
The Bourne films are a series of action thriller movies based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from extreme memory loss who must figure out who he is. The character is based on novels by Robert Ludlum. The fourth film in the series introduces Aaron Cross, a Department of Defense operative who runs for his life because of Bourne's actions.
Release order — click any era to expand or collapse. All 5 movies shown below.
3 films released between 2002 and 2007.
2 films released between 2012 and 2016.
Watch the The Bourne movies in release order, starting with The Bourne Identity (2002) and continuing through Jason Bourne (2016). The series spans 5 films, released between 2002 and 2016. Audiences rate the franchise 7/10 on average.
For most viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch The Bourne. This is how the story was crafted and revealed to audiences — earlier films seed details, callbacks, and twists that pay off in later entries. Watching in release order preserves those reveals and matches the pacing the filmmakers intended.
The Bourne largely tracks its own in-universe chronology, so release order and chronological order overlap closely. You can use either without losing much, though release order is still the safest first watch.
The Bourne films are a series of action thriller movies based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin suffering from extreme memory loss who must figure out who he is. The character is based on novels by Robert Ludlum. The fourth film in the series introduces Aaron Cross, a Department of Defense operative who runs for his life because of Bourne's actions.
Each film builds on the previous one, rewarding viewers who watch in sequence.
The The Bourne franchise spans 14 years, from 2002 to 2016.
The highest-rated entry is The Bourne Identity with a 7.5/10 audience score.
Across all films, the franchise averages a 7.0/10 rating from audiences.
The Bourne films have collected over 39k audience ratings combined.
Watching all 5 The Bourne films back-to-back takes well over a full day's viewing commitment.
The most recent entry, Jason Bourne (2016), continues a franchise that began 14 years earlier.
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See the original timeline, full stats, and editorial intro on the franchise overview page.
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