The Correct Order To Watch The G.I. Joe Movies

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Hasbro introduced the world to G.I. Joe as a series of action figures in the '60s. Originally as 12-inch figures, the line was successful for the toy company. But when the line was relaunched in the early '80s as smaller-scale figures complete with accessories, such as vehicles and playsets, the whole enterprise really took off. It led to a series of Marvel Comics adaptations, animated shows, and yes, big-budget feature films.

Paramount Pictures brought the "G.I. Joe" franchise to life in live-action beginning in 2009, and several films have been produced since. But the titles don't make it clear which films to watch first, necessarily, and for those hoping to catch up with the Real American Heroes at home, some clarity could be useful. We're here to help as we're going to go over the proper viewing order for the films, why this is the proper order, as well as some recommended additional viewing for those left wanting more.

Fortunately, there are only three live-action "G.I. Joe" movies to date (technically four, but we'll get to that in a minute). We're also dealing with a direct sequel and a years-later spin-off/prequel, which makes the proper viewing order thing pretty easy. Essentially, the best way to approach this franchise is to watch the movies in the order they were released, which is as follows:

• "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" (2009)

• "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" (2013)

• "Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins" (2021)

"The Rise of Cobra" was, amazingly enough, the first real attempt to bring these characters to live-action after decades of toys, comics, and animation. The film starred Channing Tatum and Sienna Miller, among others, and was a modest success. Paramount had been hoping to score another "Transformers"-level hit, and that didn't quite pan out. As a result – and due to Tatum's reluctance to return to the "G.I. Joe" world – it took a while to get "Retaliation" off the ground. But the sequel brought in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Bruce Willis to add some action star firepower. It paid off, as the sequel made more money and is widely regarded as the better film. Still, it wasn't a big enough hit to ensure a longer franchise.

As a result, Paramount spent years trying to figure out where to take the series. Eventually, they landed on a prequel that told the origin story of the character Snake Eyes. The role was played by Ray Park in the first two films, but he was replaced by Henry Golding for the 2021 prequel. Sadly, "Snake Eyes" bombed thanks to bad reviews and the pandemic, which stopped the series dead in its tracks yet again. That being the case, it's best to watch this movie last since it's not directly connected to the previous entries, and given the largely negative reception, it could color one's viewing of the first two films.

For those who have already watched the live-action "G.I. Joe" movies and are in search of some supplemental viewing, you're in luck. For starters, Paramount produced a couple of shorts to help promote the release of "Rise of Cobra" in 2009 titled "The Invasion of Cobra Island," which you can watch on YouTube. They were produced entirely using action figures, making them pretty amusing. The same goes for the short "Snake Eyes Has Something to Say," which was produced for "Snake Eyes" and is also available to watch on YouTube. The full list reads as follows:

• "G.I. Joe: The Invasion of Cobra Island — Part 1"

• "G.I. Joe: The Invasion of Cobra Island — Part 2"

• "Snake Eyes Has Something to Say ... G.I. Joe Origins"

• "Morning Light: A Weapon with Stories to Tell"

The "Morning Light" short was produced for the home media release of "Snake Eyes" and, as the title suggests, is all about the titular character's signature sword. Beyond those shorts, there have been several animated films produced over the years. Most of these have not been highly regarded, but they are easy enough to find online for those who wish to go down that rabbit hole. You can see a full list of the animated films below:

• "G.I. Joe: The Movie" (1987)

• "G.I. Joe: Spy Troops" (2003)

• "G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom" (2004)

• "G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles" (2004)

Interestingly enough, "G.I. Joe: The Movie" was technically a Marvel production, which might make that just unique enough to check out. It's certainly a window into what Marvel was up to in the '80s long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took off.

Those who still feel like they need more "G.I. Joe" in their lives are in luck. 2023's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" paved the way for yet another revival of this franchise. After years of speculation and discussions surrounding the prospect, Paramount has finally made good on the notion of bringing the world of G.I. Joe into the same universe occupied by the robots in disguise. Indeed, "Rise of the Beasts" set the table for a cinematic "G.I. Joe"/"Transformers" crossover.

While few details have been revealed at this time, the ending of "Rise of the Beasts" established that G.I. Joe is an organization in the new "Transformers" movies. While it doesn't have a title just yet, the crossover film will star Chris Hemsworth ("Thor") in the lead role. This carries an extra layer of intrigue given that Hemsworth voiced Optimus Prime in 2024's animated "Transformers One," which opens the door for all sorts of possibilities. Come what may, though, Paramount is finally pulling the trigger on this event after years of build up.

You can grab the "G.I. Joe 3 Movie Collection" on Blu-ray from Amazon.