Shaft Movies: Release Order
The Shaft franchise follows three generations of the legendary private detective family. Beginning with the 1971 blaxploitation classic that made Richard Roundtree an icon, the series established John Shaft as the epitome of cool with his leather coat, street smarts, and unforgettable Isaac Hayes theme song.
This release order presents the complete multi-generational saga, from Roundtree's original trilogy through the 2000 soft reboot featuring Samuel L. Jackson and culminating in the 2019 film that brings all three generations of Shafts together. While the series evolved from 1970s blaxploitation to modern action cinema, the core appeal of the smooth-talking, tough-as-nails detective remains constant throughout.
There is 1 other watch order available – see the link up above.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
Shaft
Cool private detective John Shaft is hired by a crime boss to rescue his kidnapped daughter from rival gangsters in this groundbreaking blaxploitation thriller.
Shaft in Africa
Detective John Shaft goes undercover on an international mission, traveling from Ethiopia to France to dismantle a dangerous human trafficking operation.
Shaft
Detective John Shaft must track down a key witness and confront a wealthy suspect who fled to Switzerland after committing a racially motivated murder. When the suspect returns for trial, Shaft faces dangerous obstacles as powerful forces work to silence those who could bring justice.
Shaft
A cyber security expert teams up with his estranged father, the legendary detective John Shaft, to investigate his best friend's mysterious death in Harlem's dangerous underworld.
Other Film Series
Alex Cross
Film adaptations of James Patterson's detective novels featuring forensic psychologist Alex Cross, spanning two connected films and a standalone reboot.
Escape Plan
An action trilogy following security expert Ray Breslin as he infiltrates and escapes from increasingly dangerous high-tech prisons.
Fast and Furious
Street racing saga that evolved into a globe-spanning action franchise centered on family and high-octane heists.
Ong Bak
Tony Jaa's martial arts showcase trilogy featuring spectacular Muay Thai action across different time periods and loosely connected stories.
The Punisher
Three completely separate reboot films featuring Frank Castle's vigilante crusade, each with different actors, settings, and interpretations of the character.
xXx
An action franchise about extreme sports athlete Xander Cage who becomes an unconventional government agent for high-stakes espionage missions.