The Drive-In books in order

The Drive-In series by Joe R. Lansdale in reading order, including the original trilogy and related Hap and Leonard novels that share continuity in this collected sequence.

Reading order

# Title Published Author Buy on Amazon
1 The Drive-In 1988 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
2 The Drive-In 2 1989 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
3 The Drive-In II: Not Just One of Them Sequels 1989 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
4 La notte del drive-in 3 2005 Joe R. Lansdale N/A
5 The Drive-In 3: The Bus Tour 2005 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
6 Savage Season 1990 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
7 Mucho Mojo 1994 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
8 The Two-Bear Mambo 1995 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
9 Bad Chili 1997 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
10 Rumble Tumble 1998 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
11 Captains Outrageous 2001 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
12 Vanilla Ride 2009 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
13 Devil Red 2010 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
14 Hyenas 2011 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
15 Dead Aim 2012 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
16 Honky Tonk Samurai 2015 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
17 Briar Patch Boogie 2016 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
18 Miracles Ain’t What They Used to Be 2016 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
19 Coco Butternut 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
20 Cold Cotton 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
21 Rusty Puppy 2017 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
22 Jackrabbit Smile 2018 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
23 The Elephant of Surprise 2019 Joe R. Lansdale Buy
24 Born for Trouble 2022 Joe R. Lansdale Buy

The Drive-In (1988) is one of Lansdale’s most distinctive creations. A group of moviegoers at an all-night Texas drive-in theater find themselves trapped when a mysterious force seals them inside, and society rapidly breaks down into violence and madness. The sequel, The Drive-In II: Not Just One of Them Sequels (1989), continues the absurdist horror, and The Drive-In 3: The Bus Tour (2005) wraps up the trilogy.

This collected reading order also includes Hap and Leonard titles that share thematic overlap with the Drive-In world. The original trilogy remains a touchstone of splatterpunk and comedic horror fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Drive-In series?

There are 24 books in the The Drive-In series, published between 1988 and 2022.

What is the first book in the The Drive-In series?

The first book in the The Drive-In series is The Drive-In, published in 1988.

What is The Drive-In series about?

The Drive-In (1988) follows moviegoers trapped inside a Texas drive-in theater by a mysterious cosmic event. The sequels continue the surreal, darkly comic horror story. This collected sequence also includes Hap and Leonard entries that share thematic connections.

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