The After series has captured hearts around the world with its turbulent romance, emotionally charged drama, and the undeniable chemistry between its leads, Hardin and Tessa. Whether you love it or hate it, the franchise has become a pop culture phenomenon — and now, with the release of the fifth and final film, it’s officially time to revisit the entire story from the beginning. But with prequels, time jumps, and controversy surrounding the last installment, one question remains for both new viewers and returning fans: How do you watch the After movies in the right order?
Let’s take a look at how to watch all the After movies in order, why each one matters, and what makes that controversial fifth film a topic of passionate debate.
Start with the Original: After (2019)
This is where it all begins — the story of sweet, innocent Tessa Young and the brooding, tattooed Hardin Scott. When Tessa enters college, she’s focused, driven, and planning her life down to the letter. Hardin, on the other hand, is the walking contradiction of everything she thought she didn’t want. But from their very first encounter, there’s a pull between them that neither can resist.
After introduces us to the emotional rollercoaster that will define their relationship. It’s the classic “good girl meets bad boy” setup — but layered with trauma, secrets, and the discovery that love can both heal and destroy. Watching After first sets the tone for the entire series and helps viewers understand how deep their connection runs, even when it seems dangerously flawed.
Then Comes the Storm: After We Collided (2020)
If the first movie was about falling in love, the second is about falling apart. After We Collided plunges deeper into the messiness of Tessa and Hardin’s relationship. There’s more passion, more pain, and more emotional chaos than ever before. Betrayals come to light. Hearts are broken — not just once, but over and over again.
This installment leans into the toxic dynamic that has sparked so much conversation among fans and critics alike. And while it doesn’t shy away from showing the darker sides of their relationship, it also begins to explore whether true love can survive after the trust is shattered.
Watching this movie second is essential. It sets up the emotional cracks that will later shape their growth — individually and together.
The Turning Point: After We Fell (2021)
In After We Fell, the focus begins to shift from youthful chaos to emotional maturity — at least, in glimpses. Hardin and Tessa are no longer just lovers — they’re two people trying to figure out who they are in a world that’s constantly pulling them apart.
Family secrets, long-distance struggles, and career decisions force them to confront their future. Can they survive without losing themselves? Or have their scars grown too deep?
This movie marks a critical point in the series. It’s not just about surviving fights anymore. It’s about choosing whether to keep fighting for one another. If you’re emotionally invested by this point, After We Fell will test your heart in new ways.
The Fourth Chapter: After Ever Happy (2022)
Now comes the part where everything could either break — or finally heal. After Ever Happy brings the emotional weight of the previous films to a boiling point. Hardin is confronted with devastating truths about his past, while Tessa faces impossible choices about her future.
For the first time, both characters are forced to grow. Not just for each other — but for themselves. And that’s what makes this film so pivotal. It’s not just about love anymore. It’s about identity, redemption, and self-worth.
In many ways, this fourth installment feels like the true ending. It ties up emotional threads, leaves room for hope, and gives viewers the sense that maybe — just maybe — Hardin and Tessa can find peace. But then came a twist that no one expected: a fifth and final film.
The Controversial Goodbye: After Everything (2023)
Enter After Everything, the unexpected epilogue to a saga that many thought was over. This fifth and final movie caused a stir even before its release. Some fans were thrilled to see more of Hardin’s story. Others felt the series should have ended with After Ever Happy’s emotional resolution. And once After Everything premiered, the debates only grew louder. Set some time after the events of the fourth film, After Everything follows a very different Hardin — one who is now alone, trying to rebuild his life and make peace with his past mistakes. Tessa is distant, emotionally and geographically, and Hardin embarks on a soul-searching journey in Lisbon that leads him to confront someone from his past who holds the key to his healing.
There’s less romance in this chapter, and more introspection. It’s about forgiveness — of others and of oneself. And for some viewers, that shift felt jarring. But for others, it was the closure the series desperately needed: not fireworks, not dramatic declarations, but quiet growth. Watching this fifth movie last allows the full arc of Hardin’s character to land with its intended emotional impact. It’s a slower, more mature conclusion — and while not everyone agrees on its necessity, After Everything closes the door with grace.
The Proper Viewing Order
To experience the story as it was released — and to ride the emotional highs and lows in the intended way — here’s the best order to watch:
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After (2019)
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After We Collided (2020)
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After We Fell (2021)
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After Ever Happy (2022)
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After Everything (2023)
Note: There is also a prequel novel, Before, which tells Hardin’s story before he met Tessa. However, it has not been adapted into a film yet. If it ever is, it may change how fans view the beginning of their story entirely. The After series isn’t perfect. It’s messy. It’s dramatic. It stirs debate. But that’s also what makes it real for so many fans. Love doesn’t always come in perfect packages. Sometimes it comes with pain, with baggage, with learning — and healing. Whether you’re watching for the first time or revisiting the chaos all over again, one thing is clear: this is a story about what it means to love deeply, to break fully, and to grow — slowly, painfully, but beautifully.
