Saw is an American horror media franchise created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell. It began with the eponymous 2004 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. It has expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, comic books, music, theme park attractions, and merchandising including toys, masks, and clothing. Saw is the fifth highest-grossing horror franchise of all-time, and was named by Guinness as "the most successful horror franchise in history" in 2010.
The series follows the fictional serial killer John "Jigsaw" Kramer and his accomplices. Kramer is introduced in Saw and is further developed in the subsequent films. Rather than killing his victims directly, he places them in life-threatening situations known as "tests" or "games", subjecting them to physical or psychological torture in an attempt to test their will to survive and, in his view, rehabilitate them.
In 2003, Wan and Whannell made a short film to help pitch a feature film concept, after having the original script written for several years. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to receive funding in their home country of Australia, Wan and Whannell traveled to the United States, after several producers expressed interest in the project. It was ultimately successful, and, in 2004, the first installment debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically that October by Lionsgate. After its immensely successful opening weekend, the first of many sequels was immediately green-lit. Five directors have worked on the series, the first four were their directorial debuts: James Wan, Darren Lynn Bousman, David Hackl, Kevin Greutert and The Spierig Brothers; while Whannell, Bousman, Patrick Melton, Marcus Dunstan, Josh Stolberg, and Peter Goldfinger have written the screenplays. Both creators remain with the franchise as executive producers.
The film series has been a box office success, grossing more than $1 billion from box office and retail sales. The first, sixth, and ninth films received mixed reviews, while the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth films received negative reviews. The tenth film received generally positive reviews from critics, becoming the only film in the franchise to do so. An eleventh film was scheduled for September 2025 but was cancelled in March 2025 before it was announced to be back in active development in 2026.
Films Film U.S. release date Director Screenwriter(s) Story by Producers Saw James Wan Leigh Whannell James Wan & Leigh Whannell Gregg Hoffman, Oren Koules and Mark Burg Saw II Darren Lynn Bousman Leigh Whannell and Darren Lynn Bousman Saw III Leigh Whannell James Wan & Leigh Whannell Saw IV Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan and Thomas Fenton Saw V David Hackl Patrick Melton & Marcus Dunstan Saw VI Kevin Greutert Saw 3D Jigsaw The Spierig Brothers Josh Stolberg & Peter Goldfinger Spiral Darren Lynn Bousman Saw X Kevin Greutert
Future
In September 2023, producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules stated there were tentative plans for future installments in the Saw series, dependent on the reception and success of Saw X (2023). Later that month, Josh Stolberg—co-writer of Jigsaw (2017), Spiral (2021), and Saw X—announced that there were active plans for an eleventh installment. Both Burg and Koules stated that the mid-credits scene of Saw X was intended to set up a future film which would again include the character Mark Hoffman. The character Cecilia was intentionally left alive for a possible sequel to expand her character upon. The following month, Kevin Greutert—director of Saw VI (2009), Saw 3D (2010), and Saw X—told The Hollywood Reporter that, "there are so many directions we could go, but for me, there's no obvious one coming out of this film. I really wanted it to feel like a kind of final send-off for the Jigsaw character, but never say never". In October 2024, Tobin Bell was officially confirmed by Los Angeles Times to be reprising once again his role as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the film, teasing that the character "isn't done" yet and there is more to learn about him.
In December, Lionsgate confirmed Saw XI on their Instagram account, with a release date of September 27, 2024. However, in April 2024, the film was delayed to September 26, 2025. Koules stated the film would likely be a direct sequel to Saw X. Greutert was set to direct. In March 2025, it was reported that work on the film had stalled. Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, who wrote the fourth to the seventh film, turned in a draft of the script in mid-2024. However, in August later that year, Oren Koules confirmed it was cancelled due to "[having] a difference of opinion [with Mark Burg], and we couldn't resolve it."
In June 2025, Blumhouse Productions bought Twisted Pictures' stake in the franchise, with Lionsgate still being involved. Franchise co-creator James Wan will be creatively involved with a new Saw film for the first time since Saw III (2006). In October 2025, Jason Blum announced Wan's creative return to the franchise, expressing a desire that Wan's creative outlook returns to the franchise.
On September 25, 2026, it was announced that the 11th film is in development after it was originally cancelled with Mike P. Nelson directing along with James Wan and Leigh Whannell producing.
Short films
Title U.S. wide-release date Director Writer Producer Saw James Wan Leigh Whannell Darren McFarlane Full Disclosure Report The Scott Tibbs Documentary Kelly PanchoKelly Pancho & Mark AtkinsonKelly Pancho
Saw, often referred to as Saw 0.5, is a 2003 short film that served as a promotional tool in pitching a feature-length version to Lionsgate. It is included on the second disc of the uncut DVD release of Saw. It has also been released alone, and on the Saw Trilogy DVD containing Saw Uncut Edition, Saw II Special Edition, and Saw III Director's Cut, packaged with a limited-edition 3D puppet-head box version of Billy the Puppet.
A mockumentary short film, Full Disclosure Report, was released in 2005 as part of the Saw: Uncut DVD-release. The story takes place between the first and second films and features reporters trying to figure out who Jigsaw is and discussing his victims. The short film marks the first appearance of detective Eric Matthews, before his appearance in Saw II.
