The ‘Alex Cross’ movies are based on the fictional character Alex Cross, a detective and psychologist created by author James Patterson. The character is known for solving complex crimes and investigating serial killers. Morgan Freeman brilliantly portrayed the character in the first two adaptations, and then Tyler Perry took over in the last installment. Currently, the franchise consists of three movies, with more on the way, and today, we’re going to tell you how to watch them in order.
Editor’s Note: This watch order was updated in November 2023 with the latest news regarding the franchise.
All 3 ‘Alex Cross’ movies in release date order
The first movie in the ‘Alex Cross’ franchise was released back in 1997, and it’s been a mixed bag of reviews. Morgan Freeman was praised naturally, but one of the most criticized aspects of the movie was the fact that it deviated so much from the source material, which was needless considering that there are plenty of stories to draw inspiration from. Nevertheless, the movie eventually gathered a cult following, and a whole mini-franchise was born. Here are all ‘Alex Cross’ movies in release date order:
- ‘Kiss the Girls’ (1997)
- ‘Along Came a Spider’ (2001)
- ‘Alex Cross’ (2012)
Are all ‘Alex Cross’ movies connected? What’s the best way to watch them?
The Alex Cross movies are loosely connected through the central character, all movies so far can be considered to be standalone adaptations rather than a cohesive movie series with a continuous storyline. Each film adapted a different Patterson’s novel, and the 2012 movie completely rebooted the loose continuity that was established in the first two movies. Based on that, it’s probably best if you watch the movies in release date order.
All ‘Alex Cross’ movies in chronological order
As we’ve mentioned before, technically, two movies are set within the same time period ‘Kiss the Girls’ and ‘Alex Cross’ played by Tyler Perry, since the latter is a reboot of the “universe.”
1. ‘Kiss the Girls’ (1997)
The first movie in the franchise was based on ‘Kiss the Girls’ novel. Washington, D.C. detective Alex Cross investigates the disappearance of his niece and other young women in Durham, North Carolina. The case leads him to a sad*stic kidnapper known as Casanova, who keeps women captive in a remote location. Teaming up with survivor Kate McTiernan, Cross endeavors to rescue the imprisoned women before they face dire consequences, realizing the importance of adhering to the captor’s rules to buy time for their rescue mission.
2. ‘Along Came a Spider’ (2001)
The second movie in the franchise was based on the novel ‘Along Came a Spider.’ Retired detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross is drawn back into action when the daughter of a U.S. senator, Megan Rose, is kidnapped by Gary Soneji. Teaming up with Secret Service Special Agent Jezzie Flannigan, who is blamed for the security lapse, Cross works to track down Soneji and rescue Megan. As Soneji emulates the infamous Lindbergh kidnapping, Cross is driven by the urgency to bring the kidnapper to justice and save Megan, realizing the eerie parallels to his own expertise in true crime writing.
3. ‘Alex Cross’ (2012)
The third movie was based on the novel ‘Cross.’ Police lieutenant and psychologist Dr. Alex Cross is compelled to investigate the murder of Yau in Detroit, leading him to a mysterious serial killer known as the Tiger. As Cross delves into the case, he discovers the Tiger’s ambitious plans to dominate organized crime worldwide and realizes that his family, especially his pregnant wife Maria, is at risk. Balancing his commitment to justice and love for his family, Cross accepts an FBI offer to become a profiler in Washington, D.C., aiming to protect Maria and thwart the Tiger’s deadly schemes, setting the stage for a high-stakes race against time.
Where to watch the above-mentioned movies?
‘Kiss the Girls’ can be streamed on Fubo, MGM+, Paramount+ and DirecTV. ‘Along Came a Spider’ can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, Fubo, MGM+, and Paramount+, while the last movie, ‘Alex Cross’, can only be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Will there be more ‘Alex Cross’ movies?
There won’t be any further ‘Alex Cross’ movies due to the poor performance of 2012, but we do know that a series is in development. Amazon Prime Video has ordered a television adaptation of James Patterson’s series. The series will follow detective and forensic psychologist Alex Cross, portrayed by Aldis Hodge, as he tackles cases while coping with the murder of his wife and managing his relationship with his children.
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