, the Resistance prepares to do battle with the First Order.

Why it matters: Episode VIII: Rey trains with Luke.

Director
Rian Johnson
Box office
$1.33 billion on a $300 million budget
Scores
IMDb 4
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker poster

No. 27 · 2019 · Film · 2h 22m

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once again as the journey of Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron continues. With the power and knowledge of generations behind them, the final battle begins.

Why it matters: Episode IX concludes the Skywalker saga.

Director
J.J. Abrams
Box office
$1.07 billion on a $490 million budget
Scores
IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 51%
The Fabelmans poster

No. 28 · 2022 · Film · 2h 31m

The Fabelmans

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker as he reaches adolescence, but soon discovers a shattering family secret and explores how the power of films can help him see the truth.

Why it matters: A mostly piano score for Spielberg's story of his own boyhood.

Box office
$46 million on a $40 million budget
Scores
IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny poster

No. 29 · 2023 · Film · 2h 35m

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Finding himself in a new era, and approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artifact doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

Why it matters: Harrison Ford's last outing as Indy.

Box office
$384 million on a $295 million budget
Scores
IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 71%

John Williams box office and budgets

The 29 John Williams films with reported numbers have grossed $17.4 billion worldwide on about $2.64 billion in combined budgets, roughly 6.6 times what they cost. The biggest is Star Wars: The Force Awakens at $2.07 billion, 12% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($1.33 billion) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ($1.07 billion).

Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which made 76 times its $11 million budget. The weakest was The Fabelmans at 1.1 times its $40 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.

Worldwide box office and production budget, top 20 filmsBox office Budget
  1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015 $2.07B / $245M
  2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi 2017 $1.33B / $300M
  3. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 2019 $1.07B / $490M
  4. Jurassic Park 1993 $1.06B / $63M
  5. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace 1999 $1.05B / $115M
  6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 2001 $1.03B / $125M
  7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 2002 $877M / $100M
  8. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982 $797M / $11M
  9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2004 $790M / $130M
  10. Star Wars 1977 $775M / $11M
  11. Return of the Jedi 1983 $573M / $32M
  12. The Empire Strikes Back 1980 $538M / $18M
  13. Saving Private Ryan 1998 $482M / $70M
  14. Home Alone 1990 $477M / $18M
  15. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 $474M / $48M
  16. Jaws 1975 $471M / $7M
  17. Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 $390M / $18M
  18. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 2023 $384M / $295M
  19. Catch Me If You Can 2002 $352M / $52M
  20. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984 $333M / $28M

The best and worst rated John Williams movies

Across 29 rated titles, John Williams averages 7.5 on IMDb. The top of the list is Schindler's List at 9, then The Empire Strikes Back (8.7) and Star Wars (8.6). At the bottom: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (4) and Munich (4.7). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is only the 27th best rated.

IMDb score of every John Williams title, in release order (1975 to 2023)
345678910 Jaws (1975): 8.1Star Wars (1977): 8.6Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): 7.6Superman (1978): 7.4The Empire Strikes Back (1980): 8.7Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): 8.4E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982): 7.9Return of the Jedi (1983): 8.3Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984): 7.5Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): 8.2Home Alone (1990): 7.8Hook (1991): 6.8JFK (1991): 8Jurassic Park (1993): 8.2Schindler's List (1993): 9Saving Private Ryan (1998): 8.6Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999): 6.5Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001): 7.7Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002): 7.5Catch Me If You Can (2002): 8.1Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): 7.9Memoirs of a Geisha (2005): 7.3Munich (2005): 4.7Lincoln (2012): 7.3Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015): 5.8Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017): 4Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019): 6.3The Fabelmans (2022): 7.5Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023): 6.5 Schindler's List 9Star Wars: The Last Jedi 4
  1. Schindler's List9 · RT 98%
  2. The Empire Strikes Back8.7 · RT 93%
  3. Star Wars8.6 · RT 93%
  4. Saving Private Ryan8.6 · RT 94%
  5. Raiders of the Lost Ark8.4 · RT 94%
  6. Return of the Jedi8.3 · RT 83%
  7. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade8.2 · RT 84%
  8. Jurassic Park8.2 · RT 91%
  9. Jaws8.1 · RT 97%
  10. Catch Me If You Can8.1 · RT 96%

Who appears in the most John Williams movies

Harrison Ford leads with 8 appearances as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, ahead of Anthony Daniels (7) and Mark Hamill (6). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.

