How to watch

"My name is Michael Westen. I used to be a spy." Burn Notice follows a blacklisted operative stranded in Miami, using his spycraft to help people in trouble while hunting the people who burned him. With Fiona's explosives, Sam Axe's cheerful cover identities and Madeline's endless cigarettes, the USA Network hit mixed episodic cases with a season-long conspiracy.

🕐 Release Order

Release order includes the TV movie The Fall of Sam Axe, which premiered between Seasons 4 and 5.

1. Burn Notice Season 1 (2007)
2. Burn Notice Season 2 (2008)
3. Burn Notice Season 3 (2009)
4. Burn Notice Season 4 (2010)
5. Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (2011)
6. Burn Notice Season 5 (2011)
7. Burn Notice Season 6 (2012)
8. Burn Notice Season 7 (2013)

The Fall of Sam Axe is a prequel, set in 2005 before Michael ever arrived in Miami, and explains why Sam left the Navy SEALs.

📖 Story Chronology

Chronologically, Sam's adventure in Colombia comes first, followed by the entire series in order.

1. Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe (2011)
2. Burn Notice Season 1 (2007)
3. Burn Notice Season 2 (2008)
4. Burn Notice Season 3 (2009)
5. Burn Notice Season 4 (2010)
6. Burn Notice Season 5 (2011)
7. Burn Notice Season 6 (2012)
8. Burn Notice Season 7 (2013)

Which Order Should You Choose?

We recommend release order. The Fall of Sam Axe is much more enjoyable once you already love Bruce Campbell's character, and it works as a fun palate cleanser between Seasons 4 and 5. Watching it first is fine, but you will miss the context that makes Sam's stories so entertaining. The series itself must be watched in order, because the conspiracy behind Michael's burn notice builds every season.

🔗 Related Guides

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• Psych Watch OrderGuide
• MacGyver Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!