“. . . An idyllic summer afternoon drive became a nightmare.”
On October 11, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre turns 50 years old. They grow up fast, don’t they? Now stop strugglin’ and get in this burlap sack, would ya? If ya do, I’ll give ya one of my famous smoked sausage links to stop yer screamin’ until Leatherface and The Hitchhiker come pick ya up gnaw. We can even watch all nine Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in order (if ya survive that long, ya tasty-lookin’ thing).
Sawyer family dinners feature lively conversation—and a different guest every time! (Video screenshot from Screambox)
Pro tip: Watching every Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie in order will take 13 hours and 36 minutes.
What are the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies?
In 1974, Tobe Hooper’s unrelentingly terrifying The Texas Chain Saw Massacre introduced moviegoers to the Sawyer family’s gas-powered butchery and cannibalistic ways.
The series grew to include nine total films of almost maddeningly variable quality, with something like five direct sequels, two prequels, two reboots, and way too many continuity fails. But among these nine Texas Chainsaw Massacre films are a handful of horrifically good times.
If you’ve never seen even the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and you’re up for it, now is the time. Plop your plump, juicy rump onto the couch and stream, rent, or buy it.
Leatherface’s sunset chainsaw dance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. (Video screenshot from Screambox)
If you like it, watch the second movie. If you enjoy that one, watch the third and fourth films with slightly lower expectations. Then, drop your expectations from a tall building and watch the next five, which don’t absolutely suck—though some cut it close.
List of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in order
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
- Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
- Leatherface (2017)
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
How to watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movies in order
The JustWatch.com links in each entry below show where you can stream, rent, or buy the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies via on-demand streaming TV services or video-on-demand (VOD) retailers like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Where to watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Even after a half-century, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of the horror genre’s most terrifying experiences. It’s delirious, high-toned terror fueled by escalating, loony brutality in the hulking form of Leatherface and his chuggin’ chainsaw.
Where to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
No joke; this is a horror comedy. Hooper wanted to go from the original’s pants-soiling terror to black comedy with the sequel. Despite this, TCM2 harnessed some of that familiar fear, even as it made us chuckle. And, yes, the poster does reference The Breakfast Club.
Where to watch Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
This TCM sequel upped the ante, garnering an X rating (the last one ever issued). Filmmakers had to cut it down for an R rating, but the full 85-minute version finally came out on home video. So, if you want the best, extra-gory experience, check the run time before buying or renting.
Where to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
Kim Henkel, Hooper’s co-writer on the O.G. TCM, directs this one (original title: The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre), which features Matthew McConaughey as one of the Sawyers (no familiar family members, though, besides Leatherface) and Renée Zellweger as the final girl. It’s a bit of a mess—but not because of the kills.
Where to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
This remake messes with the story so much that it imagines a whole new family (and surname) for Leatherface. It even comes up with another reason for his mask(s). They’re both b.s.
Where to watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
This prequel to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) is a better film than its predecessor. We go back to the Vietnam era and learn the origin of Leatherface and his family’s unusual tastes.
Pro tip: If you have a taste for cannibal movies, check out The Best Cannibal Movies—With Meal-Pairing Suggestions!
Where to watch Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
Ready for more timeline revisions to accompany your wholesale carnage in 3D? Look for the unrated, 92-minute version, which is a bit more enjoyable.
Where to watch Leatherface (2017)
In which we go all the way back to 1965 to learn what kinda kid Leatherface was (and still kinda is, depending on the TCM movie). It returns to the Sawyer clan but still fiddles with the story.
Where to watch Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
It’s bloody and brutal and features Leatherface. The only other connection David Blue Garcia’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre has to the original is the return of O.G. final girl, Sally Hardesty (uh, isn’t she supposed to be catatonic or dead?), which falls flat.
How to watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in chronological order
Okay, much like a chainsaw, trying to watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in chronological order could make your head hurt. It’s because of the aforementioned continuity problems and story meddling. So, there is no way to watch all nine films in a satisfying timeline. You’ll have to split ’em all up.
The “Stick to Yr Ribs” platter
The closest you’ll get to a satisfactory Texas Chainsaw Massacre marathon is to watch the first four films. These mostly adhere to the Sawyer clan arc.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
- Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
The “We Were Gonna Have to Throw ‘Em Out Anyway” combo
These films, produced by Platinum Dunes, form their own timeline since they rewrote/recycled/retconned them into one mostly dull, confusing film (2003 reboot) and another slightly worthier effort (2006) that’s still ultimately dissatisfying for the same reasons.
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
The O.G. Sammich
Leatherface (2017) is a direct prequel to the original that gets back to the Sawyer clan, while Texas Chainsaw 3D is a direct sequel. So you can make a sandwich outta these two and the O.G. classic—but only the meat tastes good (sounds perfect, but nnnnnope).
- Leatherface (2017)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
The Alpha and Omega
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) is another direct sequel to the first film, and it has some thrills, but it’s hardly worthy. But if you’re super bored, you might as well try comparing the old with the new.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
How to rent or buy the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies on-demand
If you’d rather rent movies than subscribe to a streaming service, rental pricing for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies is $2.89–$4.99. The JustWatch.com links above will tell you which video-on-demand (VOD) retailers have the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films for rent or purchase.
