Before Laurie Strode survived Michael Myers and Sidney Prescott faced off against Ghostface, another horror film introduced viewers to the “final girl” trope: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the late Tobe Hooper’s original 1974 slasher remains a masterpiece of horror, with Sally Hardesty’s survival against Leatherface inspiring countless horror films in the decades that followed.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre slashed its way into theaters in October 1974 with an R rating, a rating that was adjusted from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) original X rating. Produced and directed by Hooper and starring Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow and Gunnar Hansen, the movie centers around the masked chainsaw-wielding murderer Leatherface, aka Thomas Hewitt, who wears various masks constructed out of human skin. During a trip through Texas, a group of teenagers fall victim to Leatherface.
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Although The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is now considered an iconic horror film, it faced plenty of controversy upon its premiere. The film’s content lead to it being banned in several countries and pulled from several theaters due to complaints. Despite those obstacles, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre grossed over $30 million at the domestic box office and sold over 16.5 million tickets.
The movie is now considered to be one of the best and most influential horror films and is credited with originating several elements common in the slasher genre, including the final girl trope. It also sparked a decades-spanning franchise that includes seven more films – The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990), 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), and Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022). Another film, 2000’s All American Massacre, was never released.
Keep scrolling to see how to stream all eight The Texas Chainsaw Massacre films in 2024.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Where to Stream: Peacock, Prime Video, Plex, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi
Starring: Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89% (critics), 82% (audience)
Synopsis: “On a weekend getaway in the Texas countryside, five friends fall prey to a masked butcher and his cannibalistic family.”
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Where to Stream: Peacock, Prime Video, Pluto TV, Tubi
Starring: Bill Johnson, Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams, Dennis Hopper
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 50% (critics), 45% (audience)
Synopsis: “The buzz is back. More than a decade after carving up a carload of victims, chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface returns for more mayhem.”
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
Where to Stream: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
Starring: Kate Hodge, William Butler, Viggo Mortensen, R.A. Mihailoff, Ken Foree
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 13%, 31%
Synopsis: “Chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface and his demented clan find a fresh group of victims to satisfy their bloodlust in this scary sequel.”
The Return of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre/Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation
Where to Stream: Peacock
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey,
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 16% (critics), 18% (audience)
Synopsis: “Jenny and her date take a wrong turn to terror where they encounter sadistic Vilmer. A hilarious, bone-chilling remake of the horror classic.”
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Where to Stream: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Fandango at Home
Starring: Jessica Biel, Mike Vogel, Jonathan Tucker, Andrew Bryniarski
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 37% (critics), 58% (audience)
Synopsis: “Based on the true events that inspired the original “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” – a group of college kids come into contact with the serial killer Leatherface.”
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
Where to Stream: Available to rent or buy on Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV
Starring: Jordana Brewster , Matt Bomer , Diora Baird
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 15% (critics), 53% (audience)
Synopsis: “The origins of Leatherface are brought to gruesome life in this scary, unflinching prequel. Abandoned at birth, deformed Thomas Hewitt is taken in by the perfect family–perfect for nurturing his penchant for weaving masks out of his victims’ skin.”
Texas Chainsaw 3D
Where to Stream: Peacock, fuboTV
Starring: Alexandra Daddario , Dan Yeager , Trey Songz
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 19% (critics), 40% (audience)
Synopsis: “A young woman learns she has inherited a large house from a relative she never knew. She and her friends set off to investigate the property, but the trip soon turns into a nightmare when the house’s terrifying history comes to light.”
Leatherface
Where to Stream: Peacock, fuboTV
Starring: Stephen Dorff, Vanessa Grasse, Sam Strike, Lili Taylor
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 27% (critics), 23% (audience)
Synopsis: “See how a young man is transformed into a chainsaw-wielding, skin-mask-wearing maniac in this horrifying Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel.”
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Where to Stream: Netflix
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Jacob Latimore, Olwen Fouéré
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 31% (critics), 25% (audience)
Synopsis: “In this sequel, influencers looking to breathe new life into a Texas ghost town encounter Leatherface, an infamous killer who wears a mask of human skin.”
How to stream the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films in order according to timelines?
Release Date Order
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
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)
Original Series
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986)
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)
All American Massacre (unreleased)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
Sally Hardesty’s Timeline
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
Remake Timeline/Hewitt Timeline
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Alternate Sequel Timeline
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
Leatherface (2017)
