Evolution of the Saw Franchise
The Saw series began as a modest horror film but has evolved into a complex franchise with a convoluted timeline. As the series expanded, some critics argued that it became increasingly challenging to follow without having recently watched every installment. Despite these challenges, the Saw films made a concerted effort to weave a cohesive narrative, a feat not often attempted by other horror franchises.
The Core of the Saw Series
For the first eight films, the Saw storyline focused on John “Jigsaw” Kramer. The ninth installment, Spiral, introduced a new dimension by featuring a copycat killer years after Jigsaw’s original games. The 2023 release, Saw X, reintroduces Jigsaw, despite his death in Saw III. The reliance on flashbacks in the subsequent films can perplex even the most attentive viewers.
Before Saw (2004)
Jigsaw’s Origins Date Back To 1994
The origins of the Saw saga trace back to events before the 2004 film. John Kramer, before becoming Jigsaw, was a successful civil engineer, and his wife Jill managed the Homeward Bound Clinic. Their happiness was shattered in 1994 when Cecil Adams, an addict, robbed the clinic, causing Jill to miscarry.
This tragedy plunged John into depression, exacerbated by a terminal brain cancer diagnosis due to Logan Nelson’s error and William Easton’s denial of treatment. Amanda Young, another Homeward Bound patient, was coerced by Cecil into the robbery and later abducted by John, who subjected her to the reverse bear trap test. Surviving the test, Amanda joined John’s mission.
Key events in Jigsaw also precede Saw X and Saw, although the primary timeline of the 2017 film occurs well after John’s death. During this pre-Saw era, Detective Mark Hoffman tries to frame Jigsaw for a murder, leading to his recruitment as an apprentice. Detective David Tapp becomes obsessed with capturing Jigsaw after the death of his partner, whom John and Hoffman frame Dr. Lawrence Gordon to mislead.
Saw (2004)
The First Movie Takes Place In 2001
- Horror
- Mystery
- Crime
Saw is a horror film directed by James Wan. The story follows two men who awaken in a dilapidated bathroom, chained at opposite ends, and discover they are pawns in a deadly game orchestrated by a serial killer known as Jigsaw. As they struggle to survive, they learn the harsh consequences of their past actions. The film features complex puzzles and a dark atmosphere, contributing to its critical and commercial success.
The inaugural Saw film, released in 2004, begins in 2001, almost a decade after John’s transformation into the Jigsaw Killer. Dr. Lawrence Gordon and Adam Stanheight find themselves trapped in a grimy bathroom, having been abducted by John and Amanda. Detective Tapp, who had previously hired Adam to surveil Gordon, is also pursuing Jigsaw. Meanwhile, Zep Hindle, a hospital orderly, is drawn into the deadly game.
John demands that Gordon kill Adam, or his family will perish. As Gordon fails, Tapp intervenes, saving the family but getting shot in the process. Adam kills Zep, and in a shocking twist, John reveals himself as the “dead body” in the room, leaving Gordon and Adam to die.
The timeline of the first Saw movie is suggested by a date on a cellphone, 09/10/01, though some fans speculate it actually takes place in 2004. After these events, later flashbacks in the series show John nursing Dr. Gordon back to health, recruiting him as a secret apprentice. Amanda, unbeknownst to John, kills Adam, marking her descent into becoming a full-fledged killer in John’s eyes.
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During this period, other significant characters emerge. Detective Eric Matthews faces scrutiny for misconduct and becomes Jigsaw’s next major test subject. Meanwhile, Bobby Dagen, the protagonist of Saw 7, begins fabricating his survival story. William Easton also denies crucial care to Harold Abbott, leading to his family’s drastic decision in Saw 6.
Saw X (2023)
Takes Place Shortly Before The Events Of Saw (With Some Overlap)
- Crime
- Horror
- Thriller
Saw X is the tenth film in the long-running Saw franchise, with the original Jigsaw, played by Tobin Bell, returning in the lead role. The film takes place in between the first two Saw movies and sees John Kramer traveling to Mexico to take part in an experimental medical procedure to help cure his cancer. When the "doctors" end up being con artists, Kramer turns to his lethal traps to teach them a lesson.
Saw X, released in 2023, returns to the franchise’s origins. Unlike Jigsaw and Spiral, which barely feature John Kramer, Saw X places him at the forefront. Set between the events of Saw and Saw 2, it depicts one of John’s early games, targeting fraudulent doctors in Mexico.
