How to watch the Sex and the City movies and TV shows in order

By Alex Wiggan

In 1998, entertainment network, HBO aired Sex and the City. The series – based on the novel of the same name by author and journalist, Candace Bushnell – told the story of four friends who live in New York City and regularly meet up to discuss the trials and tribulations of their romantic relationships.

Sarah Jessica Parker took on the lead role of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, while Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon co-stared as Carrie’s friends, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes, respectively. Each character was very different to the next, and each added something fun and quirky to the show.

Thanks to a great mix of characters, as well as some sharp writing, the first season of Sex and the City was a huge hit with viewers. This soon led to more seasons, as well as movies, a prequel show, and a sequel series.

But if you’re new to Sex and the City, how do you navigate your way around the timeline? What do you watch, when do you watch it, and how do you keep track of the antics of Carrie and Co.?

Well, you begin by reading this post! Below you will discover all the information you require, to ensure you can watch Sex and the City in chronological order, without missing a single minute.

Read on for details…

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Explaining the Sex and the City order

Although Sex and the City might seem like a fairly simple show to follow, it is a little more complex than it first appears. This is because, as mentioned above, in addition to the original television series, the Sex and the City brand also incorporates movies and spin-off shows.

In order to understand the Sex and the City package as a whole, it is best to understand its development, and as previously noted, this all started with a single TV show. The show aired from 1998 until 2004, ran for six seasons and during its lifetime clocked up a total of 94 episodes.

But although the series came to an end following the conclusion of Season Six, re-runs and DVD sales proved there was still plenty of life left in the property, and in 2008, the show was revived in the form of a movie. The film – titled, Sex and the City – picked up the story a few years after the events of the series finale, and acted as a sequel.

The Sex and the City movie was a huge hit with audiences, and as such, a follow-up quickly went into production. The movie – appropriately titled, Sex and the City 2 – made its debut in 2010 and continued the story once more.

Unfortunately, Sex and the City 2 was not as popular as its predecessor and any plans for a third movie were abandoned. However, this wasn’t the end of the line for the brand, and a move back to television followed.

In 2013, Sex and the City was reworked into a new show, this time in the form of a prequel series aimed at teens. The show centred around a young Carrie Bradshaw (this time played by AnnaSophia Robb), and ran for two seasons under the title: The Carrie Diaries.

The Carrie Diaries was not as popular as the show that spawned it, and was cancelled in 2014. Once again, the Sex and the City story appeared to come to a conclusion, but only on a temporary basis.

In late 2020 it was announced that another television series was in the works, this time in the shape of a sequel series called And Just Like That…. The series – set to air on HBO MAX – will pick up after the events of the two movies, and follow the original cast (minus Kim Cattrall) as they continue to move forward in life.

OK, so you know how the series played out across television and in cinemas, now let’s look at the timeline of Sex and the City…

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Watching Sex and the City in chronological order

Below is a list of all the Sex and the City shows and movies in chronological order. The order runs from the prequel series, through to the main show, the movies, and then the follow-up series.

So, if you wish to watch Sex and the City in timeline order, this is the order to follow:

The Carrie Diaries: Season One (2013) – TV series
The Carrie Diaries: Season Two (2013 – 2014) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season One (1998) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season Two (1999) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season Three (2000) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season Four (2001 – 2002) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season Five (2002) – TV series
Sex and the City: Season Six (2003 – 2004) – TV series
Sex and the City (2008) – Movie
Sex and the City 2 (2010) – Movie
And Just Like That… (2022) – TV series

Do you really need to begin with The Carrie Diaries? Honestly, it is entirely up to you.

Some fans would tell you to skip it, and simply begin with the original Sex and the City show, but that is completely your choice.

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If you’re a fan of Sex and the City, then you may wish to know that the classic television series is currently available on DVD.

The Sex and the City: The Complete Collection includes every episode of the original show in one handy box set.

The Sex and the City: The Complete Collection is available from all good entertainment stockists, including Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post about Sex and the City – I hope it has proved useful. For more movie-related content, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.

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