John Williams watch order

John Williams movies in order, by release and rating. Updated October 20, 2026.

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 to watch the John Williams movies in order: the full guide

All 29 films and series in the John Williams franchise, in release order and in chronological (story) order. The first in release order is Jaws (1975); the first in chronological order is Jaws (set in Two notes).

Release order

Jaws (Movie, 1975): Two alternating low notes stand in for a shark that is barely seen, and won Williams an Oscar.
Star Wars (Movie, 1977): The main title fanfare and a full symphonic score, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Movie, 1977): A five-note phrase becomes the language humans use to speak with the aliens.
Superman (Movie, 1978): Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.
The Empire Strikes Back (Movie, 1980): The score that introduced the Imperial March as Darth Vader's theme.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Movie, 1981): The 1981 original and the place to start.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Movie, 1982): Spielberg's boy-and-alien classic.
Return of the Jedi (Movie, 1983): The original trilogy closes with new themes for Luke and Leia, the Emperor and the Ewoks.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Movie, 1984): A prequel set in 1935, a year before Raiders.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Movie, 1989): Indy and his father search for the Grail.
Home Alone (Movie, 1990): Kevin defends the house at Christmas.
Hook (Movie, 1991): Peter Pan grown up.
JFK (Movie, 1991): Oliver Stone cut his assassination thriller to music Williams wrote before seeing the whole film.
Jurassic Park (Movie, 1993): The 1993 original.
Schindler's List (Movie, 1993): A solo violin theme played by Itzhak Perlman; Williams won the Oscar.
Saving Private Ryan (Movie, 1998): Little music in battle, then Hymn to the Fallen over the end credits.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Movie, 1999): Episode I: young Anakin Skywalker is found; the earliest film in the saga.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Movie, 2001): Harry arrives at Hogwarts: the place to start.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Movie, 2002): Year two, and an early clue to Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Catch Me If You Can (Movie, 2002): A jazzy, saxophone-led score for Spielberg's 1960s con-man chase.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Movie, 2004): Year three introduces Sirius Black and Lupin.
Memoirs of a Geisha (Movie, 2005): Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman play the solos in a Golden Globe-winning score.
Munich (Movie, 2005): A Prayer for Peace carries Spielberg's film about Israel's secret revenge mission.
Lincoln (Movie, 2012): A restrained score, recorded in Chicago, for Spielberg's film about the 13th Amendment.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Movie, 2015): Episode VII begins the sequel trilogy, 30 years after Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Movie, 2017): Episode VIII: Rey trains with Luke.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Movie, 2019): Episode IX concludes the Skywalker saga.
The Fabelmans (Movie, 2022): A mostly piano score for Spielberg's story of his own boyhood.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Movie, 2023): Harrison Ford's last outing as Indy.

Chronological order

Jaws (set in Two notes): Two alternating low notes stand in for a shark that is barely seen, and won Williams an Oscar.
Star Wars (set in The main title): The main title fanfare and a full symphonic score, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (set in Five tones): A five-note phrase becomes the language humans use to speak with the aliens.
Superman (set in The march): Christopher Reeve's classic; the place to start.
The Empire Strikes Back (set in The Imperial March): The score that introduced the Imperial March as Darth Vader's theme.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (set in The Raiders March): The 1981 original and the place to start.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (set in The flying theme): Spielberg's boy-and-alien classic.
Return of the Jedi (set in Luke and Leia): The original trilogy closes with new themes for Luke and Leia, the Emperor and the Ewoks.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (set in Parade of the Slave Children): A prequel set in 1935, a year before Raiders.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (set in The Grail theme): Indy and his father search for the Grail.
Home Alone (set in Somewhere in My Memory): Kevin defends the house at Christmas.
Hook (set in The Flight to Neverland): Peter Pan grown up.
JFK (set in Prologue): Oliver Stone cut his assassination thriller to music Williams wrote before seeing the whole film.
Jurassic Park (set in The main theme): The 1993 original.
Schindler's List (set in The violin theme): A solo violin theme played by Itzhak Perlman; Williams won the Oscar.
Saving Private Ryan (set in Hymn to the Fallen): Little music in battle, then Hymn to the Fallen over the end credits.
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (set in Duel of the Fates): Episode I: young Anakin Skywalker is found; the earliest film in the saga.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (set in Hedwig's Theme): Harry arrives at Hogwarts: the place to start.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (set in Fawkes the Phoenix): Year two, and an early clue to Voldemort's Horcruxes.
Catch Me If You Can (set in The jazz title): A jazzy, saxophone-led score for Spielberg's 1960s con-man chase.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (set in Double Trouble): Year three introduces Sirius Black and Lupin.
Memoirs of a Geisha (set in Sayuri's theme): Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman play the solos in a Golden Globe-winning score.
Munich (set in A Prayer for Peace): A Prayer for Peace carries Spielberg's film about Israel's secret revenge mission.
Lincoln (set in The People's House): A restrained score, recorded in Chicago, for Spielberg's film about the 13th Amendment.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (set in Rey's Theme): Episode VII begins the sequel trilogy, 30 years after Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi (set in The Rebellion Is Reborn): Episode VIII: Rey trains with Luke.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (set in The final suite): Episode IX concludes the Skywalker saga.
The Fabelmans (set in A piano score): A mostly piano score for Spielberg's story of his own boyhood.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (set in Helena's Theme): Harrison Ford's last outing as Indy.

Common questions

What order should I watch the John Williams movies in?

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).