Few film franchises have defined 21st-century action quite like the Bourne series — but the quality gap between entries is wider than most fans realize, with critical reception varying by nearly 40 percentage points on the Tomatometer. This guide ranks every Bourne movie by Rotten Tomatoes scores, lays out the correct viewing order, and examines why Matt Damon stepped away and whether he might return.
Movies in franchise: 5 (plus one TV film) ·
Years active: 2002 – present ·
Top rated (Rotten Tomatoes): The Bourne Ultimatum (92%) ·
Lowest rated: Jason Bourne (55%) ·
Box office total: $1.6 billion (5 films)
| Film | Tomatometer | Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Bourne Ultimatum | 92% | 90% |
| The Bourne Identity | 84% | 74% |
| The Bourne Supremacy | 82% | 80% |
| The Bourne Legacy | 56% | 57% |
| Jason Bourne | 55% | 61% |
Quick snapshot
- Five theatrical Bourne films exist as of 2025 (Rotten Tomatoes (film database))
- Matt Damon played Jason Bourne in four films (Rotten Tomatoes (celebrity credits))
- Highest Tomatometer score: 92% for The Bourne Ultimatum (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (franchise guide))
- Whether Jason Bourne 6 will be produced and if Matt Damon will reprise the role (Entertainment Weekly (Damon interview, 2023))
- Release date for a future Bourne project (Universal Pictures (no franchise listing update))
- Whether Paul Greengrass would return to direct (Los Angeles Times (film industry coverage))
- 2002: The Bourne Identity launched the franchise (Rotten Tomatoes – The Bourne Identity)
- 2016: Jason Bourne was the most recent entry (Rotten Tomatoes – Jason Bourne)
- No official confirmation for a sixth film as of 2025 (Universal Pictures (no franchise listing update))
- Damon says a new project is in development but not greenlit (Entertainment Weekly (Damon interview, 2023))
The franchise’s box office and critical peaks converge on a single film.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| First film | The Bourne Identity (June 14, 2002) |
| Most recent film | Jason Bourne (July 29, 2016) |
| Box office leader | The Bourne Ultimatum ($442.8 million) |
| Rotten Tomatoes high | The Bourne Ultimatum (92%) |
| Rotten Tomatoes low | The Bourne Legacy / Jason Bourne (55%) |
What are the 5 Bourne movies in order?
Chronological release order vs. in-universe timeline
The five Bourne films follow a single chronological narrative — each sequel picks up where the previous left off. The in-universe timeline matches the release order, so there is no confusion about where to start.
- The Bourne Identity (2002) — directed by Doug Liman, introduces Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) as an amnesiac pulled from the Mediterranean Sea. Grossed $214 million worldwide (Rotten Tomatoes – The Bourne Identity).
- The Bourne Supremacy (2004) — directed by Paul Greengrass, raises stakes as Bourne is framed for a CIA operation gone wrong.
- The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) — Greengrass returns; Bourne uncovers the full truth behind Project Treadstone.
- The Bourne Legacy (2012) — directed by Tony Gilroy, follows Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), a different operative from a parallel program, while Bourne is offscreen.
- Jason Bourne (2016) — Damon and Greengrass reunite; Bourne surfaces from hiding to confront a new threat.
Where does The Bourne Legacy fit?
The Bourne Legacy runs concurrently with the events of The Bourne Ultimatum. It does not feature Matt Damon and instead expands the universe by showing what other intelligence programs were active during Bourne’s story. The film holds a 56% Tomatometer score (Rotten Tomatoes (critical consensus page)).
The pattern: the first three films form a tight narrative arc, while the two later films feel like separate chapters — one without its lead actor, one a belated reunion.
All Bourne Movies Ranked by Tomatometer – Rotten Tomatoes
Top-rated Bourne film based on critic scores
The Bourne Ultimatum leads the franchise with a 92% Tomatometer score and a Metacritic score of 85 (Metacritic (aggregated critic reviews)). Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus calls it “an intelligent, finely tuned non-stop thrill ride” (Rotten Tomatoes – The Bourne Ultimatum). The film won three Academy Awards — Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.
