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Watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies in release order. The franchise has eight released feature films as of August 2026: four live-action movies from 2010–2017 and four animated Disney+ movies from 2021–2025. The animated films are a separate rebooted adaptation line, so the 2021 movie is not a sequel to the 2017 film.
The correct order to watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies
Watch the eight released films in release order. Start with the four live-action movies, released from 2010 to 2017, then move to the four animated Disney+ films, released from 2021 to 2025:
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- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) — live action
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) — live action
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) — live action
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) — live action
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) — animated
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) — animated
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023) — animated
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025) — animated
This order preserves the franchise’s release history and makes the major transition from live action to animation easy to follow. The animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid is not a sequel to The Long Haul; it retells the first story in a separate animated adaptation line.
Every Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie in release order
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) — live action
The first film introduces Greg Heffley as he begins middle school and tries to improve his social standing while navigating his friendship with Rowley Jefferson, his family, and the notorious Cheese Touch. It is primarily an adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.
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The official 20th Century Studios release date for the U.S. was March 19, 2010. Zachary Gordon plays Greg Heffley in this original live-action series.
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) — live action
The second film focuses on Greg’s difficult relationship with his older brother, Rodrick. Their parents try to make the brothers spend time together, but Greg and Rodrick’s rivalry produces most of the film’s complications.
Rodrick Rules was released in the U.S. on March 25, 2011. It follows the first live-action film and retains its principal young cast. The movie is based primarily on Kinney’s second book, Rodrick Rules.
3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012) — live action
After seventh grade ends, Greg looks forward to an easy summer. His plans become complicated by his father’s expectations, family problems, and the challenge of keeping his summer from going badly.
The official U.S. release date was August 3, 2012. Although the title matches Kinney’s fourth book, the film is not a clean adaptation of that book alone: it combines material from The Last Straw and Dog Days.
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) — live action
In the fourth live-action movie, the Heffley family takes a road trip. Greg tries to pursue his own plans while dealing with the unpredictability of traveling with his parents and siblings.
The Long Haul was released in the U.S. on May 19, 2017 and adapts Kinney’s ninth book. It remains part of the live-action film line, but it uses a new cast for the Heffley children and parents. It is therefore noticeably different from the first three live-action films.
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5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) — animated
The 2021 animated film returns to the beginning of Greg’s story: middle school, Rowley, the Cheese Touch, and Greg’s attempts to become more popular. It is a new animated adaptation of the first book, not a fifth live-action installment.
Directed by Swinton Scott, the film began a new animated adaptation line for Disney+. Because its title is identical to the 2010 film, always identify it by its 2021 release year or by the word animated.
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022) — animated
The animated follow-up revisits Greg and Rodrick’s sibling conflict, including the weekend Greg is expected to spend with his older brother. It adapts Kinney’s second book.
This is not a continuation of the 2011 live-action movie starring the same actors. It is the animated version of the same source story, so the two films with this title should be distinguished as Rodrick Rules (2011, live action) and Rodrick Rules (2022, animated).
7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023) — animated
This holiday adventure adapts Kinney’s sixth book, Cabin Fever. Greg and his family become trapped at home during the Christmas season, with the pressure of the situation escalating as Greg worries about getting into trouble.
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8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025) — animated
The newest released film in the franchise is an animated adaptation of Kinney’s third book, The Last Straw. It is the fourth animated feature, but it is not the fourth movie in book-number order.
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Disney+ announced its premiere for December 5, 2025. The title belongs at the end of a movie marathon because release order is the clearest way to follow the animated film series.
Why the repeated titles can be confusing
There are two films titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid and two titled Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules:
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|---|---|---|---|
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | 2010 | Live action | The original live-action adaptation |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules | 2011 | Live action | The live-action sequel |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid | 2021 | Animated | A new animated adaptation of book one |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules | 2022 | Animated | A new animated adaptation of book two |
The 2021 movie does not continue the story from The Long Haul. Instead, it restarts the adaptation with animation, a different cast of voice performers, and a different visual approach. The 2022 film does the same with Rodrick Rules. Think of the animated films as a rebooted adaptation line rather than as sequels to the live-action movies.
Live-action movies only
If you want to watch only the original live-action series, use this four-film order:
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)
The first three films share the same principal young cast, including Zachary Gordon as Greg. The Long Haul is still part of this live-action group, but its recasting of the Heffley children and parents means that it feels less like a direct continuation of the earlier movies.
Animated Disney+ movies only
For the animated films, watch:
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever (2023)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (2025)
Do not rearrange these movies according to the numerical order of the books. The animated films adapt books one, two, six, and three, respectively. Their release order is the most practical viewing order and avoids treating the adaptation schedule as if it were a complete book-by-book chronology.
