G.I. Joe is always changing to reflect the times. The brand has a firmly established place in pop culture, thanks to everything from action figures and play-sets to comics and a beloved animated TV series. As of now, G.I. Joe has successfully released three movies in the franchise, with a fourth one due to be released very soon. So, if you enjoy military sci-fi action movies which are filled with action, thrills, and adventures, the G.I. Joe films would be a perfect pick.
How Many G.I. Joe Movies Are There?
There are three G.I. Joe movies with one in the works, and they are G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and G.I Joe: Snake Eyes – a spin-off focused on the character Snake Eyes. There is also an upcoming movie; however, the release date for the fourth film, G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, has not yet been revealed.
Additionally, the franchise has revealed that there will be films that cross over with the hugely popular Transformers franchise. This does not come as a surprise because, in the 1980s, G.I. Joe co-ruled toy aisles with Masters of the Universe and My Little Pony. The popular series of action figures with a military theme was very successful during the decade and is still in demand today.
However, G.I. Joe hasn’t just delighted children and toy fans – the well-known brand has also given movie buffs endless hours of entertainment with a series of live-action and animated adventures.
How To Watch G.I. Joe Movies In Order
There are various ways to enjoy the G.I. Joe movies, but sorting them by release date is the quickest and best option. Even though Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins serves as a sort of a prequel by revealing the origin story of a character who has appeared in three of the four live-action G.I. Joe movies, it is still best appreciated following the first two installments in the franchise and the movies come in the following order:
1. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
- Release Year: 2009
- Director: Stephen Sommers
- Cast: Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
- Language: English
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Runtime: 118 minutes
In a high-stakes pursuit of Cobra, a ruthless international organization that is threatening to use technological advancement to the point where it would bring the entire world to the brink of extinction, the G.I. Joe team, armed with the most cutting-edge hi-tech tools and weapons, explores every corner of the globe, from the Egyptian desert up to the polar ice caps.
The movie is the first in the G.I. Joe series, which came out in 2009. It is based on the same-named Hasbro toy line, comic, and media property. Hasbro’s well-liked action figures, renowned for their realistic play styles and unique action elements, are the inspiration for G.I. Joe. More so, the most combat-ready character playing a thrilling action-adventure game of good vs. evil is G.I. Joe! and he did not hesitate to show off his skills in this movie.
Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Sienna Miller, and Marlon Wayans are among the cast members of the Stephen Sommers-helmed movie. Despite receiving mostly negative reviews from critics, it was a commercial success, earning up to $302 million globally.
2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
- Release year: 2013
- Director: Jon M. Chu
- Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum
- Language: English
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Runtime: 110 minutes
In this GI Joe movie, the most recognizable American heroes have returned, and they have been appointed to bear the cost of the crime they did not commit. On this adventurous expedition, Roadblock forms an entirely new group.
The terrorist group can accuse Cobra’s Joes of betraying the organization and even have them killed by an airstrike. In the movie, Cobra co-operative Zartan plays the role of the United States president. Cobra Commander gives Cobra access to their most advanced weapons and subjugates the world’s rulers. Along with the original G.I. Joe, General Joseph Colton, the remaining Joes devise a strategy to defeat Cobra Commander and his allies in a struggle for supremacy.
This follow-up to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra was published in 201, and like the first series, it is based on the same-named Hasbro toy line, comic, and media property. More so, some big names in Hollywood like Dwayne Johnson, Channing Tatum, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in this Jon M. Chu-directed movie. It eventually earned better reviews than its predecessor and brought in $375 million globally.
3. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
- Release Year: 2021
- Director: Robert Schwentke
- Starring: Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Úrsula Corberó
- Language: English
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Thriller
- Runtime: 121 minutes
The third movie in the G.I. Joe series, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, came out in 2021. It is based on the same-named Hasbro toy line, comic, and media property. The movie follows Snake Eyes, a G.I. Joe team member and ninja warrior, as he faces off against the terrorist group Cobra.
Discover the origins of Snake eyes (Henry Golding), the iconic G.I. JOE superhero, in this action-packed, exhilarating, and thrilling story based on the G.I. Joe characters from Hasbro. Snake Eyes joins the fight to exterminate Cobra after bringing their heir apparent, Storm Shadow (Andrew Koji), with them. More so, Snake eyes will become the best fighter after being pushed to the limit.
Even if it means losing everything he’s worked for, he will have to divulge his darkest secrets, putting his honesty and loyalty to his family to the test. Robert Schwentke is the director, and Henry Golding, Andrew Koji, Ursula Corberó, and Iko Uwais are among the cast members. It earned favorable reviews from most critics and made $155 million globally.
Recap of the G.I. Joe Movies
- G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra — August 7, 2009
- G.I. Joe: Retaliation — March 28, 2013
- Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins — July 23, 2021
- G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant — TBA
Will There Ever Be Another G.I. Joe Movie?
Production for t G.I. Joe: Ever Vigilant, which is the next movie in the series, is currently underway. Before Snake Eyes took over and received that date, the sequel was scheduled to arrive on March 27, 2020.
Unfortunately, the release of Snake Eyes, which was scheduled for October 23, 2020, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This, in turn, delayed the creation of Ever Vigilant; however, Lorenzo di Bonaventura disclosed that numerous sequel scripts are in the works sometime in May 2021, which has raised the hopes of followers of the series for the next movie to be released soon.
