Both Ghost Rider Movies in Order
Ghost Rider is among the most iconic characters to ever grace the pages of Marvel Comics. Over the years, the character has appeared in several different adaptations, from comic books to video games, to live-action films. Some appearances were arguably better than others, but Ghost Rider’s potential to be transferred to the big screen still remains huge. Due to this, we’ve decided to create this list of all Ghost Rider movies.
Stick around since what comes next will interest both fans of the Ghost Rider franchise who want to reminisce and those who are new to the series and are discovering the epic character for the first time. Let’s see all Ghost Rider movies in order.
How many Ghost Rider movies are there?
There are two Ghost Rider movies so far. The first movie, titled simply “Ghost Rider,” came out in 2007. The movie was a financial success but flopped when it came to critics. Still, the sequel titled “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” was released in 2012, to even worse reviews.
Ghost Rider movies in order (at a glance)
Both Ghost Rider movies starred Nicholas Cage in the main role, playing Johnny Blaze. Johnny Blaze is considered to be the first Ghost Rider. The character was created by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Mike Ploog back in 1972. The order of release of Ghost Rider movies is as follows
- Ghost Rider (2007)
- Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)
Even though the movies were highly anticipated following extremely popular comic book character, they were met with a lukewarm response, and part of the reason why was Cage’s portrayal of the characters.
Are Ghost Rider movies connected? Do you need to watch them in a specific order?
All Ghost Rider movies are connected. Both movies followed the same character Johnny Blaze and were set in the same universe. But this is it when it comes to the connection between the two movies. Even though it was marketed as a sequel, the Spirit of Vengeance, released in 2012, feels more like a reboot since the story is set 8 years after the events of the first movie. Everything is explained from the beginning, and the story of the Spirit of Vengeance is a standalone one.
What is the best way to watch Ghost Rider movies?
The best way to watch Ghost Rider movies is in order of their respective release dates. But you’re not going to miss out on anything if you decide to watch the movies “out of order.” The second movie in the franchise was imagined without the need for the audience to see the first movie to understand what’s happening in the sequel.
Ghost Rider movies in order (by release date)
1. Ghost Rider (2007)
The first movie follows a teen, Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who has made a deal with the devil. Blaze’s father was terminally ill, and in exchange for his life, Blaze promised the demon Mephistopheles his soul. Mephistopheles agreed, but the bargain took a dark turn when Blaze’s father died in a motorcycle stunt accident just a few hours after being cured of cancer.
Years later, Mephistopheles comes to collect on his end of the bargain and transforms Blaze into the Ghost Rider, a fiery supernatural being with the power of the Spirit of Vengeance that can be utilized to combat evil. As the Ghost Rider, Blaze has a flaming skull for a head and is able to control hellfire. He has superhuman strength and is virtually indestructible. He also has access to the so-called “Penance Stare,” a signature ability that allows him to kill individuals by overwhelming them with the weight of their own sins. The Ghost Rider’s powers are fueled by his hatred for evil, and he is tasked with stopping the Mephistopheles’ son Blackheart, from unleashing hell on Earth.
2 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)
The movie is a sequel to the 2007 film “Ghost Rider” and stars Nicolas Cage once again as Johnny Blaze, the stunt motorcyclist who has made a deal with the devil and is now the Ghost Rider.
In this film, Blaze is hiding out in Eastern Europe and is approached by a mysterious priest who seeks his help in saving a young boy who has been targeted by the devil. A group of monks in Romania receive a warning from an alcoholic monk named Moreau about an upcoming attack by Roarke’s forces. The forces are after a young boy named Danny, who they plan to perform a ritual on to transfer Roarke’s soul into Danny’s body. After a firefight, Danny and his mother escape but are eventually captured.
Moreau seeks out Johnny Blaze, offering to remove the Ghost Rider curse in exchange for his help finding Danny. Danny turns out to be the key to the devil’s plan to take over the world, and the Ghost Rider seems to be the only one that can put a stop to it.
Where to watch Ghost Rider movies?
You can watch the first movie Ghost Rider (2007), on Disney+. Ghost Rider: The Spirit of Vengeance is not on disney+, but it can be found on Amazon Prime.
Will there be more Ghost Rider movies?
The sequel to the Spirit of Vengeance was discussed, but it never came to fruition. Even though both movies were a financial success, they were highly criticized for CGI, story, and acting. Since the continuation of the franchise depended on the success of the Spirit of Vengeance, soon after the release of the movie, it was obvious that Ghost Rider 3 would not happen.
In 2013 the rights to the Ghost Rider franchise reverted to Marvel, and so far, there are no plans for either a series or a standalone movie. The character only has a minor appearance here and there but nothing concrete in the works. There was one series planned following a different Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, but sadly nothing came out of it.
