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When wondering how to watch the Saw movies in order, it's possible to watch them in order of release date. However, watching these popular horror movies in chronological order is the best and most compelling way. Ever since the first Saw film came out in 2004, fans have been invested in the story of John Kramer/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and the gory games that he plays with his victims. Unlike some slasher movie villains who are forgettable, Kramer makes an impression from his first moments onscreen.
Fans who wonder how to watch the Saw movies in order can follow this chronological timeline. When watched this way, the Saw franchise makes the most sense, and horror fans will get the most out of the unnerving experience.
10 Best Saw Movies, Ranked
The Saw franchise is one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, but which movie is the best?
Jigsaw (2017)
When wondering how to watch the Saw movies in order, the 2017 release Jigsaw is the best movie to start with. While it might be Saw movie number eight, it explains more details about John Kramer, the first of every Jigsaw killer. Kramer plays his horrible game with five characters who wake up in an unfamiliar and terrifying location. There's a great twist about the connection between Kramer and one of his latest victims. This is the first set of games that Jigsaw/Kramer plays, and Jigsaw is set 10 years before Kramer's death.
Director | The Spierig Brothers |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Matt Passmore, Hannah Emily Anderson, Clé Bennett, Callum Keith Rennie |
Runtime | 92 minutes |
Release Date | October 27th, 2017 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 32% |
In a 2017 interview with Den of Geek, Tobin Bell shared that he was happy to play his serial killer again. He said of Kramer:
"I find him, a guy like King Lear. He’s a trained mechanical engineer, he’s an architect, he’s a philosopher, he’s a theologian. He’s huge, as a character..."
Saw (2004)
When wondering how to watch the Saw movies in order, fans should watch Saw next, the first film that was released. It's a good introduction to John Kramer's sad backstory, the gross and violent traps that Jigsaw sets, and what fans can expect from the entire horror franchise. The ending of Saw includes an intelligent and engaging twist about the identity of the character lying on the floor. The movie also includes a well-crafted main character, a photographer named Adam (Leigh Whannell), who is stunned to find himself in this brutal situation.
Director | James Wan |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Leigh Whannell, Michael Emerson, Monica Potter, Cary Elwes, Danny Glover |
Runtime | 103 minutes |
Release Date | October 29th, 2004 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 50% |
It's interesting to learn that Leigh Whannell and James Wan viewed Saw as a thriller, but the movies are classified as horror, especially since they are so gory. As Whannell told Complex.com:
"The sequels belong more in the horror genre, but the original film, even when I watch it today, still feels like it’s the locked-room thriller that we were trying to come up with. We noticed that the first Saw ’s traps and more visceral elements were really being championed and celebrated by the fans, so it was a natural progression towards that in the sequels."
Saw X (2023)
While Saw X was released in 2023 and is the tenth movie, it's both a prequel and a sequel. When it comes to the Saw timeline, Saw X takes place before Saw II and after Saw. John Kramer's unsettling and tough backstory is explored here as he goes to Mexico City and hopes that he can find a cure for his cancer. Instead, he learns the truth about the clinic, and begins playing his gory game.
Director | Kevin Greutert |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand |
Runtime | 118 minutes |
Release Date | September 29th, 2023 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 80% |
The Saw X ending suggests that there could be more movies, which fans would be happy about given how strong some of the films in the franchise are.
Saw II (2005)
When it comes to how to watch the Saw movies in order, Saw II, which is the second movie, comes next. This time, John Kramer has created a game where eight characters are being tortured in a home, and he also uses the memorable Billy the Puppet to give messages to his victims on a video screen. Billy the Puppet has tragic origins as Kramer made him so he could play with his child. When his wife Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell) had a miscarriage, Kramer was devastated.
Director | Darren Lynn Bousman |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Donnie Wahlberg, Beverly Mitchell, Glenn Plummer, Franky G |
Runtime | 93 minutes |
Release Date | October 28th, 2005 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 37% |
Saw II is also an important movie in the Saw timeline because fans learn that Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), the only victim of Kramer's who lives, wants to take over from him when he passes away. Amanda is a compelling character and one reason why Saw is one of the most important horror movie franchises.
