Watch Saw in release order from Saw (2004). The timeline is tangled, with flashbacks across films; Saw X (2023) is set between Saw and Saw II, making it the second entry in story order. Spiral is a spin-off.
- Titles
- 10
- Films
- 10
- Watch time
- 16 hours
- Box office
- $1.11 billion
- Avg IMDb
- 6.1
Saw movies in release order
Here is every Saw title in the order it came out, 2004 to 2023: 10 films. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saw | 2004 | Film | 1h 43m | 7.6 |
| 2 | Saw II | 2005 | Film | 1h 33m | 6.6 |
| 3 | Saw III | 2006 | Film | 1h 48m | 6.2 |
| 4 | Saw IV | 2007 | Film | 1h 33m | 5.9 |
| 5 | Saw V | 2008 | Film | 1h 35m | 5.8 |
| 6 | Saw VI | 2009 | Film | 1h 30m | 6.1 |
| 7 | Saw 3D | 2010 | Film | 1h 30m | 5.5 |
| 8 | Jigsaw | 2017 | Film | 1h 31m | 5.7 |
| 9 | Spiral optional | 2021 | Film | 1h 32m | 5.2 |
| 10 | Saw X | 2023 | Film | 1h 58m | 6.6 |
Saw 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 | Saw | 2004 | |
| 2 | Saw X | Between Saw and Saw II | 2023 |
| 3 | Saw II | 2005 | |
| 4 | Saw III | 2006 | |
| 5 | Saw IV | During Saw III | 2007 |
| 6 | Saw V | 2008 | |
| 7 | Saw VI | 2009 | |
| 8 | Saw 3D | 2010 | |
| 9 | Jigsaw | Ten years later | 2017 |
| 10 | Spiral | Years later | 2021 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
Release order and story order disagree on 9 titles here. In release order you start with Saw (2004); in story order you start with Saw.
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 Saw into one continuous story and makes the prequels play as setup instead of backstory.
Where to start
Start with Saw and go in release order, skipping the 1 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 9 titles and about 15 hours, 9% less than the full run.
Every Saw 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 · 2004 · Film · 1h 43m
Saw
Two men wake up to find themselves shackled in a grimy, abandoned bathroom. As they struggle to comprehend their predicament, they discover a disturbing tape left behind by the sadistic mastermind known as Jigsaw. With a chilling voice and cryptic instructions, Jigsaw informs them that they must partake in a gruesome game in order to secure their freedom.
Why it matters: Two men chained in a bathroom; the place to start.
- Starring
- Leigh Whannell, Cary Elwes, and Tobin Bell
- Director
- James Wan
- Box office
- $104 million on a $1 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 50%
No. 02 · 2005 · Film · 1h 33m · 3rd in story order
Saw II
The chilling and relentless Jigsaw killer returns to terrorize the city once again. When a gruesome murder victim emerges with unmistakable traces of Jigsaw's sinister methods, Detective Eric Matthews is thrust into a high-stakes investigation. To his surprise, apprehending Jigsaw seems almost too easy, but what he doesn't realize is that being caught is merely another piece of Jigsaw's intricate puzzle.
Why it matters: Jigsaw's first full game.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Donnie Wahlberg, and Shawnee Smith
- Director
- Darren Lynn Bousman
- Box office
- $153 million on a $4 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 39%
No. 03 · 2006 · Film · 1h 48m · 4th in story order
Saw III
Jigsaw has disappeared. Along with his new apprentice Amanda, the puppet-master behind the cruel, intricate games that have terrified a community and baffled police has once again eluded capture and vanished. While city detectives scramble to locate him, Doctor Lynn Denlon and Jeff Reinhart are unaware that they are about to become the latest pawns on his vicious chessboard.
Why it matters: Amanda becomes Jigsaw's apprentice.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, and Angus Macfadyen
- Director
- Darren Lynn Bousman
- Box office
- $165 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 28%
No. 04 · 2007 · Film · 1h 33m · 5th in story order
Saw IV
Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.
Why it matters: Runs alongside Saw III.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, and Scott Patterson
- Director
- Darren Lynn Bousman
- Box office
- $139 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.9 · Rotten Tomatoes 19%
No. 05 · 2008 · Film · 1h 35m · 6th in story order
Saw V
Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Detective Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious, and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group of people are put through a series of gruesome tests.
Why it matters: Detective Hoffman's secret.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, and Scott Patterson
- Director
- David Hackl
- Box office
- $118 million on a $11 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 13%
No. 06 · 2009 · Film · 1h 30m · 7th in story order
Saw VI
Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood.
Why it matters: Jigsaw's plan targets an insurance company.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, and Mark Rolston
- Director
- Kevin Greutert
- Box office
- $70 million on a $11 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 39%
No. 07 · 2010 · Film · 1h 30m · 8th in story order
Saw 3D
As a deadly battle rages over Jigsaw's brutal legacy, a group of Jigsaw survivors gathers to seek the support of self-help guru and fellow survivor Bobby Dagen, a man whose own dark secrets unleash a new wave of terror.
Why it matters: Meant as the finale of the original run.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, and Betsy Russell
- Director
- Kevin Greutert
- Box office
- $136 million on a $17 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 9%
No. 08 · 2017 · Film · 1h 31m · 9th in story order
Jigsaw
Law enforcement finds itself chasing the ghost of a man dead for over a decade, embroiled in a diabolical new game that's only just begun.
