Pacific Rim Movies in Order: Complete Watch Guide (2024)

Giant robots punching alien monsters — the pitch alone made Pacific Rim a cult hit. But if you’re trying to watch the movies in the right order, you’ve likely hit a snag: there are two live-action films, one Netflix anime, and a whole lot of rumors about a third movie. The first film hit theaters on July 12, 2013, and the sequel followed in 2018. Here’s exactly how to sort the franchise, from release dates to timeline placement, and why a third film is nowhere in sight.

Number of films: 2 (Pacific Rim 2013, Pacific Rim: Uprising 2018) ·
Number of TV series: 1 (Pacific Rim: The Black, 2 seasons 2021-2022) ·
First release year: 2013 ·
Latest release year: 2022 ·
Status of Pacific Rim 3: No active production confirmed

Two theatrical releases, one pattern: the franchise’s commercial and critical trajectory tells a clear story of diminishing returns.

The implication: the sequel lost both box office momentum and critical goodwill, making a direct third film a risky bet for the studio.

In what order should I watch Pacific Rim?

Release order vs chronological order

For the two live-action films, release order and chronological order are identical. Pacific Rim (2013) takes place during the first Kaiju war, which begins in 2013, while Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) is set roughly a decade later. Watch them in release order: Pacific Rim first, then Uprising. No in-universe timeline manipulation needed (IMDb release dates).

Does the anime series fit into the timeline?

Pacific Rim: The Black is set after the events of Uprising. According to ScreenRant’s franchise timeline analysis, the anime follows new characters in Australia and references the aftermath of the second film. Best watched after both movies.

What about the upcoming origin project?

An untitled live-action origin film was announced in 2023. No timeline placement has been confirmed — it could be a prequel (set before the first Kaiju war) or a reboot. As of now, its release order position is unknown (Wikipedia franchise page).

How many Pacific Rim movies are there?

List of films

• Pacific Rim (2013) — directed by Guillermo del Toro
• Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) — directed by Steven S. DeKnight

That’s it for theatrical releases. A third film has never been produced.

Are there any spin-off movies?

No spin-off movies exist. The only spin-off medium is the anime series Pacific Rim: The Black (two seasons, 2021-2022), which expands the universe but is not a theatrical film.

How many seasons of the TV series?

Two seasons, totaling 14 episodes, both available on Netflix (ScreenRant series coverage).

The pattern: the franchise has never expanded beyond two movies and one animated series. Any promise of a third film remains unfulfilled.

Is there a Pacific Rim 3 movie?

Was Pacific Rim 3 officially cancelled?

No official cancellation statement has been released by Legendary Pictures or Universal. However, Pacific Rim 3 is not in active production. After Uprising underperformed at the box office ($291 million against a $150 million budget), plans for a direct sequel were shelved (Variety report).

What is the current development status?

As of 2024, no third film is in development. The only project on the horizon is an untitled origin film announced in 2023 — but that is not a sequel to Uprising.

Are there any future plans?

The untitled origin project is the sole known future live-action entry. Whether it continues the existing continuity or reboots the universe is unclear. Until that film enters active production, Pacific Rim 3 remains a fan hope, not a studio plan.

Why did Pacific Rim 2 flop?

Box office performance

Pacific Rim: Uprising grossed $291 million worldwide, well below the original’s $411 million. Given a $150 million production budget — plus marketing — the film likely lost money in its theatrical run (Rotten Tomatoes box office).

Critical reception compared to the first film

The first Pacific Rim earned a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Uprising dropped to 44% — a clear signal that critics found the sequel lacking in original charm and direction.

Reasons for underperformance

• No Guillermo del Toro at the helm. The original director stepped away, and Steven S. DeKnight took over. Critics cited a loss of visual flair and emotional weight.
• Recasting of main characters. Only two original cast members returned; the new lead, John Boyega, was praised but couldn’t carry the film alone.
• Audience fatigue. By 2018, the monster-battle genre had been saturated by the Transformers series. Pacific Rim‘s unique selling point felt diluted.

The implication: the sequel tried to replicate the first film’s formula but lost the creative vision that made the original a cult hit. Without del Toro’s signature style, audiences stayed home.

What other media are in the Pacific Rim universe?

Anime series

Pacific Rim: The Black (2021-2022) is a Netflix original anime set after Uprising. It follows siblings Taylor and Hayley as they pilot a Jaeger across a Kaiju-infested Australia. Two seasons, 14 episodes (ScreenRant timeline piece).

Comics and books

Legendary Comics has published multiple Pacific Rim comic series, including Pacific Rim: Tales from the Drift and Pacific Rim: Aftermath. These expand the lore between the films but are not considered required viewing for understanding the movies.

Video games and other projects

A video game, Pacific Rim: The Video Game, was released in 2013 for mobile platforms. Several mobile tie-in games also exist. No major console game has been produced.

The pattern: the franchise lives on through animation and comics, not through theatrical sequels. The only live-action future is the unnamed origin project — and that remains a question mark.

Steps to watch the Pacific Rim franchise

1. Watch Pacific Rim (2013) — start here. It establishes the world, the Jaegers, and the Kaiju war.
2. Watch Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) — the direct sequel, set about ten years later.
3. Watch Pacific Rim: The Black (2021-2022) — season 1 then season 2, after finishing the movies.
4. Read the comics (optional) — for deeper lore between Uprising and The Black.
5. Wait for the origin project — no confirmed release date yet.

Timeline of the Pacific Rim franchise

• 2013 — Kaiju war begins; events of Pacific Rim (ScreenRant).
• July 12, 2013 — Pacific Rim released in theaters (Rotten Tomatoes).
• March 23, 2018 — Pacific Rim: Uprising released (IMDb).
• March 4, 2021 — Pacific Rim: The Black Season 1 premieres on Netflix.
• April 19, 2022 — Season 2 premieres.
• 2023 — Untitled origin project announced (Wikipedia).

What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Two theatrical movies exist: Pacific Rim (2013) and Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018).
• One anime series: Pacific Rim: The Black (two seasons, 2021-2022).
• Pacific Rim 3 is not in active production as of 2024.
• A new origin project was announced in 2023.

What’s unclear

• Whether the new origin project is a prequel, reboot, or intended as a third film.
• Exact release date or director for the origin project.
• Official cancellation status of Pacific Rim 3 — no statement has been made.

Perspectives from the franchise community

“Both films are set in the same continuity, but the anime fills in the gaps between Uprising and the future of the story.”

— ScreenRant franchise timeline analysis

“The highest-grossing film is the original, and the strongest Jaeger in-universe is Striker Eureka, a Mark-5 model.”

— Wikipedia Pacific Rim article

“Release order and chronological order are the same for the two live-action films — no timeline gymnastics required.”

— IMDb franchise watch list

For fans waiting for a third film, the choice is clear: either accept that the franchise continues through anime and comics, or hope the new origin project revives interest enough to greenlight a direct sequel. The chances of a proper Pacific Rim 3 are slim as of 2024.

Frequently asked questions