How to Watch the Hellraiser Movies in Order: [Chronologically and by Release Date]

“Every Drop Of Blood You Spill Puts More Flesh On My Bones.“This famous line from the spine-chilling tale of The Hellraiser movies sets the tone of a cosy warm winter night where you need some popcorn and a little gloominess. If you’re a fan of horror movies and haven’t seen the “Hellraiser“ franchise yet, you’re in for a treat. With its iconic villain, Pinhead, and a blend of gore, surrealism, and metaphysical horror, the series has captivated audiences since the first film was released in 1987. But with ten movies in the franchise, figuring out how to watch the Hellraiser movies in order to watch them can be confusing.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the proper sequence to watch the “Hellraiser” movies, from the original classic to the latest instalment, so you can fully immerse yourself in the dark and twisted world of the Cenobites. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer to the series, this guide will help you navigate the labyrinthine mythology of the “Hellraiser” movies and experience them in the best possible (chronological) order.

The Movies in Order of Release:

The ‘Hellraiser’ Movies in Chronological Order:

---

If you want to watch the Hellraiser movies in chronological order, you should be aware that the first four movies in the series had theatrical releases and are the ones that are in that order. You can start off by watching The Hellraiser film first, followed by Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth, and lastly Hellraiser: Bloodline. Following this, each edition in the Hellraiser franchise may be seen alone so you can enjoy them in any sequence. Although they don’t always follow the tale chronologically, they occur in the Hellraiser universe. This category has five films: Hellraiser; Inferno, Hellraiser: Hellseeker, Hellraiser: Deader, Hellraiser: Hellworld, and Hellraiser: Revelations.

‘Hellraiser’ (1987)

---

Clive Barker wrote and directed Hellraiser, the first film in the series, which debuted in 1987. The narrative commences with Frank (Sean Chapman), a character who finds a puzzle box that unlocks a portal to another reality. Next, the Cenobites, commanded by their leader Pinhead (Doug Bradley), tortured Frank to unfathomable suffering. The movie centres on Frank’s brother- and sister-in-law Julie (with whom Frank had an affair), who becomes entangled in the Cenobites’ sadomasochistic nightmare but manages to escape, thanks to their daughter Kirsty. Because of the wonderfully terrible special effects, Barker’s concept for the Cenobites has made them among the most memorable horror antagonists ever. For decades, the underlying ideas about want and suffering (how an audience likes to witness misery and how the two might be sexually coupled) have resonated with audiences and spawned innumerable imitators

‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II’ (1988)

---

While not receiving the same level of critical praise as the previous picture in the series, Hellbound: Hellraiser II did add to the film’s terrifying world in ways that fans embraced. As soon as Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) is committed to a mental institution, it picks up where the first movie left off. Because he was obsessed with hell, Dr Channard (Kenneth Cranham) exploits hospital patients to assist Julia in rejuvenating and coming back to life. As a result, Kirsty embarks on a voyage to the realm of Pinhead and the Cenobites to free herself and the individuals entangled in Channard’s web. She runs across a physician connected to the Lament Configuration box and the Cenobites.

‘Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth’ (1992)

---

In the third part of the series, Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth, released in 1992 and directed by Anthony Hickox, Doug Bradley returned as Pinhead. The narrative follows reporter Joey Summerskill (Terry Farrell) as she looks into a string of gruesome killings. Pinhead, trapped in an uncertain future due to the events in the second movie, is the only cause of these fatalities. This film had a higher production value and was surprisingly modern. This edition has a stronger connection to the first two films in the series thanks to Ashley Laurence’s little cameo as Kirsty Cotton. Although it is sometimes regarded as having the most blood and guts of the series, it’s also the most enjoyable and a great launching pad for new and seasoned viewers.

‘Hellraiser IV: Bloodline’ (1996)

---

The final Hellraiser movie to hit theatres was Bloodline. It is regarded as both a prequel and a sequel, tracing the history of the Lament Configuration from its inception in 17th-century France to 2127 at one point. Even though it only includes the Cenobites from the prior movies, it is nonetheless a direct sequel to those movies. Three different historical periods are covered in this film. The year 2127 serves as the starting point for our first timeline. Dr Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsay) is seen frantically attempting to teach a robot to solve the Lament Configuration while aboard a starship of his creation. Before he can succeed, armed security enters and drags him out to confront their chief, Rimmer (Christine Harnos), about his actions.

In addition to this, below is the list of series from the Hellraiser franchise, but they don’t necessarily follow the story linearly so you watch them as stand-alone.

