How to watch
The Secret Life of Pets Movie Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch The Secret Life of Pets movies in order
Last updated: August 7 2026
Written by: ChronoChris
The Secret Life of Pets imagines what household animals get up to once the humans leave, then turns that idea into fast-paced animated comedy. With just two movies, it's a very easy franchise to watch in order.
Illumination's pet-focused series succeeds because it takes familiar city-animal behavior and exaggerates it into energetic cartoon chaos. The first movie introduces Max, Duke, Snowball, and the franchise's core personality clashes, while the sequel builds on that setup with new adventures and a bigger emotional focus on change and responsibility. Watching in release order keeps the character dynamics clear and the callbacks much more satisfying.
π Release Order
Release order is the right approach because the sequel depends on the friendships, rivalries, and emotional groundwork established in the original film.
- The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
There is no hidden chronology to sort through. The second film simply continues the story of the same pets after the first movie's events.
π Story Chronology
Chronological order and release order are identical. Watching the first movie first also makes Snowball's evolution and Max's growth easier to appreciate.
- The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)
Which Order Should You Choose?
Choose release order and begin with the 2016 original, which does the heavy lifting of introducing the world and its main characters. The sequel is breezy and enjoyable, but its best moments rely on you already understanding who these pets are and how their relationships changed in the first movie. For younger viewers especially, the franchise plays best as a simple two-step watch: first film, then second film, no rearranging needed.
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