The Saw series began in 2004 with a single thriller created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell and has become one of horror's most prolific and popular franchises. Focusing on the activities of terminally ill serial torturer and killer John Kramer (Tobin Bell), known as "the Jigsaw Killer," the series follows numerous victims, accomplices, and law enforcement agents tangled in his web of suffering.
With its complex and charmingly convoluted narrative, creative gore, and increasingly wild twists, the series maintains a strong fanbase. Saw's loyal fans on IMDb continue to support the saga, rating it highly, especially for the horror genre. Not every entry in the franchise is a hit, but fans on IMDb have given generous ratings to the best Saw movies.
10 'Spiral: From the Book of Saw' (2021)
IMDb Rating: 5.2/10
The lowest-rated Saw film on IMDb is 2021's Spiral: From the Book of Saw, directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and starring Chris Rock as protagonist Detective Zeke Banks. The film exists outside the story of the main series and delves into issues of police corruption, following Zeke and his rookie partner William Schenk (Max Minghella) on their mission to identify and catch a copycat of the Jigsaw Killer.
The film is the first in the series not to feature series legend Tobin Bell, and many feel the film suffers as a result. Spiral does not seamlessly blend into the Saw franchise due to the lack of Jigsaw, despite an intriguing premise with strong potential. Some argue that the film would have been better as a stand-alone project; perhaps the movie can be remade as a straightforward crime thriller. However, it's clear Spiral fails to evoke the franchise's themes despite plastering its name on the title.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Release Date May 12, 2021 Director darren lynn bousman Cast Morgan David Jones , Samuel L. Jackson , Ali Johnson , Dan Petronijevic , Chris Rock , Edie Inksetter Runtime 889 'Saw 3D' (2010)
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
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One of the lowest-ranking Saw films on IMDb is Saw 3D, directed by series editor Kevin Greutert, who is responsible for much of Saw's distinctive aesthetic. The film follows Bobby (Sean Patrick Flanery), a con man who fabricated a memoir about being a Jigsaw survivor, as he is placed into a real deathly game. Advertised as "The Final Chapter," Saw 3D wraps up the stories of many of the series' recurring characters, including Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) from the first film.
Saw 3D is undoubtedly one of the weakest films in the franchise; nevertheless, it contains some grotesque traps and gore and uses its visuals to strong effect despite not being among the best 3D horror movies. Bringing back Cary Elwes as Lawrence Gordon was a great choice and certainly elevates the film's impact on the series, but Saw 3D remains lazy, borderline nonsensical, and deprived of the originality that made the series so successful to begin with.
Saw 3D
R Release Date October 21, 2010 Director Kevin Greutert Cast Tobin Bell , Costas Mandylor , Gina Holden , Betsy Russell , Tanedra Howard , Johnny Yong Bosch Runtime 918 'Jigsaw' (2017)
IMDb Rating: 5.7/10
Jigsaw, directed by the Spierig Brothers, was released seven years after Saw 3D and featured a new apprentice and an addition to Jigsaw's origin story. Introducing a new game and a new team of law enforcement agents and pathologists, Jigsaw follows the investigation into whether Jigsaw has somehow survived or a new killer has emerged.
Although the film features one of the most memorable traps in the Saw series, its additions to the lore are less compelling than in previous films. Additionally, the new apprentice, Logan, lacks the raw brutality of Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and the complex vulnerability of Amanda (Shawnee Smith), making him a fairly unremarkable addition to the franchise. Jigsaw is fun, gory, over-the-top, and violently entertaining but still fails as a Saw installment that successfully pushes the narrative forward.
Jigsaw
R Release Date October 22, 2002 Director Don Adams , Harry James Picardi Cast Barret Walz , Aimee Bravo , Mia Zifkin , Arthur Simone , Maren Lindow , James Palmer Runtime 787 'Saw V' (2008)
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Saw V, directed by series production designer David Hackl, focuses largely on the battle of wits between Jigsaw's apprentice, Detective Hoffman and his fellow detective, Peter Strahm (Scott Patterson). As the police force begins to close in on the Jigsaw case, a game involving a group of people responsible for a deadly building fire is taking place, culminating in one of the series' hardest-to-watch traps.
The film elaborates on Hoffman's backstory as an apprentice and fleshes out his relationship with Jigsaw. Although overall less memorable than many of the other Saw films, Saw V has a very visually interesting ending. The trap in which two victims must slice their arms in half with saws to give five pints of blood each is one of the most gruesome and conceptually horrific in the entire series.
Saw V
R Release Date October 23, 2008 Director David Hackl Cast Tobin Bell , Costas Mandylor , Scott Patterson , Betsy Russell , Julie Benz , Meagan Good Runtime 886 'Saw IV' (2007)
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Despite being the first film in the series without direct involvement from James Wan and Leigh Whannell, Saw IV perfectly captures the spirit of the Saw sequels. The film follows Detective Rigg (Lyriq Bent) as Jigsaw tests him in a way that implies he is being scouted as a potential apprentice.
