How to watch
Don't Breathe Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Don't Breathe movies in order
Last updated: November 8 2026
Written by: ChronoAlice
A group of young burglars picked the wrong house, and the blind veteran inside became a horror icon. Here's how to watch the Don't Breathe films in order.
Don't Breathe, directed by Fede Álvarez, is a lean, nerve-shredding thriller set in a decaying Detroit neighborhood. Three thieves break into the home of a blind Gulf War veteran, expecting an easy score, only to discover he is far more dangerous than they imagined. Stephen Lang's chilling performance as Norman Nordstrom turned the low-budget hit into a franchise, and a sequel arrived five years later.
🕐 Release Order
There are just two films, released in 2016 and 2021.
- Don't Breathe (2016)
- Don't Breathe 2 (2021)
The second film moves the story forward several years and changes the perspective in a surprising way.
📖 Story Chronology
Don't Breathe 2, directed by Rodo Sayagues, who co-wrote the original, is set years after the first film. Norman has been quietly raising a young girl named Phoenix, until a gang of criminals arrives and forces him back into violence. The sequel casts him as more of an antihero, which is part of why many fans debate it.
- Don't Breathe (2016)
- Don't Breathe 2 (2021)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Watch in release order. The original is a tight, self-contained thriller with a jaw-dropping reveal in its final act, and you need that knowledge of who Norman really is to appreciate the moral complexity of the sequel. If you only have time for one, the first film is the essential choice, but the second is a solid follow-up packed with inventive action and tension. Both are best enjoyed with the lights off and the volume up, since sound plays a huge role in the scares.
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