When Denis Villeneuve released Sicario in 2015, it redefined the modern crime thriller. Instead of offering clean heroics or tidy resolutions, the film plunged audiences into the brutal, morally grey underworld of the U.S.–Mexico drug war. It didn't just tell a story about cartels; it dissected how institutional violence corrupts everyone it touches.
Years later, the Sicario franchise remains a high-water mark for gritty filmmaking. Whether you're tracking the release order, examining how the films shift focus from institutional corruption to personal vengeance, or looking ahead to future installments, understanding this series requires looking past standard action tropes and examining its stark realism.
The Sicario Franchise Watch Order
The franchise consists of two released feature films, each offering a distinct directorial vision while maintaining narrative continuity.
- Sicario (2015): Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this first chapter follows idealistic FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) as she's recruited by CIA operative Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) and a shadowy, vengeance-driven operative named Alejandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro). The story exposes the horrifying compromises required to fight an enemy that plays by no rules.
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018): Directed by Stefano Sollima, this direct sequel strips away the procedural lens of the first movie. It focuses squarely on Graver and Alejandro as they spark a covert war between rival cartels by kidnapping a kingpin's daughter. The tone shifts from procedural tension to an unyielding action-drama centered on survival and shifting loyalties.
Chronologically, the watch order matches the release order. Watching them sequentially reveals a deliberate evolution in perspective, transitioning from an outsider's entry into a broken system to an intimate look at the operatives who inhabit it.
Why the First Film Reshaped the Modern Thriller
Villeneuve’s original film succeeded because it prioritized atmosphere and authenticity over generic shootouts. Roger Deakins' cinematography utilized stark lighting and sweeping aerial shots of the borderlands to emphasize isolation and dread. Meanwhile, Jóhann Jóhannsson’s thunderous, pulsing score signaled an encroaching, inescapable doom whenever the characters crossed into Mexico.
The narrative anchor was Emily Blunt's Kate Macer, who served as a proxy for the audience. She enters the operation believing constitutional boundaries and legal frameworks apply, only to realize she's being used as a constitutional loophole by intelligence agencies operating outside domestic law.
The Evolution of Key Characters
The core of the series relies on three performances that ground the geopolitical chaos in raw human psychology.
Alejandro Gillick
Played with chilling precision by Benicio del Toro, Alejandro evolves from a silent, terrifying weapon of retribution into a complex figure of tragic nuance. In the first film, his motivations are personal and vindictive, tied to the cartel murder of his family. In Day of the Soldado, his protective bond with the kidnapped teenager Isabel Reyes forces him to confront his own humanity, altering the trajectory of the narrative.
Matt Graver
Josh Brolin's portrayal of Matt Graver cuts through the typical Hollywood-agent archetype. Wearing flip-flops and an easygoing smirk while sanctioning extrajudicial executions, Graver represents the casual banality of state-sponsored violence. He doesn't hate the cartel; he views them as an administrative problem to be managed rather than eradicated.
Kate Macer
Though absent from the second film, Emily Blunt's Kate established the moral baseline of the universe. Her helplessness against bureaucratic and tactical manipulation illustrates the core thesis of the franchise: the war on drugs doesn't preserve the rule of law; it consumes it.
The Status of Sicario 3
Fans have spent years tracking updates regarding a third installment. Producers and cast members, including Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro, have repeatedly confirmed that development efforts have been underway. Creative teams have iterated on scripts to reunite the core figures, keeping anticipation high for how the universe will expand after the explosive conclusion of Day of the Soldado.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to watch the movies in order?
Yes. While Day of the Soldado functions as a self-contained operation focusing on Alejandro and Matt, watching the 2015 original first is essential to understanding the psychological weight and history driving these characters.
Is Emily Blunt in the second movie?
No. Emily Blunt's character, Kate Macer, does not appear in Sicario: Day of the Soldado. The sequel shifts its narrative entirely toward the black-ops exploits of Alejandro and Matt.
Who directed the Sicario films?
Denis Villeneuve directed the 2015 original, while Italian filmmaker Stefano Sollima directed the 2018 sequel, bringing a faster, more militaristic pace to the second chapter.
Are the cartels depicted in the movies real?
While the specific characters and operations are dramatized for film, they draw heavily from the real-world mechanics, tactics, and territorial violence associated with major Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating along the border.
