Best Order to Watch the Alien Movies (Updated: August 2025)

If you’re curious about delving into Alien: Earth, you might be asking yourself how to best view the Alien films sequence. With multiple movies in the series, it’s essential to watch them for a complete understanding of the narrative. But unlike a chronological approach, a specific order is recommended due to the complexities within the franchise. We’ll outline that sequence below.

Should I watch the Alien movies in release or chronological order?

It might seem like the smartest move when getting into the Alien franchise is to watch the movies in chronological order. But this isn’t always the most effective way to enjoy the series. Each film adds to the story based on events from previous installments, even if they are prequels. To illustrate, watching Prometheus before Alien may not have as much impact if you haven’t previously encountered Ridley’s encounters with the Space Engineer and Xenomorph.

To fully appreciate the Alien series, it’s recommended to watch them in the sequence they were originally released. This approach ensures that every movie makes sense, as you won’t miss any references or spoilers from films that came before, and won’t have your viewing experience negatively impacted by watching later movies first.

The best order to watch the Alien movies as of June 2025

To provide a clearer and more conversational rephrasing: Here’s the recommended way to watch the Alien films – follow their original release order. However, some films on this list can be skipped without missing much context. The Alien vs. Predator movies have been included for completeness, but it’s essential to know that they are not considered part of the official Alien series (at least within the universe of the Alien franchise).

Alien (1979)

The movie that kickstarted the trend is none other than Alien. Written by the talented Dan O’Bannon and brought to life by Ridley Scott’s visionary direction, Alien stands out as a space-themed horror masterpiece with an unparalleled focus on tension, fear, and groundbreaking creature design. Sigourney Weaver delivers an iconic performance in this film, and the rest of the cast is equally captivating, making for a watchable ensemble that never fails to impress.

Although some may question its contemporary relevance, we firmly believe that Alien remains a benchmark in science fiction horror, even if it were to be released today with identical shots and scenes. Its impact on the genre remains undeniable.

Aliens (1986)

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I find myself revisiting the gripping tale of Aliens, a sequel that unfolds fifty-seven years after the traumatic ordeal initially portrayed in the first Alien film. In this continuation, it’s me – Ellen Ripley – who’s been revived from suspended animation and stands alone as the lone survivor of an ill-fated spacecraft ambush. When communication with a human settlement on LV-426 (the very same moon) suddenly ceases, I find myself joining a band of Marines to delve into the mystery.

Some of the movie’s brilliance can be attributed to James Cameron, who stepped up as both director and writer, resulting in an ever-expanding and daring narrative. Although it faced some initial challenges in reaching our screens, Aliens garnered widespread critical acclaim and has since been hailed as one of the most outstanding films of the 1980s.

Alien 3 (1992)

For a second time, Ellen Ripley miraculously lives through a spaceship disaster, this time making an emergency landing on the penal colony Fiorina 161, which houses ex-prisoners from a maximum-security facility. Interestingly, Alien 3 was director David Fincher’s debut full-length film, having previously only directed music videos. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t thrilled about this project due to artistic differences with the studio. Although it may not reach the level of Aliens, Alien 3 is a significant addition to the Alien series and is strongly suggested for fans who enjoy the franchise. If you are a fan of David Fincher, watching Alien 3 will also offer an interesting perspective on his directorial evolution between this film and Se7en.

Alien Resurrection (1997)

Titled “Alien Resurrection,” this movie was penned by Joss Whedon and directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. It unfolds 200 years after Ellen Ripley’s heroic demise. The plot revolves around a team of scientists on board the USM Auriga, who employ Ripley’s genetic material to replicate her, with the intention of weaponizing her against the Xenomorphs as they approach Earth. However, her blood is infused with that of the Queen, resulting in a powerful Ripley who has an unnerving empathy towards these aliens. Despite not receiving the sequels written by Whedon initially planned, the narrative was furthered in the Alien comics. Reception for Alien Resurrection was mixed, with fans and critics offering varied opinions. Although it was the least profitable film in the series within the U.S. and Canada, it managed to garner $161 million globally.

Alien vs. Predator (2004)

In a groundbreaking move, the film “Alien vs. Predator” aimed to combine the legendary series of both Alien and Predator. Regrettably, this venture didn’t win favorable reviews; its Rotten Tomatoes score is a mere 21%. Later on, Ridley Scott disavowed the film’s continuity in his prequel series. The story revolves around the ambitious entrepreneur Charles Bishop Weyland (portrayed by Lance Henriksen), who organizes an expedition to Antarctica following the detection of a strange heat signature. Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan) leads this team as their resourceful guide. Unfortunately, their mission takes a turn for the worse when they encounter parasitic aliens. To make things even more perilous, another lethal species joins the fray, leaving the humans stuck in the crossfire.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

In a less traditional storyline and generally disliked compared to Alien vs. Predator, this movie has only managed a 12% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re determined to watch all the Alien films, prepare yourself for a deep dive, but honestly, if you need to miss one Alien film, this might be it. The sixth installment in the Alien series and the fourth in the Predator franchise, titled Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, serves as a direct sequel to its predecessor. The story resumes immediately after the previous movie, with a Predator spaceship crashing in a Colorado forest, releasing a terrifying hybrid of Alien and Predator creatures that head towards a small town.

Prometheus (2012)

Reviving Ridley Scott as director, with a screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, Prometheus delivers a prequel set in the late 21st century. This prequel follows the team on board the spaceship Prometheus, who are exploring a star map shared among various ancient Earth civilizations. However, they quickly realize that humanity’s very existence is at risk. Although Ripley isn’t present this time around, the movie boasts remarkable performances from an ensemble cast consisting of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce. A significant motif in Prometheus is artificial intelligence, particularly through an android named David, which adds an eerie edge to the story when viewed in today’s context.

Alien Covenant (2017)

In simpler terms, Covenant, a sequel to the movie Prometheus, serves as its prequel as well. Ten years post the events of the earlier film, a colony ship named Covenant embarks on a journey with thousands of passengers and human embryos in suspended animation, destined for colonization on a distant planet. During their voyage, they receive an intriguing signal from a nearby planet that seems like a more accessible alternative. The crew’s captain Oram (played by Billy Crudup) and his second-in-command Daniels (Katherine Waterston) decide to explore this seemingly hospitable world. Upon arrival, they encounter David, the sole survivor of the Prometheus expedition. Covenant is one of our favorite Alien movies due to its blend of action and suspense.

Alien Romulus (2024)

Set in the year 2142, bridging the gap between the original Alien movie and its sequel, we find ourselves in a story where a team of young space settlers stumble upon an abandoned spaceship. In search of valuable resources, they instead encounter a xenomorph that miraculously survived. This leads to a tense struggle for survival. Directed by Fede Álvarez, who collaborated with Rodo Sayagues on the script, Romulus injects new vitality into a franchise that might otherwise have grown stale. Notably, the hybrid offspring of humans and xenomorphs is one of the most terrifying-looking creatures imaginable.

2025-08-22 02:29