There is nothing on TV quite like South Park. By satirizing current events with plenty of dark humor, vulgarity, and wit, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone produced something truly unique. With nearly three decades' worth of content, jumping into the series (or even revisiting it) can be a bit overwhelming, especially when considering South Park's many TV specials.
Thanks to South Park's dedication to capturing current affairs in animated fashion, the series works best in chronological order. Here's how to watch all South Park movies and TV shows in order, along with where to find them on streaming services like Paramount+.
How To Watch South Park In Chronological Order
Don't want to miss any callback jokes or worthy character arcs? Well, that means watching South Park while accounting for TV special interruptions and the series' one and only theatrical movie release. Keep scrolling for more details on each entry.
- South Park (Seasons 1-2)
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
- South Park (Seasons 3-24)
- "South Park: Post COVID"
- "South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID"
- South Park (Season 25)
- "South Park The Streaming Wars"
- South Park (Season 26)
- "South Park: Joining the Panderverse"
- "South Park (Not Suitable for Children)"
- "South Park: The End of Obesity"
South Park (1997)
If you want to watch South Park in order, you'll need to start where it all began. As a word of warning: There's a lot! First debuting in 1997, South Park has over 26 seasons of content and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite all the divisive childish hijinks and vulgar jokes, the series remains one of the greatest cartoons of all time. Even people who have never watched it know it and can probably parrot back the famous quote, "They killed Kenny!"
South Park always has something to say, and does it with a trademark sense of humor and bluntness that keeps audiences, especially those who love satire and absurdity, coming back for more. While South Park's early seasons largely contain standalone episodes, later seasons favor serialized stories. That's not to say casual viewers can't enjoy the show. However, all the running gags and arcs make it well worth a chronological viewing.
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
South Park's big theatrical movie came in 1999, just two years after the series debuted on Comedy Central. The film, aptly titled South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, entails the US launching a war against Canada after the Terrance and Phillip movie sparks a Satanic Panic-esque blowback against the country.
Just as wild as it seems, the movie was a hit among audiences hungry for "bigger" and "longer" South Park content. Grossing over $83 million at the box office, Bigger, Longer & Uncut reigned as the highest-grossing R-rated animated film until Sausage Party surpassed it in 2016. While those familiar with South Park's characters and humor are undoubtedly the target audience here, the movie works as a standalone entry for anyone looking to dip their toes into the expansive franchise.
South Park: Post COVID (2021)
There isn't a current affair South Park is afraid to touch, and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. After 24 standard seasons, "South Park: Post COVID" kicked off a string of TV specials for Paramount+. Set 40 years in the future, the series' debut special imagines a dystopian world where the COVID-19 pandemic is just coming to an end.
Filled with Blade Runner references and the expected dystopian tropes, "South Park: Post COVID" checks in with the adult versions of Cartman, Kyle, Stan, and Kenny. A lot of the special involves world-building, deeming it a necessary setup for anyone looking to follow the storyline into its sequel.
South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID (2021)
"South Park: Post COVID: The Return of COVID" picks up directly where "South Park: Post COVID" left off. Now, the adult versions of South Park's favorite friend group fall into a time-traveling heist to prevent the pandemic from ever happening. It's a little bit Avengers: Endgame and a little bit The Flash.
While those comparisons might appeal to Marvel and DC fans who like a good time-travel plot, "The Return of COVID" requires familiarity with the South Park universe and the events of its predecessor. Although not quite as well-received as South Park's later TV specials, both COVID stories add a healthy bit of commentary and humor to an uncertain time in world history.
South Park The Streaming Wars (2022)
"South Park The Streaming Wars" is the series' 318th episode and, chronologically speaking, best enjoyed after watching Season 25. Although the title suggests the two-part special might tackle the ongoing battle between streaming service platforms like Hulu and Netflix, it's actually about literal streams. In this case, the South Park boys become entangled in Randy Marsh and Steve Black's competitive cannabis farms and the plot to sell their excess water.
Of course, in true South Park fashion, the special aims to satirize for-profit public water supplies, pyramid schemes, and just general corporate greed, a plot point that continues in "South Park The Streaming Wars Part 2." As one of the franchise's best-received TV specials, this two-parter is a must-watch for fans who've been in love with the series for the long haul. Newcomers might get a little lost.
South Park: Joining the Panderverse (2023)
Officially, the 326th episode, "South Park: Joining the Panderverse," comes not long after "South Park The Streaming Wars." The special kicks off with Cartman's strange dreams of different lives, which are ultimately linked to the Panderstone, a powerful AI relic kept hidden in Disney's secret archives. That said, Disney bears the brunt of the jokes, with the special calling out the Marvel Cinematic Universe's tired multiverse trend and the "wokeness" and "tokenism" that frequently come with it.
Well received by both audiences and critics, "South Park: Joining the Panderverse" marks one of the series' most beloved TV specials to date. If you're an MCU fan, you'll find a lot to love and laugh at here. Just know—like most of the South Park specials—familiarity with the series makes the jokes hit that much harder.
South Park (Not Suitable for Children) (2023)
After "South Park: Joining the Panderverse," the series continues its TV special trend with "South Park (Not Suitable for Children)." This time, the show takes jabs at OnlyFans after the exposed OnlyFans of a South Park Elementary teacher prompts Randy to dive into the complex web of social media.
As usual, South Park does what it does best by delivering a special that is equally thought-provoking and timely. Unfortunately, OnlyFans controversies and workplace issues that occur as a result are an ongoing issue rarely covered by other series. Well-received by fans and critics, "South Park (Not Suitable for Children)" is well worth the watch for longtime fans of the show.
South Park: The End of Obesity (2024)
Capping off South Park's long string of TV specials is "South Park: The End of Obesity." As hinted at in the title, the episode centers around weight loss medications and US healthcare after Cartman's doctor denies him a potentially life-saving drug.
While still a success, "South Park: The End of Obesity" remains the weakest of the show's recent specials. Although some criticized the uptick in absurd humor, there's no denying South Park's talent for time-capsuling important societal trends and current affairs. If you're a true completionist, watch it. However, if you're going to skip any of the TV specials, "The End of Obesity" is a strong contender for those short on time.
