gamzer.team · October 21, 2026
“Saw” is an American horror franchise created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell. As of October 17, 2026, ten films have been released: from “Saw” (2004) to “Saw X” (2023). At the center of the series is the serial killer John Kramer, nicknamed Jigsaw: according to Wikipedia, he puts his victims into deadly “games” in which survival is possible only at the cost of pain. Below you’ll find all the films in release order, an explanation of where the plot chronology differs, and a short spoiler-free description of each film. The data comes from Wikipedia pages checked on October 17, 2026.
Warning. This is a brutal horror film about deadly “games,” so it is not for sensitive viewers. We don’t list age ratings: they vary by country and service, so check them on the film’s page.
All films in release order
| No. | Film | Year | Director | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saw | 2004 | James Wan | 103 |
| 2 | Saw II | 2005 | Darren Lynn Bousman | 93 |
| 3 | Saw III | 2006 | Darren Lynn Bousman | 108 |
| 4 | Saw IV | 2007 | Darren Lynn Bousman | 92 |
| 5 | Saw V | 2008 | David Hackl | 92 |
| 6 | Saw VI | 2009 | Kevin Greutert | 90 |
| 7 | Saw 3D | 2010 | Kevin Greutert | 90 |
| 8 | Jigsaw | 2017 | The Spierig brothers | 92 |
| 9 | Spiral: From the Book of Saw | 2021 | Darren Lynn Bousman | 93 |
| 10 | Saw X | 2023 | Kevin Greutert | 118 |
Plot chronology
The release order almost matches the order of events. The one notable exception is “Saw X”: according to Wikipedia, its action takes place between the first and second films. So there are two ways to watch the series: in release order (first, second and so on) or with “Saw X” in second place. “Jigsaw” and “Spiral” are set in a later period: the action of the eighth film begins about ten years after the events of the third.
What happens in each film
Saw
Official trailer · “Saw” (2004)Two men wake up in an abandoned bathroom, and each is forced to play a “game” set by an unseen killer. Wan and Whannell made a short film to raise money for a feature, and the feature itself was shot in just 18 days. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
Saw II
A group of former prisoners finds itself in a locked house and must pass a series of tests to get an antidote to a nerve agent that kills within two hours. For Bousman this is his directorial debut.
Saw III
John Kramer tests a man named Jeff: will he be able to forgive the people responsible for his son’s death? At the same time, Lynn, a doctor, ends up a captive of Amanda, John’s protégée.
Saw IV
Official trailer · “Saw IV” (2007)The story continues without a break: investigators try to understand what John has planned. This is the first film in the series not written by Whannell or Wan.
Saw V
Official trailer · “Saw V” (2008)FBI agent Peter Strahm investigates murders in Kramer’s style and increasingly doubts that it is all so simple. Detective Mark Hoffman leads a parallel investigation. For Hackl this is his directorial debut.
Saw VI
Official trailer · “Saw VI” (2009)Insurance executive William Easton must go through a series of “games” to save his employees and his family. Greutert made his directorial debut here, and before that he had edited the earlier films of the series.
Saw 3D
Official trailer · “Saw 3D” (2010)Writer Bobby Dagen claims he survived one of the “games” and becomes a local celebrity; now he ends up in a real one. The film was also released under the title “Saw: The Final Chapter,” was shot in 3D and for a time was considered the end of the series.
Jigsaw
Official trailer · “Jigsaw” (2017)A soft reboot of the series: a group of people is forced to take part in deadly “games” in a barn, while the police investigate a new series of murders in Kramer’s style. The directors were the twin brothers Michael and Peter Spierig.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Official trailer · “Spiral: From the Book of Saw” (2021)A spin-off about police officers who try to stop a copycat of Jigsaw. Starring Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Marisol Nichols and Samuel L. Jackson. Because of the pandemic the premiere was moved from May 2020 to May 2021. This is the ninth part of the series.
Saw X
Official trailer · “Saw X” (2023)The events take place between the first and second films: the sick John Kramer travels to Mexico hoping for treatment, but finds out that the operation is a fraud and decides to take revenge. This is the tenth part of the series; filming took place in Mexico.
Where to start
The simplest option is to start with the first “Saw” from 2004 and continue in release order. The films from 2004–2010 continue one another, and “Saw 3D” came out as “The Final Chapter.” The rest are a reboot, a spin-off and a film about the period between the first and second parts.
| What you want | What to take |
|---|---|
| To get to know the series | Saw (2004) |
| The main story from start to finish | Saw — Saw 3D (2004–2010) |
| A fresh look at the series | Jigsaw (2017) |
| A spin-off with a new hero | Spiral (2021) |
| The story from Mexico between the first and second parts | Saw X (2023) |
More films for October 31 can be found in the selection “What to Watch on Halloween”, and the viewing order for the other series is in the articles about “The Conjuring” and “Final Destination”.
Tip. If you’re short on time, start with the first “Saw” from 2004: the series began with it, and it shows the tone of all the films that follow well. You can decide about the sequels later.
Frequently asked questions
How many films are there in the “Saw” series?
Ten: from “Saw” (2004) to “Saw X” (2023). Officially, no new film with a release date has been announced (as of October 17, 2026).
What are “Saw 9” and “Saw 10”?
“Spiral” (2021) is the ninth part of the series, and “Saw X” (2023) is the tenth. The eighth film is called Jigsaw in the original.
Do I have to watch all the films?
No. “Jigsaw” is a soft reboot, “Spiral” is a spin-off with new characters, and “Saw X” tells about the period between the first and second films. The main story is the films from 2004–2010.
Who is this series for?
For adult viewers who are not afraid of violent scenes. It is usually not suitable for sensitive people, so check the description and the age rating before watching.
Where can I watch “Saw”?
Streaming catalogs change, so we don’t provide a list. Check the page of the film you want on a service available to you.
Sources
- Saw (franchise) (Wikipedia)
- Saw (2004 film) (Wikipedia)
- Jigsaw (2017 film) (Wikipedia)
- Spiral (2021 film) (Wikipedia)
- Saw X (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against live Wikipedia pages on October 17, 2026.
Discussion