Want to play a game? The original Saw film is returning to theaters for its 20th anniversary later this month, making it the perfect time to revisit the entire horror series. Back in 2004, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell transformed an ingenious idea and a $5,000 short film into a billion-dollar franchise. With a total of ten films and Saw XI set to release next September, the Saw series is known for its knotty plots, gruesome and inventive traps, and dubious morals as John Kramer, aka Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), chooses his victims based on their sins and their lack of appreciation for the gift of life.
Jigsaw forces people to play his twisted games and fight for survival, reminding them of life’s precious value. The series paved the way for the post-9/11 rise of “torture porn,” a genre that takes pleasure in abject suffering, but it isn’t entirely rooted in that. Some films in the franchise unpack real sociocultural issues, or tug on your heartstrings, or pose philosophical questions that will weigh heavily on your soul—and yes, of course, there’s a lot of gnarly gore.
Just like Jigsaw’s victims, we’re about to make some tough choices, so let’s take a look and see some of the best and worst twists and turns this franchise has made. Here are all the Saw movies, ranked from worst to best.