G.I. Joe Movies in Order – Here is How to Get About the Movie Series

The G.I. Joe movie series was built out of the famous G.I. Joe figurine. A common name in any American household, G.I. Joe exhibits a popularity seldom achieved. The movies, released across inconsistent intervals, did not sit quite right with the critics. However, the fans of the little soldier figure are always excited whenever a new G.I. Joe movie is released.

The movies are not released in a very systematic manner or follow a proper rhythm. Even though this is not something that disturbs the fans in any way, this does pose a difficulty. New fans often do not comprehend how to watch the movies. 

The main reason behind this is perhaps the fact that there is a prequel to the backstory of one of the most crucial characters which is placed somewhere in the middle of the chronology of the movies.

If you had not been there when the movies were released one by one, there are chances that you will find yourself completely lost. We understand that it is difficult to experience a movie or television series if you were to begin from the middle.

However, at times, the solution is simpler than it feels. If you are a new fan and are having difficulty understanding how and where to watch the G.I. Joe movies, then we might be able to help you out.

What is the Origin of the G.I. Joe Story?

The origin story behind the name and the idea of G.I. Joe is indeed interesting. Widely regarded as the first action figurine ever, G.I. Joe was the fruit of an idea that a Manhattan Licensing Agent named Stanley Weston had back in 1963. Weston developed basic prototypes of the figurine. He had also mastered the basic marketing essentials. The combination of this predicted that the small military action figurine would soon have a buzzing market for itself.

Weston went to Donal Levine after this, who was a Hasbro executive. Those were the times when the concept of “dolls” existed only for girls and the idea of action figurines was new in the market. Levine, of course, was very impressed. This led to Weston licensing this new concept to Hasbro completely. Levine, thereafter, wanted to make four action figurines. The idea behind this was that all of these four figurines were to hail from different branches of the military. 

In the end, Hasbro settled for a single name that would come to represent the entire line of the product. This name came to be G.I. Joe. The acronym G.I. is for nothing but Government Issued Joe. To date, “America’s movable fighting man” is a proudly owned and registered trademark of Hasbro and can be seen nicely displayed on all the boxed figurine packages. 

How many movies of G.I. Joe are there?

The G.I. Joe franchise is a pretty messed up space. There are a few short films, animated films, and then, of course, the live-action films. But, there is a possibility that a movie based on a crossover with the Transformers could also take place. As of now, three films have already been released and a fourth one is almost done with and only its release date is to be announced.

1. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
3. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)
4. G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant (TBA)

1. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)

Directed by Stephen Sommers, this is the first installment in the G.I. Joe movie series which was released in 2009. The movie series is based on the G.I. Joe comic book series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The movie stars Lee Byung-hun Sienna Miller, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Christopher Eccleston, Jonah Hill, and Channing Tatum in leading roles.

The film did pretty well at the box office with its fans celebrating the action-packed sequences in this American action sci-fi movie. Its thrilling action sequences acted out by characters are worth drooling over and work best for the film’s success. The film features some commendable special effects work and became an instant hit among action film lovers worldwide.

2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)

With little changes in the star cast the second instalment of the GI Joe movie series was released shortly after the first one. Actors such as Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis also joined the cast of the movie this time. G.I. Joe: Retaliation builds on the foundation set by its immediate predecessor.

The plot of the movie revolves around the G.I. Joes facing the challenge of dealing with a traitorous insurrection that has happened within their ranks. The ruthless cobra commander, a character that all the fans of the movie series are well acquainted with, plays a pivotal role in this particular movie. However, this particular movie gained mixed feedback from critics and fans alike. The common complaint against this movie is that many believe that it was heavily and more dependent on its visual effects than the actual storyline.

3. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (2021)

This particular movie took everyone by surprise. Even to passionate fans of the G.I. Joe tradition, this film looked a bit forced and a desperate attempt to re-live a glorifying past. Directed by Robert Schwentke and with a screenplay by an ensemble team of Joe Shrapnel, Anna Waterhouse, and Evan Spiliotopoulos, the movie had little to brag about the fact that it introduced Henry Golding.

According to long-time fans of the movie series and critics, the action sequences, the most important part of the G.I. Joe movie tradition, suffered immensely. The writing wasn’t that good and the screenplay and visual effects could have been better. The only thing the fan of the series liked was the performance of the actors which brought some appreciation to a G.I. Joe movie.  

4. G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant (TBA)

This could be listed as the 4th instalment in the G.I. Joe movie series. However, this movie has not been released yet but it has been declared that it is in development. The release date of the film will soon be announced. This is the final G.I. Joe reboot. Whether this reboot was required or not remains a question. However, fans of the movie series are expected to flock to the theatres either way.

Even though this particular film was planned to be the 3rd instalment of the movie series, it got pushed back. While it was initially decided that it would be released in 2016, the film has undergone quite a bit of shuffling. It is predicted that this movie will see a lot of growth, especially concerning Dwayne Johnson’s take on Roadblock. Many other cast members from the first two G.I. Joe movies are also rumoured to make a return in this film building quite a lot of anticipation surrounding the film.

Is there a G.I. Joe-Transformers crossover happening soon?

There has been news about over happening between the franchises of the Transformers and G.I. Joe. For a long time, this was under speculation but now it has been revealed that such a Hasbro cinematic universe is actually in the making. It is officially happening.

Fans would know that at the end of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts there was a direct reference to the G.I. Joes, seeking help from them. The movie revolves around Noah, who returns to Brooklyn, after the world has been saved, to look for a job. As fate would have it, he ends up in a mysterious government company that is run by Agent Burke.

It is revealed that Noah’s younger brother is suffering from sickle cell anaemia and he is promised by Burke that he would have access to the best medicinal help for his brother. Noah is then given a business card and a job offer for a security position at the company. The twist happens when Noah flips over the business card and sees the words “G.I. Joe” written on it.

This particular crossover movie could easily be the most nostalgic experience for any 80s kid. There is also news of an animated prequel happening whereby the origin stories of Megatron and Optimus Prime would be explored. While this seems like rather an ambitious project and looks a lot promising, there is a lot of speculation around how the movie would fare.

How and where to watch the G.I. Joe movies?

Despite its passionate fan base, a consistent problem for a new fan to start watching the movie series remains. There is a particular instalment in the movie series that deals with the backstory of a character from the G.I. Joe universe but it occurs very abruptly. Technically, it should be treated as a prequel, it is best to watch it after the first 2 movies. The safest way to watch the movie series to get the total essence of the series is to follow the release dates.