How to watch

What We Do in the Shadows Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the What We Do in the Shadows movie and shows in order

Last updated: November 9 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

What We Do in the Shadows grew from a cult mockumentary about bickering vampire flatmates into a hit FX comedy and a spin-off about paranormal police. Here's how to watch the whole undead universe in order.

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's What We Do in the Shadows follows a documentary crew filming centuries-old vampires as they deal with chore wheels, nightclub bouncers and a pack of surprisingly polite werewolves. The 2014 film spawned two very different TV shows: Wellington Paranormal, a deadpan New Zealand cop comedy, and the FX series that moved the concept to Staten Island with Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, Colin Robinson and long-suffering familiar Guillermo. All three share the same mockumentary DNA and the same universe.

πŸ• Release Order

Release order is the easiest way in, starting with the film that started it all and following the two series as they launched.

  1. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
  2. Wellington Paranormal (2018–2022)
  3. What We Do in the Shadows Season 1 (2019)
  4. What We Do in the Shadows Season 2 (2020)
  5. What We Do in the Shadows Season 3 (2021)
  6. What We Do in the Shadows Season 4 (2022)
  7. What We Do in the Shadows Season 5 (2023)
  8. What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 (2024)

The film and both shows exist in the same world, and the FX series even brings back the original Wellington vampires for a memorable cameo, so the connections reward viewers who watch everything.

πŸ“– Story Chronology

Officers Minogue and O'Leary first appear in the film before getting their own show in Wellington Paranormal, which runs alongside the FX series. Story-wise, the film comes first, and the two shows unfold side by side in different countries.

  1. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
  2. Wellington Paranormal (2018–2022)
  3. What We Do in the Shadows Seasons 1–6 (2019–2024)

Which Order Should You Choose?

If you only have time for one thing, the FX series is the most substantial and can be enjoyed on its own. Still, we recommend watching the 2014 film first; it's short, hilarious, and makes the Season 1 cameo far funnier. Wellington Paranormal is the perfect palate cleanser between FX seasons, especially if you enjoyed the bumbling cops in the movie.

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Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!