The Stargate Franchise Tracker covers the complete Stargate universe on screen — from Roland Emmerich's 1994 theatrical film through Stargate Universe and Stargate Origins. That means 394 entries: 390 television episodes across 6 series and 4 films, totalling approximately 277 hours of content. The franchise ran continuously in some form from 1997 to 2011, making it one of the longest-running science fiction franchises in television history.
Stargate is a franchise built on a single durable premise: a network of alien devices (stargates) that create wormholes for instantaneous travel between planets, enabling Earth's Stargate Command to explore the galaxy week by week. That episodic premise produced over 350 television episodes and two companion series, sharing cast members and continuity across all three major shows.
Stargate Watch Order: Film, SG-1, Atlantis, Universe, and Origins
The Stargate franchise has a clear canonical viewing order. The three main series share continuity, and the tracker organises them in production order.
- 1. Stargate (1994 film): The Roland Emmerich film that started the franchise. Watch first — it establishes the premise and introduces the Stargate device. The TV series reimagines several elements from the film.
- 2. Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007, 10 seasons): The main series. The first two seasons reference and revise the 1994 film. SG-1 is the core of the franchise — everything else is built around it.
- Stargate SG-1 films: The Ark of Truth and Continuum (both 2008) conclude storylines from SG-1 Seasons 9–10. Watch after completing SG-1.
- 3. Stargate Atlantis (2004–2009, 5 seasons): A companion series running concurrently with SG-1 from Season 8 onward. The two series cross-reference occasionally. The tracker notes crossover episodes. You can watch Atlantis alongside later SG-1 seasons or after completing SG-1.
- 4. Stargate Universe (2009–2011, 2 seasons): A darker, more serialized reimagining that ran after both SG-1 and Atlantis ended. SGU shares universe continuity but is tonally distinct — closer to Battlestar Galactica than the adventure tone of the earlier shows.
- 5. Stargate Origins (2018, web series): A prequel set in 1939. Can be watched at any point — it's a standalone story with minimal connection to the main series timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What order should I watch Stargate?
- Start with the 1994 film, then watch Stargate SG-1 Seasons 1–10, then the two SG-1 films (The Ark of Truth, Continuum). Stargate Atlantis can be watched concurrently from SG-1 Season 8 onward or after completing SG-1. Stargate Universe follows both. Stargate Origins is a standalone prequel you can watch at any point.
- Do I need to watch the 1994 Stargate film before the TV series?
- It's recommended but not strictly required. The TV series (SG-1) reimagines several elements from the film — the villain, some character backgrounds — but the premise carries over. The film is enjoyable in its own right and provides useful context for the early seasons of SG-1.
- How many seasons does Stargate SG-1 have?
- Stargate SG-1 ran for 10 seasons (1997–2007), with 214 episodes. It's one of the longest-running science fiction series in North American television history, surpassing The X-Files' episode count at the time. The story concluded in two direct-to-DVD films in 2008.
- Is Stargate Universe different from SG-1 and Atlantis?
- Yes, significantly. Stargate Universe (2009–2011) took the franchise in a darker, more serialized direction — closer to the style of Battlestar Galactica than the adventure-of-the-week format of SG-1 and Atlantis. It shares the same universe but has a distinct tone and a new cast stranded on an ancient ship far from Earth.
- Is there a new Stargate series coming?
- As of 2025, a new Stargate series has been in development at Amazon MGM Studios. No confirmed release date has been announced. The franchise rights are held by Amazon following its acquisition of MGM, and development has been repeatedly reported but not formally greenlit for production.