Those who read detective novels will know that Jesse Stone is the lead player in a long-running series of crime stories. The character – created by the late author, Robert B. Parker – made his debut in the 1997 novel, Night Passage, before reappearing in further tales by Parker, then by Michael Brandman, and finally by Reed Farrel Coleman.

But Stone isn’t just a character confined to novels – he has also appeared in a collection of TV movies, with Tom Selleck taking on the role of Stone.

But how many Jesse Stone movies are there and what is the best order to view them?

Let’s take a look…

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Jesse Stone movies in production order

Image: ©CBS

The Jesse Stone movie series began in 2005 with Stone Cold. The TV movie – which aired on CBS – told the story of a small-town police chief, investigating a murder.

When it aired, the movie proved to be a big hit for the network, so a follow-up was given the go-ahead. That follow-up arrived in 2006 in the shape of Night Passage.

A few months after Night Passage aired, a third film arrived on CBS under the title of Death in Paradise. A fourth film followed in 2007, with a fifth arriving in 2009, a sixth in 2010, a seventh in 2011, and an eighth in 2012.

After eight films – all with Selleck in the lead role – CBS called time on the series. But not because Jesse Stone had fallen out of favour with viewers, but because the network was moving its programming in a new direction.

Keen not to see a good run of films go to waste, Hallmark then picked up the Jess Stone series for a ninth entry. The movie – Lost in Paradise – aired in 2015.

If you wish to watch the Jesse Stone movies in production order, then follow this list:

  • Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)
  • Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
  • Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)
  • Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)
  • Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)
  • Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)
  • Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)

Is that everything?

Not quite.

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Jesse Stone in chronological order

Image: ©CBS

Although the Jesse Stone movie series largely plays out in chronological order, there is a slight timeline anomaly: Jesse Stone: Night Passage.

As noted above, Night Passage was the second movie to be released, but chronologically it is the first in the series. Therefore, if you wish to watch the Jesse Stone movies in timeline order, you should view them as follows:

  • Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Stone Cold (2005)
  • Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise (2006)
  • Jesse Stone: Sea Change (2007)
  • Jesse Stone: Thin Ice (2009)
  • Jesse Stone: No Remorse (2010)
  • Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost (2011)
  • Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt (2012)
  • Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise (2015)
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So, which is the best order to watch the Jesse Stone movies?

Image: ©CBS

In all honesty, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference if you watch the Jesse Stone series in production order or chronological order, but I would recommend you plump for chronological order. Night Passage details Stone’s move to the small town of Paradise, and works very well as the first entry in the series.

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If you are a fan of Jesse Stone (and who isn’t?), you might like to know that the entire movie collection is currently available to buy now on Region 1 DVD.

The nine-movie collection offers over 13 hours of detective stories featuring Tom Selleck and is ideal for those playing catch-up, as well as fans who want to revisit the movies at their convenience.

The Jesse Stone 9-Movie Collection is available to purchase on DVD from all good entertainment stores, including Amazon US.

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I hope this post on the Jesse Stone movie series has proved useful. If you’ve never watched a Jesse Stone film, then give the collection a whirl – they are a great run of TV movies, with Selleck on fine form throughout.

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