The Saw series of horror films have been named the “most successful” horror movie franchise by the Guinness Book of World Records despite only starting in 2004 compared to horror franchise rivals Friday the 13th (whose first film was made in 1980, and so far has produced 12 films in total) and Nightmare on Elm Street (first film in 1984, and 9 films to date).

The Saw film franchise began in 2004 and has released subsequent sequels around Halloween every year since, and is due to release it’s final chapter, Saw VII this year. The stories, which follow a serial killer who sets up ‘jigsaw’ style killings for the players in his game, have left audience members with many questions over the years but as soon as something is answered, another question is asked.

The story of Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) has been shroud in mystery and intrigue and some strands of the story are dropped along the way and picked up later on. Nothing has quite beaten the horror and intensity of the ending of the first film where Jigsaw reveals himself (this twist has gone on to become known throughout the film world) and with both a mainstream and cult following, it’s no surprise these films have won this accolade.

Producer Mark Berg said that he was “in shock” at beating other long-running movie franchises, such as Friday the 13th and Halloween. The films have totalled around $733m at the box office.

The final instalment will be shown in 3D, and is due out on 29 October. “We are done; this is it. We don’t want to be that boxer who fought one too many fights,” Burg said.