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The film concludes with John setting the trap for Dr. Gordon and Adam with Hoffman’s assistance, marking Amanda’s debut in executing John’s deadly tests. The timeline positions Saw X just before the original Saw, likely in 2001.
Saw 2 (2005)
The Second Saw Movie Takes Place In 2002
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Saw II is the follow-up to James Wan and Leigh Whannell's 2004 body horror film, Saw. In the sequel, a group of ex-convicts are kidnapped by Jigsaw and must work together to find an antidote to a toxin that is scheduled to kill them all in two hours. Darren Lynn Bousman took over directing duties for Saw II after Wan directed the original.
While no explicit dates are given, it’s generally accepted that Saw II occurs about a year after the first film, around 2002. This time, Eric Matthews is forced to watch as his son and other victims face tests in an abandoned house.
The twist reveals that the footage Matthews sees is pre-recorded, with his son safely locked in a nearby safe. After attacking John, Eric is left in the original bathroom by Amanda, who posed as a victim.
It’s between Saw 2 and Saw 3 and 4 that John’s health declines rapidly.
Flashbacks reveal events after Saw 2: Eric escapes the bathroom but is severely injured, leading to a confrontation with Amanda. Hoffman saves him, secretly holding Eric captive for months while pretending to investigate the Jigsaw case. During this time, Dr. Gordon and John choose Dr. Lynn Denlon for a new game involving her husband Jeff, whose son was killed by a drunk driver. Amanda’s inescapable traps signal her departure from John’s twisted ethics.
Saw 3 (2006) & Saw 4 (2007)
Both Take Place In Late 2002, Six Months After Saw 2
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Saw III is the third film in the horror mystery-thiller franchise directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Set after the events of the second film, Saw III follows John Kramer continuing to place victims in deadly traps to test them. The film also bounces back and forth between detectives attempting to find the Jigsaw killer while following a man named Jeff who must solve a series of games and forgive those who wronged him to survive.
Saw 3 and Saw 4 occur simultaneously and are best understood together. Set six months after Saw 2, these films take place in late 2002. John’s health is failing, and despite Jill’s pleas, he continues his deadly games.
A timeline inconsistency arises with John’s death. Although these films should occur in 2002, a tag on John’s body marks his death in 2006. The apprentices’ relationships deteriorate, with Hoffman maneuvering to eliminate Amanda using her past involvement in John’s son’s death.
Every Saw Trap In All Movies Ranked
As Lynn and Jeff Denlon undergo testing, Officer Daniel Rigg faces his own trials, orchestrated by Hoffman, involving Eric Matthews. Rigg is framed for the Jigsaw killings. Ultimately, Lynn, Jeff, Amanda, Eric, and Rigg die, leaving Hoffman as Jigsaw’s successor.
Saw 5 (2008)
The Next Saw Movie Takes Place In 2003
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Saw V is the fifth film in the long-running horror mystery-thriller franchise. It was directed by David Hackl and released in 2008. Continuing to follow the trail of carnage left by the deceased Jigsaw Killer and his apprentices, FBI Agent Peter Strahm is caught and survives a trap meant to leave him for dead. However, Strahm begins to close in on the potential killer from within - and colleague Detective Mark Hoffman is the prime suspect.
Saw V picks up shortly after Saw III and Saw IV, presumably in 2003. Agent Strahm survives a Water Cube trap set by Hoffman, who gains hero status after “rescuing” Jeff and Lynn’s daughter. Strahm, however, grows suspicious.
The film’s focus shifts to Hoffman’s attempts to outwit Strahm and Agent Perez. Strahm eventually confronts Hoffman but is crushed to death after failing a simple test.
Saw 6 (2009)
The Sixth Saw Movie Is Also Set In 2003
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Released in late 2009, Saw 6 is the sixth mainline installment in the Saw franchise. Like its predecessors, the movie sees unwilling victims participating in a series of deadly games inspired by the infamous Jigsaw Killer. With Jigsaw's protege, Mark Hoffman, still at large but not yet discovered, the FBI begins to uncover the truth behind the most recent murders.
Saw VI closely follows Saw V, suggesting both are set in 2003. This installment tests William Easton, who must confront his company’s unethical practices. Meanwhile, Hoffman attempts to frame Strahm for the murders using his severed hand.
Perez and her boss Erickson catch Hoffman in the act, but he kills them and destroys the evidence. Unbeknownst to Hoffman, John had instructed Jill to test him with the reverse bear trap, a plan also involving Dr. Gordon. Hoffman survives to continue his deadly games.
