Ever since Ridley Scott’s Alien burst through a proverbial chest onto screens in 1979, audiences around the world have been mesmerised by the terror and the brilliance of the sci-fi franchise. With some nine instalments released over the past 45+ years, each addition has captured a little part of the sheer panic of the original, and introduced new generations of fans to the terrifying Xenomorphs and the crew members who dared take them on. Check out how to watch all the Alien films in both release and chronological order, and find out how (and where) you can stream them below!
How to watch the Alien movies in order of release
Award-winning director Ridley Scott began his franchise with 1979’s Alien, which rocketed Sigourney Weaver to horror icon status with her role as the eternal survivor aboard the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley. The film was an instant classic, simultaneously provoking an agonising sense of tension that only escalated while keeping the visuals tight and minimal.
Over the next 18 years, three more Alien movies were released — directed by James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, respectively — that continued Ripley’s story into the future.
- Alien (1979)
- Aliens (1986)
- Alien 3 (1992)
- Alien: Resurrection (1997)
- AVP: Alien vs Predator (2004)
- Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)
- Prometheus (2012)
- Alien: Covenant (2017)
- Alien: Romulus (2024)
In 2004, director Paul WS Anderson created the first crossover Alien vs Predator film, followed by Greg and Colin Strause’s 2007 addition, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. The two films imagined what would happen if the Alien Xenomorphs collided with the extraterrestrial hunters the ‘Yautja’ from the Predators franchise.
In 2012, Ridley Scott returned to the franchise to create a prequel film, Prometheus, which followed an unsuspecting crew’s fateful first encounter with a deadly alien lifeform. The film starred Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Michael Fassbender, the latter of whom went on to appear in Scott’s next films, 2017’s Alien: Covenant, which takes place 11 years after the Prometheus expedition.
The next addition, Alien: Romulus, was released in 2024. The film is directed by Fede Álvarez and follows an all-new set of crew members who encounter the Xenomorphs in a deserted space station. The film stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu as the new crew aboard the Corbelan IV.
How to watch the Alien movies in chronological order
If you love a continuous storyline, you’re in luck with the Alien franchise. Each instalment is a unique addition that adds to Alien lore, although it’s important to note that the chronological order is different to the release order.
In chronological order, the Alien franchise starts with the two Alien vs Predator prequel films that both take place in 2004. From there, we jump forward to 2093 and the Prometheus expedition, before heading to Alien: Covenant in 2104.
- 2004 - AVP: Alien vs Predator
- 2004 - Aliens vs Predator: Requiem
- 2093 - Prometheus
- 2104 - Alien: Covenant
- 2122 - Alien
- 2142 - Alien: Romulus
- 2179 - Aliens
- 2179 - Alien 3
- 2181 - Alien: Resurrection
From there, we’re finally at the events of the original film, which take place in 2122. Alien: Romulus fits neatly between the first two Alien films in the year 2142 aboard the Corbelan IV ship, after facehuggers escape from an abandoned space station.
From there, the final three Alien films follow the release order of the original film series, ending with Alien: Resurrection, which takes place in 2181.
Where can I watch the Alien movies online?
Check out our full list of all the Alien movies in order of release below to find out where you can stream them across platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Netflix, and more!
