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The Ultimate Jigsaw Movie Timeline: How To Watch The Saw Franchise In Chronological Order (Updated 2024)

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The *Saw* franchise, often referred to by the name of its mastermind, Jigsaw, has become one of the most convoluted and terrifying horror sagas in cinema history. As of , with the massive success of *Saw X* and the complex web of flashbacks and apprentices, figuring out the correct viewing order is a game in itself, and one you need a guide to win.

This deep-dive article will not only give you the official list of all 10 films in their original release order but, crucially, provide the definitive chronological timeline. This is the only way to truly understand the tragic backstory of John Kramer and the shocking betrayals of his many apprentices, including the latest fresh information on the status of the next planned film.

All Jigsaw (Saw) Movies in Release Order (2004–2023)

For first-time viewers, or those who simply want to experience the narrative exactly as it was presented to audiences, the release order is the safest bet. It allows the major twists—the reveal of Jigsaw's apprentices and the constant use of flashbacks—to hit with their intended impact. This list includes the main series, the soft-reboot *Jigsaw*, and the spin-off *Spiral: From the Book of Saw*.

  1. Saw (2004): The original film introduces John Kramer, Dr. Lawrence Gordon, and Adam Stanheight.
  2. Saw II (2005): Jigsaw's first apprentice, Amanda Young, is revealed.
  3. Saw III (2006): John Kramer dies, but his legacy and games continue.
  4. Saw IV (2007): This film runs concurrently with *Saw III* and introduces Detective Mark Hoffman.
  5. Saw V (2008): Focuses on the battle between Hoffman and Agent Strahm.
  6. Saw VI (2009): Hoffman attempts to cover his tracks and execute Jigsaw’s will.
  7. Saw 3D (2010) (also known as *Saw: The Final Chapter*): The final reveal of Dr. Gordon as a secret apprentice.
  8. Jigsaw (2017): A soft reboot that introduces a new apprentice, Logan Nelson, with a split timeline.
  9. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021): A spin-off featuring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, focusing on a Jigsaw copycat.
  10. Saw X (2023): A direct midquel that takes place between *Saw* and *Saw II*, bringing back a live John Kramer and Amanda Young.

The Status of Saw XI (2025)

In a surprising move, Lionsgate had initially announced *Saw XI* for a 2025 release, continuing the franchise's annual tradition. However, as of late 2024, the film has reportedly been pulled from the schedule and its development stalled, with some sources even suggesting a cancellation. This highlights the current focus on the success of *Saw X* and the potential for the franchise to pivot to new directions, perhaps exploring more midquels or new apprentices.

The Definitive Jigsaw Chronological Timeline

Watching the films in chronological order is a challenge, but it offers the deepest understanding of John Kramer’s motivations and the evolution of his "games." This order pieces together the countless flashbacks and concurrent events to tell a single, continuous story of the Jigsaw Killer from beginning to end. This is the ideal viewing order for topical authority and lore mastery.

The timeline is primarily centered around the life and death of John Kramer, which occurs in *Saw III*. Every film after that point (in release order) is either a flashback, a concurrent story, or a continuation by an apprentice.

