Saw: All parts of the bloody splatter film series in chronological order

“Saw” is one of the most famous horror-thriller splatter film series in the world and revolves around the serial killer John Kramer aka “Jigsaw”, who torments his victims with logical puzzles while they are subjected to terrible torture. So far there are nine films in the Saw series, the tenth part “Saw X” will also appear in German cinemas in November 2023.

Time enough to watch the entire sequence up to the start of the new splatter film and to keep track of the sometimes confusing plot. So if you want to “play a game” and immerse yourself in the terrible horror carnage of Jigsaw: We have put together a clear order for you.

Halloween: Sorted by year of release

• Saw (2004)
• Saw II (2005)
• Saw III (2006)
• Saw IV (2007)
• Saw V (2008)
• Saw VI (2009)
• Saw 3D – Completion (2010)
• Jigsaw (2017)
• Saw: Spiral (2021)
• Saw X (2023)

Saw (2004)

The first part of the “Saw” series was released in 2004 and begins with the doctor Dr. Laurence Gordon and photographer Adam Stanheight suddenly wake up in a neglected washroom and find themselves chained. The two find out that they are being held by the psychopathic serial killer John Kramer (Tobin Bell) aka “Jigsaw” and the only way to escape is by solving his perfidious, bloody puzzles.

Saw II (2005)

The second horror thriller “Saw II” follows the plot of the first part and shows how the serial killer John Kramer chose a young man as his latest victim. He wakes up in an unknown room and has to free himself from a death mask with nails before it closes it around his head. He learns how he solves this terrible puzzle in a video that “Jigsaw” plays for him.

After the young man’s death, Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) investigates and tracks down the clues surrounding the events. This leads to Matthews himself becoming involved in the brutal games of “Jigsaw” and having to fear for his family if he doesn’t solve the puzzles in time.

Saw III (2006)

The third film in the horror series “Saw III” came out in 2006 and directly follows the events of its predecessor. In it, imprisoned Detective Eric Matthews wakes up in a room and realizes that he has been chained by his feet. As in the first part, he can only get out of his situation by cutting off his foot with a saw.

However, Detective Matthews is not the only murder victim of serial killer John Kramer alias “Jigsaw” and tries to save himself and the others. In the search for the perpetrator, the “players” encounter further puzzles and traps that they have to overcome in order to regain their freedom.

Saw IV (2007)

In 2007, the fourth part of the splatter film series “Saw IV” was released and revealed how John Kramer planned further deadly “games” for his victims. The next participants in his mystery include his former lawyer Art and a man who had been interested in his wife Jill.

This part also investigates the horror games from “Jigsaw”. In addition to Detective Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), Detective Daniel Rigg (Lyriq Bent), who was already seen in the second film, also returns. They are also assisted by FBI profiler Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson, “Gilmore Girls”) and Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis).

Saw V (2008)

“Saw V” is the fifth film in the horror-thriller series and begins with how the captured murderer Seth Baxter has to free himself from a “game”. While he is fixed on a metal table with a deadly pendulum hovering above him, he learns in a video message from “Jigsaw” that he can only save himself in an extremely brutal way.

Parallel to the new puzzles, it is shown how Agent Strahm and Detective Hoffman continue to look for a way out of their captivity following the plot of “Saw III” and “Saw IV”. They follow up on their initial investigations and look for the allies of the murderous “Jigsaw”.

Saw VI (2009)

In the sequel “Saw VI,” the murderous “games” of “Jigsaw” enter the next round. It all starts when loan sharks Simone and Eddie are put into head armor surrounded by screws that slowly drill into their temples if they don’t follow the game’s instructions.

Saw 3D – Completion (2010)

“Saw 3D – Perfection” was released in 2010 and follows on from the events of the first “Saw” part, after Dr. Lawrence Gordon sawed off his foot. In another storyline that deals with the love triangle of Brad, Ryan and Dina. The two men have to decide between killing each other with a circular saw or sacrificing their shared lover.

As the story progresses, Jigsaw’s successor, Detective Mark Hoffman, gets up to mischief as he manages to free himself from the reverse bear trap he fell into at the end of “Saw VI”. Hoffman is particularly targeting John Kramer’s ex-wife Jill Tuck (Betsy Russell), on whom he wants revenge for her actions.

Jigsaw (2017)

After a seven-year break, “Jigsaw” was a reboot of the well-known “Saw” series. At the beginning, viewers learn how Logan Nelson developed into a recruit for “Jigsaw” and John Kramer tortured his first victims with his legendary bucket traps.

In the second half of the film, the action picks up ten years after the death of John Kramer and shows how Detectives Halloran and Hunt investigate. The police investigate their suspicion that the real “Jigsaw” is not really dead, but is still playing his perfidious “games” from ambush.

Saw: Spiral (2021)

“Saw: Spiral” is the ninth part in the “Saw” series, but does not follow the plot of the previous film “Jigsaw”. Instead, the story continues in the timeline of the previous films and the investigation into the cruel games is taken over by Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock). Zeke receives messages from the killer that are intended to inform him about the intention of the deadly “games”.

When his father, the former police officer Marcus Banks (Samuel L. Jackson, “Secret Invasion”) disappears one day, it becomes clear that he too has become part of the cruel mysteries of “Jigsaw”. With the help of his colleague, the young police officer William Schenk (Max Minghella), Zeke gets to the bottom of the matter and tries to catch the perpetrator.

Saw X (2023)

“Saw X” is the tenth part of the popular splatter film series and starts in Germany on November 30th. It’s about serial killer John Kramer, who travels to Mexico to undergo risky and experimental procedures to cure his cancer.

When Kramer, alias “Jigsaw”, finds out that these treatments have no real effect and that he has been deceived, he brings those responsible to justice in his cruel games in the usual manner.

Do you want to experience even more scary horror series in the right order? Then take a look at our overview of “Conjuring” and nothing will stand in the way of your scary film marathon. If you run out of horror material, you can then watch the entire “Halloween” series about the legendary serial killer Michael Myers and continue to be afraid!