Another mockumentary short film, The Scott Tibbs Documentary, was released in 2006 as part of the Saw II: Unrated Special Edition DVD-release. The story takes place between the second and third films, where Adam Stanheight's friend Scott Tibbs, leader of the rock band "Wrath of the Gods", is filming a documentary about Jigsaw and his victims.
Saw: Rebirth is originally a comic book released by IDW in 2005 and tells the story of the events that spurred the transformation of John Kramer into Jigsaw. Later, it was released as a short film in the form of a motion comic on the original Saw II website.
Television
In 2008 and 2010, VH1 channel aired the reality show Scream Queens, produced by Joke Productions and Lionsgate Television. The show chronicles a group of unknown actresses competing for a role in the Saw VI and Saw 3D.
In April 2021, Lionsgate Television chairman Kevin Beggs announced in an interview with Deadline Hollywood that Lionsgate TV was in early talks on a television series adaptation or continuation of the film Spiral.
Recurring cast and characters
Character Saw Saw II Saw III Saw IV Saw V Saw VI Saw 3D Jigsaw Spiral Saw X 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2017 2021 2023 John Kramer Tobin Bell Tobin Bell Amanda Young Shawnee Smith colspan="2" Shawnee Smith colspan="2" Shawnee Smith Lawrence Gordon Cary Elwes colspan="3" Cary Elwes colspan="3" Adam Stanheight Leigh Whannell Leigh Whannell colspan="2" Zep Hindle Michael Emerson colspan="2" David Tapp Danny Glover colspan="5" Steven Sing Ken Leung colspan="5" Allison Kerry Dina Meyer colspan="5" Eric Matthews Donnie Wahlberg colspan="5" Daniel Rigg Lyriq Bent colspan="5" Daniel Matthews Erik Knudsen colspan="3" Obi Tate Timothy Burd Xavier Franky G colspan="3" Addison Emmanuelle Vaugier colspan="3" colspan="3" Mark Hoffman colspan="2" Costas Mandylor colspan="2" Jill Tuck colspan="2" Betsy Russell colspan="2" Jeff Denlon colspan="2" Angus Macfadyen colspan="2" colspan="3" Lynn Denlon colspan="2" Bahar Soomekh colspan="4" colspan="3" Corbett Denlon colspan="2" Niamh Wilson colspan="4" Peter Strahm colspan="3" Scott Patterson colspan="4" Lindsey Perez colspan="3" Athena Karkanis Athena Karkanis colspan="4" Dan Erickson colspan="4" Mark Rolston colspan="4" Brit colspan="4" Julie Benz rowspan= "2" colspan="4" Mallick colspan="4" Greg Bryk Greg Bryk colspan="3" Pamela Jenkins colspan="4" Samantha Lemole colspan="3" William Easton colspan="5" Peter Outerbridge colspan="3"
Additional crew and production details Film Crew/Detail Composer Cinematographer Editor(s) Production company Distributing company Running time Saw Charlie Clouser David A. Armstrong Kevin GreutertTwisted Pictures Lionsgate Films 103 min Saw II 93 min Saw III 108 min Saw IV Brett SullivanKevin Greutert 92 min Saw V Kevin Greutert Saw VI Andrew Coutts Twisted PicturesA Bigger Boat 90 min Saw 3D Brian Gedge Twisted PicturesA Bigger BoatSerendipity Productions Jigsaw Ben Nott Kevin Greutert Twisted PicturesSerendipity ProductionsA Bigger Boat 92 min Spiral Jordan Oram Dev Singh Twisted PicturesSerendipity ProductionsDahlstar LLC 93 min Saw X Nick Matthews Kevin Greutert Twisted PicturesGalaxy 8 EntertainmentSerendipity Productions 118 min
Series overview
Story Saw story chronology
The series takes place primarily in an unnamed city in the United States. Flashbacks from Saw IV reveal the roots of the series, presenting John Kramer as a successful civil engineer and devoted husband to his wife Jill Tuck, who opened a rehab clinic for drug addicts. Jill loses her unborn son due to the unwitting actions of a drug addict named Cecil, who flees the scene. Saw VI later showed that another drug addict, Amanda Young, had been with Cecil on the night that he unwittingly caused the miscarriage, unbeknownst to John or Jill. Grieving the loss of his child, John distances himself from his friends and wife.
John and Jill eventually drift apart and divorce. John finds himself trapped by his own complacency until he is diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Bitter over his squandered life and the loss of his unborn son, he observes the lives of others and believes they do not value the gift of life. He approaches an insurance executive named William Easton, asking for coverage for an experimental cancer treatment, but is denied. Flashbacks from Saw II show that, after surviving a suicide attempt where he drives his car off a cliff, John is "reborn", and nurtures the idea that the only way for someone to change is for them to change themselves. Then, in Saw IV flashbacks, he designs the first trap and test for Cecil, and decides to use the rest of his existence to design more of these "tests" or "games" as a form of "instant rehabilitation" that would change the world "one person at a time". John is soon given the nickname "The Jigsaw Killer" (or "Jigsaw"), because he removes a puzzle piece-shaped chunk of flesh from those who do not escape his traps. John states that this name was given to him by the media, and that the cut piece of flesh represent that the victims were missing what he called the "survival instinct".
Few of John's victims can survive his brutal mechanical traps, which are often ironically symbolic representations of problems in the victim's life and require them to undergo severe physical and/or psychological torture to escape.