By Marquee Editorial3 entries
The Infernal Affairs franchise is a celebrated Hong Kong crime thriller series centered on the tense, high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between police officers and undercover mafia moles. The entries connect through interconnected timelines, featuring both prequels and sequels that expand upon the complex lives of the main characters, Chan Wing Yan and Lau Kin Ming. For first-time viewers, watching the films in release order versus chronological order offers different narrative experiences, though following the production sequence preserves the original mystery and emotional impact of the overarching story arc.

Infernal Affairs
Movie, 2002
This is the original 2002 film that introduces the core premise of an undercover police officer and a mafia mole infiltrating opposite sides.

Infernal Affairs II
Movie, 2003
This 2003 entry functions as a prequel, exploring a bloody power struggle among the Triads during the 1997 handover of Hong Kong.

Read what its ending meant, or search for another franchise.
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Infernal Affairs III
Movie, 2003
This 2003 sequel follows the triad gangster turned corrupt cop Lau Kin-ming as he goes to dangerous lengths to avoid detection.
| # | Title | Type | Year | Rating | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Infernal Affairs | Movie | 2002 | ★ 7.8 | Not yet |
| 2 | Infernal Affairs II | Movie | 2003 | ★ 7.3 | Not yet |
| 3 | Infernal Affairs III | Movie | 2003 | ★ 6.9 | Not yet |
Average audience ratings, in watch order.
First-time viewers should start with the original 2002 movie, Infernal Affairs, which establishes the core characters and the intense undercover dynamic between the police and the local mafia.
Watching the films in release order allows you to experience the original mystery first, followed by the prequel and sequel entries that flesh out the background and continuation of the story.
The franchise consists of three specific movies: the original 2002 film Infernal Affairs, the 2003 prequel Infernal Affairs II, and the 2003 sequel Infernal Affairs III.
Watch in this order: 1. Infernal Affairs, 2. Infernal Affairs II, 3. Infernal Affairs III.
This guide lists 3 entries, released between 2002 and 2003.
Infernal Affairs has the highest average rating in this guide, at 7.8 out of 10.