[REC] movies in order
[REC] Marathon

View [REC] movies in order

Page Last Modified:

26 November 2025

Most Recent Release:

[REC]⁴ Apocalypse - 2014

Total Runtime:

337 Minutes

Total Items:

4

Average User Score:

(6.3)

[REC] movies in order

Ready to plunge into one of the scariest found footage franchises ever? The [REC] films are a must-watch for fans of intense survival horror, viral outbreaks, and religious lore. But this marathon isn't just about watching the films in their release order. To truly experience the full nightmare, complete with all the twists, reveals, and iconic claustrophobic chaos, you need to watch them in chronological order. From a wedding gone wrong to a hellish cruise ship, this is your guide to the perfect [REC] movie marathon. Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and brace yourself. It's going to be messy, hectic, and delightfully Spanish.

337 Minutes 4 Movies
  1. 1
    [REC]³ Genesis Movie 80 min. 2012
    A pair of newlyweds must fight to survive when their wedding reception descends into chaos and carnage when their guests become infected by a virus that turns them into hungry zombies.
    USER SCORE 5
  2. 2
    [REC] Movie 78 min. 2007
    A television reporter and cameraman follow emergency workers into a dark apartment building and are quickly locked inside with something terrifying.
    USER SCORE 7
  3. 3
    [REC]² Movie 84 min. 2009
    The action continues from [REC], with the medical officer and a SWAT team outfitted with video cameras are sent into the sealed off apartment to control the situation.
    USER SCORE 7
  4. 4
    [REC]⁴ Apocalypse Movie 95 min. 2014
    Ángela Vidal, the young television reporter who entered the building with the firemen, manages to make it out alive. But what the soldiers don't know is that she carries the seed of the strange infection. She is to be taken to a provisional quarantine facility, a high-security installation where she will have to stay in isolation for several days. An old oil tanker, miles off shore and surrounded by water on all sides, has been especially equipped for the quarantine.
    USER SCORE 6

[REC]³: Genesis

We kick off not in the infamous Barcelona apartment building, but at a seemingly joyful wedding. Yes, [REC]³: Genesis is the starting point of your marathon and an unexpected beginning. This film breaks away from the handheld POV style of its predecessors and shifts to traditional camerawork. Don't underestimate it. Directed solo by Paco Plaza, it delivers a bizarre mix of love, blood, and chainsaws. Leticia Dolera shines as Clara, the bride you don't want to cross. The film runs parallel to the first [REC], offering crucial hints about the origins of the demonic possession horror in this world. And that dance number at the end? Iconic.

[REC]

Welcome back to the realm of found footage. [REC] is the heart of the franchise, directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza. It’s the reason people feared their stairwells after dark. The film follows TV reporter Ángela Vidal (the brilliant Manuela Velasco) and her cameraman Pablo Rosso as they film a night shift with the Barcelona fire department. What starts as routine quickly spirals into a nightmare of quarantine, viral outbreak horror, and demonic revelations that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last second. This is pure claustrophobic horror, wrapped in a brilliant handheld concept.

[REC]²

If [REC] opened the door to horror, then [REC]² kicks it off its hinges. Picking up directly from the first film, you dive back into the building with a SWAT team and a mysterious priest. This is where the REC franchise truly distinguishes itself, shifting from zombie infection outbreak to pure Catholic exorcism themes. The lore surrounding the Medeiros girl (played by Javier Botet, master of nightmare-inducing physical acting) gains momentum here. The POV style is used even more cleverly, with multiple cameras and perspectives weaving an intense web of chaos and religious horror. Prepare for more action, more gore, and more "Wait, what just happened?!" moments than you can handle.

[REC]⁴: Apocalypse

And then comes the finale. [REC]⁴: Apocalypse largely abandons the found footage style, except for a few clever nods, and takes the story to the open sea—specifically, a quarantine ship. Ángela Vidal returns, traumatized but alive and kicking, and from here it's a race against time. Director Jaume Balagueró returns solo to helm the film, closing the franchise with a mix of science, military tension, and dark infection lore. The tension remains palpable, but this time with a broader scope: less claustrophobia, more urgency to escape. The film also provides answers to questions simmering since the first movie, and while the setting is completely different, it feels like a fitting endpoint to the REC universe timeline.

Why This Order?

Watching the [REC] films in release order offers a great experience, but you risk losing the impact of some reveals and lore elements. By starting with [REC]³: Genesis, you get a glimpse into the origins of the virus/demonic evil and understand better how deep the problem runs. The transition to the found footage style in [REC] then feels like a natural escalation, and [REC]² builds directly on that with pure lore explosions. [REC]⁴: Apocalypse ties everything up neatly, with a sense of finality that you only truly feel if you've followed the chaos from the start.

Extras for the Die-Hards

Are you more than just a casual horror fan? There's more to explore in the REC expanded media universe. There are [REC] comics that delve deeper into the background of the Medeiros girl and the mysterious virus. Filmax has also released several short clips and behind-the-scenes material that provide more context to the events. And if you really want to know everything about the characters—from Ferran Terraza as Manu to Héctor Colomé as Captain Ortega—interviews, script fragments, and even Spanish fan forums are a treasure trove of trivia and theories.

Tips for Your Movie Night

The [REC] franchise is relatively short (four films, all under 90 minutes), so you can tackle this marathon in one evening. But trust us: you'll want to pause and catch your breath. Plan wisely. Don't start too late, have some comfort food ready, and keep an extra blanket handy (for comfort or to hide behind, we won't judge). And if you're inviting friends, make sure someone plays the "cameraman" to capture everything—just for the atmosphere. Trust us, it makes everything even more fun.

Final Binge Advice

The [REC] universe is a gem within Spanish horror cinema, full of surprises, depth, and chills that get under your skin. Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza have created a franchise that still influences found footage horror films worldwide. Whether you're here for the night vision finale everyone talks about or the demonic possession horror meets zombie outbreak vibes, your binge starts with [REC]³ and ends on the ship. And believe us, that's a journey you won't soon forget.