To date, Alex Cross has been brought to life through three films and a television series, each offering a unique take on the detective’s thrilling adventures. The character first hit the big screen with two films starring Morgan Freeman, widely considered the pinnacle of Alex Cross adaptations. These films are titled:

Subsequent years saw Tyler Perry stepping into the role for:

• “Kiss the Girls” (1997)
• “Along Came a Spider” (2001)

Most recently, Aldis Hodge has taken on the character in an Amazon Prime Video series, which, as of now, spans two seasons:

But what makes Morgan Freeman’s portrayal the standout version, and are the other adaptations worth watching? Here’s a guide to navigating all the on-screen iterations of Alex Cross in chronological order.

Morgan Freeman’s portrayal of Alex Cross is unmatched. His performance brings a depth and intensity to the character that captivates viewers, regardless of the scene. While Tyler Perry delivers a commendable effort and Aldis Hodge offers a compelling interpretation in his own right, Freeman’s portrayal sets the benchmark, keeping audiences engaged as Cross navigates perilous challenges. “Kiss the Girls” and “Along Came a Spider” might not rank among the all-time great detective films, but they are entertaining and represent the finest of the series.

No one did Alex Cross better than Morgan Freeman. He imbues a certain gravitas into the character that makes him worth watching no matter what he’s doing. Tyler Perry does his best, and Aldis Hodge’s Cross is well worth watching in his own right. But it’s Freeman who sets the pace and keeps your blood pumping as Cross is put through more than one wringer. “Kiss the Girls” and “Along Came a Spider” may not rank among the best detective movies of all time, but they’re solid romps and the best the series has to offer.

It’s important to note that the Perry film and Aldis Hodge’s “Cross” series don’t share continuity, nor do they have anything in common with Freeman’s two flicks, so you can watch them in any order you desire. There will be plenty of suspense and action-packed thrills to be had. But since there’s no overarching storyline connecting everything together, you can reject some portions of the Cross universe and accept others into your heart.

The first of the Morgan Freeman Alex Cross pictures, “Kiss the Girls” sees Cross tackling an ugly serial killing and kidnapping case. Cross tries to outwit the perp in the name of his niece and a determined victim. While critics found “Kiss the Girls” to be one of Freeman’s worst movies, it was successful enough to result in a sequel.

Dr. Kate McTiernan (Ashley Judd) has just escaped the clutches of a perp called Casanova (Cary Elwes), whom Cross suspects also has his recently-vanished niece, Naomi (Gina Ravera). Kate knows that several other girls were being held hostage in the same location, and provides Cross with vital information on what she learned. Cross suspects that Dr. William Rudolph (Tony Goldwyn), a plastic surgeon, is his quarry due to the large quantity of sedatives in his possession. But a surprising dark horse presents itself — and Cross works hard to uncover the real evildoer and save his niece before it’s too late.

The final part of the Morgan Freeman Alex Cross duology sees the detective cope with disgrace when his partner, Tracie Fisher (Jill Teed) is killed during a police raid. He decides to retire, but Cross is quickly called back into action when another kidnapping takes place.

The victim this time is Megan Rose (Mika Boorem), the daughter of a senator. It turns out that the case is much more complex than initially suspected; the man who took her was Gary Soneji (Michael Wincott) who has been hiding in plain sight as Megan’s teacher. Agent Jezzie Flannigan (Monica Potter) the secret service member in charge of Rose’s detail, is blamed for this huge breech in security. Determined to clear her name, Flannigan and Cross team up to find Rose.

Cross figures out that Soneji dreams of being a famous abductor who is determined to gain attention by any means necessary. Cross has to do some fancy footwork to catch him, especially when Jezzie’s life is threatened. While not one of  Morgan Freeman’s best movies, it’s nevertheless a compelling caper.

Another way to watch the Alex Cross series is to start with the non-Morgan Freeman outings. Cross returned to the big screen in 2012, this time embodied by “Madea” movie impresario Tyler Perry. Playing it completely straight, Perry’s version of Cross is gritty and determined — but it wasn’t enough to beat back critical brickbats, and the movie bombed. 

In his sole adventure, Cross investigates the murder of Fan Yau Lee (Stephany Jacobsen), a businesswoman whose body has been dumped in a hotel room. The killer commemorated the occasion with a drawing of his gruesome crime, left behind at the scene to mock the police. Cross nicknames the criminal “Picasso” and tries to figure out where he will strike next. But things get hairy when Picasso targets members of Cross’ family, as well as those of Tommy Kane (Edward Burns), Cross’ childhood friend. Alex and Kane find themselves conducting a desperate investigation that has dire consequences for everyone around them.

The latest chapter in Alex Cross’ saga has taken him to the world of streaming. “Cross” features “Leverage” and “Black Adam” star Aldis Hodge, whose version of the character has a grittier appeal. Interestingly, “Cross” doesn’t directly adapt any of James Patterson’s books, but nevertheless plunges him into intense, interesting mysteries.

Cross’ beat is Washington, D.C.where he and his partner, John Sampson (Isaiah Mustafa) regularly encounter strife and danger. During Season 1, they solve the murder of a Black Lives Matter activist. In Season 2, they try to figure out who is trying to kill billionaire CEO Lance Durand (Matthew Lillard), whose saintly exterior hides deep corruption. All the while, Cross copes with PTSD and an explosive temper which stem from his wife’s murder. 

It’s naturally wise to watch the two seasons in running order; everything Alex goes through in Season 1 affects how he copes with the events of the second season. It’s a ride destined to thrill procedural fans — and introduce a whole new generation to Alex Cross’ world.