Pacific Rim Movies in Order: Watch Guide

Few movie franchises pair colossal monsters with even bigger robots quite like Pacific Rim, a series that knows exactly what its audience came for, and two films and an anime series later, the timeline stays cleaner than you might expect from a world where Jaegers punch Kaiju through skyscrapers. Here’s the full breakdown of every Pacific Rim release, how they connect, and what happened to the planned third film.

Total films: 2 · TV series: 1 (Pacific Rim: The Black) · First film release: 2013 · Box office gross: Over $701 million

Two films and one anime series, but each entry occupies a distinct spot in the timeline. Here is how they stack up.

The pattern: each new release jumps roughly a decade forward in the story, giving technology and the Kaiju threat room to evolve between entries.

How many Pacific Rim movies are there?

How many films are in the Pacific Rim franchise?

• Two theatrical films: Pacific Rim (2013) directed by Guillermo del Toro, and Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) directed by Steven S. DeKnight (Wikipedia – franchise overview).
• The first film had a budget of $190 million and grossed $411 million worldwide (Looper – franchise financials).
• Uprising carried a budget of $150–176 million and earned $290 million globally (CBR – franchise financials).

Are there any TV series?

• Yes, one anime series: Pacific Rim: The Black, released exclusively on Netflix across two seasons (2021 and 2022) (Wikipedia – franchise overview).
• The series totals 14 episodes. It follows siblings Hayley and Taylor as they pilot a Jaeger across Australia searching for their missing parents (ScreenRant – anime synopsis).

What is Pacific Rim: The Black?

• Pacific Rim: The Black is a 2D anime series produced by Polygon Pictures and released on Netflix (Looper – watch-order guide).
• It is set after the events of Pacific Rim: Uprising and expands the franchise’s lore beyond the films (ScreenRant – timeline analysis).
• The show is considered canonical and fits into the franchise’s chronological timeline.

In what order should I watch Pacific Rim?

1. Watch Pacific Rim (2013)
2. Watch Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
3. Watch Pacific Rim: The Black on Netflix

Should I watch by release date or chronological order?

• Release order and chronological order are identical for the two films (Looper – watch-order guide).
• Pacific Rim (2013) takes place in 2025. Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) is set in 2035 — exactly ten years later (ScreenRant – timeline analysis).
• The anime Pacific Rim: The Black premiered after both films and is set after Uprising, so watching by release date also preserves the story timeline (CBR – timeline breakdown).

Where does Pacific Rim: The Black fit in?

• The Black is believed to occur after Pacific Rim: Uprising, though no exact in-universe date is confirmed (ScreenRant – timeline analysis).
• Most sources agree the anime fits best as the final entry in the watch order (Looper – watch-order guide).

The implication: the watch order is as simple as it gets, and the anime adds depth without complicating the narrative.

Is Pacific Rim 1 and 2 connected?

Do the same characters appear in both movies?

• A few characters return: Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) and Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day) appear in both films (IMDb – franchise cast list).
• The main protagonist of Uprising is Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), the son of Stacker Pentecost from the first film — a new lead rather than a returning one.
• Idris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost dies at the end of the first film and does not return.

How does the story continue?

• Pacific Rim: Uprising is a direct sequel set 10 years after the events of the first film (ScreenRant – timeline analysis).
• Humanity has rebuilt after the Breach was sealed, and a new generation of Jaeger pilots faces an evolved Kaiju threat.
• The Jaeger technology advances significantly: the newer Jaegers are faster, more agile, and can be piloted solo — a major shift from the drift-compatible pairs of the first film (CBR – franchise evolution).

Why was Pacific Rim 3 cancelled?

What were the plans for Pacific Rim 3?

• A third film was discussed internally at Legendary Pictures following Uprising, with early story concepts reportedly involving an even larger Kaiju threat (Wikipedia – franchise status).
• No script was officially commissioned and the project never entered pre-production.
• Director Guillermo del Toro stated in 2017 that he would not direct a sequel, choosing instead to work on The Shape of Water and other passion projects.

What factors led to cancellation?

• Pacific Rim: Uprising grossed $290 million worldwide against a production budget of $150–176 million — a modest return by blockbuster standards (Wikipedia – franchise financials).
• Box office performance fell short of the $411 million earned by the first film, and the studio shifted focus toward more profitable franchises.
• Legendary Pictures’ acquisition by Wanda Group and subsequent restructuring also affected the franchise’s priority within the studio’s slate.

The catch: without a third film, the story ends on a note that some find incomplete, while others appreciate the closure of the original.

Who is the strongest Jaeger ever?

What are the strongest Jaegers in Pacific Rim?

• In the first film, Striker Eureka is widely considered the most powerful Jaeger — it is the fastest, most heavily armed, and has the highest kill count of any Mark-5 Jaeger (ScreenRant – Jaeger analysis).
• In Pacific Rim: Uprising, Gipsy Avenger (an upgraded version of Gipsy Danger) is the most advanced Jaeger, featuring a plasma cannon, chain sword, and enhanced mobility (CBR – Jaeger comparison).
• Coyote Tango, Cherno Alpha, and Crimson Typhoon are Mark-1 Jaegers from the first film — older, slower, and less agile than later marks.

Is Striker Eureka the strongest?

• Striker Eureka (Mark-5) is the most advanced Jaeger in the first film, with a top speed and firepower that outclasses all earlier marks (Looper – Jaeger rankings).
• It carries the “Stingblade” retractable arm blades and long-range missile systems.
• However, Gipsy Avenger from Uprising surpasses Striker Eureka in raw technology due to the decade of advancement between films.

How are Jaegers ranked?

• Jaegers are ranked by “Mark” designation — a higher Mark number indicates a newer, more advanced model (Mark-1 is oldest, Mark-5 and beyond are newest).
• Factors include: top speed, armor thickness, weapon systems, energy output, and kill count.
• The most decorated Jaeger by kill count is Gipsy Danger (first film), which destroyed 9 Kaiju over its service life, followed by Striker Eureka with 7 kills.

The pattern: confirmed facts outweigh the unknowns, but the biggest open question remains the franchise’s future.

For the Pacific Rim franchise, the story is currently on hold. Two films and one anime series give fans a complete narrative arc — humanity’s struggle against the Kaiju, the rise of a new generation, and an anime expansion that explores the aftermath. With no third film in active development and the studio focused elsewhere, the franchise sits in a quiet pause. For viewers who want to experience the full saga, the watch order is straightforward: start with del Toro’s original from 2013, follow with Uprising, and finish with The Black on Netflix. For Legendary Pictures, the choice is clear: revisit the franchise only if a compelling creative angle emerges, or leave the Breach sealed for good.