Saw Movies in Order: Release Order, Story Order and Where Saw X Fits

Watch the Saw films in release order: Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D, Jigsaw, Spiral and Saw X. That is ten films released between October 2004 and September 2023, and it is the simplest way to follow the series. Story order differs in two places: Saw X is set between the first two films, and Jigsaw reaches both before and after the original.

The next Saw film has not been released, so ten is the complete list today. Mike P. Nelson is reported by Deadline as its director, and our report on the new Saw movie explains why “Saw XI” is not an official title.

Saw movies in release order

Dates are US theatrical dates. Release dates in other countries can differ, and this guide does not cover where each film streams.

Saw movies in story order

If you want events in the order they happen, two films move:

1. Saw (2004)
2. Saw X (2023), set between Saw and Saw II
3. Saw II
4. Saw III and Saw IV, which overlap: Saw IV picks up where Saw III left off and reveals that some of its events took place before the end of the earlier film
5. Saw V, Saw VI and Saw 3D
6. Jigsaw, which is set both before and after the original Saw
7. Spiral, set an unspecified time after John Kramer’s death

Only Saw X is clearly a prequel in this sense. Treat the III/IV overlap as a reason to watch them back to back, not as a call to swap them.

Which order should you choose?

First-time viewers: use release order. The first films build their mysteries on what the audience does not yet know, and the later sequels refer back to them. Moving Saw X earlier makes it a flashback to a world you have barely met.

Rewatchers: slot Saw X between Saw and Saw II if you want the chronological story. It centres John Kramer, the character at the heart of the first films.

Short on time: the central sequence is Saw through Saw VI. Saw 3D concludes that run, Jigsaw and Spiral are later, separate entries, and Saw X is the most direct bridge back to the original. Saw X has a post-credits scene featuring Costas Mandylor as Mark Hoffman, so do not switch it off at the credits.

Do you need to watch every Saw movie?

Not strictly. Spiral is a separate story set after John Kramer’s death and works as a standalone. Jigsaw is the most flexible placement because it points both ways in time. The main run is the safest route if you care about continuity, since later films keep returning to characters and events from earlier ones.

Saw XI: what is known

As of October 31, 2026, there is no official title, release date or confirmed cast for a new Saw film. A director, Mike P. Nelson, has been announced, with James Wan and Leigh Whannell producing,. Earlier plans for a later film were delayed and then cancelled before the project returned. Treat any release window you see online as unconfirmed until Lionsgate states one.

FAQ

What order should I watch the Saw movies in?

Release order: Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI, Saw 3D, Jigsaw, Spiral, Saw X.

Where does Saw X fit in the timeline?

Between Saw (2004) and Saw II (2005), though it was released in 2023, after Spiral.

Is Saw X a prequel?

In story terms, yes: it is set between the first two films. It was released as the tenth film.

Is Spiral connected to the original Saw movies?

It is set in the same world, at an unspecified time after John Kramer’s death, and follows a copycat story.

How many Saw movies are there?

Ten released films. A new one has a director announced but no official title or date.

Is there a new Saw movie coming?

A new film is in development with Mike P. Nelson directing. Lionsgate has not confirmed a title or release date in the sources checked for this guide.

Image credit and context: the hero is an authentic frame from Lionsgate’s official Saw X trailer, reused from our earlier coverage of the franchise. It is used here for editorial identification of the series; no Creative Commons or public-domain licence is claimed. Original source: Lionsgate Movies on YouTube.