‘Hellraiser: Inferno’ (2000)

---

In The Hellraiser: Inferno, the franchise begins to diverge from its linear narratives where they stop being connected in a straight path. This 2000 film centres on the crooked detective Joe (Craig Sheffer), who is ultimately responsible for his immoral lifestyle landing him in a nightmare setting.

After honing his art with this gloomy little treasure, director Scott Derrickson (who made his Hollywood debut with this movie) would go on to have a prosperous career helming movies. Although the previous films were all related to one another in some way, this one feels more independent. Despite this, it’s still a quality film that horror lovers will like.

‘Hellraiser: Hellseeker’ (2002)

---

Hellraiser: Hellseeker, the sixth movie in the series, is the finest standalone movie to watch after the first four films in the chronology because it retraces Ashley Laurence’s Kirsty Cotton story. She is married to Trevor (Dean Winters) at this point, and the two of them get into a vehicle accident. When Trevor realizes that Kirsty has been keeping a sinister secret from him, chaos breaks out. Although there is some blood and guts in this film, the psychological components of the plot take centre stage. The plot sets it apart from the other films in the series. However, it’s still a substantial addition that serves as an intriguing conclusion to the original first four Hellraiser movies.

‘Hellraiser: Deader’ (2005)

---

Deader was released amid the Hellraiser films‘ Rick Bota straight-to-video phase. It follows Amy (Kari Wuhrer), a journalist investigating the “Deaders,” who are, of course, in possession of the Lament Configuration. It’s a rather gloomy movie, even for Hellraiser.

A reporter is sent to Bucharest to look into the history of a videotape that purports to show the “Deaders,” a cult, violently sacrificing a victim and then purporting to resurrect that victim. Amy (Kari Wuhrer) searches for a dead lady while holding the puzzle box after following a clue.

‘Hellraiser: Hellworld’ (2005)

---

It is noteworthy as Doug Bradley’s appearance as Pinhead in Hellworld is his last. In addition, it contains the most magnificent 2005 storyline you can think of. In this movie, we follow a group of adolescents who play the computer game Hellworld, which is based on the Hellraiser films, after one of their friends develops an obsession that drives him to commit suicide so he may deliver his soul to the Cenobites. Like earlier Hellraiser films, they did not intend this one to be one, but it ended up being one..

‘Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)

---

In the movie Revelations, two friends discover the Lament Configuration, unlock it, and wind themselves the plaything of Pinhead (played by Stephan Smith Collins) and his Cenobites. While having some amusing moments, this film has usually been regarded as one of the worst-received in the series. This film is one that many fans avoid on movie night, whether it’s because of a disconnect from the other entries in the franchise or just bad execution.

The film begins with Steven (Nick Eversman) and Nico (Jay Gillespie), two college pals, travelling to Mexico for an intoxicated holiday. A vagrant gives them the puzzle box, and they summon Pinhead (Stephan Smith Collins).

‘Hellraiser: Judgment (2018)

---

Hellraiser: Judgement came out in 2018. It follows a gang of detectives investigating a string of heinous killings. They quickly realise that the killer is using the Lament Configuration to open the portal to the Cenobite dimension and unleash misery on Earth.

Don’t anticipate production quality to be glitzy however, the plot unexpectedly expands the legend. It follows two detectives as they strive to hunt down a serial murderer terrorizing the city. At the same time, Pinhead (Paul T. Taylor) deals with growing technology that makes the Cenobites’ techniques more difficult. The original scream queen from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, Heather Langenkamp, also gives a fantastic late performance in the movie. Hellraiser: Judgement is a great horror film to see if you’re looking for something to tide you over.

‘Hellraiser Reboot ‘(2022)

---

David Bruckner directed the 2022 supernatural horror film Hellraiser Reboot and has a script by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski based on a screenplay they co-wrote with David S. Goyer. It is a reboot[1] of the Hellraiser series, the eleventh overall, and a second adaptation of Clive Barker’s 1986 book The Hellbound Heart, which was made into the 1987 movie Hellraiser. The movie stars Odessa A ‘Zion, Jamie Clayton, Adam Faison, Drew Starkey, Brandon Flynn, Aoife Hinds, Jason Liles, Yinka Olorunnife, Selina Lo, Zachary Hing, Kit Clarke, Goran Vinji, and Hiam Abbass.

A fresh interpretation of Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic, in which a young lady battling addiction acquires a mysterious puzzle box, not realizing that its function is to call out the Cenobites, a gang of cruel otherworldly creatures from another realm.

Wrapping up!

To conclude, if you are a horror movie fan, exploring the Hellraiser franchise would be no less than a treasure. However, to align with the storyline, it is recommended to watch The Hellraiser Movies in order. The first four are according to the release dates, and the rest are discrete