What Is the Saw Franchise?

The Saw franchise is a long-running horror series centered on John Kramer, a terminally ill civil engineer who becomes the Jigsaw Killer — a vigilante who places victims in elaborate mechanical traps designed to test their will to live. The original film was released in 2004, written by James Wan and Leigh Whannell and directed by Wan. Shot on a budget of approximately $1.2 million, it grossed over $103 million worldwide and launched one of the most commercially successful horror franchises in film history.

The series runs ten main entries spanning from 2004 to 2023. Two entries — Jigsaw (2017) and Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) — explore the mythology through new characters while connecting to the original timeline. The franchise is known for its intricate plotting, recurring characters whose fates intertwine across multiple films, and twist endings that recontextualize scenes you already watched.

If you are new to the series or returning after a long gap, watching in the right order matters more here than in almost any other film franchise. The revelations in each film depend on you having seen the ones before it. Watching out of sequence will spoil major reveals that span multiple entries.

The Saw Movies in Release Order

Release order is the recommended starting point for new viewers. The films were written and produced sequentially, with each entry designed to pay off plot threads from the previous film and introduce new ones. Here is every main entry in the order they were released:

1. Saw (2004) — Two men wake chained in a bathroom with a corpse between them. A detective races to stop the Jigsaw Killer. Runtime: 103 minutes.
2. Saw II (2005) — Detective Eric Matthews hunts Jigsaw while a group of strangers are trapped in a booby-trapped house. Runtime: 93 minutes.
3. Saw III (2006) — A dying Jigsaw builds his most personal game while his apprentice Amanda faces her own tests. Runtime: 107 minutes.
4. Saw IV (2007) — A SWAT commander discovers the traps are still running after Jigsaw's death. Runtime: 93 minutes.
5. Saw V (2008) — A survivor of a Jigsaw game investigates the killer's true legacy and discovers a second apprentice. Runtime: 92 minutes.
6. Saw VI (2009) — A health insurance executive becomes the center of a trap targeting the healthcare industry's worst abuses. Runtime: 90 minutes.
7. Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010) — Billed as the franchise conclusion, a famous Jigsaw survivor becomes the center of a new deadly game. Runtime: 90 minutes.
8. Jigsaw (2017) — A new series of Jigsaw-style murders emerge years after the killer's confirmed death, baffling investigators. Runtime: 91 minutes.
9. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) — A detective (Chris Rock) investigates a copycat killer targeting corrupt police officers in a major city. Runtime: 93 minutes.
10. Saw X (2023) — John Kramer seeks an experimental cancer cure in Mexico and turns the tables on medical scammers preying on the terminally ill. Runtime: 118 minutes.

The In-Universe Chronological Story Order

Saw X changes the franchise's internal timeline. The film is set in the period immediately following the original Saw (2004), before the events of Saw II (2005). Director Kevin Greutert confirmed this positioning publicly during the film's 2023 release. For viewers who want to follow John Kramer's life story as it unfolds within the fictional world, here is the in-universe chronological order:

1. Saw (2004)
2. Saw X (2023) — set shortly after the original, during John's search for a cancer cure
3. Saw II (2005)
4. Saw III (2006)
5. Saw IV (2007)
6. Saw V (2008)
7. Saw VI (2009)
8. Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)
9. Jigsaw (2017)
10. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

First-time viewer warning: Do not begin with chronological order. Saw X contains references to plot elements that the original 2004 Saw uses as its central twist. If you watch Saw X first, the first film's ending will be spoiled before you experience it. Always complete release order on your first run through the franchise, then use chronological order on a rewatch if you want to experience John Kramer's story from its narrative beginning.

Where to Watch the Saw Movies

Streaming availability for the Saw franchise shifts frequently as licensing agreements rotate between platforms. Here is the most reliable way to access every film:

• Shudder: This horror-focused streaming service regularly carries the original Saw through Saw 3D and Jigsaw. Monthly cost is approximately $5.99, with an annual plan around $56.99. Visit shudder.com to verify current catalogue availability.
• Peacock: Saw X was available on Peacock after its 2023 theatrical run. Peacock's horror library rotates, so confirm the specific film is currently listed before subscribing.
• Tubi and Pluto TV: These free, ad-supported platforms occasionally carry Saw entries at no cost. Content rotates monthly and cannot be relied upon for a complete marathon run.
• Digital rental or purchase: Every Saw film is available for individual rental ($3.99 to $5.99) or purchase ($9.99 to $14.99) on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play Movies. Digital rental is the most reliable way to access any specific film regardless of which streaming services you subscribe to.

If you plan a full ten-film marathon, check whether a single streaming service currently holds the complete catalogue before renting individually. A Shudder free trial combined with individual rentals for any missing entries is usually the most cost-effective approach for a first-time binge.

Tips for First-Time Viewers

The Saw franchise rewards attentive viewing. Keep these points in mind before you start the series:

• Avoid all plot summaries between films. The twist endings are the franchise's defining feature. Reading a synopsis before watching will neutralize the most memorable moments in the series.
• Pay attention to every character name. Names that seem incidental in one film reappear with major significance several films later. The franchise has an unusually large recurring cast that spans the full decade-long run.
• Watch flashbacks carefully. Each film includes flashback sequences that reframe earlier events. Time-stamp cues appear embedded in scenes — these indicate when a scene is set relative to the main story and are worth tracking.
• The first three films form the tightest arc. Saw (2004), Saw II (2005), and Saw III (2006) tell a mostly self-contained story within the larger mythology. If you want to evaluate the franchise before committing to all ten films, these three are the best sample of what the series does at its peak.
• Do not skip Saw 3D despite its polarizing reputation among fans. It contains plot resolutions explicitly referenced in Jigsaw (2017) and cannot be fully understood without watching The Final Chapter first.
• Saw X stands apart in tone. It is slower and more emotionally driven than earlier entries. This is intentional — it focuses on John Kramer as a character rather than on trap sequences. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

How to Schedule a Full Franchise Marathon

All ten Saw films total approximately 15 to 16 hours of runtime. Here is a practical viewing schedule for completing the franchise over a long weekend:

• Day 1 Evening: Saw (2004) and Saw II (2005) — approximately 3.5 hours combined. These two films establish all the core mythology and central characters. Watching them back-to-back makes the thematic and narrative connection between their endings land with full impact.
• Day 2 Daytime: Saw III (2006), Saw IV (2007), and Saw V (2008) — approximately 4.5 hours combined. This block closes the original Jigsaw story arc and brings the franchise's central mysteries to a head. These three films are the most densely plotted in the series and benefit from being watched in close succession.
• Day 2 Evening: Saw VI (2009) and Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010) — approximately 3 hours combined. These two entries wrap the original seven-film narrative run.
• Day 3: Jigsaw (2017), Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021), and Saw X (2023) — approximately 5 hours combined. These three films form the franchise's revival era and can be watched with breaks between them, as they connect to but do not depend on moment-to-moment recall of the earlier films.

If you prefer a slower pace, splitting sessions across a full week works equally well. The most important rule is not to take extended breaks within the original seven films. Their narrative threads are tightly interwoven, and watching one film per week over months will cause you to lose track of key character details that pay off later in the arc.