How to watch

Shaft Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Shaft movies in order

Last updated: September 29 2026

Written by: ChronoChris

Private detective John Shaft has been kicking down doors since 1971 across a trilogy of blaxploitation classics and two modern legacy sequels. Here's the order to follow this cool cat's adventures.

Shaft is a landmark of 1970s cinema, introducing Richard Roundtree as the smooth, no-nonsense Harlem private eye John Shaft. The franchise grew from a genre-defining trilogy into a modern series that passes the mantle down through the family, all backed by Isaac Hayes' iconic theme.

The original 1971 film was a cultural milestone, helping to define an entire genre and earning Isaac Hayes an Academy Award for its unforgettable theme song. The modern entries lean into action-comedy while paying loving tribute to the character's legacy, with Richard Roundtree returning to pass the torch. Together the films chart both the evolution of a genre and the enduring cool of one of cinema's great detectives.

πŸ• Release Order

Release order lets you watch the character and his legacy evolve from the original 1971 classic to the present day.

  1. Shaft (1971)
  2. Shaft's Big Score! (1972)
  3. Shaft in Africa (1973)
  4. Shaft (2000)
  5. Shaft (2019)

The Shaft films are largely chronological, with the later entries introducing new generations of the family while honoring the original detective.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

Story chronology matches release order, following the original John Shaft through the '70s trilogy and then his nephew and son in the modern films.

  1. Shaft (1971)
  2. Shaft's Big Score! (1972)
  3. Shaft in Africa (1973)
  4. Shaft (2000) β€” introduces John Shaft's nephew
  5. Shaft (2019) β€” brings three generations of Shafts together

Which Order Should You Choose?

Release order is the way to go. Start with the 1971 original to understand why the character became a cultural icon, then enjoy how the 2000 and 2019 films build a family legacy around him.

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