Which film came first?

Two films. One earlier year. Take a little trip through the cinema calendar with Star Wars, Harry Potter and Stargate.

An original movie release year quiz by .

Choose from 24 challenge packsStudy the film years first
Follow the release calendar, rather than the story’s timeline.

Take your time with the timeline.

In a comparison pack, choose the earlier film across 6 different pairs. Each correct choice earns one point. In an ordering puzzle, move four films from earliest to latest, then check how many positions are correct.

The original mixed quiz uses 12 different films. Smaller comparison packs can repeat a film, but never a pair. Same-year comparisons are excluded, and every ordering puzzle has four different years: there are no date tiebreakers.

No timer, account or saved score. The years refer to original theatrical releases, not rereleases, streaming arrivals, book dates or events inside the story. Restart or replay any pack.

Try a release challenge

The interactive quiz needs JavaScript. You can still compare all 18 sourced films in the study list below.

24 packs, two ways to play

Twelve comparison pools and twelve different four-film ordering puzzles, all using the 18 sourced films below. These are themed packs of one release-year game.

Open a pack’s film list to study its years first. The smaller comparison pools revisit titles across six different pairs; the ordering puzzles each have a fixed set of four films, shuffled for play.

Earlier-film comparison packsFour-film ordering puzzles

Six-pair comparison packs

Four-film ordering puzzles

Release order has its own story

For example, A New Hope arrived in 1977, while The Phantom Menace arrived in 1999. Episode IV came to cinemas before Episode I. The lower episode number does not win this game.

Our Star Wars viewing routes explain what changes when you follow release order or episode order. The quiz only compares the release years.

The film-and-year list

All 18 possible films, with the answer evidence beside each one. Open a catalogue record to check a year, or follow the viewing guide to decide what to watch next.

Philosopher’s Stone and Sorcerer’s Stone are regional titles for the same first film. Our title guide explains the distinction.

The nine Skywalker films

Compare Star Wars release order and episode order

The eight Harry Potter films

Follow the eight-film Harry Potter route

The original Stargate film

Place the original film in the Stargate screen journey

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