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Pacific Rim in Order
Watch Pacific Rim in release order: the 2013 original, then Uprising (2018). The Netflix anime The Black is a same-world side story you can save for after.
Pacific Rim in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
The Pacific Rim franchise is small and easy to navigate, which is good news if you just want giant robots punching giant monsters. There are only two live-action films plus one animated series, and the most reliable way through them is simply release order. Start with Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013), then continue to Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), which is set roughly a decade later and follows a new generation of Jaeger pilots while building directly on the events of the first film.
Our default watch order mirrors that release sequence because the franchise was designed to be experienced that way. Uprising assumes you know how the Kaiju, the Breach, and the drift-compatible piloting work, so the 2013 film is essential setup. There is no clever alternate ordering that improves the story here, no machete-style reshuffle needed, and no hidden chronological trick. Release order and story order are effectively the same thing.
The one genuine gotcha is Pacific Rim: The Black (2021), the two-season Netflix anime. It is canonical to the same world but a self-contained side story set in a Kaiju-overrun Australia, following two siblings rather than the movie casts. It does not depend on Uprising and does not need to be slotted between the films, so we list it last as optional viewing. Watch it once you already care about this universe.
If you enjoy the scale, the closest cousins are del Toro's other creature work and the broader kaiju canon: Legendary's MonsterVerse (Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island) shares the same studio DNA and giant-monster spectacle, while classic Godzilla and the Neon Genesis Evangelion lineage clearly inspired the Jaeger-versus-Kaiju premise. None of those are required, but they pair naturally with a Pacific Rim marathon.
Timeline 2013โ2021
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
- Available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video
- Apple TV (rent/buy)
- Pacific Rim: The Black streams on Netflix
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Pacific Rim in?
Watch in release order: Pacific Rim (2013) first, then Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018). Save the Netflix anime Pacific Rim: The Black (2021) for last, since it's a standalone side story in the same world.
How many Pacific Rim movies are there?
There are two live-action Pacific Rim films: the 2013 original directed by Guillermo del Toro and the 2018 sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising. A two-season Netflix anime, Pacific Rim: The Black, adds to the universe but isn't a feature film.
Do I need to watch the first Pacific Rim before Uprising?
Yes. Uprising is set about ten years after the original and builds directly on its events, characters, and the lore of the Kaiju and the Breach, so watch the 2013 film first.
Is Pacific Rim: The Black canon?
Yes, the anime is set in the same continuity as the films, but it's a self-contained side story following different characters in Kaiju-ravaged Australia. It doesn't depend on Uprising and can be watched on its own.
Did Guillermo del Toro direct both Pacific Rim movies?
No. Del Toro directed and co-wrote the 2013 original. He served as a producer on Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018), which was directed by Steven S. DeKnight.
Is there a Pacific Rim 3?
As of early 2026, no third live-action film has been confirmed or released. The franchise's most recent entry is the Netflix anime Pacific Rim: The Black, whose second and final season aired in 2022.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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