11 years ago, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel made it to theatres and captured the viewers’ hearts with the cute chipmunks. In addition to their song, which some may find a touch obnoxious, Alvin and the Chipmunks have also made their presence felt in television and cinema, with eight feature films created featuring the loving rodents.
With the upcoming Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Movie set for theatrical release on December 22nd this year, you might be considering watching all of Alvin and the Chipmunks movies, and thus it would be preferable if you follow a certain order. That’s why I’m here; stick around as I guide you on the best and complete order to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks movies.
Alvin and The Chipmunks Watch Order at a Glance
The chipmunks’ films are based on the narrative of three chipmunks and Dave; the chipmunks’ films include the same characters and are related to the Chipmunks’ and Dave’s story. nonetheless, each film has its own narrative and can be seen standalone.
There are a total of 8 Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. Check them out:
- The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)
- Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (2003)
There are two ways to view Alvin and The Chipmunks: chronologically or in order of release. You will not go wrong if you watch in the release order, but I would recommend you to follow the chronological order, which we will be showing you below.
This sequence will eliminate any inconsistencies in the story’s plot.
Alvin and The Chipmunks Movies In Order
The order to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks movies is very simple, all you have to do is to watch them in this chronological order:
1. Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Three singing chipmunks achieve fame in the music industry, but when an unscrupulous music executive attempts to abuse them, they must return to their pals. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are three gentle chipmunks that live a blissful existence… until their tree is cut down and transported to the huge metropolis of Los Angeles.
They run across Dave Seville, a down-on-his-luck composer who was rejected by his old best buddy, record boss Ian Hawke. They pursue him, and Dave enters the room to see them singing in perfect harmony. Dave sees cash signs and strikes a deal with them: he would let them reside in his house in exchange for singing his tunes.
This partnership gets off to a rocky start as the Chipmunks inadvertently ruin both his love life and profession. They attempt to make amends by reintroducing him to Ian. When Ian hears them sing, he, too, sees cash signs and contracts them, as well as re-signing Dave to the label.
Their songs instantly become a big hit, catapulting the Chipmunks to fame and wealth. Dave is concerned that they have achieved too much fame too quickly, while Ian believes Dave is preventing them from realizing their full potential.
Eventually, the Chipmunks abandon Dave and move in with Ian, who embarks on a worldwide tour with them. This allows them to go anywhere they choose, but Ian begins exploiting them by requiring them to work a ridiculous number of hours.
When their voices get strained and they experience fatigue-related meltdowns, only Dave can intervene and save Alvin and the rest of the gang before it’s too late.
2. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)
Squeakquel’ has the same cast as the previous film: live-action people, computer-animated Tamias striatus, and trash Top 40 songs performed in agonizing dentist-drill tight harmony.
This time, instead of three, we have six chipmunks, like Simon, Theodore, and Alvin are joined by the Chipettes, Brittany, Eleanor, and Jeanette. The sped-up vocals destroy whatever uniqueness the actresses bring to their roles.
Dave Seville, where are you? Fortunately for actor Jason Lee, the top chipmunk handler gets involved in an Alvin-related mishap in the opening sequence and spends the remainder of the film in a Mexico City hospital bed, practically phoning in his role.
At home, he is replaced by his nephew Toby, a layabout tasked with the responsibility of getting the munks to high school. David Cross reprises his role as meanie music executive Ian Hawk, this time with more visible chest hair than is required.
If anybody is having a good time here, it’s Wendie Malick in the role of the school administrator, a secret Chipmunks fan with the tattoo to prove it. The majority of “Squeakquel” is, however, predictable, with repetitive sequences of school corridor mayhem followed by sub-Nickelodeon moral teachings and a frenzied rush to the main singing contest.
The target audience of children ages 4 to 8 will be overjoyed. Parents and older siblings will wish they were somewhere else. Grouchy middle-aged film critics may or may not be alone in considering this evidence of current pop culture’s near-total collapse.
Indeed, it would be an entirely decent family product (as opposed to a film) if not for the script’s clumsy appropriation of Beyoncé songs and outmoded hip-hop terminology. When Alvin shouts, “Holla!” he unlocks a cabinet. The cheeseballs have taken up residence in the hizzouse!,” “Squeakquel” ushers in a new era of cultural heinousness: digital rodent blackface.
3. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)
Alvin, Theodore, Simon, and their gal buddies from earlier in the franchise have returned, and their human minder, Dave (Jason Lee), has the not-so-smart idea of taking them on a cruise. (The Carnival line receives what is arguably the most prominent product promotion in film history.)
The entire crew ends up stranded on a tropical island, along with the villainous Ian (David Cross, who gives the film’s most hilarious monologue near the end) and several references to the Tom Hanks classic “Cast Away” that will evade the audience’s 5-year-olds.
Jenny Slate (as a character named Zoe) is also on the island, and she may have been exiled after saying the worst conceivable swear term during her debut show as a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast in 2009.
There are no profane words here; only innocent enjoyment. A really excellent touch: A spider bite causes some of the munks to shift personalities. Alvin the Accountable? Consider it.
Meanwhile, Zoe ties Jeanette to a rope and compels her to get the prize. As Alvin and Dave arrive to rescue her, the island rumbles once again, and Zoe lets go of the rope. Jeanette attempts to return to the raft with Dave and Alvin but is dragged back by the log bridge.
Before Alvin can cut the rope with his Swiss Army Knife, Simon swings in to assist Jeanette. Dave is left hanging from the log when it comes dangerously close to collapsing.
