Saw October 28

Aaron Perez

10/28/2026

Image Credit: Lions Gate Films

    In October 2004, two relatively unknown Australian filmmakers, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, unleashed a low-budget horror film that would redefine the genre for a generation. Made for roughly $1–1.2 million and shot in just 18 days, Saw became a cultural phenomenon, grossing over $100 million worldwide and launching one of the most successful and controversial horror franchises in history.

    More than two decades later, the Saw series spans 10 films, video games, comics, theme park attractions, and countless imitators. It has earned the Guinness World Record for the most successful horror movie series and amassed over $1.1 billion at the global box office.

The Birth of Jigsaw

    The premise is deceptively simple yet endlessly expandable. John Kramer (Tobin Bell), a terminally ill civil engineer, becomes the Jigsaw Killer after a series of personal tragedies. Believing that people who waste their lives deserve a second chance—earned through extreme suffering—he designs elaborate traps. Victims must make agonizing choices (often involving self-mutilation) to survive. Kramer rarely kills directly; instead, he forces people to confront their own failings.

    The original Saw centers on two men chained in a filthy bathroom with a hacksaw and a dead body. Its nonlinear storytelling, shocking twist, and moral undercurrent set it apart from typical slashers. Critics were mixed (it sits at about 50% on Rotten Tomatoes), but audiences responded to its intensity and ingenuity.

The Golden Age of Annual Bloodbaths (2005–2010)

    What followed was unprecedented: seven films released on the Friday before Halloween for seven consecutive years.

  • Saw II (2005): Expanded the scope with a nerve-gas house full of victims and introduced Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith) as Kramer’s apprentice. Highest domestic earner in the series.
  • Saw III (2006): Peak box office success (nearly $165 million worldwide) and the emotional climax of the original trilogy as Kramer’s health fails.
  • Saw IV–VI and Saw 3D (2007–2010): The series grew more complex (and convoluted), introducing Detective Mark Hoffman and layering flashbacks, concurrent timelines, and new apprentices. Quality varied wildly—Saw V is often cited as a low point, while Saw VI stands out for sharper social commentary on health insurance and corporate greed.

    By Saw 3D (also known as Saw: The Final Chapter), the franchise had become synonymous with Halloween. The marketing slogan “If it’s Halloween, it must be Saw” turned the releases into annual events.

Hiatus, Reboots, and Reinvention

    After 2010, the series rested. Jigsaw (2017) attempted a soft reboot with new apprentices and a dual timeline. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021), starring Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson, functioned more as a standalone copycat story and underperformed both critically and commercially.

    Then came Saw X (2023). Directed by series veteran Kevin Greutert and set between the first and second films, it brought back Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith for a character-driven story about Kramer seeking experimental cancer treatment in Mexico—only to become the victim of a scam. Critics and fans responded enthusiastically. It became the first Saw film to earn a “Fresh” (and Certified Fresh) rating on Rotten Tomatoes (around 81–85%) and grossed over $125 million worldwide.

Why It Endures

    Saw is often dismissed as “torture porn,” a label that stuck during the mid-2000s wave of extreme horror. While the traps are notoriously graphic, the best entries blend gore with genuine moral questions, intricate plotting, and a surprisingly coherent (if labyrinthine) mythology. The nonlinear structure and constant twists reward rewatches and careful attention—something rare in long-running horror franchises.

    Tobin Bell’s quiet, philosophical performance as John Kramer remains the series’ secret weapon. Billy the Puppet, the tricycle-riding doll that delivers Jigsaw’s messages, has become an enduring pop-culture icon.

    The franchise also reflected its era: post-9/11 anxiety, debates over torture, healthcare frustrations, and questions of personal responsibility. Its influence can be seen in escape-room horror, complex cinematic universes, and the careers of Wan and Whannell, who went on to create Insidious, The Conjuring universe, and other major hits.

The Future of the Game

    As of 2025–2026, the franchise is entering a new chapter. Blumhouse acquired a stake from longtime producers Twisted Pictures, and original creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell are set to guide the series forward. Plans for an immediate Saw XI were scrapped amid creative differences, but the involvement of the originators has fans optimistic.

    Whether you prefer watching in release order (to experience the twists as intended) or chronological order (which places Jigsaw and Saw X earlier in the timeline), the Saw franchise remains a singular achievement in modern horror: ambitious, excessive, occasionally brilliant, and always unapologetic.

    Twenty years on, Jigsaw’s message still echoes: Live or die. Make your choice.

Sources:

“List of Saw (Franchise) Media.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 1 Oct. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saw_(franchise)_media.

“Saw (Franchise).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Oct. 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(franchise).

“How Many Saw Movies Are There?” Dexerto, 20 Oct. 2023, https://www.dexerto.com/tv-movies/how-many-saw-movies-are-there-2183042/.

Gallagher, Declan. “How to Watch the ‘Saw’ Movies in Order, from ‘Jigsaw’ to ‘Spiral’ and Beyond.” Entertainment Weekly, 19 Mar. 2026, https://ew.com/how-to-watch-the-saw-movies-in-order-11916565.

“Saw Franchise Box Office History.” The Numbers, Nash Information Services, https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/franchise/Saw.

“All 10 Saw Movies, Ranked by Box Office Gross.” MovieWeb, 6 Nov. 2023, https://movieweb.com/saw-movies-franchise-box-office/.

“Saw X (2023).” The Numbers, Nash Information Services, https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Saw-X-(2023).

Murray, Conor. “The ‘Saw’ Franchise, Ranked By Critics’ Scores And Box Office Opening Weekends.” Forbes, 2 Oct. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/10/02/the-saw-franchise-ranked-by-critics-scores-and-box-office-opening-weekends/.

“20 Years of Impossible Choices in ‘Saw’.” The New York Times, 29 Oct. 2024, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/29/arts/saw-horror-movie-anniversary.html.

“From Low-Budget to Legacy: How ‘Saw’ Helped to Revolutionise Horror.” The Film Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024, https://www.thefilmagazine.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/48189.

“Why Saw Is The Greatest Horror Movie Franchise Ever.” GameSpot, 28 Oct. 2024, https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/why-saw-is-the-greatest-horror-movie-franchise-ever/2900-5893/.

“Saw Series Producer Reveals First Details of Scrapped Saw X Sequel (Exclusive).” ComicBook.com, 18 Aug. 2025, https://comicbook.com/movies/news/saw-x-sequel-canceled-saw-xi-plot-details-blumhouse-twisted-pictures/.

“New Saw Movies Will Reunite The Iconic Horror Franchise’s Creators.” ComicBook.com, 18 June 2025, https://comicbook.com/movies/news/saw-franchise-creators-james-wan-leigh-whannell-involved-new-movies/.


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