Top 10 Saw Movies Ranked: Every Film in the Series, From Best to Worst

The Saw franchise has been slicing and dicing its way through the horror genre since 2004, delivering twisted traps, wild twists, and enough blood to fill an Olympic-sized pool. But not every Saw movie is a masterpiece—some are brutal classics, while others are just, well, brutal. We’ve taken a fresh look at the franchise. After careful consideration, here are all the Saw Movies ranked. Ready? Let’s play a game.

Criteria for our Saw Movies Ranking

Here’s how we decided which Saw movies sliced through the competition and which ones barely made the cut when making our Top 10 Saw Movies Ranked list:

• Storytelling: Does the movie actually tell a good story, or is it just a parade of gruesome traps? We looked for strong plots and memorable twists.

• Creativity of Traps: Let’s be real—the traps are the main event. The Saw movies ranked higher if the traps were clever, horrifying, and made sense within the story.

• Legacy and Impact: Did the movie leave a mark on the franchise (or horror in general), or is it the one fans pretend doesn’t exist?

1. Saw (2004)

Look, there’s just no contest—Saw is the one that started it all, and it’s an absolute horror classic. It’s at the very top of our saw movies ranked list, and for good reason. Directed by James Wan on a shoestring budget, this little psychological thriller blew up thanks to its brilliant twist, tight storytelling, and a twist so wild it’s still living rent-free in fans’ heads. Two strangers wake up in a grimy bathroom, chained up, and slowly realize they’re pawns in a sick game run by a guy who thinks murder is a motivational tool.

The genius of Saw isn’t just the gore (though, yeah, it’s got plenty). It’s the tension. The way it plays with your head, making you wonder what you’d do in that situation. It’s not just a slasher—it’s a puzzle, and it’s the one puzzle every Saw sequel has tried (and usually failed) to outdo. And that ending? Pure nightmare fuel.

2. Saw II (2005)

If Saw was a twisted chess game, Saw II is a full-blown chess tournament of terror. This time, a group of strangers wakes up in a booby-trapped house, and their only chance of survival is to work together (which, shocker, they suck at). Detective Eric Matthews is dragged into the chaos when his son turns out to be one of the captives, making things personal.

But the real star here is the needle pit trap—one of the most skin-crawling moments in the entire franchise. It’s the moment when Saw became known for its stomach-churning creativity. And let’s not forget the twist, which takes everything you thought you knew and flips it on its bloody head. It’s the perfect follow-up, cranking up the stakes without losing the tension.

3. Saw VI (2009)

Plot twist—Saw VI is actually one of the best in the series. Who would’ve thought that the sixth movie in a horror franchise would be a banger? This one takes a jab at the healthcare industry (because nothing says horror like health insurance). The main victim is a sleazy insurance exec who’s forced to decide who lives and dies—sound familiar? Yeah, it’s basically Jigsaw with a vengeance.

This one works because it’s got a clear message, smart traps, and a plot that actually makes sense (which is a rare treat in Saw land). It’s brutal, it’s clever, and it’s got one of the most satisfying endings in the franchise. When Saw gets a little preachy, it actually works. And the final trap? Chef’s kiss.

4. Saw III (2006)

Saw III is the emotional gut punch of the series. Yeah, we’re talking about emotions in a Saw movie. Wild, right? This one focuses on Dr. Lynn Denlon, who’s forced to keep Jigsaw alive while a grief-stricken father, Jeff, works through his own deadly test. It’s basically two horror movies smashed together, and somehow it works.

But the real star here is Amanda, Jigsaw’s unstable apprentice. Her story arc is tragic, twisted, and ends in a bloody mess that changes everything. The traps are some of the nastiest in the series, and the finale is a heartbreaking reminder that in Jigsaw’s world, no good deed goes unpunished. It’s messy, it’s brutal, and it’s unforgettable.

5. Saw X (2023)

Saw X is the redemption arc this franchise needed. Taking place between the first two movies, it brings the focus back to John Kramer (Jigsaw himself) as he heads to Mexico for a miracle cancer treatment—only to discover he’s been conned. And you know what happens when you scam the Jigsaw killer? You get a front-row seat to his twisted brand of justice.

