Chronological guide to the Tremors films
Unlike typical monster franchises that rely on a single unkillable slasher, Tremors is defined by biology and geography. It chronicles the rapid evolution of the "Graboid" species - from subterranean giants to heat-seeking walkers and aerial hunters - and the survivalist ingenuity of the humans who hunt them. The saga is anchored by the isolated town of Perfection, Nevada, and the escalating firepower of Burt Gummer.
This guide focuses on the feature films. The 2003 TV series exists within the timeline but is not essential for the film continuity.
The Stampede Era (Original Creators)
Helmed by the original creative team of S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, and Ron Underwood (Stampede Entertainment). These films establish the core biology of the creatures and the "Western Monster Movie" tone.
Tremors
Plot and Lore
Val McKee (Kevin Bacon) and Earl Bassett (Fred Ward), two handymen dreaming of leaving the dusty town of Perfection, Nevada, find themselves trapped by giant subterranean worm-creatures. The film introduces the Graboid (Caederus mexicana): a blind, underground predator that hunts via seismic vibrations. Survival requires staying on "residual boulders" (high ground) and outsmarting an enemy that learns quickly.
This entry establishes the franchise's unique emphasis on blue-collar ingenuity. The heroes aren't scientists or soldiers; they use bulldozers, pipe bombs, and local knowledge to survive. It also introduces Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) and his wife Heather as paranoid survivalists whose basement of weaponry becomes the town's salvation.
Tremors 2: Aftershocks
Plot and Lore
Earl Bassett is hired to clear a Graboid infestation at a Mexican oilfield, joined by eager fan Grady Hoover and a returning Burt Gummer. The film dramatically expands the creature lore by introducing the second stage of the lifecycle: the Shrieker. When a Graboid consumes enough food, it births multiple bipedal, heat-seeking creatures from its own body.
The threat shifts from seismic stealth to thermal visibility. The Shriekers are smaller, surface-dwelling pack hunters that can see body heat, rendering high ground useless and forcing the characters to mask their thermal signatures. Burt's tactical escalation continues as he deploys high-grade explosives against the new threat.
Tremors 3: Back to Perfection
Plot and Lore
Burt Gummer returns to Perfection, now a tourist trap exploiting its monster history. The lifecycle evolves into its third stage: the Ass-Blaster. Shriekers molt into these winged creatures, which use combustible flatulence to launch themselves into flight, carrying Graboid eggs to new territories.
This film completes the lifecycle loop. The creatures are shown to be a stable evolutionary circle: Graboid (Underground) -> Shrieker (Surface) -> Ass-Blaster (Air) -> Egg (Dormant). It also introduces "El Blanco," a sterile albino Graboid that cannot reproduce, which the residents of Perfection essentially adopt as a protected species to prevent real estate development.
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins
Plot and Lore
A prequel set in 1889 in the town of Rejection (later Perfection). Michael Gross plays Hiram Gummer, Burt’s great-grandfather, a pacifist dandy who must learn to fight. The film features "Dirt Dragons" (juvenile Graboids) that can launch themselves out of the earth.
This entry serves as an origin story for the Gummer family legacy, showing how a refined Easterner transformed into a gun-toting Westerner, establishing the genetic lineage of firepower obsession. It emphasizes the theme that necessity creates warriors.
The Universal Era (The Gummer Global Tour)
The franchise was soft-rebooted in 2015 without the original writers. This era focuses entirely on Burt Gummer and his illegitimate son Travis Welker, taking the hunt international and introducing genetic variations of the species.
Tremors 5: Bloodlines
Plot and Lore
Burt is hired to hunt monsters in South Africa and is introduced to his new cameraman (and secret son), Travis Welker (Jamie Kennedy). The film reveals a more aggressive, African variant of the species with tentacle-like tongues that can detach and act independently.
Lore changes include the "Queen Bitch" dynamic, implying a hive structure not seen in the original films. The tone shifts towards higher-octane action, focusing on Burt's celebrity status as a monster hunter and the father-son dynamic.
Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell
Plot and Lore
Set in the Canadian Arctic, Burt and Travis battle Graboids adapted to the cold. Burt discovers he has been infected by a parasite from within a Graboid and is slowly dying, requiring the capture of a live specimen to synthesize a cure.
The film emphasizes the adaptability of the species, moving them from desert heat to snow. It reinforces the idea that the Graboids are an ancient, global infestation that resurfaces as climates shift (or thaw).
Tremors: Shrieker Island
Plot and Lore
On a private island in Thailand, trophy hunters have genetically modified Graboids for sport. Burt Gummer, living in isolation as a bearded castaway, is called back for one last hunt. The genetically enhanced Shriekers are smarter and faster, utilizing their screams as sonic weapons.
This film serves as a finale for the Burt Gummer arc. Facing a "Queen" Graboid, Burt sacrifices himself to destroy the threat, bringing his 30-year war against the species to a definitive, explosive end. It marks the conclusion of the Gummer legacy.
