The Alien franchise is one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time. Combining science fiction, action and horror, this terrifying franchise has captured the imagination of fans all over the world with the warning that "In Space, nobody can hear you scream." If you want to watch every Alien movie in order, we've got you covered with this complete guide. Here you can find out all the latest information on where to watch them, and the correct order. We've also provided the chronological order in case you want to revisit the franchise and follow the story as it unfolds.
Alien
The Alien franchise began in 1979 with the release of Alien from director Ridley Scott. It follows the crew of the spacecraft Nostromo, including warrant officer Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt), and executive officer Kane (John Hurt), who are on their way home from a mission in deep space. However, they soon find themselves fighting for survival when an alien species (later identified as Xenomorphs) infiltrates their ship.
Although Alien received mixed reviews upon release, it was reassessed and is now considered one of the greatest sci-fi horror movies ever. The blend of horror and sci-fi, the strong female lead in Sigourney Weaver, and the chilling and dreadful premise were groundbreaking. Additionally, the scene where the alien emerges through Kane’s chest is considered one of cinematic history's most iconic scenes.
Aliens
Sigourney Weaver returned for the 1986 sequel, Aliens, with James Cameron signing on to direct. The film sees Ripley return to the original site of the attack on Nostromo after another ship goes dark while in the area. Aliens did what few sequels accomplish and came to be considered equal to or greater than Alien in quality, thrilling viewers with its exploration of a Queen Xenomorph and further character development of Ripley.
Alien 3
Following directly on from the events of Aliens, Alien 3 begins with a xenomorph's egg hatching aboard the Colonial Marine spaceship Sulaco. As a new facehugger is released, a fire causes damage to the ship and the computer launches an escape pod with a handful of survivors – Ellen Ripley, Newt, Hicks, and Bishop.
Alien Resurrection
Alien Resurrection takes place 200 years later, with bold storytelling decisions that involve military scientists that clone Ellen Ripley to create Ripley 8. However, Ripley's DNA has been combined with the alien queen's, creating a clone with an embryo inside it.
Alien vs. Predator
The next Alien film would diverge from the original movies and start a new crossover franchise with Predator. Also known as 'AVP', this marked an iconic head-to-head between the two most famous sci-fi horror characters of all time.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
The ongoing fight between the Xenomorph (Alien) and Yautja (Predator) continues in a small Colorado town, where the unfortunate residents must work together if they want to survive.
Despite getting a sequel, original Alien director Ridley Scott was vehemently against the AVP crossover and eventually received the green light to revive the franchise with two prequel films, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.
Prometheus
The Alien prequel, titled Prometheus, introduces archeologists Elizabeth (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie (Logan Marshall-Green) and android David (Michael Fassbender), who run into a deadly alien species while attempting to track the origin of humanity.
Alien: Covenant
Covenant continues on directly from Prometheus, following the crew of a colony ship as they land on an unexplored planet. While the prequels didn’t entirely eclipse the original movie and its sequel, they received relatively positive reviews. They revitalized the franchise, raising excitement for Alien: Romulus, which will take viewers back to the time of the original films.
Alien: Romulus
As the first Alien movie to be produced by Disney, the movie follows a group of space scavengers who come face to face a xenomorph. It centers on an all-new cast but functions as an 'interquel', taking place between the events of Alien and Aliens.
How to watch the Alien movies in chronological order
Viewers can either watch the Alien movies in chronological or release date order. Chronological order is fairly simple, as it is the Predator vs. Alien movies, followed by the prequels and original series. The new film, Alien: Romulus, is set to take place between Alien and Aliens. The chronological order is:
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AVP: Alien vs. Predator
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Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem
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Prometheus
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Alien: Covenant
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Alien
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Alien: Romulus
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Aliens
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Alien 3
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Alien Resurrection
How can I watch the Alien movies in order on streaming services?
If you want to watch every Alien movie in release order, our streaming guide can help you know exactly where to watch them on streaming services. This complete guide shows you every Alien movie in release order and all the latest streaming offers for viewers in the United States.