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Are the movies in the same continuity?
Not all eight movies form one uninterrupted continuity.
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- 2010–2012: The first three live-action films form the original live-action run and retain the same principal young cast.
- 2017: The Long Haul is another live-action adaptation, but it recasts the Heffley family and should not be treated as a bridge to the animated films.
- 2021–2025: The animated movies form a separate adaptation line that begins again with the first book’s story.
The repeated premises are intentional adaptations of the books, not unexplained plot resets. A viewer who watches all eight should expect some stories and characters to appear more than once in different versions.
Movie order compared with book order
| Movie | Main book adaptation | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) | Diary of a Wimpy Kid, book 1 | Primarily adapts the first book. |
| Rodrick Rules (2011) | Rodrick Rules, book 2 | Live-action version of the second book. |
| Dog Days (2012) | The Last Straw and Dog Days, books 3 and 4 | Combines material rather than adapting only book 4. |
| The Long Haul (2017) | The Long Haul, book 9 | Uses a new live-action cast. |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021) | Diary of a Wimpy Kid, book 1 | Animated reboot of the first adaptation. |
| Rodrick Rules (2022) | Rodrick Rules, book 2 | Animated reboot of the second adaptation. |
| Cabin Fever (2023) | Cabin Fever, book 6 | Animated holiday film. |
| The Last Straw (2025) | The Last Straw, book 3 | Fourth animated feature, but third-book adaptation. |
This is why movie release order and book-number order diverge. If you want to read along, use the adaptation map as a guide, but do not use it to reorder the films.
Where can you watch the movies?
Disney’s official franchise information identified the first seven films as streaming on Disney+ when its guide was revised in December 2025, and Disney+ lists The Last Straw as available on the service. The official Wimpy Kid movie information also identifies the animated titles as Disney+ releases or streaming titles.
Availability can change by country, subscription plan, and licensing period. The safest approach is to search Disney+ in your territory before starting the marathon rather than assuming that every title is permanently available worldwide. The U.S.-relevant availability confirmed in the research should not be presented as a guarantee for every country.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Want to read the books too?
The movies condense and combine material from Jeff Kinney’s books, so reading the source material is a useful companion to a film marathon. For a starting collection, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books 1–4 Hardcover Gift Set contains the first four books: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, The Last Straw, and Dog Days. It is a book collection, not a box set of the movies or a package that includes film licenses.
A separate Diary of a Wimpy Kid three-book collection with special Disney+ cover editions is aimed at fans of the animated releases and includes editions connected with Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, and Cabin Fever. Check the current contents and retailer availability before buying, since editions and stock can change.
Common watch-order mistakes
- Counting the 2021 animated film as a sequel to The Long Haul: It is a new adaptation of the first book.
- Combining the two films with the same title: Treat the 2010 and 2021 versions as separate movies.
- Assuming The Last Straw is the third animated movie: It is the fourth animated feature, released after Cabin Fever.
- Putting The Last Straw before Cabin Fever: That follows book numbers but not film release order.
- Calling Dog Days a strict adaptation of one book: The 2012 film combines material from The Last Straw and Dog Days.
- Buying a book box set expecting films: The researched boxed sets contain books, not DVDs or digital movie access.
Quick recommendation
For a first-time viewer, watch all eight films in release order: the four live-action movies from 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2017, followed by the four animated Disney+ films from 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025. That sequence gives the clearest view of how the franchise changed from a live-action series into a separate animated adaptation line.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order to watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies?
Watch the eight films in release order: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010), Rodrick Rules (2011), Dog Days (2012), The Long Haul (2017), the animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021), the animated Rodrick Rules (2022), Cabin Fever (2023), and The Last Straw (2025).
Is the 2021 animated movie a sequel to The Long Haul?
No. The 2021 animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid retells the first book’s story in a separate animated adaptation line. It is not a sequel to the 2017 live-action The Long Haul.
How many Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies are there?
There are eight released feature films as of August 2026: four live-action movies and four animated movies.
Are the animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies on Disney+?
The animated films are associated with Disney+, but catalog availability varies by territory and can change. Check the Disney+ catalog in your country before watching.
Why is The Last Straw not in third place among the animated movies?
No. The Last Straw (2025) is the fourth animated movie, but it adapts the third book. Cabin Fever (2023) adapts the sixth book and was released first.
The Bottom Line
Best overall order: watch the movies by release date, not by the order of the books. The 2010–2017 films are live action; the 2021–2025 films are animated adaptations that restart with the first two stories and then jump to Cabin Fever and The Last Straw.
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