ActorRoleTitlesFirst and latest
Harrison FordHan Solo / Indiana Jones8Star Wars (1977) to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Anthony DanielsC-3PO7Star Wars (1977) to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Mark HamillLuke Skywalker / Dobbu Scay6Star Wars (1977) to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Carrie FisherPrincess Leia Organa / Princess Leia6Star Wars (1977) to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Alec GuinnessObi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi / Obi-Wan Kenobi3Star Wars (1977) to Return of the Jedi (1983)
Kenny BakerR2-D23Star Wars (1977) to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Peter MayhewChewbacca3Star Wars (1977) to Return of the Jedi (1983)
David ProwseDarth Vader3Star Wars (1977) to Return of the Jedi (1983)
Frank OzYoda3The Empire Strikes Back (1980) to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
John Rhys-DaviesSallah3Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Daniel RadcliffeHarry Potter3Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Rupert GrintRon Weasley3Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

John Williams directors and creators

12 filmmakers have directed or created John Williams; Steven Spielberg has the most, with 14.

  • Steven SpielbergJaws (1975), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Hook (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), Schindler's List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Munich (2005), Lincoln (2012), and The Fabelmans (2022)
  • Chris ColumbusHome Alone (1990), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001), and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
  • George LucasStar Wars (1977) and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999)
  • J.J. AbramsStar Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
  • Richard DonnerSuperman (1978)
  • Irvin KershnerThe Empire Strikes Back (1980)
  • Richard MarquandReturn of the Jedi (1983)
  • Oliver StoneJFK (1991)
  • Alfonso CuarónHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
  • Rob MarshallMemoirs of a Geisha (2005)
  • Rian JohnsonStar Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
  • James MangoldIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

How long it takes to watch every John Williams movie

All 29 titles add up to 68 hours. That is about 35 two-hour evenings, or 7 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Schindler's List at 3h 15m.

Watch time by phase
  1. The '70s 8h 46m 4 titles
  2. The '80s 12h 11m 6 titles
  3. The '90s 17h 41m 7 titles
  4. The 2000s 15h 5m 6 titles
  5. The 2010s 9h 40m 4 titles
  6. The 2020s 5h 6m 2 titles
A weekend

The 4 best rated films: Schindler's List, The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars, and Saving Private Ryan.

An hour a day

Everything takes about 10 weeks.

Before the next one

Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.

Common questions

What order should I watch the John Williams movies in?

These are the films John Williams scored, in release order, from Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977) through E.T., Jurassic Park and Schindler's List to the Harry Potter films and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). Watch them as listed, or follow a series (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter) on its own timeline.

How many John Williams movies and shows are there?

There are 29 titles in the John Williams franchise: 29 films and 0 series, released from 1975 to 2023.

How long does it take to watch all the John Williams movies?

About 68 hours for all 29 titles, counting every episode.

What is the first John Williams title in chronological order?

Jaws, set in Two notes. In release order the first is Jaws (1975).

What is the best John Williams movie?

By IMDb score, Schindler's List (1993) at 9, followed by The Empire Strikes Back at 8.7.

What is the highest-grossing John Williams movie?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), with $2.07 billion worldwide. John Williams films have made $17.4 billion in total.

Who has appeared in the most John Williams movies?

Harrison Ford, in 8 of them as Han Solo.

What is the longest John Williams movie?

Schindler's List, at 3h 15m.

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