The Bad Guys movies and shows in order combine DreamWorks Animation’s theatrical adventures with several animated prequels that expand the history of Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Shark, Mr. Piranha, and Ms. Tarantula. The Bad Guys begins the main movie storyline with the notorious crew attempting to avoid prison by pretending to reform, only for Wolf to discover that he may genuinely enjoy doing good. A Very Bad Holiday and Haunted Heist were released afterward but take place before that transformation, showing the gang during their earlier criminal years. The Bad Guys 2 continues the theatrical storyline after the crew’s reformation, while The Bad Guys: The Series goes even farther back and follows their attempts to establish themselves as an infamous criminal team. For first-time viewers, release order is the recommended watch order because it introduces the characters through the original movie before expanding their backstory.
The franchise is unusual because much of its television material functions as a prequel rather than a continuation of the films. The holiday and Halloween specials use a different voice cast but follow the same core versions of the Bad Guys before the events of the first movie, and the Netflix series continues that prequel approach by exploring the gang’s formative heists. Watching The Bad Guys movies and shows in order chronologically therefore changes the experience considerably, beginning with the crew before they become the feared criminals seen at the start of the 2022 film. Release order remains the stronger introduction because the prequel material assumes familiarity with the characters and their established personalities, while the theatrical films provide the franchise’s central character arc.
Release Order
Watching The Bad Guys movies and shows in order by release date begins with the 2022 theatrical film before expanding the franchise through animated prequel specials, the movie sequel, and the Netflix television series. This approach introduces the gang through their most important story first and then allows the earlier adventures to add context to their criminal history. The Bad Guys 2 continues the central movie storyline after the first film, while the later-released series returns to the crew’s earliest days. Release order is therefore the best choice for new viewers, with the qualifying titles arranged below from oldest to newest by original release date.
Chronological Order
The chronological order differs substantially from release order because the television series and both animated specials take place before the original movie. The Bad Guys: The Series reaches furthest back, following the crew as they build their reputation and attempt some of their earliest major crimes. A Very Bad Holiday and Haunted Heist also occur while the gang is still actively pursuing criminal schemes, before Wolf’s change of heart in The Bad Guys. The theatrical sequel then follows the first film’s reformation storyline. Chronological order provides a clearer character timeline, but release order remains preferable for first-time viewers because it establishes the gang before exploring their past.
