How to watch the Blade Runner movies and TV shows in order

Although these Blade Runner Franchises may not be as vast as sci-fi properties like star wars, It’s a unique story that stands out for its engaging premise and iconic cast members, and for those interested in delving into the franchise for the very first time, there’s more than one way to watch each installment. 1982s Blade Runner was originally based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 sci-fi novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?” The franchise has since expanded to include a sequel, several short films, a television series, and a sidequel.

While it is usually common for audiences to watch films in order of release date, there is a bit more nuance to this Blade Runner Franchise. While it is quite nice to watch by release date, there is also the factor of the timeline. Blade Runner Is set in the future, and therefore, with its sequels and other properties exploring different points. Finally, the audience can watch these Blade Runner Franchises not only in order of release date, but in chronological order of the events of the movies. This could certainly make for a different and potentially more interesting watch.

Blade Runner movies and shows in release order

There are currently 7 entries in the Blade Runner franchise

The most popular way to watch Blade Runner And its related media is in order of release. The first film, blade runner, was released in 1982 and starred Harrison Ford as DeckardA cop living in 2019 Los Angeles who is tasked with bringing down a group of rogue replicants, otherwise known as androids.

Although the original Blade Runner Initially having an average performance at the box office, with critics disagreeing on the film, it ultimately became a cult classic, leading to its various sequels and spinoffs. since 1982, Blade Runner has seen a significant amount of expansion, and it is only continuing in the future.

At this time, Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner Franchise has seven properties, starting with the 1982 release Blade Runner And ending with 2021s Blade Runner: Black Lotus. Although it may not be included in the list yet, there are also talks about a new one Blade Runner Series that is coming production called blade runner 2099 – A sequel to Blade Runner 2049. Either way, the Blade Runner The franchise has grown over the years, and because of that, it’s important to set the record straight on how exactly to watch these incredible sci-fi films and series.

Blade Runner movies and shows in chronological order of events

Blade Runner (1982)

When watching Blade Runner In chronological order, finding the starting point is incredibly simple, because there is yet to be a prequel made to the original film. Blade Runner Is the first film to be released in the franchise, but also comes first in regard to the franchise’s chronological order. Harrison Ford Blade Runner Takes place in 2019, a year that has passed in the real world, and still seems like a lifetime away in 1982.

Blade Runner Follows Deckard, a man who works as a “blade runner,” who tracks down and kills replicants in order to “retire” them. When Deckard is put on the case of four rogue replicants, it should be a simple task. however, Deckard must face the reality of his job and himself when he falls in love with a replicant.

Blade Runner Black Out 2022 (2017)

After the original 1982 movie, the Blade Runner Franchise in chronological order begins to wildly deviate from the order of release. The next installment to come in the Blade Runner Timeline is the animated short film Blade Runner Black Out 2022. The movie takes place three years after the events of the first Blade Runner (meaning it’s set, as the title suggests, in 2022) and a replicant uprising follows. Specifically, the film follows Trixie, a replicant woman who is rescued by a replicant ex-soldier named Iggy.

Iggy brings Trixie into the world of the replicant resistance, and together, The replicants plan an attack on Tyrell Corporation so that violence against and control of replicants will end. Blade Runner is relatively unique as a franchise for how many short films it contains, and although it has a short runtime, Blade Runner Black Out 2022 It provides a large amount of information in the world.

Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021)

The Blade Runner Timeline then jumps ten years to 2032 with Blade Runner: Black Lotus. The animated television series was released by Adult Swim and Crunchyroll in 2021, which was the latest iteration of the Blade Runner franchise. Black Lotus follows the wide-ranging effects of the revolution that took place in Blade Runner Black Out 2022.

The show notably follows a female replicant protagonist, and additionally includes some familiar faces from the Blade Runner Franchise, such as the Wallaces, as both Neander Wallace Jr. and Neander Wallace Sr. are integral characters. It is set in the futuristic Los Angeles of 2032, and the cast includes some notable names like Brian Cox, Samira Wiley and Jessica Henwick. Finally, the series has 13 episodes, and once again, a context to what happened in between Blade Runner And Blade Runner 2049.

soldier (1998)

One of the most intriguing articles in the US Blade Runner Franchise is soldier, Which has a debated place in the timeline since some do not consider it canon, while others consider it an essential part of it. soldier is a 1998 film that is a “sequel” to blade runner, And which tells the story of a man named Todd who is raised from childhood to be a killing machine, only to find himself replaced by bio-engineered soldiers.

