Any horror fan knows Leatherface, and the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies are some of the most iconic in the genre.

The original movie, released in 1974, tells the story of a group of friends who end up stranded in rural Texas, where they’re picked off one by one by a family of cannibals. The movie was a huge success, spawning multiple sequels. The franchise is still strong today, with the latest film released in Feb 2022.

Whether you like the original film or the more recent entries in the franchise, there’s no denying that the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise is some of the most iconic horror films ever made.

If you’re a fan of horror movie series, then the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series is worth checking out.

This post will list all the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies in chronological order, so you can watch them all and experience the series in its entirety.

Sit tight and hold on to your chair because we’re about to take a look at all-time famous “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies in order of release date.

  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
  • Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
  • Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
  • Leatherface (2017)
  • Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The first in the series is “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” released in 1974, an American horror film directed by Tobe Hooper and written and co-produced by Hooper and Kim Henkel.

It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, and Jim Siedow, who portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the hitchhiker, the proprietor of a gas station, and Leatherface.

The slasher film follows a group of friends who fall victim to the Sawyer family while visiting an old homestead. The movie was marketed based on actual events to appeal to a larger audience, although murderer Ed Gein’s crimes inspired Leatherface and some minor story elements.

It was considered controversial due to its gore and violence, was banned in several countries, and was labeled as a video nasty in the United Kingdom.

The movie was so popular that it has since become one of the finest and most influential horror films. Although critics poorly received it at the time, it has since been reappraised as one of the best horror films ever made and has been cited as an inspiration by several other filmmakers.

It was a huge success, netting over $30 million at the box office. The film’s commercial success prompted the production of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” (1986).

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” is a 1986 American horror comedy film directed by Tobe Hooper and written by L. M. Kit Carson. It stars Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Bill Johnson, Jim Siedow, and Bill Moseley and is a sequel to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), also directed and co-written by Hooper.

The film follows a radio show host who receives threatening phone calls from Leatherface and decides to take matters into his own hands. The film was rated X upon its initial release due to its violence and gore.

Critics did not well receive the film upon its release, but it has gained a cult following in recent years.

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” is an example of a horror sequel that is entirely different from its predecessor in terms of tone and approach. While the first film was a dark and severe meditation on violence, the sequel is a much more light-hearted and comedic take on the same subject matter.

This change in tone was likely because the sequel was helmed by Tobe Hooper, who also directed the original film.

On the other hand, the new generation of horror enthusiasts wished the film was more frightening, such as the original. The rights were sold to New Line Cinema, which intended to return the series to its roots as a horror film.

Despite its mixed reception upon release, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” has since become a cult classic, thanks partly to its over-the-top gore effects and dark humor.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

The film was directed by Jeff Burr and starred Kate Hodge, R.A. Mihailoff, and William Butler. It is the third installment in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, released in 1990. “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” picks up where the first film left off. 

The film chronicles a new group of unfortunate individuals to come into conflict with the Sawyers. Leatherface is the only returning character from the previous two films, while everyone else is unique in the movie.

This film is considerably gorier than the previous adaptations, and it initially received an X rating before being edited down to an R. The movie appears to try to recapture the original ambiance, but most people feel it failed to deliver on that front.

It was not well-received by audiences or critics, and it failed to make back its budget at the box office. The Cannon Group lost faith in the sequel when it did not live up to expectations, so they sold the rights to New Line Cinema four years later, the third part in the series “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” was released.

The film was a critical and financial failure; it grossed $5.7 million in the United States, making it the series’ worst-performing film at the time, until its sequel “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” in 1995.

Although it was not as successful as its predecessors at the box office, “Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III” is a horrifying tale that will send chills down your spine.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation” is a 1995 American slasher film by Kim Henkel.

It stars Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, and Robert Jacks as Leatherface. The fourth installment in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, the film follows a group of teenagers who Leatherface and his cannibalistic family terrorize.

Kim Henkel, writer-director of The Next Generation, had co-written “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” (1974) with Tobe Hooper. The preceding two sequel films’ events are referred to in this film’s opening that happened after the events of the original movie.

The film was initially received in a minimal location with the title “The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre” the star casts (Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger) were not very famous then. Still, two years later, when these two actors became popular, the film was re-released as Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.

