How to watch
Ride Along Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Ride Along movies in order
Last updated: September 28 2026
Written by: ChronoAlice
Kevin Hart and Ice Cube team up for two fast-talking buddy-cop comedies. With only two films, the watch order is simple β here's the rundown.
The Ride Along movies pair motor-mouthed security guard Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) with his gruff future brother-in-law, detective James Payton (Ice Cube). The odd-couple chemistry turned the first film into a surprise box-office hit and spawned a sequel. Directed by Tim Story, the films leaned entirely on the mismatched chemistry between Hart's frantic energy and Cube's deadpan intensity, and the formula worked well enough to top the box office two years running.
π Release Order
Release order is the natural choice, since the sequel picks up directly from the first film's events.
- Ride Along (2014)
- Ride Along 2 (2016)
With just two entries following the same characters forward, chronology matches release exactly.
π Story Chronology
The story moves forward in time, so chronological order is identical to release order.
- Ride Along (2014)
- Ride Along 2 (2016)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Start with Ride Along to meet Ben and James, then roll into Ride Along 2, which takes the duo to Miami. The sequel assumes you know their dynamic, so watch them in release order for the full comedic payoff. Neither film reinvents the buddy-cop wheel, but the escalating stakes and running gags land best when you've seen Ben's first disastrous ride-along before the Miami sequel.
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