Saw IV introduces Hoffman as one of Jigsaw's apprentices and features an excellent twist regarding the Saw series' timeline. Although it doesn't feature any of the series' most iconic traps, the film compensates by featuring a distinctively creepy vibe, replacing overt gore with disturbing visuals. Saw IV is a strong sequel that ranks at the exact midpoint in the series, according to IMDb ratings.
Saw IV
R Release Date October 25, 2007 Director darren lynn bousman Cast Tobin Bell , Costas Mandylor , Scott Patterson , Betsy Russell , Lyriq Bent , Athena Karkanis Runtime 935 'Saw VI' (2009)
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
Considered one of the series' better entries, Saw VI follows a 'game' run by Detective Hoffman designed to test the morals of a health insurance executive (Peter Outerbridge) who dismissed Jigsaw when he was dealing with terminal cancer. The film heavily criticizes privatized healthcare, showcasing traps in which the victim must weigh the value of different people's lives the way that insurance companies do.
With its surprisingly compelling social and economic themes, Saw VI is one of the most thoughtful and layered in the franchise. That's not to say it lets go of its well-known grizzly devices; in fact, Saw IV features one of the series' most popular traps, the "shotgun carousel," cementing its reputation as one of the franchise's most solid efforts.
Saw VI
R Release Date October 16, 2009 Director Kevin Greutert Cast Tobin Bell , Costas Mandylor , Mark Rolston , Betsy Russell , Shawnee Smith , Peter Outerbridge Runtime 904 'Saw III' (2006)
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
Saw III, written by Leigh Whannell and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, consists of two simultaneous "games:" Lynn (Bahar Soomekh), a surgeon, is instructed by Amanda and Jigsaw at penalty of death to perform brain surgery on Jigsaw. Meanwhile, Jeff (Angus Macfadyen), a grieving father, is confronted with the opportunity to save or condemn the people responsible for his son's death and lack of justice.
The highest-grossing film in the series, Saw III succeeded due to the emotional and complex dynamic between Amanda and Jigsaw. Providing conclusions to recurring characters' storylines such as Detective Kerry (Dina Meyer), Amanda, and Jigsaw himself, Saw III is considered the third best in the series according to IMDb ratings.
Saw III
R Release Date October 27, 2006 Director darren lynn bousman Cast Tobin Bell , Shawnee Smith , Angus Macfadyen , Bahar Soomekh , Donnie Wahlberg , Dina Meyer Runtime 1073 'Saw II' (2005)
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Saw II, written by Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman and directed by Bousman, focuses on two main storylines. Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) confronts Jigsaw while a game involving eight people, including previous victim Amanda and Detective Matthews' son Daniel (Erik Knudsen), are trapped in a house containing numerous painful small traps that are gradually filling with poison gas.
The film is crucial to the series, providing important details into Jigsaw's backstory, including the reasons behind his forcing of victims to cherish their lives. Saw II cements Jigsaw as a legitimate icon and paves the way for him to become one of the all-time best horror villains. Featuring compelling character interactions and wince-inducing traps like the pit of used hypodermic needles and the "venus fly trap" helmet, Saw II is one of audiences' favorites in the entire series.
Saw II
R Release Date October 28, 2005 Director darren lynn bousman Cast Tobin Bell , Shawnee Smith , Donnie Wahlberg , Erik Knudsen , Franky G , Glenn Plummer Runtime 932 'Saw X' (2023)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Saw X features the return of Shawnee Smith, joined by series mainstay Tobin Bell. Set between the events of Saw and Saw II, the film sees John Kramer traveling to Mexico to subject himself to an experimental procedure that can seemingly cure him. When the whole thing turns out to be a scam, he kidnaps those responsible and subjects them to gruesome torture.
The best-reviewed film in the franchise, Saw X is the only entry to be fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with a score of 80% - in fact, its score is so good that the film is Certified Fresh. Saw X is the most heartfelt film in the series, finding the right balance between the emotional aspect and the overwhelming gore. Tobin Bell gives the performance of his career in the role of Jigsaw, while director Kevin Greutert proves there's still life in this franchise.
Saw X
RA sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable.
1 'Saw' (2004)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Saw began as a short film by creators Leigh Whannell and James Wan. It featured Whannell showcasing the iconic "reverse bear trap" — a torture device designed to rip the wearer's head open if they fail to locate the key to escape — worn by Amanda in the film. The short expanded masterfully into a feature film, which follows multiple narratives: a police procedural, a hostage situation, and, most memorably, two men (Cary Elwes and Leigh Whannell) trapped in a disused bathroom by an unseen killer.
It is unsurprising that a film as strong as Saw spawned such a popular franchise. It has an extremely distinct visual style with music video-esque editing and harsh blue and green lighting and introduces compelling characters, implying a vast lore about its antagonist. With its creative traps, solid thriller narrative, and shocking twist, the first Saw film is ranked as the fan favorite on IMDb.
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