Watch the Men in Black films in release order: Men in Black (1997), Men in Black II, Men in Black 3 and Men in Black: International (2019). International follows new agents in the London branch and stands mostly on its own.
- Titles
- 5
- Films
- 4
- Series
- 1
- Watch time
- 28 hours
- Box office
- $1.94 billion
- Avg IMDb
- 6.5
Men in Black movies in release order
Here is every Men in Black title in the order it came out, 1997 to 2019: 4 films and 1 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Men in Black | 1997 | Film | 1h 38m | 7.3 |
| 2 | Men in Black: The Series optional | 1997 | Series | 21h 9m | 6.8 |
| 3 | Men in Black II | 2002 | Film | 1h 28m | 6.2 |
| 4 | Men in Black 3 | 2012 | Film | 1h 46m | 6.8 |
| 5 | Men in Black: International | 2019 | Film | 1h 55m | 5.6 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For Men in Black, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Men in Black and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 4 titles and about 7 hours, 76% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: Men in Black (7.3), Men in Black: The Series (6.8), and Men in Black 3 (6.8).
Every Men in Black movie, 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 · 1997 · Film · 1h 38m
Men in Black
After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent K and new recruit Agent J find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.
Why it matters: Agent J is recruited; the place to start.
- Starring
- Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, and Linda Fiorentino
- Director
- Barry Sonnenfeld
- Box office
- $589 million on a $90 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 91%
No. 02 · 1997 · Series · 21h 9m · optional
Men in Black: The Series
A secret government organization made up of men provide intergalactic immigration services for Earth-bound aliens.
Why it matters: The animated series; optional.
- Starring
- Keith Diamond, Charles Napier, and Gregg Berger
- Creator
- Duane Capizzi, Richard Raynis, and Jeff Kline
- Scores
- IMDb 6.8
- Episodes
- 53 across 4 seasons
No. 03 · 2002 · Film · 1h 28m
Men in Black II
Kay and Jay reunite to provide our best, last and only line of defense against a sinister seductress who levels the toughest challenge yet to the MIB's untarnished mission statement – protecting Earth from the scum of the universe. It's been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions. Now it's a race against the clock as Jay must convince Kay – who not only has absolutely no memory of his time spent with the MIB, but is also the only living person left with the expertise to save the galaxy – to reunite with the MIB before the earth submits to ultimate destruction.
Why it matters: K is brought back from retirement.
- Starring
- Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, and Rip Torn
- Director
- Barry Sonnenfeld
- Box office
- $445 million on a $140 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 38%
No. 04 · 2012 · Film · 1h 46m
Men in Black 3
Agents J and K are back...in time. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. But when K's life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him - secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K to save his partner, the agency, and the future of humankind.
Why it matters: J travels to 1969 to save a young K.
- Starring
- Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Josh Brolin
- Director
- Barry Sonnenfeld
- Box office
- $654 million on a $225 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 67%
No. 05 · 2019 · Film · 1h 55m
Men in Black: International
The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
Why it matters: New agents in the London branch.
- Starring
- Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, and Kumail Nanjiani
- Director
- F. Gary Gray
- Box office
- $254 million on a $110 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 23%
Men in Black box office and budgets
The 4 Men in Black films with reported numbers have grossed $1.94 billion worldwide on about $565 million in combined budgets, roughly 3.4 times what they cost. The biggest is Men in Black 3 at $654 million, 34% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Men in Black ($589 million) and Men in Black II ($445 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Men in Black, which made 6.5 times its $90 million budget. The weakest was Men in Black: International at 2.3 times its $110 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Men in Black movies
Across 5 rated titles, Men in Black averages 6.5 on IMDb. The top of the list is Men in Black at 7.3, then Men in Black: The Series (6.8) and Men in Black 3 (6.8). At the bottom: Men in Black: International (5.6) and Men in Black II (6.2).
- Men in Black7.3 · RT 91%
- Men in Black: The Series6.8
- Men in Black 36.8 · RT 67%
- Men in Black II6.2 · RT 38%
- Men in Black: International5.6 · RT 23%
Who appears in the most Men in Black movies
Tommy Lee Jones leads with 3 appearances as Kay and Agent K, ahead of Will Smith (3) and Tony Shalhoub (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy Lee Jones | Kay / Agent K | 3 | Men in Black (1997) to Men in Black 3 (2012) |
| Will Smith | Jay / Agent J | 3 | Men in Black (1997) to Men in Black 3 (2012) |
| Tony Shalhoub | Jeebs | 3 | Men in Black (1997) to Men in Black II (2002) |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | Edgar / Edwin Bug | 2 | Men in Black (1997) to Men in Black: The Series (1997) |
| Rip Torn | Zed | 2 | Men in Black (1997) to Men in Black II (2002) |
| Emma Thompson | Agent O | 2 | Men in Black 3 (2012) to Men in Black: International (2019) |
Men in Black directors and creators
5 filmmakers have directed or created Men in Black; Barry Sonnenfeld has the most, with 3.
- Barry SonnenfeldMen in Black (1997), Men in Black II (2002), and Men in Black 3 (2012)
- Duane CapizziMen in Black: The Series (1997)
- Richard RaynisMen in Black: The Series (1997)
- Jeff KlineMen in Black: The Series (1997)
- F. Gary GrayMen in Black: International (2019)
How long it takes to watch every Men in Black movie
All 5 titles add up to 28 hours: 7 hours of film and 21 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 14 two-hour evenings, or 3 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 7 hours. The longest film is Men in Black: International at 1h 55m.
The 4 best rated films: Men in Black, Men in Black 3, Men in Black II, and Men in Black: International.
Everything takes about 4 weeks; the essentials about 7 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Men in Black movies can you skip?
1 title can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 21 hours.
- Men in Black: The Series1997 · Series · 21h 9m · optionalThe animated series; optional.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Men in Black movies in?
Watch the Men in Black films in release order: Men in Black (1997), Men in Black II, Men in Black 3 and Men in Black: International (2019). International follows new agents in the London branch and stands mostly on its own.
How many Men in Black movies and shows are there?
There are 5 titles in the Men in Black franchise: 4 films and 1 series, released from 1997 to 2019.
How long does it take to watch all the Men in Black movies?
About 28 hours for all 5 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (4 titles) take about 7 hours.
What is the first Men in Black title in chronological order?
Men in Black, set in New York. In release order the first is Men in Black (1997).
Which Men in Black titles can I skip?
Men in Black: The Series. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best Men in Black movie?
By IMDb score, Men in Black (1997) at 7.3, followed by Men in Black: The Series at 6.8.
What is the highest-grossing Men in Black movie?
Men in Black 3 (2012), with $654 million worldwide. Men in Black films have made $1.94 billion in total.
Who has appeared in the most Men in Black movies?
Tommy Lee Jones, in 3 of them as Kay.
What is the longest Men in Black movie?
Men in Black: International, at 1h 55m.
Keep reading
RecapMen in Black recap: the story so far5 titles recapped
Skip guideWhat can you skip in Game of Thrones?2 titles you can skip
RecapChainsaw Man recap: the story so far2 titles recapped
Watch order guideHow to watch the One Piece movies in order8 titles · 498 hours
Skip guideWhich Star Wars movies can you skip?5 titles you can skip
Watch order guideHow to watch the Star Trek movies in order26 titles · 735 hours