How to Watch the ‘Alien’ Movies in Order

Working out how to watch the "Alien" movies in chronological order can be a challenge in and of itself, but also trying to place the "Predator" films (which share the same cinematic universe) in the timeline can feel really daunting. Fortunately, it’s not impossible.

This guide features the three main watch lists that "Alien" fans will need depending on their personal watch order style and how comprehensive they want their movie marathons to be.

'Alien' and 'Predator' Movies in Order of Release

This list shows all of the movies that prominently feature the Xenomorph in the order that they were released. Watching these movies in the order that they came out in is often preferred by many fans as each new entry in the franchise introduces new elements which build upon the mythology.

For example, the reveal of the Alien Queen in Aliens is a major moment in the franchise that could be spoiled if you watch one of the latter films first.

'Alien' Movies in Chronological Order

Here’s the correct timeline order for the whole franchise, including the TV series and the two Alien vs. Predator flicks.

The Ultimate 'Alien' and 'Predator' Movies Chronological Order List

Feeling ambitious and want to experience the full epic "Alien" and "Predator" cinematic universe in chronological order from the 1700s through to the 2300s? This list has you covered with every Predator movie, Alien movie, and the Alien TV series sorted into the correct order in which they take place in the timeline.

All of the years in which each movie or series is set have been confirmed either by on-screen mentions of the timeline date or by statements made by the filmmakers.

Here’s how to watch all of the "Alien" and "Predator" movies in chronological order.

Are ‘Alien’ and ‘Prometheus’ Connected?

Prometheus is an official entry in the "Alien" franchise set before the original 1979 movie and after the two Alien vs. Predator films. Alien: Covenant is a direct sequel to Prometheus. It’s unclear if we’ll ever get a direct sequel to Alien: Covenant, though we expect references to it and Prometheus in future films and TV series.

Are the ‘Terminator’ and ‘Alien’ Movies Connected?

The "Alien"and "Terminator" franchises don’t officially share the same cinematic universe. There have been several direct connections made in some expanded universe media such as comic books and video games, but these are not considered canon as far as the films and TV series are concerned.

Having said that, James Cameron, who created the "Terminator" franchise and directed Aliens, originally referred to the company in his early scripts as Hyperdyne, though he eventually changed it to Cyberdyne before filming started.

The serial number for the android Ash in Alien, Hyperdyne Systems 120-A/2, is similar to the codes given to the cyborg models in the "Terminator" films (e.g., "Cyberdyne Systems Series 800").

The Aliens Vs. Predator arcade game implied that Dutch, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character from the original Predator movie, was in fact a cyborg created by Cyberdyne. This game isn’t canon as far as the films are concerned, but rumors say that this plot element was going to be included in the Alien Vs. Predator movie. In the end, however, it wasn’t used, so this connection isn’t canon … yet.

Are ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Aliens’ Connected?

It’s unclear if the "Blade Runner" and "Alien" franchises are meant to be connected or not. Ridley Scott, who directed Blade Runner, did include some visual similarities in the technology used in both Alien and Blade Runner, but this seems to be more of an Easter egg – or a way to reduce production costs – than an official connection.

An extra on the 1999 20th Anniversary Alien DVD does mention the Tyrell Corporation, the company from Blade Runner, but a DVD extra likely made as fan service probably isn’t meant to be considered concrete evidence of a canon, in-universe connection.

One of the extras on the Prometheus Blu-ray release, "The Peter Weyland Files," also suggests the two franchises are related. A log from that character says,

A mentor and long-departed competitor once told me that it was time to put away childish things and abandon my "toys." He encouraged me to come work for him and together we would take over the world and become the new Gods. That's how he ran his corporation, like a God on top of a pyramid overlooking a city of angels.

Of course, he chose to replicate the power of creation in an unoriginal way, by simply copying God. And look how that turned out for [him]. Literally blew up in the old man's face. I always suggested he stick with simple robotics instead of those genetic abominations he [. . .] sold off-world, although his idea to implant them with false memories was, well ... "amusing," is how I would put it politely.

This "mentor and long-departed competitor" is almost certainly Eldon Tyrell, the head of the eponymous corporation and creator of Blade Runner's replicants. The Tyrell Corporation building is, in fact, a huge pyramid, and the "city of angels" is an on-the-nose reference to the movie's setting of Los Angeles. Some replicants did, in fact, have false memories that convinced them they were human.

Again, we probably can't rely on extra-movie material for rulings either way, but they are fun to consider.

Confirmation of a connection between the "Alien" and "Blade Runner" franchises may happen one way or the other in the "Alien" TV series, which will be the first entry in the franchise set on Earth in the future. If Earth (specifically Los Angeles) doesn’t look like it does in Blade Runner, this suggests that the two franchises are indeed separate.