  1. Jigsaw (2017) (Past Segments Only): The opening trap and the flashback sequences involving Logan Nelson's initiation actually predate the events of the first *Saw* film. This shows an early, failed attempt at a game.
  2. Saw (2004): The very first game featuring Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight. This is where Jigsaw’s public reign of terror begins.
  3. Saw X (2023): This midquel is placed immediately after the first *Saw*. John Kramer, desperate for a cancer cure, travels to Mexico and orchestrates a new, highly personal game with Amanda Young as his active apprentice.
  4. Saw II (2005): The police investigation into Jigsaw’s new nerve gas house, which ends with the reveal of Amanda Young as John’s devoted apprentice.
  5. Saw III (2006) & Saw IV (2007) (Concurrent): These two films happen at the exact same time. While *Saw III* shows John Kramer on his deathbed and the final test of Amanda, *Saw IV* follows Detective Rigg and reveals Detective Mark Hoffman as John's secret second apprentice, who was setting up the traps alongside Amanda.
  6. Saw V (2008): Mark Hoffman cleans up the aftermath of *Saw IV* and continues Jigsaw's work, attempting to frame Agent Strahm.
  7. Saw VI (2009): Hoffman executes a major game against a health insurance executive while being pursued by the FBI.
  8. Saw 3D (2010): Hoffman’s final game and the shocking return of Dr. Lawrence Gordon, who reveals himself as the third, most loyal apprentice, trapping Hoffman in the bathroom from the first film.
  9. Jigsaw (2017) (Present Segments Only): Set ten years after John Kramer's death, these segments show Logan Nelson, the apprentice from the first entry, executing a new game to punish a corrupt detective.
  10. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021): A completely separate timeline event, focused on a new Jigsaw copycat killer inspired by the original's work, years after the events of *Saw 3D* and *Jigsaw*.

The Legacy of John Kramer: Jigsaw's Apprentices

A core element of the *Saw* franchise's complexity and topical authority is the line of succession for the Jigsaw Killer. John Kramer, a civil engineer suffering from terminal cancer, created a legacy that extended far beyond his death. Understanding his apprentices is key to following the timeline.

Amanda Young (The First Successor)

Introduced in *Saw* as a victim who survived her trap, Amanda became Jigsaw's first revealed apprentice in *Saw II*. She believed in John's mission but, tragically, began creating traps that were unwinnable, betraying the core tenet of Jigsaw's philosophy: giving the victim a chance to survive and appreciate life. Her story concludes in *Saw III* when she is shot and killed.

Detective Mark Hoffman (The Ruthless Successor)

Hoffman's involvement is hinted at in *Saw III* but fully revealed in *Saw IV*. He was a corrupt police detective who initially tried to frame Jigsaw for a murder. Kramer blackmailed him into becoming an apprentice, using his access to police resources to facilitate the games. Hoffman was a cold, efficient killer who lacked Kramer's "moral" code, often resorting to brutal, unwinnable traps. His reign of terror ends in *Saw 3D*.

Dr. Lawrence Gordon (The Secret Successor)

The most shocking twist in the entire series came in *Saw 3D* with the reveal of Dr. Lawrence Gordon, the victim from the first *Saw* film. After crawling to safety and cauterizing his own leg, he was found by John Kramer and nursed back to health, becoming a secret, loyal apprentice. Gordon was responsible for some of the surgical elements of the traps and was the one who finally ended Mark Hoffman's life, fulfilling a request from a deceased John Kramer.

Logan Nelson (The Retconned Successor)

Introduced in *Jigsaw*, Logan Nelson is a retconned apprentice. He was one of the earliest victims of a Jigsaw trap but was saved by John Kramer and became his first true apprentice, even helping to design some of the original games. His activities are mostly confined to the past segments of *Jigsaw*, only resurfacing in the film's present timeline to punish the detective who wronged him.

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you are new to the world of Jigsaw and his deadly games, you should absolutely start with the Release Order. The reveals of the apprentices (Amanda, Hoffman, Gordon) and the complex timeline structure are designed to be experienced as they were released, with each twist building on the last.

If you are a returning fan, a completionist, or someone who wants to fully grasp the internal logic of John Kramer's story, the Chronological Order is the superior choice. Placing *Saw X* between *Saw* and *Saw II* is the key to understanding Kramer's final years and his relationship with Amanda Young before his death in *Saw III*. This order transforms the series from a collection of horror films into a continuous, if convoluted, tragic biography of the Jigsaw Killer.

The Ultimate Jigsaw Movie Timeline: How to Watch the Saw Franchise in Chronological Order (Updated 2024)
jigsaw movies in order
jigsaw movies in order

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