In 1999, American Pie opened in cinemas. The teen sex comedy, focused on a group of high school friends who vowed to lose their virginity before graduation.
When the movie opened in cinemas, American Pie was a big hit with audiences, spawning a string of sequels and spin-offs. But what are the American Pie movies and what is the best viewing order for the films?
Let’s take a look…
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The American Pie movies
American Pie (1999)
As noted above, American Pie was the first entry in the film series. The movie arrived in cinemas during summer ‘99 and introduced characters such as Jim Levenstein and Steve Stifler.
American Pie centred its story around a group of classmates who make a pact to lose their virginity before their high school graduation. Across the course of the film, Jim and his friends do what they can to take their sex lives to the next level. (95 mins)
American Pie 2 (2001)
Upon release, American Pie struck a chord with audiences and proved to be box office gold. As such, a sequel was put into production, arriving in cinemas in 2001.
American Pie 2 picked up the story a couple of years after the events of the first movie, with the group of friends – Jim, Kevin, Stifler, Oz, and Finch – now at college. In the movie, the group attempt to make the most of the summer with a party at a beach house. (100 mins)
American Wedding (2003)
With American Pie 2 proving to be another hit, a third film was given the go ahead. This next entry – titled American Wedding – was initially conceived as the final film in the series and was to bring some closure to the story.
In this entry, Jim and his long-time girlfriend, Michelle are planning to get married. Meanwhile, Jim’s friend, Steve Stifler attempts to throw a bachelor party, with less than spectacular results. (96 mins)
American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005)
Although the three American Pie movies had proved popular with audiences, with the release of the third movie it was becoming clear that interest had waned in the series. However, keen not to abandon the brand completely, Universal Pictures (the studio behind the series) made the decision to put the theatrically released films to one side, and instead green light a direct-to-DVD spin-off.
The movie – American Pie Presents: Band Camp – would tell a side-story with new characters, placing its focus in particular on Matt Stifler, the younger brother of Steve Stifler. In the film, Matt is a troubled band camp student looking to mend his ways. (92 mins)
American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)
With Band Camp proving popular at retail another direct-to-video entry was released in 2006. This film – American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile – focused on Erik Stifler, who is given a free pass from his girlfriend to do whatever he wishes, leading him to run a naked mile. (98 mins)
American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007)
Written as a direct sequel to The Naked Mile, the next film in the American Pie series was American Pie Presents: Beta House. This movie continued Erik’s story, with the film placing its focus on the Beta House fraternity. (87 mins)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)
In the next direct-to-video instalment, American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, three virgins discover a sex manual known as the ‘Bible’, which is hidden in their school library. This sets the trio off on a journey to lose their virginity. (96 mins)
American Reunion (2012)
After four direct-to-DVD titles, that deviated away from the characters introduced in the initial theatrical trilogy, Universal Pictures decided it was time to return the franchise back to its roots with a fourth big screen story. The movie – titled American Reunion – brought back most of the original cast from American Pie for one further romp. (113 mins)
American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule (2020)
Although American Reunion was popular, it was not quite as successful as Universal had hoped. As such, plans for any further theatrical movies were abandoned.
However, this didn’t deter the studio from pushing ahead with the franchise and a new direct-to-DVD movie was eventually put into production under the title, American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule. Created as a stand-alone entry, the film revolved around four students, Annie, Kayla, Michelle, and Stephanie Stifler. (95 mins)
The American Pie movies in order
To date, there are nine entries in the American Pie movie series. If you wish to watch all of the American Pie movies in production order, then follow this list:
- American Pie (1999)
- American Pie 2 (2001)
- American Wedding (2003)
- American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005)
- American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)
- American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007)
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)
- American Reunion (2012)
- American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule (2020)
It is important to note the theatrical movies and the direct-to-DVD titles are essentially separate entities. As such, you can split them into the following two series:
American Pie theatrical movies
- American Pie (1999)
- American Pie 2 (2001)
- American Wedding (2003)
- American Reunion (2012)
American Pie Presents direct-to-video movies
- American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005)
- American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)
- American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007)
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)
- American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule (2020)
You can watch all the theatrical films and ignore the direct-to-video movies if you like, or you can watch all the DVD movies and ignore the theatrical films. Take the American Pie journey which suits you best.
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Who are the cast of the American Pie movies and are the films the work of the same director?
The most notable actor in the American Pie movie series is Eugene Levy, who plays the role of Noah Levenstein (aka ‘Jim’s Dad). Levy appears in almost all of the movies.
Other notable actors in the American Pie movie series include Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Owen, Tara Reid, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Shannon Elizabeth, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Cheek, Christina Milian, John Cho, Casey Affleck, January Jones, Fred Willard, Loren Lester, Tad Hilgenbrinck, John White, Steve Talley, Christopher McDonald, Madison Pettis, Lizze Broadway, and Danny Trejo.
In terms of the directors, the American Pie movie series is the work of the following:
- Paul Weitz directed American Pie
- James B. Rogers directed American Pie 2
- Jesse Dylan directed American Wedding
- Steve Rash directed American Pie Presents: Band Camp
- Joe Nussbaum directed American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile
- Andrew Waller directed American Pie Presents: Beta House
- John Putch directed American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
- Jon Hurwitz directed American Reunion
- Mike Elliott directed American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rules
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Which is the best American Pie movie?
According to IMDb, the American Pie movie series is rated as follows:
- American Pie (1999) – 7.0/10
- American Pie 2 (2001) – 6.4/10
- American Wedding (2003) – 6.3/10
- American Pie Presents: Band Camp (2005) – 5.0/10
- American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006) – 5.1/10
- American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007) – 5.3/10
- American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009) – 4.7/10
- American Reunion (2012) – 6.7/10
- American Pie Presents: Girls’ Rule (2020) – 3.9/10
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Should you want a large slice of American Pie for yourself, you might like to know that an American Pie Blu-ray boxset is available, which includes the four theatrically released movies American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding, and American Reunion in HD!
The American Pie 4-Movie Collection Blu-ray boxset is available from all good entertainment retailers, including Amazon US.
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Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this post about the American Pie film series on It’s A Stampede!. For more posts, check out the recommended reads below.
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