Film · in order
The Grudge Movies in Order
Four American films and a Japanese Ju-On series underneath them. The American line is one continuity - including the 2020 film, which is a sidequel running alongside the 2004 trilogy, not a reboot. The Japanese films are the original curse, told in fragments.
The Grudge Movies in Order: complete list
This order covers 4 of 8 entries, and intentionally skips the rest.
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Why this order?
The Grudge inherits its shape from its Japanese source: a curse that spreads by location rather than bloodline, told out of order on purpose. That makes the watch-order question here unusually forgiving - and one specific trap unusually common.
The American line: The Grudge (2004), directed by Ju-On's own Takashi Shimizu, transplants the Saeki house curse to American characters in Tokyo. The Grudge 2 (2006) and The Grudge 3 (2009) continue it, following the curse as it crosses to Chicago. Then The Grudge (2020) - and here is the trap: it looks like a reboot, was even conceived as one, but it is a sidequel. It runs before and during the 2004 film's events, in the same continuity, following a different infected thread of the same curse. Nothing is restarted.
The Japanese line is where the idea comes from, and its core is four films: the two Ju-On video features from 2000 (The Curse and The Curse 2) and the theatrical pair from 2002-2003 (Ju-On: The Grudge and Ju-On: The Grudge 2). The theatrical Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) is the film the American 2004 remake adapts, and the natural Japanese entry point. Later Japanese entries and reboots continue past this core, and a Netflix series (Ju-On: Origins) retells the roots; the FAQ covers where they sit.
Both lines tell their stories in deliberately scrambled vignettes, so 'spoiling' works differently here - the films are mosaics. Release order is still the right order in both lines, because each film assumes the audience's knowledge of the previous mosaic, not its timeline.
Timeline 2000-2020
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 2000 Ju-On: The CurseJu-On: The Curse 2
- 2002 Ju-On: The Grudge
- 2003 Ju-On: The Grudge 2
- 2004 The Grudge
- 2006 2
- 2009 3
- 11-year gap
- 2020 The Grudge
Where to play it today
- The 2004 American film and the 2020 film rotate through major streamers
- The Japanese Ju-On films sit mostly on genre services and rental
- Availability rotates; check JustWatch for your region
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for The Grudge.
Frequently asked questions
How many Grudge movies are there?
Four American films: The Grudge (2004), The Grudge 2 (2006), The Grudge 3 (2009) and The Grudge (2020). The Japanese Ju-On series beneath them has a four-film core (2000-2003) plus later entries, reboots and a Netflix series.
What order should I watch The Grudge movies in?
Release order within your chosen line. American: 2004, 2006, 2009, then the 2020 sidequel. Japanese core: The Curse (2000), The Curse 2 (2000), Ju-On: The Grudge (2002), Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003). The two lines share a curse but not a continuity requirement.
Is The Grudge (2020) a reboot?
No, and this is the franchise's most repeated mistake: it is a sidequel in the same continuity as the 2004 trilogy, set before and during the 2004 film, following a different thread of the same curse. It was conceived as a reboot and ended up a standalone sequel, which is why the confusion persists.
Should I watch the American Grudge or Japanese Ju-On first?
The 2004 American film is the smoothest entry, made by the Japanese director remaking his own work. The 2002 Japanese Ju-On: The Grudge is the stronger film for horror fans and the source of the remake. Either works; the curse's rules are the same on both sides.
Why do the Grudge movies feel out of order while I watch them?
By design. Both lines tell their stories as non-chronological vignettes named after characters, and part of each film's effect is assembling the timeline yourself. Release order is still correct - the mosaics build on each other - but expect scrambling inside every film.
What is Ju-On: Origins?
A 2020 Netflix series that retells the curse's roots as its own continuity, darker and more grounded than the films. It requires nothing and connects to nothing directly - a parallel telling rather than a chapter.
Where does Sadako vs. Kayako fit?
Outside everything: a 2016 event crossover between Ju-On's Kayako and the Ring's Sadako, in its own continuity. Watch it after knowing both franchises, or not at all.
How long does it take to watch The Grudge movies?
The American line runs about 6 and a half hours; the Japanese core about 6. Both together are a solid weekend at around 12 and a half hours.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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