How to watch
2001: A Space Odyssey Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequel in order
Last updated: November 9 2026
Written by: ChronoChris
Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark of science fiction, and many viewers don't realize it has a sequel. Here's how to watch both films in order.
Co-written by Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey follows humanity's encounters with mysterious black monoliths, from prehistoric apes to a mission to Jupiter aboard the Discovery One, where the calm, chilling computer HAL 9000 has other ideas. Sixteen years later, Peter Hyams directed 2010: The Year We Make Contact, adapting Clarke's novel 2010: Odyssey Two and sending a joint American-Soviet crew to find out what happened to Discovery.
๐ Release Order
Release order is the way to go, as the sequel was built to answer questions left by the original.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
The two films have very different styles, Kubrick's meditative visual poetry versus Hyams's more conventional Cold War thriller, but they tell one continuous story.
๐ Story Chronology
2010 picks up nine years after the events of 2001, with Heywood Floyd joining a mission to recover Discovery and reactivate HAL to learn why it turned on its crew. The story order matches the release order.
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
- 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Always start with 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's essential viewing for any science fiction fan and is best seen on the largest screen possible. Then watch 2010 if you want concrete answers about HAL and the monolith; it's more accessible and makes a satisfying companion, even if it can't match the original's ambition.
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