How to Watch the Alien Movies in Chronological Order and By Release Date

As a die-hard fan of the Alien franchise who’s spent countless nights huddled under blankets while watching these terrifying masterpieces, I must say that the chronological order provides a unique perspective that truly enhances the viewing experience. However, watching the films by release date is like taking a trip down memory lane for us old-timers, reminding us of how summer blockbusters evolved over time and how these movies managed to consistently scare the living daylights out of audiences year after year.

The “Alien” movie franchise, renowned and influential in the film industry, has been steered by some of Hollywood’s top directors: Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Fede Alverez have each directed major installments. The franchise is also known for introducing one of cinema’s most iconic creatures, the Xenomorph, or simply “the alien.” Since its debut in 1979, the series has produced four sequels, two prequels, two cross-over films, numerous video games, and comics. The future of the “Alien” franchise looks promising, as “Alien: Romulus” topped the box office in its opening weekend and received positive feedback from both fans and critics. In 2025, a television prequel series for FX titled “Alien Earth,” created by the mind behind “Fargo,” Noah Hawley, is set to air.

Through seven primary installments and two interconnected films with another series, the Alien movies depict mankind venturing away from Earth, encountering the terrors that lurk in the uncharted depths of space. As the famous tagline goes, “In space, no one can hear you scream.” These films delve into mankind’s pursuit of understanding the universe and the recurring theme between creation and annihilation. Will humanity find its way back to Earth or is it fated to bring about its own demise?

To follow humanity’s journey with the Xenomorphs throughout a story that spans 275 years, here are the Alien films in chronological order.

Alien Movies in Chronological Order

Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Regardless of whether Alien vs. Predator fits into the official Alien timeline, intertwines with Predator, or exists independently, the movies serve a captivating role within the franchise. If viewed as a starting point, it becomes the impetus driving the Weyland-Yutani Corporation’s central narrative throughout the series. The film is set in 2004, making it one of the few Alien films to be situated in contemporary present-day reality.

In “Alien vs. Predator,” a team of Weyland Corporation scientists uncover a mysterious pyramid in the Arctic. Upon investigation, they unwittingly step into an age-old battle between the two titular creatures – the Aliens and the Predators. As the humans become entangled in this ancient conflict, they learn to fear the potential devastation the Xenomorphs could bring if unleashed upon Earth. In a desperate bid for survival, they form an alliance with the Yautja hunters. The movie concludes with the alien menace vanquished and the fallen Predator being loaded onto his spaceship. However, before the screen fades to credits, an Alien emerges from the deceased Predator’s chest – a terrifying new variant of the classic extraterrestrial monster, adding another layer of fear to the cinematic universe.

The “Alien vs Predator” series presents a concept where Predators, disguised as Earth deities for millennia, have been visiting our planet. Young Predators would hunt Xenomorphs, creatures bred from ancient sacrifices to satisfy their rite of passage. This intricate alien narrative is further developed in “Prometheus”, which uncovers an extraterrestrial species known as the Engineers, who are responsible for human creation.

Combining the stories of both “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” implies a massive, interconnected universe teeming with extraterrestrial life, where Earth serves as a proving ground for various factions. Although these films attempt to portray the Xenomorph as their initial creation, inscriptions on the Engineer ship in “Prometheus” hint that they had developed these creatures earlier. This opens up possibilities for stories like “Alien Vs. Predator” to coexist with the later established events. Check them out on Hulu.

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Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Immediately following the happenings of the film “Alien vs Predator” in 2004, “Aliens vs Predator: Requiem” unfolds as the formidable Predalien, a mix of Aliens and Predators, breaks free on a Yautja spacecraft. The ensuing chaos sends the vessel plummeting into a Colorado forest, causing chaos in a small town. A solitary Yautja hunter is dispatched to eliminate the beast while the inhabitants struggle to flee for safety. The movie concludes with the alien menace being eliminated by a nuclear blast, and the danger seemingly neutralized.

The last scene of the film could significantly shape the future of the “Alien” saga, as it reveals Ms. Yutani holding the Predator’s shoulder cannon. In a previous film, her Yutani Corporation combined with Weyland Corporation to form the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, the powerful human adversary throughout the series. Having acquired this advanced alien technology, they seem poised to explore life beyond our stars and potentially initiate space colonization, setting the stage for the next century. Watch it now on Hulu.