Saw 7 (2010)
The Movie Also Known As Saw 3D Takes Place In 2004
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Saw 3D is a 3D-directed horror film that is the sequel to Saw VI, which follows a man who has gained popularity as he supposedly survived one of Jigsaw's traps but is captured and put into an actual game where he must play along to save his wife. With the "games" becoming more gruesome and public, Internal Affairs begins to investigate a former survivor and detective, Mark Hoffman, as the potential new culprit.
Saw 7, or Saw 3D, likely unfolds in early 2004, or late 2003 at the earliest. Hoffman, after healing, targets Jill, who seeks protection from Mark Gibson. However, the police fail to protect her.
The central game involves Bobby Dagen, a fraud, who faces tests due to his lies. Hoffman uses the game as a distraction, massacring officers and killing Jill with the Reverse Bear Trap. But Dr. Gordon captures Hoffman, leaving him to die in the original bathroom.
Jigsaw (2017)
Set In 2010 (Although This Is A Point Of Contention In The Fanbase)
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
Jigsaw is the eighth film in the long-running body horror franchise Saw. A new batch of victims, each responsible for the deaths of others, are brought into a series of deadly traps designed to test their will to live. Despite the original Jigsaw having been deceased for over a decade, new murders begin to occur that replicate the style and purpose of his original deadly games, leading the FBI on a chase to locate the new copycat killer.
Jigsaw, the eighth Saw film, complicates the timeline and introduces plot holes. Although it’s set eight years after John’s death, it reveals another apprentice, Logan Nelson, whose game predates the first Saw movie.
The “present day” events of Jigsaw supposedly take place in 2010, following the continuity of the 2004 phone-date timeline. If John’s death is believed to be in 2006, as per a mortician’s tag, the events might occur around 2014. In this timeline, Logan frames Detective Hallorann for the new murders as revenge. Logan, however, is never mentioned again.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
Set An Unspecified Length Of Time After John Kramer’s Death
- Horror
- Mystery
- Thriller
The ninth installment and spin-off of the Saw franchise, Spiral: From the Book of Saw, stars Chris Rock as Detective Zeke Banks, a police officer investigating what he believes to be a Jigsaw copycat killer. As the case unravels, Banks realizes that the truth might be closer to home than he would have thought as the legacy of corruption in his embattled police department begins to face a reckoning.
Spiral is set in the same universe, but years after Jigsaw. The plot reveals that Detective Zeke Banks witnessed his partner’s murder of a witness years prior, leading to his ostracization. The new killer, William Schenk, adopts Jigsaw’s methods to cleanse the police force, targeting Zeke for a partnership. Zeke refuses, and his father, a corrupt former chief, is killed as part of Schenk’s plan.
Future of the Saw Franchise
When Will Saw XI Be Set?
The Latest Sequel Is Expected In 2025
Though Saw X is the latest release, the franchise is far from over. Saw 11 is confirmed for development, with no details yet about its narrative or place in the timeline. Given Saw X‘s success as a prequel, it’s plausible Saw XI will follow suit. Tobin Bell’s portrayal of John Kramer is pivotal, and films lacking his presence have historically underperformed.
If Saw XI is a prequel, it might occur post-Saw (2004), considering Saw X‘s ending depicts the original Jigsaw test setup. A prequel would also offer a chance to further integrate Logan Nelson from Jigsaw into the broader Saw universe.
Where Potential Saw Spinoffs Would Land On The Timeline
With Saw X‘s success, the franchise is poised for exciting spinoffs. Producers hinted at future films centered on Mark Hoffman, following his return in Saw X‘s post-credit scene, and noted Cecilia’s potential as a recurring antagonist.
If Hoffman’s story continues, questions arise about its timeline placement. His and Cecilia’s fates were ambiguous, suggesting their return might necessitate a prequel. However, given Hoffman’s backstory is well-explored, a prequel seems unlikely. Instead, it might reveal Hoffman and Cecilia escaped their presumed deaths, situating their story at the timeline’s conclusion. With John and Amanda deceased, Cecilia may seek vengeance against Hoffman’s takeover of Jigsaw’s legacy.
Saw
The Saw film franchise is an anthology of horror films centered around the Jigsaw Killer, a mastermind who crafts elaborate traps to test his victims' will to live. Victims, often morally flawed, are forced into gruesome games where they must inflict severe pain on themselves or others to survive.
