It all started with a short film in 2003, followed by a low-budget feature-length entry in 2004 that was made for a mere $1.2 million. Somehow, those little movies spawned a massive franchise that has now been around for nearly two decades and grossed over $1 billion collectively at the global box office.
The Saw franchise is one of the most popular in horror history, though not every entry has been met with widespread acclaim. In fact, the majority of them scored mixed reviews. With a new entry out this year, that makes it the perfect time to see what the movie buffs on Letterboxd feel about each installment, as well as where to watch them all.
Saw 3D (2.3) - HBO Max
For nearly a decade, fans believed this was the end of the franchise. 2010's Saw 3D was the seventh official entry and was designed to wrap up the story while also capitalizing on the 3D trend that hit theaters in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
The return of Dr. Gordon at the very end was a nice way to close things out but many felt the rest of this film lacked. The traps were uninspired and the story of a man who lied about being a Jigsaw survivor wasn't that interesting. The most common rating is two stars (20%), though three stars (17%) isn't far behind.
Jigsaw (2.4) - Peacock
In 2017, the series made its unexpected return with Jigsaw. It's surprising enough to know that they squeezed out four movies after Jigsaw died in Saw III, but getting a fifth set nearly 10 years in the future was a whole different case. Once again, it was a commercial success but there were some glaring plot holes.
The story was similar to the rest of the series, with test subjects being part of deadly games in a barn before it culminated in one of the franchise's trademark twists. Though two (22%) and three (21%) stars were again most common, Jigsaw rarely received a dreadful or perfect score, with most hovering around the middle.
Saw V (2.5) - HBO Max
By the time Saw V rolled around in 2008, it was clear that the series was beginning to stretch itself thin. Jigsaw died two installments prior, so keeping things fresh while also including him in flashbacks seemed like the filmmakers were trying a bit too much.
This entry feels odd in that it barely matters. Detective Strahm is killed as he gets close to finding out Hoffman's connection to Jigsaw and the people tested throughout are never mentioned again. Surprisingly, three stars (23%) is the most common but it rarely scored higher than that.
Saw IV (2.5) - HBO Max
Fans everywhere clamored for Saw IV considering the way Saw III ended. This 2007 film didn't touch all that much on Jigsaw's death, only to deliver a shocking twist just as things were wrapping up. The events of Saw IV were happening concurrently with those of Saw III.
The final test from each movie came together as this finished, ending on the note that Detective Hoffman was Jigsaw's new apprentice. It was met with a mixed response since Hoffman hadn't been developed to that point. Again, three stars (24%) is the most common with barely any scores above it.
Saw VI (2.7) - HBO Max
Most fans agree that 2009's Saw VI was something of a return to form for the series. While it may not have been considered as good as the original, it felt like it had more creativity than recent entries and featured flashbacks that seemed to be important, rather than filler.
It explained a lot about Jigsaw's history while also seeing a cat-and-mouse game between Hoffman, Jill, and the FBI. A quarter of the ratings have it at three stars, but both one star (3%) and five stars (3%) are tied, showing how fans can be on either side of this movie.
Spiral: From The Book Of Saw (2.7) - Theaters
The newest entry into the franchise is 2021's Spiral: From The Book of Saw. It stars Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, with the former as executive producer alongside the creators of the series. Darren Lynn Bousman was also brought back to direct after helming parts two, three, and four.
Many see this as a spin-off of sorts and not the actual ninth installment. It follows a detective looking into a series of murders that are similar to what his father dealt with in the past. The ratings seem to hover between two and a half (20%) and three stars (25%) and the film seemed to set the stage for another entry.
Saw III (2.8) - HBO Max
There are a lot of fans who feel like Saw III was the natural stopping point for the franchise. Released in 2006, this mostly worked as an ending to the trilogy as it seemed headed towards wrapping up the stories of both Jigsaw and Amanda, as well as even Detective Matthews.
While some weren't all that interested in the tests that Jeff was put through, the traps were inventive and the twist where everything comes together in the end remains one of the best. 28% have it at three stars and 26% have actually gone even higher than that.
Saw II (3.0) - HBO Max
Considering the huge success that the original was, there was no way that a sequel wouldn't get made. In 2005, Saw II arrived and upped the ante in a big way. Instead of focusing on two main characters and flashbfacks, this put several subjects in a house for a trap that led to many memorable deaths.
The side story involving Detective Matthews was also intriguing and allowed fans a much closer look into who John Kramer was in a way that the original film didn't offer. At 29%, three stars is the overwhelmingly most popular score, though three and a half is next (16%).
Saw 0.5 (3.4) - N/A
If you've never heard of this, that's okay. It was originally titled Saw but is sometimes known as Saw 0.5 thanks to the release of the 2004 movie. This is actually the 2003 short film that the 2004 version was based on, with James Wan and Leigh Whannell using it to pitch the bigger movie.
This version saw a man named David (Whannell) surviving the famous Reverse Bear Trap and being interrogated about it by police. The scene was later reused in 2004's Saw but with Amanda Young in the trap. Most reviews have it at three (27%) stars but four stars (23%) is also a popular score. Alas, this short film isn't available to rent or stream anywhere.
Saw (3.5) - HBO Max
When Saw arrived in 2004, it changed the game. The audience was immediately hooked by the story of two men trapped in a dirty bathroom and were desperate to find out what it all meant. Seeing the mystery unfold was thrilling and unlike the rest of the series.
Instead of focusing on torture devices and gore, this was more of a psychological thriller. It also features one of the best twist endings in the history of cinema that nobody saw coming. Four stars (28%) is the most common rating, while three and a half (22%) is second, and 8% have it at five stars.