Lowest-rated Bourne film
Jason Bourne (2016) and The Bourne Legacy (2012) tie for lowest at 55% and 56%, respectively. Rotten Tomatoes describes Jason Bourne as “delivering more of what franchise fans expect, which is both its selling point and its flaw” (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (review analysis)).
Film: Tomatometer · Audience Score: difference
The Bourne Ultimatum: 92% · 90%
The Bourne Identity: 84% · 74%
The Bourne Supremacy: 82% · 80%
The Bourne Legacy: 56% · 57%
Jason Bourne: 55% · 61%
The trade-off: the two lowest-scoring films also have the narrowest gap between critics and audience, suggesting they satisfied existing fans even as critics found them routine.
Why did Matt Damon stop playing Jason Bourne?
Matt Damon’s stated reasons for leaving the role
After The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Damon stepped away from the franchise. He publicly stated he would not return without director Paul Greengrass — the filmmaker who defined the series’ signature handheld-camera style (Los Angeles Times (film industry coverage)). Damon also cited franchise fatigue, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2016 that he felt the story had run its course and he wanted to explore other roles.
Damon’s departure wasn’t a falling-out — it was a condition. He made the creative choice to tie his return to Greengrass’s availability, and when they reunited, the result was commercially successful but critically lukewarm.
Return for Jason Bourne (2016)
Damon returned for a fourth outing in 2016 after Greengrass agreed to direct. The actor explained that the political climate — specifically surveillance and privacy concerns — offered a fresh angle worth exploring (BBC News (entertainment reporting)). The film grossed $415.6 million worldwide but received a modest 55% Tomatometer score (Box Office Mojo (earnings data)).
Is Jason Bourne 6 confirmed?
Official announcements from Universal Pictures
As of 2025, Universal Pictures has not announced a sixth Bourne film. No release date, no director, and no casting have been confirmed. The studio’s official franchise page lists only the five existing films (Universal Pictures (film catalog)).
Matt Damon’s stance on a sixth film
In 2023, Matt Damon told Entertainment Weekly that a new Bourne project is “in development” but not yet greenlit. The actor expressed openness to returning, though he emphasized the need for a strong script and Greengrass’s involvement (Entertainment Weekly (Damon interview, 2023)). No further updates have emerged since that interview.
The catch: the franchise is in a holding pattern. Universal has the rights, Damon is willing, but no concrete deal exists.
What is considered the best Bourne film?
Critical consensus vs. audience polls
Critics overwhelmingly favor The Bourne Ultimatum (92% Tomatometer, 85 Metacritic, three Oscars). Audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes are nearly as high at 90%, making it the rare franchise entry that pleases both camps equally (Rotten Tomatoes – The Bourne Ultimatum).
The Bourne Ultimatum isn’t just the best-reviewed — it’s the only film in the series that saw a creative team (Damon, Greengrass, screenwriter Tony Gilroy) peak at the same moment. Each subsequent film lost at least one of those three key contributors, and the scores dropped accordingly.
Why The Bourne Ultimatum is often ranked highest
The film’s action sequences — particularly the Waterloo Station chase and the Tangier rooftop pursuit — are widely cited as genre benchmarks. Critics also praised the tighter script, which resolves Bourne’s amnesia arc without dragging the story into unnecessary sequels. The Academy recognized the technical achievement with three Oscars, the only Bourne film to win any (Academy Awards (2008 ceremony results)).
Does Matt Damon appear in Jason Bourne 6?
Damon’s involvement in potential future films
Matt Damon has expressed openness to returning for a sixth film but has not committed to any project. No casting has been confirmed for any potential future entry (Entertainment Weekly (Damon interview, 2023)). The actor’s standard condition — Greengrass as director — remains a key obstacle. Without both of them, a Damon-less reboot (similar to The Bourne Legacy) seems the likelier path.
