How to watch
Breaking Bad Universe Watch Order in the correct order
How to watch the Breaking Bad universe in order, including Better Call Saul and El Camino
Last updated: April 15 2026
Written by: ChronoBob
The Breaking Bad universe is one of television's greatest achievements — a sprawling crime saga spanning two acclaimed series and a feature film. Whether you're meeting Walter White for the first time or exploring Jimmy McGill's origins, the watch order you choose will shape your entire understanding of this iconic world.
Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad debuted in 2008 and went on to be recognized as one of the greatest TV dramas ever made — the story of Walter White, a mild-mannered chemistry teacher turned ruthless drug kingpin. Its prequel companion series, Better Call Saul, dives deep into the transformation of con-man lawyer Jimmy McGill into the morally compromised Saul Goodman. Together with the Netflix film El Camino, these three interconnected stories form a richly layered universe where every character choice echoes across time.
🕐 Release Order
Release order is strongly recommended for first-time viewers — Better Call Saul was specifically designed to be experienced after Breaking Bad, with many of its emotional payoffs relying on foreknowledge of where the characters end up.
- Breaking Bad — Seasons 1–5 (2008–2013)
- Better Call Saul — Seasons 1–6 (2015–2022)
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
El Camino picks up immediately after Breaking Bad's finale and serves as an epilogue to Jesse Pinkman's story. It can be watched between Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul or after completing both series — either works, though watching it right after Breaking Bad is arguably more emotionally impactful.
📖 Story Chronology
Chronologically, Better Call Saul begins several years before Breaking Bad. However, it frequently jumps between timelines including a black-and-white 'Gene' storyline set after Breaking Bad. Watching in story order strips away the dramatic irony that makes Better Call Saul so powerful.
- Better Call Saul — Seasons 1–6 (2015–2022) — begins in the mid-2000s, years before BB
- Breaking Bad — Seasons 1–5 (2008–2013) — set 2008–2010
- El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) — set immediately after Breaking Bad's finale
Which Order Should You Choose?
Watch Breaking Bad first — always. It's not just the original series; it's the emotional anchor for the entire universe. Better Call Saul was made with the assumption that viewers know Walter White's fate and Jimmy McGill's eventual destiny, and that foreknowledge transforms every scene into something profoundly bittersweet. After finishing Breaking Bad, watch El Camino for immediate closure on Jesse's story, then dive into Better Call Saul for one of the finest prequel series ever made. Chronological order is a fascinating rewatch option, but it robs first-timers of the dramatic irony that makes the universe so extraordinary.
🔗 Related Guides
Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!