Escape Room Movies in Order A Complete Guide: 1 Minute to Discover the Thrilling Escape Room Film Series

Escape room movies have surged in popularity as the real-world escape room trend took off, offering viewers suspenseful plots filled with intricate puzzles, high stakes, and adrenaline-fueled action. In this complete guide, I’ll break down the main films in this niche, the correct viewing order, and highlight why these movies capture the imagination of both film fans and design enthusiasts alike.

The Main Escape Room Movie Franchise:

1. Escape Room (2019) — Directed by Adam Robitel, this film introduces six strangers trapped in a series of deadly escape rooms, each uniquely designed to test their survival skills. With its blend of mystery, horror, and psychological thrills, it quickly became a favorite for genre fans.
2. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021) — This sequel raises the stakes, bringing together previous survivors in a new, even more elaborate maze of escape rooms.

Are There Other Escape Room Movies?

Yes! While the Robitel series is the most well-known, several other films explore similar themes:

1. Escape Room (2017) — A lesser-known movie by Peter Dukes with a supernatural twist.
2. No Escape Room (2018) — A Syfy Channel original, blending supernatural elements with classic escape room fare.
3. Escape Room (2018) — Directed by Will Wernick, another take on friends locked inside deadly puzzles.

If you're new to the genre, the Adam Robitel series is the recommended starting point for clear continuity and character arc progression.

Best Viewing Order:

1. Escape Room (2019) — The official beginning of the franchise and the foundation for future plot developments.
2. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021) — Continues directly from the ending of the first film.

For other films named "Escape Room" or similar, they're standalone stories, so viewing order isn’t critical. However, fans may enjoy exploring each for different puzzle concepts and room designs.

Design Perspective Insight:

As a designer, I'm fascinated by how these movies turn puzzle architecture and interior layout into a character of their own. If you’re captivated by the inventive and often fantastical spaces in escape room films, you might get inspired to reimagine your own home’s spaces creatively. Leveraging digital tools like a home designer allows you to sketch out unique, puzzle-inspired layouts or even craft a small-scale escape room vibe for your next game night. It's all about blending function, theme, and atmosphere—principles that cross over beautifully from the silver screen to your living space.

Tips 1:

After enjoying escape room movies, try creating your own puzzle-laden room for parties or family fun. Draw on the films' use of lighting, hidden storage, and thematic clues to elevate the experience—design is about storytelling, after all!

FAQ

Q: What is the correct order to watch the Escape Room movies?

A: Start with Escape Room (2019) followed by Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021).

Q: Are the 2017 and 2018 Escape Room movies related to the main franchise?

A: No, these are separate stories and have no connection to the 2019 or 2021 films.

Q: What makes escape room movies so appealing?

A: The combination of suspense, problem-solving, and innovative set design attracts a wide audience—especially fans of puzzles and creative environments.

Q: Are the puzzles in Escape Room movies based on real-life escape games?

A: While inspired by real escape rooms, the films often feature traps and designs far more elaborate and dangerous than any real-world game.

Q: How realistic are the designs of the rooms in these movies?

A: While fictionalized for dramatic effect, the set design draws on real interior architecture principles to create immersive, believable spaces.