For fans waiting for a definitive answer, the implication is clear: Jason Bourne 6 is not a question of if, but under which conditions.
Bourne franchise timeline
- 2002 — The Bourne Identity released, grossing $214 million (Box Office Mojo (earnings data))
- 2004 — The Bourne Supremacy premieres, establishes franchise formula
- 2007 — The Bourne Ultimatum wins three Oscars, highest critical acclaim
- 2012 — The Bourne Legacy with Jeremy Renner, no Matt Damon
- 2016 — Matt Damon returns in Jason Bourne
- 2023 — Matt Damon reveals a new Bourne project is in development
- 2025 — No official announcement for Jason Bourne 6
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Five theatrical Bourne films exist as of 2025 (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (franchise guide))
- Matt Damon played Jason Bourne in four films (Rotten Tomatoes (celebrity credits))
- The Bourne Ultimatum holds the franchise’s highest Rotten Tomatoes score (92%) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (franchise guide))
- Paul Greengrass directed all three top-rated entries (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (franchise guide))
What’s unclear
- Whether Jason Bourne 6 will be produced (Universal Pictures (no franchise listing update))
- If Matt Damon will reprise the role (Entertainment Weekly (Damon interview, 2023))
- Release date for a future Bourne project (Universal Pictures (film catalog))
- Whether Paul Greengrass would return to direct (Los Angeles Times (film interview, 2016))
Key voices on the franchise
“The Bourne Ultimatum is an intelligent, finely tuned non-stop thrill ride.”
— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus (Rotten Tomatoes (critics consensus))
“I wasn’t interested in doing a Bourne movie without Paul Greengrass. He is the reason those films work.”
— Matt Damon, speaking to Los Angeles Times (film interview, 2016)
“Jason Bourne delivers more of what franchise fans expect, which is both its selling point and its flaw.”
— Rotten Tomatoes editorial analysis (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (franchise review))
The franchise’s trajectory tells a story of creative interdependence: the three-film peak required Damon, Greengrass, and a tight script coming together. When one element dropped out, the Tomatometer scores dropped by roughly 30 points. For Universal Pictures, the challenge is recreating that alignment without repeating the formula. For fans, the decision to revisit Bourne depends on whether the studio can match the original trilogy’s precision — or whether they settle for more of what the last two films offered. For Matt Damon, the key remains Greengrass’s involvement.
For more on iconic character guides, check out our Katniss Everdeen guide and Alan Partridge guide.
How many Bourne movies are there?
Five theatrical Bourne films have been released: The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Bourne Legacy (2012), and Jason Bourne (2016).
Are all Bourne movies connected?
Yes, all five films share a continuous timeline. The Bourne Legacy runs concurrently with The Bourne Ultimatum, focusing on a different character in the same universe.
Which Bourne movie is the longest?
Jason Bourne (2016) runs 2 hours 3 minutes, the longest in the franchise.
Who plays Jason Bourne?
Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne in four films. Jeremy Renner plays a different character, Aaron Cross, in The Bourne Legacy.
What is the best order to watch Bourne movies?
Watch in release order: The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), The Bourne Legacy (2012), Jason Bourne (2016).
Do I need to watch Bourne movies in order?
Yes, each film builds on the previous one. Watching out of order would spoil key plot points from earlier entries.
Why is The Bourne Ultimatum rated so high?
It holds a 92% Tomatometer score, won three Academy Awards, and is praised for its tight script, innovative action sequences, and satisfying conclusion to Bourne’s amnesia arc.
rottentomatoes.com, static.rottentomatoes.com, rottentomatoes.com, yahoo.com, saostar.vn, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com, cbr.com, ozbriefly.org
For a detailed breakdown of each installment, check out this complete guide to the Bourne films that covers release dates and plot summaries.
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Craig Newton is Senior Reporter at ScopePress.uk, covering breaking technology news and consumer tech stories across the UK.