Watch Breaking Bad (2008 to 2013) first, then El Camino (2019), then Better Call Saul (2015 to 2022). Better Call Saul is mostly a prequel, but its present-day scenes take place after Breaking Bad, so it lands hardest last.
- Titles
- 3
- Films
- 1
- Series
- 2
- Watch time
- 105 hours
- Avg IMDb
- 8.5
Breaking Bad shows in release order
Here is every Breaking Bad title in the order it came out, 2008 to 2019: 1 film and 2 series.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breaking Bad | 2008 | Series | 49h 55m | 9.5 |
| 2 | Better Call Saul | 2015 | Series | 52h 58m | 9 |
| 3 | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | 2019 | Film | 2h 3m | 7.1 |
Breaking Bad timeline: shows in chronological order
The same titles in story order, by when they take place, with the year or era each one is set in.
| # | Title | Set in | Released |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Better Call Saul | 2002 onward | 2015 |
| 2 | Breaking Bad | 2008–2010 | 2008 |
| 3 | El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | 2010 | 2019 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 2 titles here. In release order you start with Breaking Bad (2008); in story order you start with Better Call Saul, set in 2002 onward, which came out 7 years later.
First time through, watch in release order. That is how the twists, returning characters and callbacks were built to land, and later entries assume you have seen the earlier ones. On a rewatch, try story order. It turns Breaking Bad into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Where to start
Start with Breaking Bad and go in release order.
The whole thing is 105 hours. At two hours a night that is about 53 evenings.
The three highest rated: Breaking Bad (9.5), Better Call Saul (9), and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (7.1).
Every Breaking Bad title, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 2008 · Series · 49h 55m · 2nd in story order
Breaking Bad
Walter White, a New Mexico chemistry teacher, is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of only two years left to live. He becomes filled with a sense of fearlessness and an unrelenting desire to secure his family's financial future at any cost as he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime.
Why it matters: Walter White's story; the place to start.
- Starring
- Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, and Anna Gunn
- Creator
- Vince Gilligan
- Scores
- IMDb 9.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 96%
- Episodes
- 62 across 5 seasons
No. 02 · 2015 · Series · 52h 58m · 1st in story order
Better Call Saul
Six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. We meet him when the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny, and, more immediately, hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside, and, often, against Jimmy, is “fixer” Mike Ehrmantraut. The series tracks Jimmy’s transformation into Saul Goodman, the man who puts “criminal” in “criminal lawyer".
Why it matters: Jimmy McGill becomes Saul Goodman; mostly a prequel, best watched last.
- Starring
- Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Rhea Seehorn
- Creator
- Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould
- Scores
- IMDb 9 · Rotten Tomatoes 98%
- Episodes
- 63 across 6 seasons
No. 03 · 2019 · Film · 2h 3m
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
In the wake of his dramatic escape from captivity, Jesse Pinkman must come to terms with his past in order to forge some kind of future.
Why it matters: Jesse Pinkman right after the finale.
- Starring
- Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, and Charles Baker
- Director
- Vince Gilligan
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 92%
The best and worst rated Breaking Bad shows
Across 3 rated titles, Breaking Bad averages 8.5 on IMDb. The top of the list is Breaking Bad at 9.5, then Better Call Saul (9) and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (7.1). At the bottom: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (7.1) and Better Call Saul (9).
- Breaking Bad9.5 · RT 96%
- Better Call Saul9 · RT 98%
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie7.1 · RT 92%
Who appears in the most Breaking Bad shows
Jonathan Banks leads with 3 appearances as Mike Ehrmantraut and Mike, ahead of Bryan Cranston (2) and Aaron Paul (2). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Banks | Mike Ehrmantraut / Mike | 3 | Breaking Bad (2008) to El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) |
| Bryan Cranston | Walter White / Walt | 2 | Breaking Bad (2008) to El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) |
| Aaron Paul | Jesse Pinkman / Jesse | 2 | Breaking Bad (2008) to El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) |
| Bob Odenkirk | Saul Goodman / Jimmy McGill | 2 | Breaking Bad (2008) to Better Call Saul (2015) |
| Giancarlo Esposito | Gustavo Fring / Gus Fring | 2 | Breaking Bad (2008) to Better Call Saul (2015) |
| Charles Baker | Skinny Pete | 2 | Breaking Bad (2008) to El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) |
Breaking Bad directors and creators
2 filmmakers have directed or created Breaking Bad; Vince Gilligan has the most, with 3.
- Vince GilliganBreaking Bad (2008), Better Call Saul (2015), and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
- Peter GouldBetter Call Saul (2015)
How long it takes to watch every Breaking Bad show
All 3 titles add up to 105 hours: 2 hours of film and 103 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 53 two-hour evenings, or 11 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie at 2h 3m.
Start the first series and see if it hooks you.
Everything takes about 3 months.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Breaking Bad shows in?
Watch Breaking Bad (2008 to 2013) first, then El Camino (2019), then Better Call Saul (2015 to 2022). Better Call Saul is mostly a prequel, but its present-day scenes take place after Breaking Bad, so it lands hardest last.
How many Breaking Bad movies and shows are there?
There are 3 titles in the Breaking Bad franchise: 1 film and 2 series, released from 2008 to 2019.
How long does it take to watch all the Breaking Bad shows?
About 105 hours for all 3 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Breaking Bad title in chronological order?
Better Call Saul, set in 2002 onward. In release order the first is Breaking Bad (2008).
What is the best Breaking Bad title?
By IMDb score, Breaking Bad (2008) at 9.5, followed by Better Call Saul at 9.
Who has appeared in the most Breaking Bad shows?
Jonathan Banks, in 3 of them as Mike Ehrmantraut.
What is the longest Breaking Bad movie?
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, at 2h 3m.
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