How to watch

Spirit Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Spirit movies and shows in order

Last updated: November 6 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

DreamWorks' Spirit began as a near-wordless frontier adventure about a wild mustang and grew into a long-running kids' series and a new theatrical film. This guide untangles the original and the Spirit Riding Free era.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron galloped into theaters in 2002, blending hand-drawn and computer animation with songs by Bryan Adams and a score by Hans Zimmer. Narrated by Matt Damon, it follows a Kiger mustang stallion who refuses to be broken by the U.S. Cavalry. Years later, DreamWorks revisited the brand with Spirit Riding Free, a Netflix series about a girl named Lucky Prescott and her horse Spirit, followed by the 2021 film Spirit Untamed.

๐Ÿ• Release Order

Release order shows how the franchise moved from a sweeping standalone film to a cozy, friendship-focused family series.

  1. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
  2. Spirit Riding Free (2017)
  3. Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy (2020)
  4. Spirit Untamed (2021)

The later entries are loosely connected to the 2002 film and are better treated as their own continuity centered on Lucky, Pru, and Abigail.

๐Ÿ“– Story Chronology

Story-wise, the original film is set during the expansion of the American West and the building of the railroad. The Riding Free era follows Lucky in the frontier town of Miradero, with Riding Academy continuing the girls' story and Spirit Untamed retelling how Lucky first meets Spirit.

  1. Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002)
  2. Spirit Untamed (2021)
  3. Spirit Riding Free (2017)
  4. Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy (2020)

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you only watch one, choose Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, which works for all ages and holds up beautifully. Families with younger kids who love horses should go chronologically through the Lucky stories, starting with Spirit Untamed as a quick introduction before diving into the many seasons of Spirit Riding Free and then Riding Academy. Release order is fine too, since each part is easy to follow on its own.

๐Ÿ”— Related Guides

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