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 with the first installment of the Saw movies in 2004. 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 that of the apprentices who sought to uphold his legacy with increasingly elaborate death traps -- which, arguably, the sequels become a little more preoccupied with. However, we cannot deny that we are curious what "games" are in store for the forthcoming Saw XI, which is heading to theaters in September 2024. As we wait for the one of the most anticipated upcoming horror movies, let's relive its predecessors on streaming or as digital rentals.
Saw (2004)
Based on their short film of the same name, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell’s breakout feature follows two men (Cary Elwes, Whannell) 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.
Stream Saw on The Roku Channel.
Rent or buy Saw on Amazon.
Buy Saw on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw II (2005)
In the first follow-up, a detective (Donnie Wahlberg) successfully locates the elusive Jigsaw, but must figure out where he is keeping his next set of victims — one of which is his own teenage son — before it is too late. Darren Lynn Bousman takes over the franchise as co-writer and director for the first of many times with Saw II — which is just about as suspenseful and subversive as the first, but certainly ups the ante on the gore.
Stream Saw II on The Roku Channel.
Rent or buy Saw II on Amazon.
Buy Saw II on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw III (2006)
While an ailing John Kramer forces a doctor he recently abducted (Bahar Soomekh) to keep him alive for as long as possible, Amanda (Shawnee Smith) – one of Jigsaw’s most notorious apprentices – puts a grieving father (Angus MacFayden) through a horrifying test of morality. Picking up directly where Saw II left off, Saw III sees Bousman returning to the director’s chair alongside Whannell as the screenwriter.
Rent or buy Saw III on Amazon.
Buy Saw III on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw IV (2007)
Even beyond death, Jigsaw is still causing people distress — namely a pair of FBI agents (Gilmore Girls cast member Scott Patterson and Athena Karkanis) who must search for answers in the killer’s remains and a SWAT commander (Lyriq Bent) on a race against time to save them. For Bousman’s third time at the helm of the franchise, Saw IV – which even shows us John Kramer’s first “subject” – got a new set of writers in the form of Feast scribes Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan.
Stream Saw IV on The Roku Channel.
Rent or buy Saw IV on Amazon.
Buy Saw IV on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw V (2008)
Five new subjects are put to the test under the tutelage of Jigsaw’s new successor, Det. Lt. Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor), whom Agent Strahm (Patterson) intends to bring to justice. Melton and Dunstan are back as the writers of Saw V, but at the helm is first-time director David Hackl, who would also go on to direct an all-star cast in 2015’s Into the Grizzly Maze.
Stream Saw V on The Roku Channel.
Rent or buy Saw V on Amazon.
Buy Saw V on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw VI (2009)
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. Kevin Greutert, who worked as an editor on the previous five chapters, makes his feature-length directorial debut with this installment that introduces a unique new set of traps into the mix, including one derived from a child’s playground merry-go-round.
Stream Saw VI on The Roku Channel.
Rent or buy Saw VI on Amazon.
Buy Saw VI on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw: The Final Chapter (2010)
Cary Elwes reprises his role as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the seventh film in the franchise, which follows a self-help guru (Sean Patrick Flanery) whose fabricated claims of being a Jigsaw survivor lead him to be put in the hot seat for real. Helmed by returning director Greutert and originally released in 3D, Saw: The Final Chapter was marketed as the last installment of the series, which, of course, did not turn out to be the case.
Rent or buy Saw: The Final Chapter on Amazon.
Buy Saw: The Final Chapter on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Jigsaw (2017)
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. The Spierig Brothers, Michael and Peter, divert from the sci-fi genre in the directorial duo’s new attempt to reinvent the gory franchise with Jigsaw, which certainly has some of the most inventive traps yet.
Stream Jigsaw on Amazon Prime.
Stream Jigsaw on MGM+.
Buy Jigsaw on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Spiral (2021)
Det. Zeke Banks (Chris Rock) investigates a series of deaths that seem to suggest that a new criminal mastermind is on the loose, following in the footsteps of Jigsaw. Darren Lynn Bousman returns to the franchise for Spiral, which not only stars Rock, but came from the mind of the comedian, who also produces the ninth installment that was largely inspired by the acclaimed thriller from David Fincher, Se7en.
Stream Spiral on Hulu.
Rent or buy Spiral on Amazon.
Buy Spiral on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Saw X (2023)
For the tenth installment of the franchise -- released nearly two decades after it began -- director Kevin Greutert returns to reveal another untold secret about Jigsaw. 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.
Rent or buy Saw X on Amazon.
Buy Saw X on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Congratulations. You have survived the first 10 Saw movies. Game over... for now.
