Looking for the correct Sharknado movies in order? Good news: for the six main films, release order and chronological order are basically the same thing — each movie picks up right where the last one left off. The only wrinkle is the upcoming prequel, Sharknado Origins, which is set before the 2013 original even though it releases years later, so it breaks the pattern.
Created by Anthony C. Ferrante for Syfy and The Asylum, the franchise turned a shoestring budget and an absurd premise into one of the biggest cult phenomena of the streaming era, spawning six films, a spin-off series, video games, and a genuinely massive social-media following. Below, you’ll find the quick-answer table, then a full breakdown of every film so you know exactly where to start and how everything connects.
Also Read: Jaws Movies in Order
Quick Answer: Sharknado Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director | Timeline Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharknado | 2013 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 2nd |
| 2 | Sharknado 2: The Second One | 2014 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 3rd |
| 3 | Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! | 2015 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 4th |
| 4 | Sharknado: The 4th Awakens | 2016 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 5th |
| 5 | Sharknado 5: Global Swarming | 2017 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 6th |
| 6 | The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time | 2018 | Anthony C. Ferrante | 7th |
| 7 | Sharknado Origins | 2026 (TBA) | Anthony C. Ferrante | 1st (prequel) |
Quick callout: If you just want the “core saga,” watch films 1–6 in release order — they’re already chronological. Save Sharknado Origins for whenever you’re ready for the prequel; it doesn’t require the other six to make sense.
Sharknado Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Sharknado (2013)
A freak hurricane off the coast of Mexico spawns tornadoes that suck up great white sharks and dump them straight onto Los Angeles, forcing bar owner Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) to save his estranged family with not much more than a chainsaw and sheer nerve. It started life as a throwaway pitch line at the American Film Market before The Asylum ran with it, and the finished film’s low-budget CGI became half its charm. What began as a quiet Syfy premiere exploded into a Twitter phenomenon overnight, which is exactly why a sequel was rushed into production almost immediately.
2. Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014)
Fin and April Wexler (Tara Reid) fly to New York City for a book tour, only for a new sharknado to swallow the skyline whole, this time with even bigger set pieces and even more shameless cameos. The sequel drew nearly 4 million viewers, making it one of Syfy’s most-watched original movies ever and cementing the franchise as an annual summer event. Landmarks like the Empire State Building take a beating, and the ending sets up a direct continuation as the disaster spreads beyond one city.
3. Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! (2015)
Fin heads to Washington, D.C. to receive a medal of honor when — you guessed it — another sharknado flattens the capital, sending him racing down the coast to Orlando to find April at Universal’s theme parks. The film famously courted a certain future president for a cameo before recasting the role, a bit of trivia that only adds to its so-bad-it’s-good reputation. By the end, the threat has stopped being local and starts becoming something closer to a full-blown natural phenomenon.
4. Sharknado: The 4th Awakens (2016)
Five years after the first storm, Las Vegas gets hit by a mechanized, technologically-enhanced sharknado, complete with sharks armed with lasers and drills. The title riffs on a certain space saga that hit theaters the same era, and the film leans hardest into pure spectacle, treating the disaster almost like a comic-book event. It closes with sharknados now striking simultaneously around the globe, which is the direct setup for the next film’s title.
5. Sharknado 5: Global Swarming (2017)
Now a genuinely worldwide crisis, Fin and April travel to London for a NATO meeting while a mysterious artifact beneath Stonehenge unleashes a new type of sharknado tied to an ancient shark god. Stylized on-screen as “5harknado,” the film introduces dimensional-vortex storms that raise the stakes well beyond weather. The ending leaves the family and the planet in serious danger, directly setting up the franchise’s built-as-a-finale sixth installment.
6. The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time (2018)
Billed from the start as the series finale, this one sends Fin bouncing through pivotal eras — including the Cretaceous period and Camelot — to stop the sharknado phenomenon from ever starting. Syfy officially confirmed it as the franchise’s last chapter back in March 2018, and the production leaned into that “greatest hits” energy with call-backs across the whole saga. It closes the six-film arc definitively, which is exactly why the newly announced prequel had to go backward instead of forward.
7. Sharknado Origins (2026)
Set years before the 2013 original, this prequel follows teenage versions of Fin and April meeting for the first time during a perfect beach summer — right before the sky darkens and the very first sharknado erupts from the ocean. Anthony Ferrante, who directed all six previous films, returns to the chair, and as of this writing the movie is still awaiting an official release date, expected sometime before the end of summer 2026. Because it’s a prequel, you can watch it any time relative to the other six — first for pure chronology, or last as a victory-lap origin story.
Do You Need to Watch the Original 6 Before Sharknado Origins?
No. Sharknado Origins is a standalone prequel — it introduces teenage Fin and April and the very first storm, so it doesn’t assume you’ve seen anything else, and nothing in the main saga spoils or is spoiled by it.
Minimum viable watch order (if you’re short on time):
- Sharknado (2013) — the essential original, sets the tone for everything
- Sharknado 2: The Second One (2014) — shows how fast the franchise escalated
- The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time (2018) — the actual ending of the six-film arc
- Sharknado Origins (2026) — optional bonus, watch whenever it releases
How Many Sharknado Movies Are There?
There are seven Sharknado movies total: the six-film main saga released between 2013 and 2018, plus the prequel Sharknado Origins, which is currently in production for a 2026 release.
All Sharknado Movies in Order by Release Date
1. Sharknado — July 11, 2013
2. Sharknado 2: The Second One — July 30, 2014
3. Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! — July 22, 2015
4. Sharknado: The 4th Awakens — July 31, 2016
5. Sharknado 5: Global Swarming — August 6, 2017
6. The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time — August 19, 2018
7. Sharknado Origins — TBA 2026
What’s Next for the Franchise?
The big news is Sharknado Origins, officially announced by The Asylum and Syfy in November 2025 as a prequel following teenage Fin and April before the events of the first film. Anthony Ferrante is back directing, but as of this writing the movie still doesn’t have a confirmed release date — reporting has consistently pointed to “before the end of summer 2026,” though that could shift.
Beyond Origins, nothing else has been officially greenlit. The franchise has previously expanded through the loosely connected Lavalantula spin-off series and the anniversary crossover 2025 Armageddon, so further spin-offs or crossovers are plausible, but treat anything beyond Sharknado Origins as speculation until The Asylum confirms it.
FAQ
Are the Sharknado movies connected in chronological order?
Yes — the six main films (2013–2018) follow one continuous storyline in the exact order they were released, so watching them in release order is the same as watching them chronologically.
Do I need to watch the Sharknado movies in order?
It’s not strictly required since each film is a self-contained disaster romp, but watching Sharknado movies in order lets you follow the escalating relationship and story arcs between Fin and April.
Is Sharknado Origins a prequel or a sequel?
It’s a prequel — the story is set before the original 2013 film and follows teenage versions of Fin and April encountering the very first sharknado.
What is the best order to watch Sharknado movies?
Watch the six main films in release order (2013–2018) for the complete story, then treat Sharknado Origins as an optional prequel you can watch first or last.
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