Saw movies in order

Ten films, and the newest one is set second. Saw is built out of retroactive continuity, which makes chronological order unusually rewarding.

Updated 4 August 2026 · 10 titles tracked

Most horror franchises get messy by accident. Saw got messy on purpose — retroactive continuity is the series' signature move, and almost every sequel reveals it was secretly happening during an earlier one.

The headline: Saw X is set between Saw and Saw II, despite being the tenth film released.

The Saw films in chronological order

By in-universe timeline. Note Saw X in second place, despite being the tenth released.

Open the interactive Saw list

Where Saw X goes

Saw X takes place shortly after the original film, while John Kramer is still relatively early in his work and travelling to Mexico for cancer treatment. It is the tenth film and the second story.

Watching it in that slot works well — it is widely considered the best entry since the original, and it deepens Kramer as a character before the sequels turn him into a franchise engine.

The films that run concurrently

From the fourth film on, the timeline stops being a line. Saw IV runs concurrently with Saw III — the two films end at the same moment from different angles. Saw V and VI then backfill how the apprentice was recruited and what was happening in the background.

This is why any "chronological order" for late Saw is a reading sequence rather than a strict timeline. There is no order that untangles films deliberately built to overlap.

What is worth watching

Saw (2004) is a genuinely tight low-budget thriller and nothing like its reputation. Saw X (2023) is the best sequel by a distance. Saw II and III complete the core Kramer story.

Everything from IV to 3D is for people who want the full puzzle. Jigsaw and Spiral are the most detached — Spiral in particular is a spin-off with Chris Rock that barely touches the main continuity.

Common questions

What order should I watch the Saw movies in?

Chronological order works well: Saw, Saw X, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D, Jigsaw, Spiral. Saw X was released tenth but is set second.

Where does Saw X fit in the timeline?

Between Saw and Saw II, shortly after the original film while John Kramer is seeking cancer treatment.

How many Saw movies are there?

Ten, including the spin-off Spiral: From the Book of Saw. An eleventh has been announced but repeatedly delayed and has no confirmed release date.

Do Saw IV and Saw III happen at the same time?

Yes. Saw IV runs concurrently with Saw III and the two films converge on the same moment from different perspectives.