Blade Runner in order

Two films, three short films made to bridge them, and a series set fifty years later. Chronological order is simply better here.

Updated 4 August 2026 · 7 titles tracked

Blade Runner is a rare franchise where the short films genuinely matter. When Denis Villeneuve made 2049, he commissioned three shorts to fill the thirty-year gap — they are canonical, they are about fifteen minutes each, and they are meant to be watched.

Chronological order here is not a novelty. It is close to the intended experience.

Blade Runner in chronological order

By in-universe year, from 2019 to 2099.

Open the interactive Blade Runner list

The full chronological order

Blade Runner (2019) → Black Out 2022 (2022) → Black Lotus (2032) → 2036: Nexus Dawn (2036) → 2048: Nowhere to Run (2048) → Blade Runner 2049 (2049) → Blade Runner 2099 (2099).

The three shorts are all freely available and total under forty-five minutes. Slotting them in between the two features costs almost nothing and makes 2049's world considerably less abrupt.

Which cut of the 1982 film?

There are seven. Watch The Final Cut (2007) — it is Ridley Scott's definitive version, with no studio-imposed voiceover and no tacked-on happy ending.

The original 1982 theatrical cut is worth seeing eventually as a curiosity, mainly to appreciate how much the narration damages the film.

The minimum version

If you want only the essentials: Blade Runner: The Final Cut, then 2048: Nowhere to Run (which introduces the character 2049 opens on), then Blade Runner 2049. Roughly five hours, and nothing important missing.

Common questions

What order should I watch Blade Runner in?

Chronologically: Blade Runner (2019), Black Out 2022, Black Lotus, 2036: Nexus Dawn, 2048: Nowhere to Run, Blade Runner 2049, then Blade Runner 2099.

Do I need to watch the Blade Runner short films?

They are optional but genuinely worthwhile. All three were commissioned to bridge the gap between the two films and total under forty-five minutes.

Which version of Blade Runner should I watch?

The Final Cut (2007) — Ridley Scott's definitive version, without the studio-added voiceover or the original ending.

When is Blade Runner 2099 released?

All eight episodes arrive on Prime Video on 25 November 2026.