Saw III (2006)
When wondering how to watch the Saw movies in order, the third movie in the franchise, Saw III, can be watched fifth. While Kramer starts another deadly game, Amanda wants Dr. Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh) to make sure that he can survive longer and achieve his goal.
Director | Darren Lynn Bousman |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Smith, Shawnee Smith, Bahar Soomekh, Angus Macfayden, Dina Meyer |
Runtime | 108 minutes |
Release Date | October 27th, 2008 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 29% |
While there are many Jigsaw killers in the Saw franchise, Kramer is the most intriguing. However, Saw III sees Amanda taking center stage, and like all the other movies, this one has a good twist that stays with audiences for a long time after.
Saw IV (2007)
Fans who want to know how to watch the Saw movies in order can watch several of them in order of release. After Saw V, Saw IV fits into the timeline next. After John Kramer's death, there is a new Jigsaw killer, and finding out who they are is the central mystery of the film.
Director | Darren Lyn Bousman |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Betsey Russell, Costas Mandylor |
Runtime | 92 minutes |
Release Date | October 26th, 2007 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 18% |
This is also an important movie in the Saw timeline because Jill Tuck explains that she and John Kramer lost their baby and that this always haunted him. Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) is also a key character here.
Saw V (2008)
Saw V can be watched seventh when it comes to how to watch the Saw movies in order. While Hoffman has been praised for solving the mystery of the Jigsaw killer, the games haven't ended. The film opens with Seth Baxter (Joris Jarsky), who is a murderer himself, in one of Jigsaw's traps.
Director | David Hackl |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Julie Benz, Betsy Russell, Scott Patterson |
Runtime | 92 minutes |
Release Date | October 24th, 2008 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 13% |
While not every movie in the Saw franchise is as good as the first one, Saw V does have a compelling cat-and-mouse game between Hoffman and Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson). The movie also has some memorable quotes, such as when Jigsaw says:
"If you're good at anticipating the human mind, it leaves nothing to chance."
Saw VI (2009)
Next, fans can watch Saw VI, which was the horror franchise's sixth movie. By this point in the timeline, the character who has followed in Jigsaw's footsteps is in full control of their brutal plan.
Director | Kevin Greutert |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith |
Runtime | 90 minutes |
Release Date | October 23rd, 2009 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 39% |
Saw VI also explains more about Amanda, Jill, and John Kramer, which is one reason why Saw is a clever horror franchise with deep lore. While people might focus on the traps that Jigsaw sets and the amount of gore in each movie, there is also a lot of character and plot development.
Saw 3D/Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
When wondering how to watch the Saw movies, Saw 3D, also called Saw: The Final Chapter, should be watched second to last. Bobby Dagen (Sean Patrick Flanery) pretended to live through one of Jigsaw's games, and unfortunately for him, the new Jigsaw killer puts him in a real game.
Director | Kevin Greutert |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Tobin Bell, Costa Mandylor, Sean Patrick Flanery, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes |
Runtime | 90 minutes |
Release Date | October 29th, 2010 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 9% |
Like the scariest body horror movies, each movie in the Saw franchise has some truly gory scenes. Each movie delves deeply into at least one character, and Saw 3D shares more of Jill's story. This helps fans understand John Kramer's motives better.
Spiral: From The Book Of Saw (2021)
Finally, when it comes to how to watch the Saw movies in order, Spiral: From The Book Of Saw, which is the ninth movie in the franchise, can be watched last. The movie focuses on Detective William Schenk (Max Minghella) and Detective Zeke Banks (Chris Rock), who are trying to find the new Jigsaw killer.
Director | Darren Lynn Bousman |
|---|---|
Cast Members | Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisol Nichols |
Runtime | 93 minutes |
Release Date | May 14th, 2021 |
Rotten Tomatoes Score | 37% |
The end of Spiral features a clever and intriguing plot twist that is as exciting as the one from the first movie. While Spiral might not be as popular as Saw from 2004, it does have some unforgettable quotes and even some humorous moments. When Schenk asks Banks
"So, uh, how do you take your coffee in the morning?"
and Banks answers "Alone," this small exchange offers some levity in what is an intense and gory movie.
Saw: 6 Easiest Jigsaw Traps To Escape From
These traps from the Saw franchise are easily escapeable with relatively little pain if the victims had considered alternative methods.