Is Star Wars on Netflix Streaming?

Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, that you have friends or family members that you really want to take to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens but who haven’t seen the necessary prior films from the Star Wars saga — and by that, I mean from Star Wars through Return of the Jedi, because viewing of the prequels is strictly optional, as it turns out.

Continuing our made-up scenario, let’s say that you have a Netflix account, and that the light bulb goes off in your head when you think, “A-ha! Maybe the first six Star Wars movies are on Netflix and we can stream them at our leisure.” That makes perfect sense, so hat’s off to you for that logic.

Sadly, you’re going to be disappointed. The first six Star Wars films are not currently on Netflix for streaming. Those of you who still do the old school thing and get DVDs through the Netflix disc service at DVD.com are in luck, but for everyone else, not so much.

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Why not, since people would no doubt be streaming those licks like crazy right now trying to either watch them again or catch up those who’ve never seen them? It’s a money/rights thing, as currently you can’t stream any of the first six Star Wars movies anywhere — though you can purchase them in digital form via several different means.

(As an aside, our friends at Netflix Life have a good explanation as to why even The Force Awakens is unlikely to show up on Netflix in the U.S.)

There were rumors a few months back about the first six films coming to Netflix, but they have so far turned out to be just that. Maybe the oft-discussed live-action TV show, if it ever comes together, would help make those rumors into something more tangible.

Until then, you’re out of luck trying to stream anything Star Wars besides Rebels on Netflix. Good thing the Blu-ray set for the original trilogy is cheap right now …