This one works because it’s actually about Kramer, not just his traps. It’s a character study wrapped in barbed wire, and the traps feel earned, not just thrown in for shock value. Fans loved it because it was personal, intense, and surprisingly heartfelt (for a Saw movie, anyway). It’s like the series remembered it’s not just about blood—it’s about making you squirm for all the right reasons.

6. Jigsaw (2017)

Jigsaw was supposed to be a fresh start for the franchise—a slick, modern reboot that would bring in new fans without losing the old ones. And for the most part, it works. The story kicks off with a series of gruesome traps that feel like classic Saw, but there’s a twist—are we watching the past or the present? The movie keeps you guessing, and while it’s not exactly a masterpiece, it’s a solid ride.

The problem is that Jigsaw tries so hard to be clever that it almost trips over itself. The twist is cool, but if you think about it for more than two seconds, it kind of falls apart. Still, the traps are creative, the gore is on point, and Tobin Bell’s return as Jigsaw is a treat. It’s not the best Saw, but it’s a fun one for fans. In terms of our Saw movies ranking, this is our middle ground. We start going more downhill from here.

7. Saw IV (2007)

By the time we hit Saw IV, the series was deep in its “how complicated can we make this?” phase. This one picks up right after Saw III and tries to explain more of Jigsaw’s backstory, which is actually pretty interesting. We learn about his tragic past and his twisted sense of morality, but the plot is so tangled it’s hard to keep track.

The traps are solid, the gore is intense, but the story is a mess. If you’re a die-hard fan who loves the Jigsaw mythology, it’s worth a watch. If you’re just here for the scares, you might end up with a headache instead. It’s the beginning of the series trying a little too hard to be clever for its own good. Honestly, when it comes to our Saw movies ranking, it’s a wonder it didn’t score lower.

8. Saw V (2008)

Saw V is a bit like a puzzle with a few missing pieces. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely a step down from the best in the series. The big twist here is that there’s a new apprentice, and honestly, it’s kind of a letdown. The traps are still brutal, but they lack the cleverness of the earlier films.

This one is all about Detective Hoffman trying to keep his Jigsaw secret under wraps while dealing with a group of unlucky victims trapped in a series of deadly tests. The problem is that it’s not as smart as it thinks it is, and the tension just isn’t there. It’s a serviceable sequel, but it’s not going to be anyone’s favorite.

9. Saw 3D (2010)

Saw 3D (also known as Saw: The Final Chapter) was supposed to be the grand finale, and it’s… well, a finale. This one goes all-in on the 3D gimmick, which means a lot of guts flying at the screen and not a lot of storytelling finesse. It’s loud, it’s gory, and it’s basically a greatest hits album of traps without much of a plot.

The biggest draw here is that it finally brings back Dr. Gordon (Cary Elwes) from the original movie, and his big reveal is actually pretty great. But beyond that, this is pure spectacle—bloody, messy spectacle. It’s the Saw equivalent of a fireworks show where half the fireworks don’t go off.

10. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

Look, Spiral had potential. Chris Rock as a detective trying to crack a series of Jigsaw-inspired murders? That’s a great setup. But somewhere along the way, it just loses the plot. The traps are forgettable, the twist is obvious, and the movie seems confused about whether it wants to be a gritty crime thriller or a straight-up horror film.

The problem is, it just doesn’t feel like Saw. Sure, there are moral lessons and brutal deaths, but it’s missing that sinister, puzzle-like tension that made the originals so fun. Rock gives it his all, but even his charisma can’t save this one. It’s a spin-off that never quite spins, which landed it at the bottom of our list of Saw movies ranked.

Final Thoughts

Listen, love it or hate it, the Saw franchise is a horror beast that just won’t die—and honestly, that’s kind of perfect for a series all about survival. It started as this scrappy, low-budget thriller with one of the best twist endings in horror history, and then it just went completely off the rails (sometimes in the best way, sometimes in the worst). But that’s the beauty of it.

At its best, Saw is genius—twisted puzzles that make you squirm, moral dilemmas that actually make you think, and that constant feeling of dread like you’re playing the world’s deadliest escape room. At its worst? It’s just a blood-soaked mess, trying way too hard to shock without any real substance. But even the bad ones are a wild ride, and there’s a reason fans keep coming back for more.

Want to experience the madness yourself? Start at the top of this list of all the saw movies ranked and work your way down—just know that, like Jigsaw’s victims, you might not make it to the end without a few scars.