Saw X: A Turning Point for the Franchise
Saw X has managed to revitalize a franchise that seemed to be on a perpetual decline, earning rave reviews and marking a significant departure from its predecessors. This installment, released in 2023, could potentially be the last in the series, but its success has opened up discussions about the future of the Saw franchise. The franchise had been struggling to maintain its appeal, with the highest-grossing movie being Saw III in 2006. The series hit rock bottom with 2021’s Spiral, which managed to gross only $39 million worldwide.
The Return of John Kramer
Lionsgate, in a bid to revive the franchise, brought back Tobin Bell’s iconic character, John Kramer, aka the Jigsaw Killer, for Saw X. This move proved to be fruitful, as the 10th installment not only had a successful opening weekend at the box office but also received the best critic score on Rotten Tomatoes in the franchise’s history. Despite the declining interest leading to more irregular installments in the series, the success of Saw X has sparked hopes for a resurgence of the franchise.
The Finality and Possibilities of Saw X
Saw X was initially discussed as the concluding chapter of the franchise, with Director Kevin Greutert expressing uncertainty about the future direction of the Saw series. The film gave a sense of closure to John’s story, portraying him for the first time as the protagonist and even managing to redeem his character to some extent. However, the film also left several doors open for potential sequels, exploring new characters and story arcs, and even the mid-credits scene seemed to tease more to come, although it felt more like fan service than a setup for future movies.
Potential Directions for Saw 11
While Saw X seemed to bring a definitive end to the series, the possibility of Saw 11 still looms. The franchise has multiple directions it can explore, with several characters and story arcs introduced in previous films that could be expanded upon. A sequel could potentially focus on Carlos, introduced as a young boy in Saw X, who would be around 30 years old in 2023, tying the sequel closely to the critically acclaimed Saw X.
The Prospect of Prequels
Saw X, being the first proper prequel in the series, has demonstrated that the franchise can successfully delve into the backstory of its characters, providing a fresh perspective on the series. The film managed to be a self-contained story, allowing audiences unfamiliar with the previous movies to enjoy it without feeling lost. This opens up the possibility for Lionsgate to create more prequels, exploring the origins and motivations of its characters, even though it comes with the challenge of fitting them within the tight timeframe established by the older movies.
The Role of Box Office Performance in Shaping the Franchise’s Future
The future of the Saw franchise heavily relies on the box office performance of Saw X. Director Kevin Greutert has stated that the success of this installment could lead to more Saw movies. Given the low-budget nature of the franchise, Saw X only needs to make $25 million to break even, a figure it has already surpassed in its opening weekend. The positive reception and financial success of Saw X make the possibility of Saw 11 extremely likely, despite the supposed finality of the latest film.
The Saw franchise, after experiencing a period of decline, has found a new lease of life with Saw X. The film, while providing a sense of closure to John Kramer’s story, has also opened up numerous possibilities for the future of the series, be it through sequels or prequels. The box office success and critical acclaim of Saw X have revitalized interest in the franchise, and it seems likely that audiences will be seeing more of the gruesome, intricate world of Saw in the coming years, exploring new stories, characters, and the dark recesses of the human psyche.
