Timeline

This page is in regards to all the timelines of the franchise. For individual timelines, see below. For any timeline errors and inconsistencies, see Continuity Errors.

The current timeline of films (Note: it should be regarded as outliers that both Leatherface: TCM 3 (1990) and Next Generation (1995) each are different and inconsistent, much like the 1986 sequel, although their timeline takes place in the first, original, timeline (See Below)

Timeline refers to approximately four alternate timelines and the New Line Cinema reboot duo of films which surround the Sawyer family (renamed Hewitt in 2003-2006) and the attacks of Leatherface across the state of Texas, of which his attacks are referred to collectively as massacres (regardless if minimal victims). In the franchise, due to multiple rights issues and the films being redirected to other studios post-production, the finishing products films and its events are then changed and thus, timeline conflicts and continuity errors are transparent and inevitable.

In order to avoid this, the franchise has, as of 2022, 4 timelines (six, if counting timelines of 1990 and 1995 films) this is due to how the 1986, 1990, and 1995 sequels to the 1974 film are the most transparent in their changing continuities and connection to the original, more so the the latter two films of the 90s)

The First Timeline

This timeline (in regards to map shown on the right) would interconnect the 2017 prequel and connect overall the original 1974 film and its 1986 sequel, as well as both incoherent 1990 and 1995 sequels (due to the latter duo of films serving as soft reboots and misaligned; despite referencing in the timeline to the films and alluding it as aligned). As of now, this timeline, despite its misalignment, occurs within five films.

Prior to the 2017 film, it should be worth noted (regards to map on right) that the original timeline only consisted of the first two films in the franchise. This would make Leatherface and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 the outliers within the 1990 and 1995 films and their timelines, respectively omitted (See Right)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

1986 -

13 years after the infamous 1973 murders, Lefty Enright and Stretch put an end to the Sawyer family.

All American Massacre

TBA

It's supposed to be a prequel to both of the first two films (1974 and 1986), and have taken place in between and unless released, is considered withn the franchise to be non-canon.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990)

Late 1980s-1990 (approx.)

Due to this film being a soft reboot and the most incoherent of the sequels (before Next Generation), its timeline is refuted and unclear, but takes place sometime after both the 1974 film and its 1986 sequel, despite different themes in each.

The Leatherface III Timeline

Like the Generation timeline below, its worth noting that Leatherface (2017) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) are both films omitted in this timeline, despite the latter films being interconnected to the 1974 film, much like this film and the 1995 film (which, in the first timeline, is considered a sequel to Leatherface 3, despite the major differences in each; again, due to studio changes and rights being switched).

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 (1990)

Late 1980s-1990 (approx.)

Due to this film being a soft reboot and the most incoherent of the sequels (before Next Generation), its timeline is refuted and unclear, but takes place sometime after both the 1974 film and its 1986 sequel, despite different themes in each.

The Generation Timeline

It should be worth noting that the 2017 film and prequel to the 1974 film are disputed to take place in either this timeline or the Leatherface III timeline, as well as the 1986 sequel to the first film also omitted (despite the 2017 prequel to the 1974 film and the 1986 sequel to it being connected in the first timeline; technically, The Next Generation would become its own film but in the first timeline is a sequel to Leatherface 3 in 1990; each also having differences in theme and timeline due to studio changes)

The Reboot ("Remake") Timeline

The only separate timeline and alternate continuity of the 1974 film and its sequels (only being referenced and inspired by it, due to major characters renamed and are paralleled)

The 3D Timeline

Is the first timeline to attempt and make a trilogy, in the trend of requels, which would be succeeded more directly by the Requel Timeline and the release of Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022), which its separate of

The Requel Timeline

The most recent and fourth (sixth, technically) timeline, which according to the producer of the ninth film in the franchise, in regards to continuity, stated the following:

According to Fede Álvarez, the film does not explicitly erase the continuity of the previous sequels: "When movies do that, sometimes it feels a bit disrespectful to all the other films. Some people love Texas Chainsaw 2. I love a lot of things about that movie — it's so wacky and of its time. But the rest is such a mess canon-wise. I think it's up to you to decide when and how the events of the other movies happen."

It's worth noting this film will (in regards to timeline map above) only follow two films (similar to technically the actual and original timeline for the 1974 film and its 1986 timeline before 1990 and 1995 films)