Every ‘Saw’ Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

The ‘Saw’ franchise has twisted its way through two decades of horror, expanding from a micro-budget indie to a sprawling mythology of apprentices, flashbacks, and cleverly engineered traps. Below is a quick, fact-packed tour through every feature film in the series—spin-offs included—summarizing where each entry sits in the timeline, who made it, and what it’s about. No spoilers beyond basic setup, and titles appear with their original names and years for easy reference.

10. ‘Spiral: From the Book of Saw’ (2021)

Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, this spin-off follows Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks as a Jigsaw copycat targets police in a case that pairs him with a rookie partner and forces him to confront corruption inside his department. The film stars Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson and positions itself as a procedural thriller inside the franchise’s trap-driven framework. It’s the ninth installment overall and operates adjacent to the main continuity rather than continuing John Kramer’s arc. It runs about an hour and a half and carries an R rating for grisly violence and language.

9. ‘Saw 3D’ (2010)

Also marketed as ‘Saw: The Final Chapter’, this entry was shot natively in 3D using the SI-3D digital camera system and was intended to close the original run of films. Kevin Greutert directed, and the story pays off threads involving survivors and public claims linked to Jigsaw’s legacy. The production famously had to be resubmitted multiple times to secure an R rating rather than NC-17. It was released widely in RealD 3D formats.

8. ‘Jigsaw’ (2017)

Set years after John Kramer’s death, this sequel finds police investigating a fresh series of games that echo the original killer’s methods, with new suspects and forensic twists. Directed by the Spierig Brothers, it stars Matt Passmore and Hannah Emily Anderson alongside returning franchise elements. The film was distributed by Lionsgate and grossed over $100 million worldwide on a modest budget. It runs about 92 minutes and returns to a multi-room trap structure.

7. ‘Saw V’ (2008)

Directed by David Hackl, this chapter tracks FBI Agent Peter Strahm’s pursuit of Detective Mark Hoffman while a group of five people face linked tests designed to expose their past choices. The movie exists in the immediate aftermath of prior events, expanding police-procedural threads within the ongoing mythos. It was released in late October and, like other entries, received an R rating for grisly violence and torture elements. Home media includes an unrated cut with altered and additional footage.

6. ‘Saw IV’ (2007)

Darren Lynn Bousman returned to direct as SWAT officer Daniel Rigg is put through time-limited trials while flashbacks explore John Kramer’s earlier life. The film is structured to unfold concurrently with and immediately after the prior installment, knitting timelines together and introducing key backstory reveals. It earned an R rating for violence and language and ran theatrically at about 93 minutes. Worldwide box office topped $139 million.

5. ‘Saw VI’ (2009)

Kevin Greutert’s first turn in the director’s chair centers on tests aimed at an insurance executive and colleagues, tying Jigsaw’s philosophy to healthcare decision-making. The story follows on the heels of the previous film’s ending and continues the power struggle involving Hoffman. It was released in October, carries an R rating for intense violence, and runs around an hour and a half. FAQs and parental guides note the film’s content and theatrical release details.

4. ‘Saw III’ (2006)

Darren Lynn Bousman directs as a grieving father named Jeff faces trials about forgiveness while Dr. Lynn Denlon is forced to keep the cancer-stricken John Kramer alive long enough for the game to conclude. Filmed in Toronto, this installment was designed to deepen the emotional throughline between Kramer and Amanda while escalating the interconnected trap narrative. It became the series’ highest-grossing entry worldwide at the time and was dedicated to late producer Gregg Hoffman. Theatrical release arrived in late October.

3. ‘Saw II’ (2005)

The second film places a team of captives inside a booby-trapped house while Detective Eric Matthews confronts Jigsaw in a parallel interrogation storyline. Darren Lynn Bousman directed from a script co-written with Leigh Whannell, expanding the first film’s rules and introducing larger-scale group dynamics. It also brought returning characters and new apprenticeships into focus that would echo through later entries. The movie was produced by Twisted Pictures and distributed by Lionsgate.

2. ‘Saw X’ (2023)

Set between the first and second films, this entry follows John Kramer traveling to Mexico for a highly touted experimental cancer procedure—only to uncover a fraud and respond with elaborately engineered retribution. Kevin Greutert directs, with Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith reprising central roles and the narrative deliberately positioned within the early-series timeline. The film was marketed with the franchise’s hallmark emphasis on practical traps and character focus. It runs just under two hours and is rated R.

1. ‘Saw’ (2004)

James Wan’s original thriller introduces the bathroom trap, the cassette-delivered rules, and the moral calculus that would define the franchise. Co-created with writer Leigh Whannell, the film follows two men chained in a decrepit room while detectives chase the mysterious Jigsaw Killer across the city. Produced on a tiny budget and distributed by Lionsgate, it launched a yearly Halloween tradition and a decade-plus of sequels. The movie runs about 103 minutes and established the series’ blend of mystery, horror, and intricate plotting.

Have a favorite entry or an order you swear by—drop your lineup in the comments and tell us why!