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Prometheus (2012)

Skipping forward by 89 years to the year 2093, the film Prometheus chronicles the journey of a spaceship crew, guided by a star map found among Earth’s ancient artifacts from various cultures. Their mission: to uncover humanity’s origins. Upon landing on planet LV-223, they stumble upon an alien race that could pose a grave threat to the entire galaxy. The movie concludes with the sole human survivor, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace), and the disembodied head of the android David (Michael Fassbender) aboard the Engineer ship in search of answers regarding why these aliens sought to eradicate humanity.

In 2012’s film “Prometheus,” although it didn’t showcase a classic Xenomorph, it did introduce numerous alien-like creatures. One of these creatures even emerged from an Engineer’s chest, foreshadowing the true danger at hand. This movie serves as a prequel to the “Alien” series, setting up key plot points that significantly impact the franchise. The story revolves around the intricate connection between creators and their creations, a theme further developed through the various androids. Additionally, it reveals the Engineers (formerly known as Space Jockeys) and suggests a prototype for the Xenomorph, which appears to be a biological weapon designed to annihilate a civilization. You can stream this movie on Hulu.

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Alien: Covenant (2017)

11 years after my last encounter with the enigmatic ‘Prometheus’, I find myself drawn into the terrifying world of ‘Alien: Covenant’. This chilling tale unfolds in the year 2104, following the crew of a colonization vessel as they answer a distress signal on an uncharted planet. Little do they know that their arrival has set the stage for a deadly encounter with none other than the rebuilt android David, whose dark intentions quickly become apparent.

The movie concludes with David, possessing a vessel full of humans for testing, inserting two of his alien embryos among the frozen human ones. He then proceeds to experiment on humans, presumably aiming to develop his ultimate weapon of devastation – the Xenomorph. This creature, born from humanity and created by David, may bring about their own demise, continuing the cycle of death and destruction. Stream it on Hulu.

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Alien (1979)

In the initial installment of the series titled “Alien“, we find ourselves in the year 2122 – a timeframe that is approximately 18 years following the events depicted in “Alien: Covenant” and 29 years beyond those of “Prometheus“. The narrative of “Alien” revolves around the crew of the spacecraft, the “Nostromo“, who discover a lethal alien species named Xenomorph on the planet LV-426. As they interact with this creature, it starts to slaughter members of the crew, transforming from face-huggers to chest bursters and eventually maturing into its deadly adult form. Some of the most iconic moments in the Alien series are born from these terrifying encounters. By the film’s conclusion, every member of the crew is dead except for Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, who manages to expel the alien monster out of an airlock. In a desperate attempt to return home, she enters cryostasis; however, her journey takes an unfortunate and surprising turn.

In this movie, Ripley and her team stumble upon the leftovers of the Engineers, hinting that during the time period between “Alien: Covenant” and “Alien,” David refined his alien creature into an even more dangerous species. Given the occurrences in both “Alien vs Predator” films and “Prometheus,” the Weyland-Yutani corporation has become knowledgeable about the creature’s existence, leading them on a hunt for it. This film also underscores Ripley’s significance within the storyline, as she became the enduring symbol of the franchise. Stream on Hulu.

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Alien: Romulus (2024)

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I recently delved into the thrilling universe of the Alien franchise with the intriguing addition, Alien: Romulus. This exciting spin-off is nestled comfortably between the chilling events of Alien and the pulse-pounding action of Aliens, set in the year 2142.

Title character “Romulus” aims to unify the entire “Alien” saga. It expands on the mythology from “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” and links it to the narrative in “Alien,” while paving the way for events in “Aliens,” “Alien 3,” and “Alien: Resurrection.” The movie introduces Rook, a new android resembling Ash from the first “Alien” film, using a combination of computer-generated imagery, puppetry, and artificial intelligence voice models to mimic Ian Holms’ appearance. The story concludes with Rain and Andy entering cryosleep, hinting at a potential sequel that could also predate “Aliens.”

