With 2004's Saw, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, arguably, changed the horror genre and, undeniably, jumpstarted one of the most endurable and influential horror movie franchises in recent memory. By fusing themes of detective noir fiction with the tone and viscera of French horror cinema's controversial New Extremity movement, they created a clever, suspenseful, and unforgettably shocking thriller now regarded as one of the best horror movies of the 2000s.
The subsequent installments would continue to follow the horrifying challenges of morally corrupt serial killer (a term used loosely here) John "Jigsaw" Kramer (Tobin Bell) and the apprentices who sought to uphold his legacy with increasingly elaborate death traps, which the sequels become a little more preoccupied with, arguably. However, we cannot deny that we are curious about what "games" are in store for the forthcoming Saw XI, which is heading to theaters in September 2024. As we wait for one of the most anticipated upcoming horror movies, let's relive its predecessors on streaming, as digital rentals, or on physical media.
Saw (2004)
Director: James Wan
Starring: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
What it's about: Based on a short film of the same name, James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell’s breakout feature follows two men who wake up trapped and chained up in a disgusting abandoned bathroom and try to figure out what led to their kidnapping as they struggle to find a way out alive. As a fun brainteaser that keeps you guessing until its brutal, twisted finale, Saw is, arguably, one of the best horror movies of its time and, certainly, one of the most influential.
How to watch Saw
Saw II (2005)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Donnie Wahlberg, Tobin Bell
What it's about: A detective successfully locates the elusive Jigsaw but must figure out where he is keeping his next set of victims — including his own teenage son — before it is too late. Saw II is just about as suspenseful and subversive as the first but certainly ups the ante on the gore.
Saw III (2006)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Tobin Bell, Bahar Soomekh, Shawnee Smith, Angus MacFayden
What it's about: Picking up directly where Saw II left off, Saw III sees an ailing John Kramer force a doctor to keep him alive while Amanda – one of Jigsaw’s most notorious apprentices – puts a grieving father through a horrifying test of morality.
Saw IV (2007)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Athena Karkanis, Lyriq Bent
What it's about: Even beyond death, Jigsaw is still causing people distress — namely, a pair of FBI agents who must search for answers in the killer’s remains and a SWAT commander on a race against time to save them.
Saw V (2008)
Director: David Hackl
Starring: Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor
What it's about: Five new subjects are put to the test under the tutelage of Jigsaw’s new successor, Det. Lt. Mark Hoffman, whom Agent Strahm intends to bring to justice.
Saw VI (2009)
Director: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor
What it's about: As the FBI draws nearer to closing in on his operation, Mark Hoffman attempts to bring a group of crooked insurance executives to justice in his own twisted way in Saw VI, which introduces a unique new set of traps into the mix, including one derived from a child’s playground merry-go-round.
Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
Director: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery
What it's about: A self-help guru whose fabricated claims of being a Jigsaw survivor lead him to be put in the hot seat for real in Saw: The Final Chapter, which was originally released in 3D and marketed as the last installment of the series, which, of course, did not turn out to be the case.
How to watch Saw: The Final Chapter
- Stream Saw: The Final Chapter on Max
- Rent or buy Saw: The Final Chapter on Amazon
- Buy Saw: The Final Chapter on Blu-ray on Amazon
Jigsaw (2017)
Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Starring: Tobin Bell, Matt Passmore
What it's about: Despite being dead for more than a decade, John Kramer becomes the prime suspect when a new series of horrific deaths caused by elaborate traps turn up in Jigsaw, which certainly has some of the most inventive traps yet.
Spiral (2021)
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson
What it's about: Det. Zeke Banks investigates a series of deaths that suggest a new criminal mastermind is following in Jigsaw's footsteps in Spiral, which also came from the mind of producer Chris Rock and was largely inspired by David Fincher's Se7en.
Saw X (2023)
Director: Kevin Greutert
Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith
What it's about: Taking place between the events of the first two films, Saw X sees the ailing John Kramer exacting revenge against con artists who promised him an experimental cancer treatment the only way he knows how.
Congratulations. You have survived the first 10 Saw movies. Game over... for now.
