The Pacific Rim franchise is set to return with a new prequel series produced by Lionsgate Television and Chronology Entertainment. Viewers interested in catching up with the Kaiju franchise before the new series premieres can use our guide to find out how to watch all the Pacific Rim movies and TV shows in order.
Pacific Rim premiered in 2013, with Guillermo del Toro as director. Del Toro also co-wrote the script with Travis Beacham based on Beacham's story. The film is set in 2025, five years after Kaiju began entering Earth through an interdimensional portal and terrorizing humanity, forcing humans to create their own mechanical kaiju, Jaegers, to fight them. Former Jaeger pilot Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) is grieving the loss of his brother when he’s recruited on a new mission by Marshal Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) to bar the kaiju from Earth for good.
The film was a box office hit and earned high praise for its stunning visuals and putting an artistic, modern-day spin on the monster film genre. It had the potential to start another Kaiju franchise like Toho’s Godzilla or the Monsterverse. Del Toro was working on a sequel before the first film even premiered. However, the sequel was put on hold due to studio conflicts. Ultimately, the movie was greenlit, but del Toro handed directing over to Steven DeKnight because he could not be in China for the sequel’s filming due to his work on The Shape of Water.
The sequel, Pacific Rim: Uprising, finally premiered in 2018. It follows Pentecost’s son, Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), a former Jaeger pilot who has turned to a life of crime. However, when a new kaiju threat arises, Jake’s adoptive sister, Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), gives him a second chance to prove himself and save humanity. Pacific Rim: Uprising received mixed reviews, with critics praising the performances, visuals, and entertainment value but criticizing the story and lack of originality. Unfortunately, the film was a major box office flop.
Although DeKnight has floated ideas of doing a Pacific Rim and Monsterverse crossover film, there are currently no confirmed plans for Pacific Rim 3. However, the franchise has lived on through the small screen. The TV series Pacific Rim: The Black puts an animated, gritty spin on the franchise, following two siblings on a quest to find their parents after Kaiju attacked Australia. Now, a new prequel series is in development, with Arrival screenwriter Eric Heisserer serving as showrunner.
How to watch the Pacific Rim movies and shows in order
Aside from the upcoming prequel series, the films and shows so far follow the same chronological and release date order. Pacific Rim takes place in 2025, while Pacific Rim: Uprising takes place in 2035. While the exact year of Pacific Rim: The Black is uncertain, it takes place several years after the events of Pacific Rim: Uprising. Hence, the chronological/release order order is:
- Pacific Rim (2013)
- Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
- Pacific Rim: The Black (2021)
Where to watch the Pacific Rim movies and shows streaming online
Check out our list below to find out where to watch all the Pacific Rim movies and TV shows online in the U.S.!
