The Babylon 5 Franchise Tracker covers the full recorded history of the B5 universe on screen and in print — from the original TV movie pilot in 1993 through the 2023 reboot series. That means 163 entries in total: 5 live-action series, 8 films, 14 comics, and 18 novels. Watch and read it all and you're looking at over 100 hours of content.
Babylon 5 was the first major TV science fiction series built around a complete five-year story arc, written largely by a single creator, J. Michael Straczynski. The interconnected nature of the universe means viewing and reading order matters more here than in most franchises — subplots seeded in Season 1 pay off in Season 4, and the tie-in novels and comics fill gaps that the series deliberately leaves open.
Babylon 5 Watch Order: Where to Start
The standard recommendation is to watch Babylon 5 in production order, starting with the pilot TV movie The Gathering (1993), then Seasons 1–5, then the subsequent TV films. The reason: the series was designed to be experienced in broadcast sequence. Later seasons contain callbacks and payoffs for earlier ones.
- New viewers: Start with The Gathering, then Season 1 (Signs and Portents), and continue sequentially. Don't skip Season 1 on a first watch — it contains essential setup even if its production quality is uneven.
- The TV films: Several films were produced between seasons or after the series ended. In the Beginning, for example, makes more sense after you've seen the main series — it's a prequel that spoils major plot points if watched first.
- Crusade (1999, 13 episodes) is the direct sequel series and follows the main show. The novels bridge the gap between B5 and Crusade and are worth reading before Crusade if you're a completist.
- 2023 reboot: J. Michael Straczynski's CW reboot is a separate continuity — it can be watched independently of the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What order should I watch Babylon 5?
- Start with the pilot film The Gathering (1993), then watch Seasons 1–5 in sequence. After the main series, watch the TV films in production order. In the Beginning is a prequel but contains spoilers — most fans recommend watching it after Season 4.
- Do I need to watch all 5 seasons of Babylon 5?
- The core story concludes effectively after Season 4. Season 5 wraps up the aftermath and introduces Crusade setup — it's worthwhile but some fans consider it the weakest season. Season 3 and 4 are the dramatic peak of the series.
- Is the 2023 Babylon 5 reboot connected to the original?
- No. The 2023 CW reboot is a separate continuity reimagining the original story. It shares characters and setting but is not a continuation of the original five seasons. New viewers can start with either; original-series fans should treat it as a standalone alternate take.
- How long would it take to watch all of Babylon 5?
- The five TV series total approximately 110 hours of screen time. Add the 8 films for another ~13 hours. With the comics and novels, the full franchise represents over 100 hours of visual content — and several hundred hours more of reading if you include all the tie-in fiction.
- Where can I watch Babylon 5?
- The original Babylon 5 series and films are available on Max (HBO Max) in the US. Availability varies by region. The 2023 CW reboot also aired on Max.