The Ghoulies franchise is one of horror’s most notable video store era series; which makes it worthwhile to watch the Ghoulies movies in order. The four film saga began life with two theatrical installments, Ghoulies (1985) and Ghoulies II (1988) both of which were instrumental to the popularity of Empire International Pictures. Unfortunately, the company eventually went bankrupt not long after the release of Ghoulies II. Producer Charles Band next launched Full Moon Features with Puppet Master to rebuild his brand. The rights to Ghoulies were then sold off after the second installment. As a result, Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1990) and Ghoulies IV (1994) were released under different companies. Now fans can view the below list to see how to watch the Ghoulies movies in order.
Interestingly, while the first two installments in the series were both released under Empire International Pictures, they don’t have a shared narrative. Fans could view either film on its own. While they seem to indicate the presence of a larger Ghoulies world, it isn’t until the fourth installment of the franchise that characters from the original are referenced. As such, there’s an episodic quality to the series, and we’ll break that down when discussing how to watch the Ghoulies movies in order.
Ghoulies Movies in Order (Release)
- Ghoulies (1985)
- Ghoulies II (1988)
- Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1990)
- Ghoulies IV (1994)
The above list for how to watch the Ghoulies movies in order organizes each franchise entry in release order. The titles appear to take place gradually over time, in which case, this also doubles as the chronological order. While that works, there is a different order for those interested in the original film’s continuity without the addition of unrelated stories. It is somewhat different stylistically, however. The original film was directed by Luca Bercovici and written by Bercovici and Jefery Levy. The fourth film, on the other hand, was directed by B-movie icon Jim Wynorski and written by Mark Sevi.
Ghoulies Movies in Order (Original Continuity)
- Ghoulies (1985)
- Ghoulies IV (1994)
If fans want to view the franchise as a whole, they can do so by watching all four original Ghoulies movies in order by release, though it might make things complicated if you want a consistent narrative. Fans can watch the original film and then follow it up with Ghoulies IV to get a complete story arc. The main narrative element in the first and fourth films is the inclusion of Peter Liapis as Jonathan Graves. A young sorcerer by blood in the original film, he later becomes a police detective in Ghoulies IV, one tracking down a new occult threat.
It’s worth noting that due to budgetary issues, however, Ghoulies IV doesn’t feature the same kind of puppets as the original. If fans want to experience the mini monsters as portrayed in the original, they’re best to stick with Ghoulies II as a follow-up. Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College also features puppets, but they are much larger in size and given dialogue to mimic “The Three Stooges.” It’s all proof of the franchise’s inconsistent lore. For fans of B-movies and cult classics, however, there’s plenty to love about the Ghoulies franchise.
Currently, there are plans to make a new film in the series, though nothing concrete has developed so far. A remake of sorts seems to be most likely. Though there are fans who would simply be happy to have Ghoulies V. Throw in some familiar puppets and a storyline that doesn’t even need to tie into the others, and you have a winning formula to revive this video store era franchise yet again. For now, fans can watch the Ghoulies movies in order, either by release or as the original continuity dictates.
