Saw is a horror movie franchise that started in 2004. The movie follows the story of serial killer John Kramer, also known as “Jigsaw,” who traps people in deadly games to teach them the value of life.
The movies are known for their gruesome violence and mind-bending twists. If you are a horror genre fan, you should watch the film in order.
In this article, we will look at the Saw movies in order. We will also provide a brief overview of each movie so that you can decide whether they suit you.
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All 9 Saw Movies in Order: Jigsaw Movies By Their Release Year
At this point, things begin to get a little more challenging. It should be noted that watching the Saw films in order needs a lot of pausing, starting, and switching between each one.
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However, before we get into the details, here is the basic order for the cinematic sadists out there as described below.
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Saw
Director: James Wan
Writers: Leigh Whannell, James Wan
Stars: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
James Wan’s horror movie Saw was released in 2004 in the United States. The film stars Cary Elwes as Dr. Lawrence Gordon, a surgeon who is abducted along with a photojournalist, Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell), and placed in a booby-trapped enclosure in an abandoned warehouse by the enigmatic Jigsaw Killer (Tobin Bell).
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The killer, who abducts and murders people as part of his convoluted schemes to teach his victims the value of life, forces Gordon to attempt to escape by sawing through his foot to save Adam. Intended to be Wan and Whannell’s debut, Saw was expanded from a short film they had written to secure funding.
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Saw II
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writers: Leigh Whannell, Darren Lynn Bousman
Stars: Donnie Wahlberg, Beverley Mitchell, Franky G
Genres: Horror, Mystery
Saw II is a 2005 American horror film. The movie Saw II picks up where the first one left off. The police have just captured Jigsaw, but not before he has taken another victim, a young woman named Amanda.
As the movie progresses, we see Jigsaw working with a partner, a woman named Jill. Together, they have been abducting people and putting them through a series of deadly games, all in the name of helping them face their fears and change their ways.
One of the people they have taken is a man named Michael, the son of one of the detectives working on the case.
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Matthews is initially reluctant, but he soon realizes he has no choice. He must play the game, or Jigsaw will kill his son.
The game is brutal, and it tests Matthews in every way imaginable. But in the end, he learns the value of life and saves his son.
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Saw III
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writers: Leigh Whannell, James Wan
Stars: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus Macfadyen
Genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
The Saw III movie was released in 2006 and was the third installment of the Saw franchise. The movie picks up shortly after the events of the second movie, with Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) on his deathbed. Jigsaw’s apprentice, Amanda (Shawnee Smith), is forced to take over his operations and continue his work of “testing” people.
However, Amanda struggles to deal with the guilt of all the lives she has helped Jigsaw end. She soon realizes that Jigsaw’s latest victim, Detective Kerry (Dylan O’Brien), maybe the key to ending her pain. As the movie unfolds, Amanda’s grip on reality unravels, leading to a shocking conclusion.
Saw III is one of the best horror movies I’ve ever seen. The acting is top-notch, the directing is excellent, and the story is suspenseful. The movie also has some very gruesome and gory scenes, which is to be expected from a Saw movie.
Overall, I highly recommend Saw III to anyone who enjoys horror movies. It’s a well-done movie that sends chills down your spine.
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Saw IV
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writers: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan, Thomas Fenton
Stars: Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Louis Ferreira
Genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
On Jigsaw’s death, Detective Allison Kerry finds his body along with a triggered tape recorder, in which he reveals that his game is not over yet. Kerry finds a tape labeled “I need help” that instructs her to go to a specific location after being played. There, she finds a man trapped and narrowly escapes being killed. Meanwhile, five people are kidnapped and placed in a house full of deadly traps, which they must survive to save themselves and their loved ones.
As the detectives race against the clock to save the victims, they must solve the final piece of the puzzle to uncover Jigsaw’s ultimate plan.
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The movie is suspenseful and gory, with some great twists and turns. The acting is excellent, and the overall production values are high. However, the movie has its challenges. The plot is convoluted and difficult to follow, and the ending is a letdown.
Overall, Saw IV is a solid entry in the franchise that fans of the series will enjoy. However, those unfamiliar with the series may need clarification on the movie’s complex plot.
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Saw V
Director: David Hackl
Writers: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan
Stars: Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell
Genres: Crime, Horror, Thriller
In 2008, David Hackl released the horror movie Saw V. It is the fifth installment of the Saw movie series and sequel to Saw IV movie.
The film’s story follows Special Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) as he investigates the Jigsaw killers while also trying to find a way to save his skin. Along the way, Strahm must deal with the machinations of Jigsaw’s right-hand man, Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor).
While the film does have its moments, overall, it is a disappointingly formulaic entry in the series. The plot is convoluted, and the twists are predictable. Additionally, the film is excessively gory and lacks the suspense that made the earlier entries in the franchise so successful. Despite its shortcomings, Saw V is still an entertaining movie. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll likely find something to enjoy here.
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Saw VI
Director: Kevin Greutert
Writers: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan
Stars: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Jigsaw is dead, but his twisted legacy lives on. In Saw VI, Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the sole survivor of the bloodbath at the end of Saw V. Now, as a new cycle of terror begins, Hoffman must go on the hunt to bring the mastermind behind the Jigsaw murders to justice.
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Saw VI is a heart-pounding thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. With twists and turns around every corner, this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Saw 3D
Director: Kevin Greutert
Writers: Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan
Stars: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell
Genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery
It is also known as Saw: The Final Chapter and is the seventh installment in the Saw film series. The movie starts with Jigsaw’s apprentice, Amanda, being released from the trap. She teams up with Jigsaw’s ex-wife, Jill, to finish work. The two begin a new game involving kidnapping people and forcing them to face their worst fears.
As the game continues, it becomes clear that Amanda and Jill are not the only ones playing. There are other players involved, all of whom have their agenda. As the game comes to a close, the players are forced to confront their deepest fears and face the consequences of their actions.
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Jigsaw
Director: Michael SpierigPeter Spierig
Writers: Josh Stolberg, Pete Goldfinger
Stars: Matt Passmore, Tobin Bell, Callum Keith Rennie
Genres: Crime, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
The Jigsaw movie is a story about a group of people who are forced to take part in a deadly game to escape with their lives. The game is set up by a man known as Jigsaw, who has a twisted view of justice. He believes those who break the law deserve to be punished, and he designs his games accordingly.
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As the movie progresses, the players struggle to survive and face horrible challenges. We also see how Jigsaw’s twisted ideology affects those around him. In the end, only a few people make it out alive, but the experience has changed them forever.
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Spiral
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Writers: Josh Stolberg, Pete Goldfinger
Stars: Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson, Max Minghella
Genres: Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
American horror movie Spiral also known as Spiral: From the Book of Saw, was released in 2021. Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger, under the direction of Darren Lynn Bousman, made this movie. The film stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols, and Samuel L. Jackson in the ninth installment of the Saw franchise.
The plot follows a police detective and his rookie partner investigating a series of gruesome crimes reminiscent of the work of a notoriously ruthless killer known as the Jigsaw Killer. As they race to catch the madman before he can strike again, they realize that they may be dealing with something far more dangerous than they could have imagined.
Conclusion
When watching the Saw movies chronologically, it becomes evident that the series is more about Jigsaw’s influences and apprentices than about Jigsaw himself. This is a refreshing change of pace, as most horror movie series focus on the main antagonist. The Saw movies are more enjoyable when watched in order, as the character development is more impactful.
