The Deathly Hallows films marked a whole generation of horror movie lovers. Investing in physical and psychological horror, the franchise has yielded ten titles that continue to captivate the hearts of older fans and also win over the younger ones.
However, there are some time jumps between the stories released that can confuse the viewer. In order to clarify once and for all the chronological order for marathoning the franchise, we've put together a list of all the Mortal Games films and where exactly they fit into the chronology.
Mortal Games (2004)
This is the story that kicks off the bloodbath proposed by the Mortal Games films. It is in this title that viewers are introduced to the initial protagonists, the duo Adam (Leigh Whannell) and Lawrence (Cary Elwes), as well as the terrible creator of the games, known as Jigsaw.
The plot begins with the two men chained up in a dirty bathroom where there is a body, a lot of blood and a video recording. After watching this recording, they discover that they are taking part in a dangerous game and will have to prove how much they want to be alive in each of the stages they will have to face. You can find this movie on Prime Video, HBO Max and Globoplay.
Saw X (2023)
Despite being the most recent of the Deathly Hallows films, this chapter is not one of the last. In fact, it takes place between the first two films and gives a greater and more interesting focus to the story of John Kramer (Tobin Bell), the man behind Jigsaw.
In this installment of the franchise, John is suffering from brain cancer and wants to be cured of the disease at all costs. This desire ends up causing him to be deceived and the feeling of betrayal awakens the Jigsaw that inhabits his mind, summoning a new round of the Deadly Games in order to get revenge. Unfortunately, the movie is not yet available to subscribers of streaming services, but it can be rented on Apple TV or Prime Video.
Saw II (2005)
And, showing that the games can't stop, the sequel to the first film, although not chronological, was released in theaters in 2005. In it, the universe of the saga is expanded and new characters are introduced to the general public.
This is the third in the chronological line of Deadly Games films and introduces us to detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg). He manages to apprehend Jigsaw and believes that this will end the whole nightmare he created. He couldn't be further from the truth! A new game was about to begin and his own son was among the group of victims. What will he do after finding out? You can find out by checking out the title in the HBO Max catalog or on Globoplay.
Saw III (2006)
Occupying the fourth position in the timeline of the Deathly Hallows films, Deathly Hallows III once again explores the carnage of the games created by Jigsaw. Here, however, he is on the verge of death and is preparing one last game for doctor Lynn Denlon (Bahar Soomekh), who must keep him alive so that Jeff (Angus MacFadyen), the latest victim, can get a chance to finish the games.
In this episode of the saga, we discover a little more about Jigsaw's true motivations while he is in the final stages of his cancer. Although in a questionable and totally twisted way, he has an enormous desire to change the people he summons to his games. If you're curious about how the story unfolds, this film is available in the HBO Max catalog and on Globoplay.
Saw IV (2007)
Anyone who thought that the threats would have disappeared after Jigsaw's death was mistaken. In the fifth movie in the franchise's chronology, the games continue in full force, despite the villain being out of the picture. Viewers will follow an officer who has just ninety minutes to save a friend and work colleague from a series of dangerous traps.
All this while we are shown more of Jigsaw's past, showing various events that occurred simultaneously with other situations already brought up by the franchise. It is during the villain's autopsy that an envelope is found on his body, showing that nothing was really over. And, in line with the others, this movie can be watched on HBO Max or Globoplay.
Saw V (2008)
In this, the sixth of the Deadly Games films in terms of chronology, we follow the emergence of a new villain. A detective called Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) takes over Jigsaw's legacy and continues the games.
The point is that his secret ends up being threatened and he starts using traps to prevent the revelation that seems to be getting closer and closer. The main point is that the victims have impressive connections that hold the viewer until the end. This title is also available on HBO Max and Globoplay.
Saw VI (2009)
In the seventh installment of the Deathly Hallows movie chronology, things are starting to get complicated for Hoffman, who is still trying to keep Jigsaw's legacy alive. He needs to be careful because he is now in the FBI's sights and the investigations are beginning to analyze the plans of the franchise's main villain.
And, of course, as we couldn't do without the typical round of blood and despair, an insurance executive called William Easton (Peter Outerbridge) is thrown into the most macabre tests possible. To check out this installment of the franchise, simply access the HBO Max or Globoplay catalog.
Saw "The End" (2010)
Originally, Deadly Games "The End" had been envisioned as the conclusion to the franchise and promised to provide a fitting end to the torturous challenges now posed by Hoffman. Here his role is more prominent than any other in the Mortal Games films.
In the story, a survivor of the games decides to make a name for himself and brings together other people with similar experiences to make even more money out of all the trauma they've been through. The problem is that he's hiding a secret and when it's revealed, even the viewer is taken by surprise. This title is not available on the usual platforms, but is available to rent on Prime Video, the Microsoft Store and Google Play.
Deadly Games: Jigsaw (2017)
After a seven-year break, Jigsaw was released, showing that the previous title wasn't the end at all and that the Deadly Games films still had a lot to show. In this sequel to the Mortal Games, Jigsaw's name is revived with the return of the games.
Although more than ten years have passed since John Kramer's death, people are still being put through the torture games and police officer Logan Nelson (Matt Passmore) is leading the investigation into the case. It's up to him to find out if Jigsaw really died all those years ago or if he's been alive all this time. Deadly Games: Jigsaw is available in the Globoplay catalog.
Spiral: the legacy of deadly games (2021)
In this, the last in the Mortal Games chronological order, we meet Zeke Banks (Chris Rock), a detective who is tracking down a serial killer. The problem is that the methods used by the criminal are very similar to those of Jigsaw and this ends up raising the possibility that the terrible villain is back.
The story this time explores several other fields, focusing on corruption among police officers and justice in general without losing its essence, with traps that will chill and shock the viewer. The last title on this list can be found in the Prime Video catalog.
With years on the road and a well-established legion of fans, there's no denying the importance of the franchise in horror cinema. With blood-soaked deaths and disturbing situations, Deadly Games paved the way for many other films in the genre to follow in the future. But what about you? What do you think of the franchise? Share your opinion with us in the comments! Also check out the nine best psychological horror movies of all time and also the video below which also talks about the chronology of the Mortal Games films:
