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How to watch Battlestar Galactica in release and chronological order

Want to get started on the Battlestar Galactica franchise? Here’s how to do it!

Battlestar Galactica
Image credit: NBC Universal
Joshua Lapin-Bertone avatar
Guide by Joshua Lapin-Bertone Contributing writer
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The Twelve Colonies have fallen, the Cylons are closing in, and Earth is light years away. Welcome to Battlestar Galactica, one of the most exciting science fiction franchises to ever hit television. The franchise began with a 1978 television series on ABC, which inspired comic books, novels, and more. In 2003 a mini-series aired on Sci-Fi, giving the franchise a massive renaissance. A new series followed, along with web-shows, television films, and a spin-off. It’s pretty clear that fans love Battlestar Galactica, and can’t get enough of the franchise.

Guess what, you could be one of those fans! If you’re reading this, then chances are you’re looking to begin your own journey with the franchise. However, you might be confused about where to start. With so many television shows, movies, and multiple continuities, it can be disorienting. Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here! Just consider Popverse your own navigation system. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to kick off your Battlestar Galactica journey!

Let’s get started….

How to watch Battlestar Galactica in release order

Battlestar Galactica cast pic
Image credit: NBC Universal Television

Are you ready to begin your Battlestar Galactica journey? The search for Earth is a long one, with plenty of Cylons along the way. If you want to get started on Battlestar Galactica, there are four television series. However, there are also a series of web-shows and television movies. If you’re wondering where they all fit in, don’t worry, we’ve already put them in order for you. If you’re looking to watch Battlestar Galactica in release order, just use this watchlist, and you’ll be all set!

How to watch Battlestar Galactica in chronological order

Battlestar Galactica 1978
Image credit: Universal Television

Like most science fiction franchises, Battlestar Galactica jumps around chronologically. Plus, not every project takes place in the same timeline. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy to organize. Battlestar Galactica has two distinct continuities, and it doesn’t take much effort to place their stories in chronological order. In fact, we’ve already done the work for you here! In you want to enjoy the Battlestar Galactica franchise in chronological order, just follow this list.

Original Continuity

The original continuity consists of the 1978 television series and its sequel Galactica 1980. This is where viewers first met the crew of the Galactica, and the villainous Cylons. The original series aired on ABC where it became an audience favorite. However, budget concerns and executive meddling caused the series to be cancelled. ABC attempted to retool it as Galactica 1980, but the sequel failed to capture the magic of the original.

  • Battlestar Galactica (24-episode television series, 1978-1979)
  • Galactica 1980 (10-episode television series, 1980)

Reimagined continuity

In 2003 the Sci-Fi Channel aired a television mini-series that retooled Battlestar Galactica for modern audiences. The television event was a complete reboot, putting a new spin on the storyline from the original 1978 show. The response was enthusiastic, and it wasn’t long before Sci-Fi ordered a television series. Battlestar Galactica was a huge success for Sci-Fi, lasting for 4 seasons, and spawning numerous spin-off movies, web-shows, and more. Some of the web-shows and movies took place at different points in the timeline, but this chronological list should help you make sense of it all.

  • Caprica (19-episode television series, 2010)
  • Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (10-episode web-series, 2012)
  • Battlestar Galactica (2-part television mini-series, 2003)
  • Battlestar Galactica season 1 (13-episode television season, 2004-2005)
  • Battlestar Galactica season 2 (20-episode television season, 2005-2006)
  • Battlestar Galactica: Razor (2007 television film)/ Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashbacks (7-episode web-series, 2007)
  • Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance (10-episode web-series, 2006)
  • Battlestar Galactica season 3 (20-episode television season, 2006-2007)
  • Battlestar Galactica season 4 part 1 (10-episode television season, 2008)
  • Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy (10-episode web-series, 2008-2009)
  • Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (2009 television film)
  • Battlestar Galactica season 4 part 2 (11-episode television season, 2009)

Is the Battlestar Galactica movie still happening?

Battlestar Galactica screengrab
Image credit: NBC Universal Television

The Galactica will fly again, it’s just a matter of putting the right team together. For years Universal hoped to make a Battlestar Galactica movie, but it seems their focus has shifted to streaming. In 2019 it was announced that NBCUniversal was looking to develop a Battlestar Galactica television reboot for their streaming service Peacock. The series has been stuck in development for years, and at one point Michael Lesslie was attached as a writer. Lesslie left the project in 2021, making the future of the series unclear. However, Variety recently announced that Derek Simonds (creator of The Sinner) has signed on as showrunner. Right now we’re still in the pre-production stages, so there is no firm release date.

Do they reach Earth in Battlestar Galactica?

Battlestar Galactica finale
Image credit: NBC Universal Television

If you want to avoid spoilers, then don’t read any further…

Still here? Okay….

Yes, the crew of the Galactica do eventually reach Earth. In fact, Earth is found multiple times across the franchise. Let me explain…

In the original continuity, the crew of the Galactica reach Earth in the first episode of Galactica 1980. They soon realize that Earth isn’t ready to take on Cylons, so they take steps to lead the enemy fleet away and prepare their new planet for a potential war. Some of this preparation involved giving Earth advanced technology by manipulating world history through time travel (things got wacky fast).

The crew also found Earth in the 2004 television series, but there was a twist. The Earth that they found was an unhabitable planet that had been destroyed by years of war. Oh well. However, in the last episode the crew of the Galactica stumble upon another planet, which they decide to name Earth. This planet is actually a prehistoric version of our world.

This is a fun twist, as the Earth they were searching for the entire time was actually not the planet audiences were expecting. It also means that our world got its name from a dead planet ravaged by war.

Where can I watch Battlestar Galactica?

Battlestar Galactica pic
Image credit: NBC Universal Television

The 2004 Sci-Fi series is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video. The prequel series Caprica is currently available for free on the Roku channel. The original 1978 series and its sequel Galactica 1980 are currently not featured on any streaming service. However, both shows can be purchased from a variety of video-on-demand platforms, including Google Play, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV. Keep in mind, some of these series might end up on different streaming networks as licenses expire.

Now you have everything you need to begin your Battlestar Galactica viewing journey! Strap in, watch out for Cylons, and have a good time!

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