Few franchises are as popular as Predator. Since premiering in 1987, the Predator (or, more specifically the Yautja warrior) has spawned his own film franchise, appeared in comics and video games, and even stars in its own crossover universe with Alien, rightfully titled Alien vs. Predator. On top of that, a Prey sequel and a new standalone Predator movie called Badlands are both going into production.
If you want to explore the Predator universe before then, check out our guide below to find out how to watch every Predator movie in order. We also have a ranked list of best to worst Predator movies for those interested in watching them in order of quality.
Predator Movies by Release Date
- Predator (1987)
- Predator 2 (1990)
- Predators (2010)
- The Predator (2018)
- Prey (2022)
The Yautjas are also in the Alien vs. Predator (AVP) franchise, though AVP is not technically part of the official Alien or Predator timelines.
Alien vs. Predator Movies by Release Date
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Predator Movies in Chronological Order
Prey
Chronologically, the first movie in the series would be Prey, which is set back in 1719. In the film, a young Comanche woman (Amber Midthunder) wants to be a great hunter, but is told she’s not allowed since she’s a woman. But after encountering the Predator in the forest, she must not only become a hunter, but also survive being hunted.
Predator
Next up is the original movie which is set in the present day (being 1987 at the time). In the film, an elite military team is tasked with an extraction mission in a wartorn Central American country. But escaping rebel forces in the jungle turns out to be the least of their worries once they find themselves stalked by the Predator.
Predators
This one is highly debated because Predators never actually says when it takes place. However, many fans believe it takes place between the first two movies. In the film, a group of humans awaken on an alien planet and learn that they’re being used for hunting practice by the Predators. Even wilder, the Predator from the first movie (who definitely was blown up in the finale, but oh well...) is somehow there, and alive, and is tied up and being tortured by the other Predators for his failure on Earth. Because of this, many fans think it’s set not long after the first movie. But there are others who believe the film takes place in the future, which begs the question: How long has the Predator been tied up for?????
Predator 2
Taking Predator from the jungle to the city, Predator 2 starred Danny Glover as a Los Angeles detective who is investigating drug cartels. Also, somewhat randomly, the film is set in 1997 instead of 1990 – perhaps to give the movie more of a dystopian future vibe (which…it didn’t). But the cartels soon find that they’re not just warring against each other and the police, but also the Predator.
The Predator
Another oddity (and, honestly, just a really terrible movie in general) is The Predator. Before the film’s release, director Shane Black claimed in a 2016 interview with HeyUGuys that the movie takes place before 2010’s Predators, but also, and I quote, “Predator 2 has probably happened already…” So the film’s director doesn’t even know where and when the movie takes place. Black also cast his convicted pedophile friend for a small role in the film where he plays a pervert, and the movie has a bizarre subplot about autism. Needless to say, Black hasn’t directed a movie since The Predator and this film can honestly just be skipped.
Where Can I Watch All Predator Movies Online?
Check out our guide below to find out where you can watch every Predator movie streaming online.