After convincing Zoe to assist in saving Dave, they flee to the raft and escape the eruption. Zoe apologizes to Jeanette on the raft for kidnapping her and forcing her to get the treasure. Jeanette presents Zoe with the gold bracelet Simone had given her. Alvin and Dave reunite, and they are rescued.
At the International Music Awards, The Chipmunks and The Chipettes perform. Ian reclaims his career and employment by pitching Hollywood with Zoe’s narrative.
4. The Chipmunk Adventure (1987)
Alvin Seville, Simon Seville, and Theodore Seville are left at home with their very absent-minded babysitter, Miss Miller, to to the displeasure of Alvin, who dreams of global travel.
While the three of them are playing an arcade game called Around the World in Thirty Days with The Chipettes, Alvin and Brittany get into an argument about who would win a genuine race around the world. Klaus and Claudia Furschtein, two German diamond smugglers out of options for delivering their products to consumers without government hindrance, are listening in on their chat.
Seeing an opportunity, the Furschsteins approach the youngsters, promising to equip them with the resources to compete in a real-life hot-air balloon race around the world, with the winner getting $100,000.
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
Alvin (the ringleader), Simon (the glasses-wearing geek), and Theodore are the chipmunks (the roly-poly tag-along). Dave informs them following the Birthday Bash Gone Wild that he is highly displeased with their actions. He’s dating a new woman named Shira, and he wants the chipmunks to act appropriately when they eventually meet her.
The naughty chipmunks meet Shira’s teenage son Miles on a group outing to play miniature golf. Miles makes comments about super-Gluing them together. While the chipmunks adore Shira, they are worried that Dave would propose to her on their Miami vacation. Miles is abhorrent; he could not possibly be their brother!
The chipmunks also have abandonment concerns, fearful that if Dave marries, he will lose his affection for them. They discover an unusual friend in Miles, who has no desire for a new father. The four go on an insane journey from California to Miami to locate their parents and foil the proposal before it is too late.
On the first stage of their journey, via plane, Theodore, holed up in cargo, unleashes the animals, which then rampage along the hallways, parrots, goats, and monkeys, terrifying everyone. The aircraft is forced to make an emergency landing.
A psychologically unstable United States air marshal (Tony Hale) begins to lose every shred of dignity, sanity, and self-respect as he chases those wicked chipmunks throughout the country, ruining his spotless flying record.
After being placed on the FBI’s No-Fly List (their images appear on the FBI’s Most Wanted page), the chipmunks flee by automobile to Texas, where they play on a wooden sidewalk in front of a crowd of boot-tapping cowboys who toss tips into the tip box.
They later perform in a run-down dive bar nearby, transforming it into a wild scene straight out of “Urban Cowboy,” replete with line-dancing couples screaming it up.
They join an already fantastic jazz procession in New Orleans’ French Quarter and convert it into Mardi Gras by whipping the crowd into a frenzy with a supercharged rendition of “Uptown Funk.” Walt Becker, the director, has an uncanny ability to read large, enthusiastic groups. These are the film’s most enjoyable sequences.
6. Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)
Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein is a 1999 direct-to-video animated feature film produced by Universal Studios that reimagines the title characters from the 1983–1990 television series. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, three child-sized anthropomorphic chipmunks, live with their adopted father/manager Dave.
It’s one of a brief series of revival films, one of which has already been reviewed: Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman. As with the last one, this one revolves around the lads seeing a class pulp-era film monster, this time Frankenstein (or, more precisely, Frankenstein’s monster).
The film begins with the chipmunks performing at Majestic Studios theme park, where they become disoriented and stumble across an attraction where a genuine Victor Frankenstein is slaving away to produce an actual Frankenstein’s monster.
As was the case with the original Frankenstein’s monster, the creature is rather amiable and befriends the lads, but Dr. Frankenstein has other ideas.
As with the last one, the title gives away any suspense about what may happen, and while some surprising things did occur, they felt unrelated to the Frankenstein storyline at all, and therefore were puzzling. It’s a decent film with some catchy songs; it could be worth viewing with the kids if it’s available to stream.
7. Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman (2000)
Alvin is insanely fascinated by monsters! He fancies himself an authority on the issue after reading every film and book on the subject. As a result, when a mysterious new neighbor, Mr. Talbot, moves in and weird howling noises emanate from his yard, Alvin is convinced he is a werewolf!
Of course, the rest of the family believes Alvin is watching too much late-night television, but when Theodore gets pricked by a “dog” and begins eating his own socks, even the rational Simon admits that something strange is happening. Can Alvin and Simon save their brother before the next Full Moon, or will Theodore permanently transform into a werewolf!?
Add a bizarre school performance of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the amusing antics of the Chipettes, and plenty of excellent music to the mix, and you’ve got a monstrously entertaining adventure that the entire family will enjoy!
8. Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks (2003)
Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks, the third and last direct-to-video feature, was released. Janice Karman wrote and produced the film, Ross Bagdasarian Jr. produced it, Jerry Rees directed it, and Paramount Home Entertainment distributed it.
Unlike the first two, this film is entirely live-action, with the Chipmunks, Chipettes, PC the frog, Gilda the cockatoo, and Sam & Lou the two gophers all voiced by puppets.
Dave leaves the Chipmunks and Chipettes at his buddy Lalu’s house so he can work on a song over the weekend. As a result, the Chipmunks and Chipettes spend an unforgettable weekend in Lalu’s cottage.
Lolu is overjoyed to have all the chipmunks inside. A sequence of happy, frightening, and enjoyable occurrences begin in Lolu’s house, with Lolu narrating a narrative of a sea serpent attacking a ship to his buddy Gilda and the other chipmunks.
