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The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies in order

Last updated: August 12 2026

Written by: ChronoAlice

Leatherface has been terrorizing audiences since 1974, but decades of sequels, remakes, and reboots have left the franchise's timeline famously tangled.

Tobe Hooper's original 1974 film is a landmark of horror cinema, but the many follow-ups don't form one clean continuity β€” instead there are several competing timelines that all branch off the first film. Leatherface's chainsaw-wielding menace and mask made of human skin have made him one of horror's most enduring icons, even as the franchise's confusing continuity has made him a frequent subject of debate among fans.

πŸ• Release Order

Watching in release order shows how the franchise evolved across decades, from grimy 70s horror to glossy modern remakes.

  1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
  2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
  3. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
  4. The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994)
  5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
  6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
  7. Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
  8. Leatherface (2017)
  9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

Because the series resets its continuity multiple times, thinking in terms of separate timelines is more useful than a single chronological order.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

There are effectively three tracks: the original 1974–1994 saga, the 2003–2006 remake/prequel duo, and the 2013/2022 legacy sequels that ignore everything but the first film.

  1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) β€” start of the original saga
  2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
  3. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
  4. The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1994)
  5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006) β€” prequel to the 2003 remake
  6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
  7. Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) β€” direct sequel to the 1974 original only
  8. Leatherface (2017) β€” prequel to the 2013 continuity
  9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) β€” a second legacy sequel to the 1974 original

Which Order Should You Choose?

First-timers should just watch the 1974 original β€” it's essential viewing on its own. From there, Texas Chainsaw 3D and the 2022 Netflix sequel both work as standalone follow-ups if you want more modern Leatherface without wading through the messier 1980s–2000s sequels.

πŸ”— Related Guides

  • Halloween Watch OrderGuide
  • Friday the 13th Watch OrderGuide
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street Watch OrderGuide

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