Thrown on a different planet in the year 2036, Todd must get his bearings and prepare to be replaced in an all-out war. finally, soldier Was not successful at the box office, but it still has the makings of a Blade Runner Movie. First and foremost, it was written by Blade Runner Co-writer, David Peoples, and furthermore, it is said to share the same universe as Blade Runner.

2036: Nexus Dawn (2017)

The next project in the Blade Runner Timeline is another short film, this one set in the same year as soldier And four years after the last officially canon entry, Blade Runner: Black Lotus. Although soldier Take these Blade Runner franchise on a short detour off the main plot, 2036: Nexus Dawn Brings the story back. The film takes place 13 years before the events of Blade Runner 2049 in 2036.

2036: Nexus Dawn Follows Neander Wallace, played by Jared Leto, who is meeting with lawmakers to convince them that his new replicant model will work. Significantly, Wallace appeared earlier in the franchise in Blade Runner: Black Lotus As a scientist working for his father, the owner of Wallace Corporation, which takes over replicant processing after the fall of Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner Black Out 2022. Finally, the movies begin to form a cohesive timeline.

2048: Nowhere to Run (2017)

Next in the Blade Runner Chronological Watch Order is another short film, directly feeding into the first feature-length follow-up to the 1982 original, Blade Runner 2049. The last Blade Runner Short film takes place in 2048 and is rightly called 2048: Nowhere to run. This is the last film that took place between Blade Runner And Blade Runner 2049.

Once again, even though it has a short run time of 6 minutes, 2048: Nowhere to run Makes an impact. Plus, unlike the others Blade Runner Short films, it does not expand on the given plot as much as it gives a look at a related but separate story. 2048: Nowhere to run Follows a man named Saper, played by Dave Bautista, who is kind-hearted and averse to confrontation, but when he is pushed to his limits, his true nature becomes clear.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

The last Blade Runner Movie in the franchise timeline to date is Blade Runner 2049Which is set a full 30 years after the 1982 original. Although this is not the latest installment in the franchise, it is the most recent in terms of chronology, as it takes place in 2049. Blade Runner 2049 Follows K, a replicant and Blade Runner who unearths some major secrets, and as a result, goes on a mission to find a missing Blade Runner.

While Blade Runner 2049 It didn’t have the same cultural impact of the original, it was still steeped in the same hard sci-fi that made the rest of the franchise so popular with fans. With the help of the Blade Runner Short films, the events of Blade Runner 2049 Make complete sense, as audiences can see how Wallace rose to power and how the replicants developed over time. Perhaps, watching chronologically is the best way to go.

The future of the Blade Runner franchise

Blade Runner 2099 will be the first live action TV show in the franchise

The future of the Blade Runner Franchise continues to look bright because there are still developed projects that are set in this universe. The next confirmed entry in the franchise Will be the first live-fight Blade Runner tv show, Blade Runner 2099. The series will continue the continuity of the movies, serving as a sequel to Blade Runner And Blade Runner 2049. While there are no solid plot details for the show released yet, the title gives a clear indication that it will take place 50 years after the events of Blade Runner 2049.

The show also features a strong cast with Oscar-winners Michelle Yeoh, Hunter Schafer, and House of the Dragons Matthew Needham. The show will debut on Amazon Prime, and while no release date has been announced, filming for the series began in May 2024.

Outside of the exciting new TV series, there are also possibilities that Blade Runner could return to the big screen. Yet Ridley Scott admitted regret about not making it Blade Runner 2049, The director teased that he would like to return to this universe. He said he already had an idea for a third movie (by Digital Spy):

“I have one more ready to evolve and be developed, so there’s definitely one to do.”

Scott has returned to other beloved franchises recently, with Prometheus And the upcoming Gladiator 2. However, it is hard to deny that there is still so much to explore in these Blade Runner universe and it would be a thrill to see the original director return to narrate the next chapter.