Even after the re-release of the film, it did very poorly at the box office and was a failure financially and critically.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

The next film in the franchise is “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” with the same name as the first film in the series; it was released in 2003.

This American horror film was directed by Marcus Nispel as his directorial debut and written by Scott Kosar. The film stars Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen, Mike Vogel, Eric Balfour, and R. Lee Ermey. 

In the film, a group of young adults travels to rural Texas to investigate the disappearances of their friends. However, they quickly find themselves under attack by a chainsaw-wielding maniac known as Leatherface.

This is the fifth entry in the popular franchise; after being released as the remake of 1974 “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” this film became the most successful in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise since its debut.

Despite a lot of gruesome imagery being shown, this remake included much of the gore from its predecessors. After decades, the franchise was once again a force to be reckoned with for the first time since 1974.

With its thrilling suspense and gruesome deaths, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is sure to please even the most jaded horror fans.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

The sixth film in the franchise, released in 2006, is a prequel to the 2003 film “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

Written by Sheldon Turner from a story by Turner and David J. Schow, the movie was directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

The story follows when two brothers and their loved ones set out on their final road trip before the brothers are conscripted into the military, and things take a dark turn. They’re taken back to the farmhouse where Leatherface and his family live after an accident.

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” is a gore-filled tale of vengeance that will leave you horrified and exhilarated. Leatherface is a terrifying villain, and the film does an excellent job of building suspense as he stalks his victims. The kills are brutal and inventive, and the showdown is immensely satisfying.

The film grossed $47 million worldwide on a $16 million budget and received mixed reviews from critics. 

If you’re a fan of horror films, then you need to check out “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning.” It’s a blood-soaked good time that you won’t soon forget.

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

Texas Chainsaw 3D is a 2013 slasher film directed by John Luessenhop and is a sequel to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The film stars Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Tremaine ‘Trey Songz’, Neverson, and Tania Raymonde.

The seventh installment in the famous horror franchise tried to scratch the newly introduced 3D opportunity and bring the original’s events into a modern setting.

The movie came out as a sequel to the original film of 74; the plot ignored everything that happened in the previous six films.

The story follows directly into the aftermath of the first film, where the Sawyers got killed, leaving behind only an infant. The baby was adopted by another family, who named her Heather.

As an adult, Heather (played by Alexandra Daddario) has to face his family’s legacy when Leatherface (played by Dan Yeager) comes after him and his friends.

Even though the film didn’t impact the critical side, it was welcomed by the fans of the franchise. The film was released on January 4, 2013, to generally mixed reviews but was a box office success, grossing over $47 million on a $20 million budget.

Leatherface (2017)

The final film in the series was released in 2017, titled “Leatherface.” The film is about the past of the main character of the original movie released in 1974.

Following the financial success of Texas Chainsaw 3D, a sequel was planned by director John Luessenhop for a shoot in Louisiana, but it was never approved to go ahead.

The story follows the titular character in a mentally unstable state being held in an asylum. He endures the trauma that eventually turns him into the chainsaw-wielding maniac he is known as. The film was met with negative reviews but did well in DVD and Blu-ray sales.

“Leatherface” is a prequel that provides some interesting backstory for the iconic killer. However, the film is marred by poor acting and cheap production values. If you’re a franchise fan, you may want to check it out; otherwise, you can skip this one.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

This ninth and final film in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, directed by David Blue Garcia, with a screenplay by Chris Thomas Devlin. the film is based on the story by Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues.

The story is set several decades after the original film was released in 1974. The movie follows the story of famous serial killer Leatherface from the previous films; he starts targeting a group of young adults after coming into conflict with a vengeful survivor of his previous murders.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was released on February 18, 2022, on Netflix; it was not as successful as the previous films in the franchise, but it was met with mixed reviews from both critics and audiences.

“Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is an electrifying horror film that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It features some genuinely gruesome violence, and its twisted protagonist is sure to send chills down your spine.

If you’re looking for a heart-pounding thrill ride, “Leatherface” is worth checking out.

In conclusion, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Movies are a great way to spend a night with friends. They are all filled with suspense, horror, and gore to keep you entertained. So what are you waiting for? Go watch some “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies!

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