The Bourne film franchise is a series of action thriller films based on the character Jason Bourne, a CIA assassin who suffers from amnesia.

The franchise began with the release of “The Bourne Identity” in 2002, followed by “The Bourne Supremacy” in 2004, then “The Bourne Ultimatum” in 2007, and “The Bourne Legacy” in 2012. In 2016, a fifth installment, titled Jason Bourne, was released.

The films were highly praised for their direction, acting, storylines, and action sequences. The first film in the franchise was directed by Doug Liman, while Tony Gilroy helmed the fourth, and Paul Greengrass directed the remaining films in the Bourne series.

Matt Damon portrayed Jason Bourne in four of the movies listed below.

  • “The Bourne Identity” was met with critical acclaim and grossed over $214 million worldwide.
  • “The Bourne Supremacy” was also well-received by critics and was a commercial success, grossing over $290 million worldwide.
  • “The Bourne Ultimatum” garnered even more praise from critics and audiences alike and earned over $445 million at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise.
  • “The Bourne Legacy,” released in 2012, featured Jeremy Renner in the lead role and earned over $276 million at the worldwide box office.
  • “Jason Bourne” was released in 2016, starred Matt Damon again as the titular character, and grossed over $415 million at the worldwide box office. 

The Bourne film franchise is one of the most successful action franchises and has grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide.

If you’re a fan of action-packed thrillers or the actor Matt Damon, then the Bourne films are definitely for you. So, without further ado, here are the Jason Bourne movies in order:

The Bourne Movies in Chronological Order

The Bourne series has a solid timeline, and most initiatives are positioned according to their release dates. That said, some of the flashbacks from earlier Bourne movies are placed in a different chronological order than their release dates.

  1. The Bourne Identity (2002)
  2. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
  3. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
  4. The Bourne Legacy (2012)
  5. Jason Bourne (2016)

The Bourne Identity (2002)

“The Bourne Identity” is a 2002 American action spy thriller film directed by Doug Liman and co-produced by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron.

The film stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, suffering from psychogenic amnesia and attempting to discover his identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the CIA.

The film is based on Robert Ludlum’s novel of the same name and was adapted for the screen by Gilroy, Herron, and Brian Helgeland. “The Bourne Identity” was released in the United States on June 14, 2002.

The film received positive reviews from critics upon its release and grossed over $214 million worldwide. The first in the franchise “The Bourne Identity” also stars Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, and Julia Stiles.

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

“The Bourne Supremacy” begins with Bourne (Matt Damon) and his girlfriend Marie Kreutz (Potente) living in Goa, India. Bourne still suffers from amnesia and records flashbacks about his life as a CIA assassin in a notebook.

He later finds out that CIA agent John Nevins (Cox) got killed, and his fingerprint was found at the crime scene, leading the CIA to believe that Bourne is responsible for Nevins’ death. 

Bourne then goes on the run again to try to clear his name but eventually comes into contact with Pamela Landy (Allen), a CIA agent investigating him. Landy tells Bourne that the CIA wants to bring him in for questioning.

However, Bourne believes that the CIA is trying to kill him. “The Bourne Supremacy” was released in theaters on July 23, 2004, grossed over $290 million worldwide and is the second installment in the list of Jason Bourne movies.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

“The Bourne Ultimatum” is the third installment in the Jason Bourne film series. The film stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, is directed by Paul Greengrass, and written by Tony Gilroy.

“The Bourne Ultimatum” began production in 2006, filming in London, Madrid, Tangier, and New York City. The movie’s opening scene was shot on Trafalgar Square in London.

The final chase scene through Tangier was shot on location; however, most of the tangier sequences were filmed in the studio. In addition to Damon, the film also stars Joan Allen, Julia Stiles, Scott Glenn, and Paddy Considine as Simon Ross. 

“The Bourne Ultimatum” was released in theaters on August 3, 2007, and grossed over $444 million worldwide. The film was met with excellent reviews and was named one of the top ten films of 2007 by the National Board of Review.

It received all three of its Oscars at the 80th Academy Awards: Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing, winning all three categories.

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Aaron Cross, played by Jeremy Renner, is the central character in “The Bourne Legacy.” He is a trained operative who works for a black ops sub-division of the CIA. After the events of the third film, Bourne’s actions have exposed the illegal activities of this division, and they are all targeted for termination.

Aaron Cross is one of the few agents who survives, and he must go on the run to find out why he has been targeted and clear his name. Along the way, he meets up with scientist Dr. Marta Shearing, played by Rachel Weisz, who helps him to understand his past and why he has been chosen for this mission.

On the other hand, Matt Damon chose not to reprise his role in “The Bourne Legacy” because Paul Greengrass was not directing. However, “The Bourne Legacy” is an exciting addition to the Bourne series that will keep fans riveted from beginning to end.

Jason Bourne (2016)

“Jason Bourne” is the last film in the series; the film stars Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles (Nicky Parsons), Vincent Cassel, Riz Ahmed, Ato Essandoh, and Scott Shepherd.

CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) orders the head of cyber-security Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander), to hunt down Jason Bourne, who remains on the run from CIA hit squads as he tries to uncover hidden truths about his father.

Meanwhile, Jason Bourne tries to piece together his fragmented memories of his past. The film intercuts present-day sequences set in Greece, England, and Las Vegas and flashbacks to when CIA operative Treadstone trained Bourne.

Aaron Cross, a CIA asset from “The Bourne Legacy” (2012), does not appear in the film because director Greengrass wanted to focus on the main character. Renner was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts.

“Jason Bourne” received mixed reviews from critics. Although some praised Damon’s return and the film’s action sequences, others felt that it failed to live up to the previous films’ standards. Regardless of its critical reception, “Jason Bourne” was a commercial success, grossing over $415 million worldwide.

FAQs About the Jason Bourne Series

Do You Need to Watch Bourne Movies in Order?

No, you don’t have to. However, if you want to gain a better understanding of the characters and the story, it is recommended that you watch the Jason Bourne movies in order of their release date.

Will There Be More Bourne Movies?

No, unfortunately, the series was canceled in 2019, depriving us of any potential setup for the sixth Bourne film.

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