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How the five Fly movies connect
The five films commonly grouped under The Fly series were released in 1958, 1959, 1965, 1986, and 1989. The first three form one continuity: The Fly (1958), Return of the Fly (1959), and Curse of the Fly (1965). The later pair begins with a remake of the 1958 premise, not a continuation of its plot: The Fly (1986) is followed by The Fly II (1989).
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| Film | Year | Continuity |
|---|---|---|
| The Fly | 1958 | Original story; followed by the 1959 and 1965 films |
| Return of the Fly | 1959 | Sequel to the 1958 film |
| Curse of the Fly | 1965 | Third film in the original sequence |
| The Fly | 1986 | Remake of the 1958 film; followed by The Fly II |
| The Fly II | 1989 | Sequel to the 1986 film |
That division matters when choosing a watch order: follow release order within either trilogy, but do not expect the 1986 film to pick up the 1958 story.
The Fly movies, ranked
1. The Fly (1986)
David Cronenberg’s remake is the strongest film in the group because it makes transformation itself the central source of dread. The scientist’s experiment gone wrong is not merely a plot mechanism; the gradual change gives the horror a physical and emotional trajectory. The result is an unusually memorable fusion of science-fiction premise, body horror, and tragic character drama.
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- Factory sealed DVD
It also stands on its own: viewers do not need the 1958 film as backstory. 20th Century Studios lists the U.S. release date as August 15, 1986, the runtime as 1 hour 36 minutes, and the rating as R. The studio describes it as a remake in which “a young scientist transforms himself into a fly in an experiment gone horribly wrong.” 20th Century Studios’ official film listing.
2. The Fly (1958)
The original earns second place for the power of its core idea and its tragic science-fiction framing. Adapted from George Langelaan’s short story, it establishes the premise that later films revisit: a scientific experiment has consequences that cannot be neatly undone. Its importance is not only historical; the film’s central predicament remains compelling enough to support a very different remake decades later.
Rank #2
It ranks below the 1986 version here because the remake turns the transformation into a more sustained, visceral horror experience. That is a matter of emphasis, not a claim that the original is merely a rough draft: it is the starting point for the series’ first continuity and a complete film in its own right.
3. Return of the Fly (1959)
The first sequel has the clearest reason to exist within the original run: it follows the 1958 film directly. That continuity gives it a more immediate relationship to the original’s scientific disaster than the later sequels have to their own starting points. It is the natural next watch for anyone who wants to see the first story extended, although its sequel premise does not have the same impact as the original’s defining predicament.
Rank #3
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4. The Fly II (1989)
The Fly II continues the 1986 remake’s continuity, making it the right follow-up for viewers drawn to Cronenberg’s version. Its chief advantage is that direct connection: it explores consequences in the same story world rather than asking viewers to jump back to the 1958 series. It ranks below the first three because following a powerful transformation story is a difficult act to match, and the sequel’s value is primarily as an extension rather than a replacement for that film.
5. Curse of the Fly (1965)
The third entry in the original sequence is the least essential stop for a first-time viewer. It belongs after Return of the Fly if you are watching the original run, but the 1958 film and its first sequel provide the more direct route through that continuity. Its place in the ranking reflects its comparatively limited appeal as a continuation, not a claim that it is unrelated to the series.
Rank #4
What order should you watch them in?
For a complete series watch, use release order within the two continuities. If you only want to watch the strongest entry, start with The Fly (1986); if you want to see the original premise first, begin with The Fly (1958). The 1986 film works without seeing the original, while each sequel makes most sense after its own predecessor.
- The Fly (1958)
- Return of the Fly (1959)
- Curse of the Fly (1965)
- The Fly (1986)
- The Fly II (1989)
The 1958–1965 and 1986–1989 groups can also be watched independently. Switching between the original and remake does not create a shared chronological storyline.
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Is there a collection with all five films?
A Mondo Digital home-video review reported that Scream Factory’s late-2019 Blu-ray box gathered all five films. That is a historical release reference, not confirmation of current stock, price, or availability. Check the product listing and edition contents before buying.
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