Why it matters: A new game, ten years later.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Matt Passmore, and Callum Keith Rennie
- Director
- Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig
- Box office
- $104 million on a $10 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 32%
No. 09 · 2021 · Film · 1h 32m · 10th in story order · optional
Spiral
Alexander, a young actor, has been falling for a few months in a spiral of self-destruction, becoming strongly addicted to alcohol and drugs. One night, he is stabbed by drug dealers and almost dies. To get out of his addictions he wrote the scenario of a film "Spiral" close to autofiction where he would play the main role of Daniel. Olivier Rainer, a director whom he admires, agrees to direct the movie and make Alexander pass screen tests while rewriting the script by incorporating elements of the personal life of the actor. Alexander wishing to exorcise his demons and reach his catharsis will follow Olivier unconditionally in a blistering adventure where reality and fiction merge.
Why it matters: A copycat killer in a spin-off; optional.
- Starring
- Sofiene Mamdi, Constantin Leu, and Cécile Fisera
- Director
- Sofiene Mamdi
- Scores
- IMDb 5.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 77%
No. 10 · 2023 · Film · 1h 58m · 2nd in story order
Saw X
Between the events of 'Saw' and 'Saw II', a sick and desperate John Kramer travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer, only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, the infamous serial killer returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through devious, deranged, and ingenious traps.
Why it matters: Set between Saw and Saw II; John Kramer's own story.
- Starring
- Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, and Synnøve Macody Lund
- Director
- Kevin Greutert
- Box office
- $125 million on a $13 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 81%
Saw box office and budgets
The 9 Saw films with reported numbers have grossed $1.11 billion worldwide on about $87 million in combined budgets, roughly 13 times what they cost. The biggest is Saw III at $165 million, 15% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Saw II ($153 million) and Saw IV ($139 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to Saw, which made 87 times its $1 million budget. The weakest was Saw VI at 6.3 times its $11 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 Saw movies
Across 10 rated titles, Saw averages 6.1 on IMDb. The top of the list is Saw at 7.6, then Saw II (6.6) and Saw X (6.6). At the bottom: Spiral (5.2) and Saw 3D (5.5). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Saw III, is only the 4th best rated.
- Saw7.6 · RT 50%
- Saw II6.6 · RT 39%
- Saw X6.6 · RT 81%
- Saw III6.2 · RT 28%
- Saw VI6.1 · RT 39%
- Saw IV5.9 · RT 19%
- Saw V5.8 · RT 13%
- Jigsaw5.7 · RT 32%
- Saw 3D5.5 · RT 9%
- Spiral5.2 · RT 77%
Who appears in the most Saw movies
Tobin Bell leads with 9 appearances as Jigsaw and John, ahead of Shawnee Smith (6) and Costas Mandylor (5). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tobin Bell | Jigsaw / John | 9 | Saw (2004) to Saw X (2023) |
| Shawnee Smith | Amanda / Amanda Young | 6 | Saw (2004) to Saw X (2023) |
| Costas Mandylor | Hoffman / Mark Hoffman | 5 | Saw IV (2007) to Saw X (2023) |
| Betsy Russell | Jill | 4 | Saw IV (2007) to Saw 3D (2010) |
| Dina Meyer | Kerry | 3 | Saw (2004) to Saw III (2006) |
| Donnie Wahlberg | Eric Matthews | 3 | Saw II (2005) to Saw IV (2007) |
| Lyriq Bent | Rigg | 3 | Saw II (2005) to Saw IV (2007) |
| Leigh Whannell | Adam | 2 | Saw (2004) to Saw III (2006) |
| Cary Elwes | Lawrence Gordon / Dr. Gordon | 2 | Saw (2004) to Saw 3D (2010) |
| Mike Butters | Paul | 2 | Saw (2004) to Saw V (2008) |
| Angus Macfadyen | Jeff | 2 | Saw III (2006) to Saw IV (2007) |
| Bahar Soomekh | Lynn | 2 | Saw III (2006) to Saw IV (2007) |
Saw directors and creators
7 filmmakers have directed or created Saw; Darren Lynn Bousman has the most, with 3.
- Darren Lynn BousmanSaw II (2005), Saw III (2006), and Saw IV (2007)
- Kevin GreutertSaw VI (2009), Saw 3D (2010), and Saw X (2023)
- James WanSaw (2004)
- David HacklSaw V (2008)
- Michael SpierigJigsaw (2017)
- Peter SpierigJigsaw (2017)
- Sofiene MamdiSpiral (2021)
How long it takes to watch every Saw movie
All 10 titles add up to 16 hours. That is about 9 two-hour evenings, or 2 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 15 hours. The longest film is Saw X at 1h 58m.
The 4 best rated films: Saw, Saw II, Saw X, and Saw III.
Everything takes about 3 weeks; the essentials about 3 weeks.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which Saw 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 2 hours.
- Spiral2021 · Film · 1h 32m · optionalA copycat killer in a spin-off; optional.
Upcoming Saw movies
- Untitled Saw FilmDate to be announced
Common questions
What order should I watch the Saw movies in?
Watch Saw in release order from Saw (2004). The timeline is tangled, with flashbacks across films; Saw X (2023) is set between Saw and Saw II, making it the second entry in story order. Spiral is a spin-off.
How many Saw movies and shows are there?
There are 10 titles in the Saw franchise: 10 films and 0 series, released from 2004 to 2023. 1 more is announced: Untitled Saw Film.
How long does it take to watch all the Saw movies?
About 16 hours for all 10 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (9 titles) take about 15 hours.
What is the first Saw title in chronological order?
Saw. In release order the first is Saw (2004).
Which Saw titles can I skip?
Spiral. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the next Saw release?
Untitled Saw Film, date to be announced.
What is the best Saw movie?
By IMDb score, Saw (2004) at 7.6, followed by Saw II at 6.6.
What is the highest-grossing Saw movie?
Saw III (2006), with $165 million worldwide. Saw films have made $1.11 billion in total.
Who has appeared in the most Saw movies?
Tobin Bell, in 9 of them as Jigsaw.
What is the longest Saw movie?
Saw X, at 1h 58m.
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