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The Ultimate Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie Timeline: Every Film Ranked & The Shocking 2026 Reboot News

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The *Texas Chainsaw Massacre* franchise is one of horror's most enduring and controversial sagas, spanning five decades and nine films with a famously fractured continuity. As of late 2025, the future of the iconic slasher series is once again a major topic of discussion in Hollywood, with a bidding war underway for the rights to the IP, promising a fresh, potentially star-studded reboot to terrify a new generation of fans. This article breaks down every film in the confusing chronology and dives into the newest, most vital updates on the franchise’s next bloody chapter. The most recent film was the 2022 Netflix sequel, *Texas Chainsaw Massacre*, but the focus has now shifted to the next major project, which is attracting top-tier talent and production companies. The original 1974 masterpiece, directed by Tobe Hooper, remains a landmark of independent horror, but its sequels, prequels, and remakes have created one of the most convoluted timelines in cinema, which we will untangle here.

The Future of Leatherface: A Major Reboot is Coming (2026 Update)

The biggest news in the world of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is the intense interest from major studios and acclaimed filmmakers in acquiring the intellectual property (IP) rights. After the 2022 film's mixed reception, the entire franchise is being prepped for a new beginning, and the names being circulated are causing a major buzz in the horror community. * The Bidding War: Multiple studios, including the highly respected independent production house A24, known for critically acclaimed horror like *Hereditary* and *The Witch*, are reportedly vying for the rights. This suggests the next entry could prioritize atmosphere and quality over simple gore. * A-List Talent Rumors: Acclaimed writer and director Taylor Sheridan, known for hits like *Yellowstone*, is among the prominent figures who have shown interest in the property. Furthermore, rumors have linked actor Glen Powell to a leading role in the upcoming reboot, a move that would inject significant star power into the horror series. * The Next Film's Timeline: While concrete details are scarce, reports suggest a new film, potentially titled *Texas Chainsaw Legacy*, is slated for a 2026 release, indicating that the new owners are moving quickly to capitalize on the franchise's 50th anniversary buzz. This new project is expected to be a complete reboot, likely ignoring the convoluted plots of the previous sequels and remakes to offer a fresh take on the Sawyer family’s gruesome legacy.

The Original Nightmare: The Brutal Secrets Behind The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The film that started it all, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), is a masterclass in low-budget horror and remains one of the most influential slasher films ever made. Co-written and directed by Tobe Hooper and co-written by Kim Henkel, the original film is notorious not just for its on-screen terror but for the horrific conditions of its production. The film's gritty, realistic feel was largely due to the genuine suffering endured by the cast and crew: * Sweltering Conditions: Filming took place during a brutal Texas summer, with temperatures often soaring to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The crew had to shoot for extended hours in these gruelling conditions, leading to exhaustion and a famously toxic set environment. * The Original Leatherface: The iconic killer, Leatherface, was brought to life by Icelandic-born American actor Gunnar Hansen. Hansen's costume and mask were purposefully kept secret from the rest of the cast by director Tobe Hooper to enhance their genuine fear and reactions. * The Final Girl: The character of Sally Hardesty, played by Marilyn Burns, is considered one of the definitive 'Final Girls' in horror history. Her visceral, blood-curdling screams and descent into hysteria are often cited as a key element of the film's power. * Controversy and Bans: Despite having surprisingly little on-screen gore (relying instead on suggestion and atmosphere), the film was banned in several countries, including the United Kingdom, where the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) withheld certification for many years. This controversy only cemented its reputation as a terrifying piece of cinema.

A Full Chronology: All 9 Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies in Order

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is infamous for its confusing and often contradictory continuity. Films have been remakes, prequels, and direct sequels, often ignoring the events of the films that immediately preceded them. Below is the full list of all nine films, presented in their release order, which is the most common way to trace the evolution of the horror franchise.

1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The groundbreaking original film introduces the world to Leatherface and the cannibalistic Sawyer family.

2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

Also directed by Tobe Hooper, this sequel is a wild shift in tone, leaning into dark comedy and satire. It follows a radio host who teams up with a former Texas Ranger to hunt the family.

3. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

A more traditional slasher film that attempted to re-establish a serious tone after the comedic sequel. It features a new group of travelers encountering the murderous family.

4. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)

This film, starring future stars Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey, is often cited as the most bizarre entry, introducing an Illuminati-style conspiracy behind the cannibalistic family.

5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

This highly successful remake, produced by Michael Bay, was a major box office hit, grossing over $107.4 million worldwide on a modest budget. It stars Jessica Biel and reimagines the Leatherface story with the new Hewitt family, significantly altering the original's gritty aesthetic for a slicker, more intense visual style.

6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

A prequel to the 2003 remake, this film details the origins of Leatherface and his family, showing how they came to adopt their murderous lifestyle.

7. Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

This film acts as a direct sequel to the 1974 original, completely ignoring the events of the prior sequels and remakes. It follows a woman who inherits her grandmother's Texas estate, only to discover her cousin is Leatherface.

8. Leatherface (2017)

A prequel to the 1974 film, this entry attempts to provide an origin story for the killer, following a teenage Leatherface after he escapes from a mental institution.

9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

Released on Netflix, this film is another direct sequel to the 1974 original, set decades later. It features the return of an elderly Leatherface and attempts to bring back the original's 'Final Girl,' Sally Hardesty, in a legacy sequel format, similar to the *Halloween* franchise.

LSI Keywords and Topical Entities in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Franchise

The enduring appeal of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre is built on a foundation of key elements and entities that define the slasher genre:
  • Leatherface: The central, masked killer, whose different actors (including Gunnar Hansen) and masks define each era of the series.
  • Sawyer Family / Hewitt Family: The grotesque, cannibalistic clan, whose members—like the Hitchhiker, Grandpa, and the Cook—are as memorable as Leatherface himself.
  • Final Girl Trope: The survival of a single female protagonist, most famously Marilyn Burns’s Sally Hardesty, who embodies the trauma and endurance of the genre.
  • Tobe Hooper: The visionary director who established the franchise's tone and visual language in the 1970s.
  • Continuity Issues: The recurring problem of sequels and reboots contradicting each other, forcing fans to categorize the films into separate timelines (e.g., the original timeline, the 2003 remake timeline, and the legacy sequel timeline).
  • Independent Horror: The 1974 film's status as a low-budget, independent film that achieved massive cultural impact, paving the way for countless other horror classics.
The upcoming 2026 reboot, with the potential involvement of companies like A24 and high-profile names like Glen Powell and Taylor Sheridan, promises to be the most significant shift in the franchise's direction in years. Whether it will finally resolve the notorious continuity issues or simply start a new, terrifying timeline remains to be seen, but the return of Leatherface is guaranteed to bring more brutal heat to the horror landscape.
texas chainsaw massacre movies
texas chainsaw massacre movies

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