The Complete Viewing Order of the Riddick Movies

The Legacy of the Riddick Movies

The Riddick movie franchise was a major stepping stone in Vin Diesel's career, but without consistency in the titling of the three installments, their viewing order is not immediately clear. Starting in the year 2000 with the sci-fi/horror film Pitch Black, the series quickly found its star in the form of its antihero, Richard Riddick (Diesel), and the franchise continued with additional movies. Though the Riddick movies have received mixed critical reactions, the series gained a loyal fanbase and its films became cult classics in their own right.

Close-up of Vin Diesel as Riddick in Pitch Black

Even if the Riddick movies weren't critical darlings, there was enough interest to keep the franchise going, with 2013's Riddick boasting modest box office success, which was enough to greenlight a fourth film, the upcoming Riddick 4: Furya. Every Riddick movie has its own strengths, and the series has the uncanny ability to build a compelling world within the universe of the story. The extraneous media and short films helped to further flesh out that world-building, but the features are essential viewing. The Riddick movies can be enjoyed as standalone adventures, but they are best experienced in the order in which they were released.

Vin Diesel and Alexa Davalos in The Chronicles of Riddick (2004)

Pitch Black (2000)

The 2000 sleeper hit Pitch Black is set in the distant future and follows the passengers aboard the Hunter-Gratzner, which crash-lands on a mysterious planet with their only hope of survival coming from a notorious criminal named Riddick. Unlike the other Riddick movies' more action-oriented slant, Pitch Black plays up the horror elements of its plot for a moderately scary result. Though Diesel wasn't the original choice for Pitch Black's Riddick, he turned out a star-making performance only a year before 2001's The Fast and the Furious made him a household name.

Vin-Diesel-as-Richard-B-Riddick-in-Pitch-Black

The Riddick movie franchise kicked off in 2000 with the sci-fi/horror film Pitch Black. This sleeper hit introduced audiences to the antihero, Richard B. Riddick, played by Vin Diesel. The movie is set in the distant future and follows the passengers aboard the Hunter-Gratzner, which crash-lands on a mysterious planet with their only hope of survival coming from Riddick. Unlike the other Riddick movies' more action-oriented slant, Pitch Black plays up the horror elements of its plot for a moderately scary result.

Riddick uses his enhanced eyes in Pitch Black

The Chronicles Of Riddick (2004)

Hot on the heels of Pitch Black, 2004's The Chronicles of Riddick catches up with the titular criminal five years after the first movie and sees him take on the Necromongers, a race bent on destroying all human life in the galaxy. The sequel elevates the action, and by equal measure, ramps up the cheesiness for an appealing popcorn movie. Diesel got a chance to show off more of his action hero abilities, and the high-octane thriller introduced more of the universe within the Riddick movies. The Chronicles of Riddick grossed $115 million (via Box Office Mojo) but still fell short of expectations both critically and commercially.

Riddick crouched on the surface of a planet in Riddick

The second installment in the Riddick movie franchise significantly expands the lore of Vin Diesel's hero. Hot on the heels of Pitch Black, 2004's The Chronicles of Riddick catches up with the titular criminal five years after the first movie and sees him take on the Necromongers, a race bent on destroying all human life in the galaxy. The sequel elevates the action, and by equal measure, ramps up the cheesiness for an appealing popcorn movie. Diesel got a chance to show off more of his action hero abilities, and the high-octane thriller introduced more of the universe within the Riddick movies.

Riddick puts on his goggles in Riddick 2013

Riddick (2013)

After The Chronicles of Riddick found new life on DVD, it joined the ranks of some of the best Diesel movies and was eventually followed by 2013's Riddick. This installment centers on Riddick after he's left stranded on a desert planet with his only means of escape coming from a beacon that will summon his greatest enemies to kill him. After almost 10 years away from the role, Diesel returned as Riddick with absolutely no rust. Though Riddick was dismissed by critics as a generic action romp, it grossed almost $100 million (via Box Office Mojo) and ensured the Riddick movies would continue in the future.

Vin Diesel wearing glasses/goggles as Riddick in Pitch Black

Where Riddick 4: Furya Will Fit Into The Franchise's Chronology

The Riddick franchise is finally receiving another installment with the announcement that Riddick 4: Furya is in development. It’s been another 10 years since Diesel played Richard Riddick and this time, he’s returning to his homeworld, Furya following the events of Riddick. After having mentioned his harsh planet in previous films, this will be the first time Riddick has returned and by meeting people from his past, more light will be shed on his backstory.

Vin-Diesel-as-Riddick-and-Rhada-Mitchell-as-Carolyn-in-Pitch-Black

In the next Riddick movie, Vin Diesel's hero will also have to contend with a new enemy as he takes up the fight alongside his fellow Furyans. No release date has been announced but David Twohy, director of the previous three Riddick films, will return to the helm.