How and Where to Watch The Alien Movies in Order

Updated on

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.

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.

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!

Netflix
Disney Plus
Amazon Prime Video
Apple TV Plus
Apple TV
Rakuten TV
Crunchyroll
Amazon Video
Paramount Plus
Channel 4
Sky Go
Crunchyroll Amazon Channel
BBC iPlayer
MUBI
Google Play Movies
BFI Player
Sky Store
Microsoft Store
Freevee
Curzon Home Cinema
ITVX
YouTube
Shudder
ARROW
Arrow Video Amazon Channel
Talk Talk TV
UKTV Play
GuideDoc
Movietickets
Netflix Kids
YouTube Premium
BFI Player Amazon Channel
Hayu
Hayu Amazon Channel
My5
BritBox Amazon Channel
MUBI Amazon Channel
STUDIOCANAL PRESENTS Apple TV Channel
STV Player
Curiosity Stream
Flix Premiere
Hotstar
Revry
DOCSVILLE
Now TV
Spamflix
JustWatch TV
Plex
WOW Presents Plus
Magellan TV
BroadwayHD
Filmzie
MovieSaints
Acorn TV
AcornTV Amazon Channel
Dekkoo
True Story
DocAlliance Films
Hoichoi
Now TV Cinema
CuriosityStream Amazon Channel
DocuBay Amazon Channel
Discovery+ Amazon Channel
Fandor Amazon Channel
Full Moon Amazon Channel
ITV Amazon Channel
Pokémon Amazon Channel
Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
Shudder Amazon Channel
Eros Now Amazon Channel
FilmBox Live Amazon Channel
W4free
Paus
Pluto TV
Eventive
ShortsTV Amazon Channel
Cultpix
FilmBox+
Yupp TV
Paramount+ Amazon Channel
Discovery+
Icon Film Amazon Channel
Curzon Amazon Channel
Hallmark TV Amazon Channel
Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel
Sundance Now Amazon Channel
Sooner Amazon Channel
Takflix
Klassiki
Sun Nxt
Viaplay
Netflix basic with Ads
Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel
Runtime
OUTtv Amazon Channel
HistoryPlay Amazon Channel
Crime+ Investigation Play Amazon Channel
Shahid VIP
Univer Video
Acorn TV Apple TV
Tastemade Apple TV Channel
CuriosityStream Apple TV Channel
BFI Player Apple TV Channel
Kocowa
Amazon Prime Video with Ads
ODEON Cinemas
Cineworld
Vue
Arte
Showcase Cinemas
MGM Plus Amazon Channel
Tubi TV
Plex Live TV
Everyman Cinema
Motorvision TV Amazon Channel
Okidoki Amazon Channel
Sat.1 emotions Amazon Channel
Stingray Classica Amazon Channel
Stingray Djazz Amazon Channel
Stingray Karaoke Amazon Channel
TV1000 Russian Kino Amazon Channel
Filters
  1. Alien

    Alien

    1979

    #1

    During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.

  2. Aliens

    Aliens

    1986

    #2

    Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.

  3. Alien³

    Alien³

    1992

    #3

    After escaping with Newt and Hicks from the alien planet, Ripley crash lands on Fiorina 161, a prison planet and host to a correctional facility. Unfortunately, although Newt and Hicks do not survive the crash, a more unwelcome visitor does. The prison does not allow weapons of any kind, and with aid being a long time away, the prisoners must simply survive in any way they can.

  4. Alien Resurrection

    Alien Resurrection

    1997

    #4

    Two hundred years after Lt. Ripley died, a group of scientists clone her, hoping to breed the ultimate weapon. But the new Ripley is full of surprises … as are the new aliens. Ripley must team with a band of smugglers to keep the creatures from reaching Earth.

  5. AVP: Alien vs. Predator

    #5

    When scientists discover something near Antarctica that appears to be a buried Pyramid, they send a research team out to investigate. Little do they know that they are about to step into a hunting ground where Aliens are grown as sport for the Predator race.

  6. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem

    #6

    After a horrifying PredAlien crash-lands near a small Colorado town, killing everyone it encounters and producing countless Alien offspring, a lone Predator arrives to "clean up" the infestation.

  7. Prometheus

    Prometheus

    2012

    #7

    A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

  8. Alien: Covenant

    Alien: Covenant

    2017

    #8

    The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise but is actually a dark, dangerous world.

  9. Alien: Romulus

    Alien: Romulus

    2024

    #9

    While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.