How to watch

Missing in Action Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Missing in Action movies in order

Last updated: October 4 2026

Written by: ChronoChris

Missing in Action is a Chuck Norris action franchise about rescuing POWs left behind after the Vietnam War. Because the second film is a prequel, the release order and story order are not the same.

Starring Chuck Norris as Colonel James Braddock, the Missing in Action series follows a former POW who returns to Southeast Asia to free American soldiers still held captive. The trilogy became a defining example of 1980s action cinema, full of explosive firefights and one-man-army heroics.

πŸ• Release Order

Release order is how audiences first experienced the series, beginning with Braddock's return mission.

  1. Missing in Action (1984)
  2. Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985)
  3. Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)

Here's the twist: the second film is actually a prequel showing Braddock's original captivity, so the chronological order differs from the release order.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

Following Braddock's life in sequence, his wartime imprisonment comes first, then his return rescue, and finally the third film's mission.

  1. Missing in Action 2: The Beginning (1985) β€” Braddock's capture and escape
  2. Missing in Action (1984) β€” his return to free POWs
  3. Braddock: Missing in Action III (1988)

Which Order Should You Choose?

For the best experience, watch in release order and start with the 1984 original β€” it's the strongest film and the one that defined the series. If you prefer strict chronology, begin with Missing in Action 2: The Beginning, which depicts Braddock's captivity before the first film's rescue mission. Either way, Braddock: Missing in Action III caps the trilogy with a more personal mission.

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