Alien Movies: How to Watch in Chronological Order

The Xenomorph from the Alien film franchise is one of the most iconic and terrifying movie monsters ever created, known for its acid blood, multiple mouths, and deadly claws. It essentially pioneered the space horror genre and instilled a new fear in an entire generation. With the recent release of Alien: Romulus now streaming, you might be inspired to embark on a full rewatch of the Alien franchise, including the Alien/Predator crossover films set on Earth.

But what's the best order to watch these films? We've got you covered with detailed listings for the Alien movies, both in chronological order and by release date.

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• How to watch in chronological order
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The Alien Movies in Chronological Order

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How Many Alien Movies Are There?

There are a total of nine movies in the Alien franchise — four in the mainline series, two Predator crossovers, two prequels directed by Ridley Scott, and the latest standalone film from Fede Álvarez.

Alien: 6-Film Collection

4See it at Amazon

Alien: Romulus

0See it at Amazon

Alien: 35th Anniversary Edition

2See it at Amazon

Aliens

1See it at Amazon

Prometheus

1See it at Amazon

Alien Movies in (Chronological) Order

1. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

The story of the Xenomorphs begins, chronologically, with the first of the two crossover films, AVP. Set in 2004, this film, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Event Horizon fame, brings to life the "battle of the titans" concept that originated in a 1989 comic. In AVP, humans discover that Predators (known as the "Yautja") have been visiting Earth for millennia. Ancient cults worshipped them and would sacrifice themselves to a Xenomorph Queen's brood — the facehuggers — to produce adult Xenomorphs for the Predators to hunt as the "ultimate prey." Unfortunately, the Predators' 2004 hunting trip goes awry.

Alien vs. Predator

20th Century Fox

Aug 13, 2004

PG-13

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2. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

Set in modern times, and thus before the rest of the Alien franchise, the crossover sequel Aliens vs Predator: Requiem continues directly from AVP. An Alien-Predator hybrid, the "Predalien," is now loose in a small Colorado town. A veteran Predator arrives to clean up the mess, leading to significant carnage. This was the final crossover film in the Alien franchise. For more information, see our guide to the Predator movies in order.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

Davis Entertainment

Dec 25, 2007

R

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