I Know What You Did Last Summer: Complete Franchise Guide

Few slasher franchises have kept audiences guessing quite like “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Nearly three decades after a hook-wielding fisherman terrorized a group of friends on a rain-soaked highway, the franchise is getting a fresh start — and this time, Jennifer Love Hewitt is coming back. Whether you’re revisiting the original 1997 film or planning to catch the 2025 reboot in theaters, here’s how to navigate everything.

Original Release Year: 1997 ·
Lead Stars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar ·
Upcoming Reboot: July 18, 2025 ·
Franchise Films: 4 ·
Killer’s Name: Benjamin Willis

The table below consolidates key facts about the original film, reboot timeline, and production details.

In What Order Should I Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer?

The franchise splits into two distinct continuities, and your ideal starting point depends on what you’re after. Release order works for newcomers, but continuity-conscious viewers have options.

Release Chronological Order

• I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) — The slasher debut that introduced the hook-wielding killer Benjamin Willis (The Popverse)
• I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) — The sequel takes Julie James to the Bahamas (Radio Times)
• I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006) — A direct-to-video entry with supernatural elements and no ties to the original cast (The Popverse)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series (2021) — Eight episodes streaming on Amazon Prime Video, set in its own universe (Wikipedia)
• I Know What You Did Last Summer (2025) — Legacy sequel ignoring the 2006 film entirely

Narrative Recommended Order

If you’re in it for the core story that the 2025 film builds on, skip the 2006 entry entirely. Watch the 1997 original, then the 1998 sequel, then jump straight to the 2025 film. The 2021 TV series exists in a separate continuity with no connection to the movies (The Popverse), making it optional viewing for franchise completionists only.

Sony Pictures is clearly positioning the 2025 film as a direct continuation of the first two films, leaving the 2006 misfire further in the dust.

Who’s the Killer in I Know What You Did Last Summer?

The original film’s mystery centers on the identity of a fisherman who stalks and murders teenagers with a distinctive hook. By the climax, viewers learn exactly who he is and why he targeted the group.

Benjamin Willis Identity

The killer is Benjamin Willis, a local fisherman who witnessed the friends’ hit-and-run accident — they struck a teenager while driving under the influence and disposed of the body rather than call for help. Willis recognized the car and began targeting the group as revenge for the death of his own son (The Popverse)

Motivation and Backstory

Unlike many slashers with faceless villains, Willis has a concrete grievance: the friends killed someone he loved and fled without consequence. He stalks them for an entire year, methodically eliminating them one by one and sending threatening letters signed “I still know what you did last summer.” His hook-wielding appearance became iconic for the franchise.

What this means: The horror isn’t random — it’s vigilante justice twisted into something monstrous. Willis sees himself as executing justice, but his methods cross into pure sadism.

How Old Was Jennifer Love Hewitt in I Know What You Did Last Summer?

Jennifer Love Hewitt was one of the most recognizable young actresses in Hollywood when she took on the role of Julie James in the 1997 film.

Casting Age Details

Jennifer Love Hewitt was born on February 21, 1979, making her approximately 17-18 years old during the 1997 filming window. The film was released in November 1997, when she had just turned 18. At the time, she was transitioning from her early teen roles on shows like Kids Incorporated into leading lady territory (The Popverse)

Character Age

Her character, Julie James, is depicted as a college-age student, roughly matching Hewitt’s actual age at the time of production. The entire main cast — including Freddie Prinze Jr. (born 1976, age 20-21 during filming) and Sarah Michelle Gellar (born 1977, age 19-20) — were cast close to their characters’ ages.

The pattern: The 1997 film captured its young cast at a transitional moment in their careers, just before they all became major stars. By the time of the 2025 sequel, Hewitt returns as an adult reprising a character audiences first saw nearly three decades ago.

How to Watch the I Know What You Did Last Summer Movies and TV Series?

Streaming availability shifts regularly, but here’s where each entry stands as of mid-2025.

Streaming Platforms

The original 1997 film is available on Netflix (The Popverse), making it the most accessible entry for subscribers. The 2021 television series streams on Amazon Prime Video (The Popverse), though the series was cancelled after one season.

Purchase Options

The sequels (1998 and 2006 films) aren’t typically available on subscription services but can be rented or purchased digitally through Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Apple TV (The Popverse). Physical media copies occasionally surface in retail stores or secondhand markets.

Unlike some franchises with comprehensive streaming packages, the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” entries are scattered across multiple platforms. Netflix subscribers get the original, Prime Video users can stream the TV series, and the sequels require individual purchases.

Is Lola Tung in I Know What You Did Last Summer?

Lola Tung emerged as a breakout star in the 2023 Netflix series Talk to Me, and fans of the horror franchise have wondered if she’ll join the slasher legacy.

Role in 2025 Film

As of the confirmed cast announcements, Lola Tung is not listed among the stars of the 2025 “I Know What You Did Last Summer” film. The announced cast includes Camila Mendes (Riverdale), Jonah Hauer-King (Little Women), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks), Sarah Pidgeon, and Tyrid Withers (Screen Rant)

Cast Confirmation

The core returning cast features Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. reprising their roles as Julie James and Ray Brone respectively from the original films (Wikipedia). Additional supporting roles may be announced closer to the July 2025 release date, but at this time there’s no confirmation of Lola Tung’s involvement.

The 2025 film appears to be assembling a young ensemble cast of rising stars from streaming series, following a pattern common in modern horror franchises. Whether Lola Tung could appear in a potential sequel remains purely speculative.

Franchise Timeline

The timeline below tracks key milestones from the 1997 debut through the 2025 legacy sequel.

The 27-year gap between the 1998 sequel’s Tower Bay murders and the 2025 film’s setting (Wikipedia) means the returning characters will be noticeably older — giving the franchise a true legacy-sequel structure.

Confirmed Facts vs. Rumors

What People Are Saying

“The original film became a cultural touchstone of late-90s horror, spawning two theatrical sequels and a brief television revival.”

— The Popverse (Film History Analysis)

“The franchise’s return with a legacy sequel signals Hollywood’s continued interest in bringing back beloved horror properties with their original stars.”

— Wikipedia (2025 Film Entry)

For horror fans, the 2025 film represents a rare opportunity to see a beloved slasher franchise return with its original cast intact. The 27-year wait has created generational gaps in the audience — parents who grew up with the original can now share the 2025 film with teenagers, exactly as the original was shared with them.