Scanners - Watch Order: Release Order
The Scanners franchise began with David Cronenberg's 1981 sci-fi horror film about individuals with powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities. The series explores themes of mind control, corporate manipulation, and the dark side of psychic power through visceral body horror and psychological tension.
This complete watch order includes all five films in the franchise, from Cronenberg's original masterpiece through the lower-budget sequels of the 1990s. While the later films don't match the artistic achievement of the original, they expand the Scanners universe across two distinct storylines: the main trilogy and the Scanner Cop spin-off films.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
Scanners
After a man with extraordinary, and frighteningly destructive, telepathic abilities is nabbed by agents from a mysterious rogue corporation, he discovers he is far from the only possessor of such strange powers. Some of the other “scanners” have their minds set on world domination, while others are trying to stop them.
Scanners II: The New Order
A breed of humans with dangerously powerful telepathic abilities -- the scanners -- are being recruited by a corrupt police commander, John Forrester, in his crusade to take over the city.
Scanners III: The Takeover
A young scanner with extraordinary telepathic powers transforms into a lethal killing machine after taking one of her father's experimental drugs.
Scanner Cop
Rookie cop Sam Staziak has a unique gift: he is a Scanner, which gives him the power to read the thoughts of others, and also to inflict great bodily harm. When a mad scientist begins using mind control to murder police officers, Sam realizes that only he and his unique gift can put an end to the mayhem.
Scanner Cop II
When other Scanners in the Los Angeles area are left drained of life, Sam is forced back into action in a desperate attempt to stop Volkin, who is determined to become the most powerful - and ruthless - of his kind.
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