Watch the Pet Sematary movies in release order: Pet Sematary (1989), the 2019 remake, and the prequel Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023), set in 1969 when Jud Crandall is young. The remake retells the 1989 film rather than continuing it.
- Titles
- 3
- Films
- 3
- Watch time
- 5 hours
- Box office
- $171 million
- Avg IMDb
- 5.6
Pet Sematary movies in release order
Here is every Pet Sematary title in the order it came out, 1989 to 2023: 3 films.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pet Sematary | 1989 | Film | 1h 43m | 6.5 |
| 2 | Pet Sematary | 2019 | Film | 1h 41m | 5.7 |
| 3 | Pet Sematary: Bloodlines | 2023 | Film | 1h 27m | 4.6 |
Pet Sematary timeline: movies 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 | Pet Sematary: Bloodlines | Ludlow, 1969 | 2023 |
| 2 | Pet Sematary | The Creeds move to Ludlow | 1989 |
| 3 | Pet Sematary | The Creeds, retold | 2019 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 3 titles here. In release order you start with Pet Sematary (1989); in story order you start with Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, set in Ludlow, 1969, which came out 34 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 Pet Sematary into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Where to start
Start with Pet Sematary and go in release order.
The whole thing is 5 hours. At two hours a night that is about 3 evenings.
The three highest rated: Pet Sematary (6.5), Pet Sematary (5.7), and Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (4.6).
Every Pet Sematary 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 · 1989 · Film · 1h 43m · 2nd in story order
Pet Sematary
After the Creed family's cat is accidentally killed, a friendly neighbor advises its burial in a mysterious nearby cemetery.
Why it matters: A doctor buries his dead son in a burial ground that brings the dead back wrong.
- Starring
- Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, and Denise Crosby
- Director
- Mary Lambert
- Box office
- $58 million on a $12 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 55%
No. 02 · 2019 · Film · 1h 41m · 3rd in story order
Pet Sematary
Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, move from Boston to Ludlow, in rural Maine, with their two young children. Hidden in the woods near the new family home, Ellie, their eldest daughter, discovers a mysterious cemetery where the pets of community members are buried.
Why it matters: The remake: the daughter, not the son, dies and comes back from the burial ground.
- Starring
- Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, and John Lithgow
- Director
- Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kölsch
- Box office
- $113 million on a $21 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 58%
No. 03 · 2023 · Film · 1h 27m · 1st in story order
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines
In 1969, young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown behind, but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to confront a dark family history that forever binds him to Ludlow.
Why it matters: Prequel set in 1969: a young Jud Crandall learns the burial ground's secret.
- Starring
- Jackson White, Forrest Goodluck, and Jack Mulhern
- Director
- Lindsey Anderson Beer
- Scores
- IMDb 4.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 23%
Pet Sematary box office and budgets
The 2 Pet Sematary films with reported numbers have grossed $171 million worldwide on about $33 million in combined budgets, roughly 5.2 times what they cost. The biggest is Pet Sematary at $113 million, 66% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Pet Sematary ($58 million).
The best and worst rated Pet Sematary movies
Across 3 rated titles, Pet Sematary averages 5.6 on IMDb. The top of the list is Pet Sematary at 6.5, then Pet Sematary (5.7) and Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (4.6). At the bottom: Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (4.6) and Pet Sematary (5.7).
- Pet Sematary6.5 · RT 55%
- Pet Sematary5.7 · RT 58%
- Pet Sematary: Bloodlines4.6 · RT 23%
Pet Sematary directors and creators
4 filmmakers have directed or created Pet Sematary.
- Mary LambertPet Sematary (1989)
- Dennis WidmyerPet Sematary (2019)
- Kevin KölschPet Sematary (2019)
- Lindsey Anderson BeerPet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)
How long it takes to watch every Pet Sematary movie
All 3 titles add up to 5 hours. That is about 3 two-hour evenings, or 1 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is Pet Sematary at 1h 43m.
The 3 best rated films: Pet Sematary, Pet Sematary, and Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.
Everything takes about 5 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Pet Sematary movies in?
Watch the Pet Sematary movies in release order: Pet Sematary (1989), the 2019 remake, and the prequel Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023), set in 1969 when Jud Crandall is young. The remake retells the 1989 film rather than continuing it.
How many Pet Sematary movies and shows are there?
There are 3 titles in the Pet Sematary franchise: 3 films and 0 series, released from 1989 to 2023.
How long does it take to watch all the Pet Sematary movies?
About 5 hours for all 3 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Pet Sematary title in chronological order?
Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, set in Ludlow, 1969. In release order the first is Pet Sematary (1989).
What is the best Pet Sematary movie?
By IMDb score, Pet Sematary (1989) at 6.5, followed by Pet Sematary at 5.7.
What is the highest-grossing Pet Sematary movie?
Pet Sematary (2019), with $113 million worldwide. Pet Sematary films have made $171 million in total.
What is the longest Pet Sematary movie?
Pet Sematary, at 1h 43m.
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