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Aliens (1986)

57 years following the original Alien movie, in the year 2179, the story of Aliens unfolds as Ripley’s cryopod is found drifting in space. LV-426 had already been colonized during her cryosleep, but when communication ceased, she consented to return with a team of marines to explore the planet. Upon arrival, they discovered that the planet was teeming with Xenomorphs and they had to battle for their survival. This film is renowned for some of the most gripping scenes from the entire Alien franchise. Ripley discovers a lone survivor, a young girl named Newt, and she fiercely defends herself against the creatures that killed her crew, intending to protect a new life from being claimed by them as well.

In the thrilling continuation of Ridley Scott’s movie “Aliens,” directed by James Cameron, we encounter significant additions to the Alien saga. The most crucial addition is the introduction of the Alien Queen, a character previously seen in the timeline depicted in “Alien vs Predator” but here given more depth. Additionally, the android Bishop, portrayed by Lance Henriksen, makes his appearance. In a later film, “Alien 3,” it’s revealed that Bishop was designed to resemble the founder of the Weyland Corporation, a detail hinted at in this movie. “Aliens” is widely acclaimed as one of the best sequels ever made and its impact has been so profound that subsequent films in the series have struggled to match its success. Watch it now on Hulu.

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Alien 3 (1992)

In the continuation of the events from Aliens, we find ourselves on a new setting almost immediately: an alien egg hatches on the ship, releasing a face-hugger which ignites a fire and ejects the escape pod carrying Ripley, Newt, Hicks, Bishop, and others. This pod crash-lands on a penal colony planet called Fury 161, where the harsh environment is home to violent male prisoners. Only Ripley and the Xenomorph survive the crash, effectively negating the optimistic ending of Aliens. As the story unfolds, Ripley learns that another face-hugger was aboard the ship and that she carries an embryo of an alien queen within her.

In Alien 3, Ellen Ripley’s heroism is underscored as Weaver’s character gives her life to prevent the Weyland-Yutani Corporation from exploiting the alien embryo for weaponization. This film serves as a poignant yet grim conclusion to the saga, as it wraps up the central Weyland-Yutani conflict: Bishop II (portrayed by Lance Henriksen) is uncovered as Bishop’s creator and meets his end before he can facilitate the alien queen embryo’s growth within Ripley. Despite the threat from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation being eliminated and Ripley finding peace, the broader narrative of humanity returning home remains unresolved. Watch it on Hulu.

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

In the year 2279, two centuries after the occurrences depicted in Alien 3, we find ourselves immersed in the story of Alien: Resurrection. This tale centers around a clone of Ripley named Ripley-8, who was created by the United Systems Military onboard their spacecraft, USM Auriga. Interestingly, Ripley-8 isn’t just a simple clone; she also carries DNA from a Xenomorph queen. The scientists on the ship use this unique blend to grow their own Xenomorph queen for research purposes. However, things take a turn for the worse when the Xenomorphs break free from their confinement. In response, Ripley joins forces with a group of mercenaries in a desperate bid to destroy the Auriga before it reaches Earth and unleashes more of these terrifying creatures upon humanity.

Although “Alien: Resurrection” wasn’t the concluding movie in the series, subsequent films delved into prequels, making it the chronological finale. With Ripley-8 triumphing over the alien in “Alien: Resurrection,” she was able to accomplish something her predecessor couldn’t: return to Earth and begin anew. Given that this franchise revolved around humanity’s quest for answers in the cosmos, it fittingly concludes with a story about their homecoming to Earth.

Alien Film Series by Release Date

Although arranging movies by their production timeline (chronologically) offers an engaging approach to spot connections between films from various eras, it’s equally important to consider how they were initially presented to the public – in order of their release dates.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve found it fascinating to delve into the Alien franchise, a unique horror series that has predominantly graced our screens during the summer months, except for Alien: Resurrection and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. The Alien Queen, a pivotal character introduced in Aliens, is given a more comprehensive backstory compared to her appearance in Alien vs. Predator, a film I believe assumes some prior knowledge from the audience due to its later release. Watching these films in their original order provides an insight into what the filmmakers knew at that time about the evolution of these movies. Here’s the list of Alien movies released in chronological order.

Return to Chronological Order

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2024-08-30 00:34