Excluded from Saw (franchise) is the 2004 film.
Saw is a 2004 American thriller film directed by James Wan .. James Wan. James Wan. Saw. Saw ( franchise ). thriller film. thriller film. It is Wan 's feature film directorial debut .. The screenplay , written by Leigh Whannell , is based on a story by Wan and Whannell .. Leigh Whannell. Leigh Whannell. The film stars Cary Elwes , Danny Glover , Monica Potter , Michael Emerson , Ken Leung , Tobin Bell and Leigh Whannell .. Leigh Whannell. Leigh Whannell. Cary Elwes. Cary Elwes. Danny Glover. Danny Glover. Monica Potter. Monica Potter. Michael Emerson. Michael Emerson. Ken Leung. Ken Leung. Tobin Bell. Tobin Bell. In the film , Elwes and Whannell portray two men who awake to find themselves chained in a large dilapidated bathroom , with one being ordered to kill the other or his family will die .. It is the first installment of the Saw franchise .. Saw. Saw ( franchise ). The debut of Wan and Whannell , the screenplay was written in 2001 , but after failed attempts to get the script produced in Wan and Whannell 's home country of Australia , they were urged to travel to Los Angeles .. In order to help attract producers they shot a low-budget short film of the same name from a scene out of the script .. low-budget. Low-budget film. short film of the same name. Saw ( 2003 film ). This proved successful in 2003 as producers from Evolution Entertainment were immediately attached and also formed a horror genre production label Twisted Pictures .. Evolution Entertainment. Evolution Entertainment. Twisted Pictures. Twisted Pictures. The film was given a small budget and shot for 18 days .. Saw was first screened on January 19 , 2004 .. Saw. Saw ( franchise ). Lionsgate picked up the rights and released the film in the United States and Canada on October 29 , 2004 .. Lionsgate. Lions Gate Entertainment. Critical responses were generally mixed and divided , but the film gained a cult following .. cult following. cult following. Compared to its low budget , Saw performed very well at the box office , grossing more than $ 100 million worldwide and becoming , at the time , one of the most profitable horror films since 1996 's Scream .. Saw. Saw ( franchise ). Scream. Scream ( 1996 film ). The success of the film prompted a green-light of a sequel soon after Saw opening weekend , which was released the following October .. Saw. Saw ( franchise ). a sequel. Saw II. The film was theatrically re-released by Lionsgate on October 31 , 2014 to celebrate its tenth anniversary .. Lionsgate. Lions Gate Entertainment