How to Watch the ‘Alien’ Movies and Show in Order

Nothing is as it seems in the Alien universe — including its fictional timeline.

For over 40 years, the Xenomorph has terrorized audiences with seven films, two Alien vs. Predator crossover movies and a show, Alien: Earth. The prequel, which premiered on FX and Hulu on Aug. 12, 2025, marked the first time the story has been adapted for the small screen.

With its atmospheric tension and mesmerizing special effects, the Alien franchise, which is streaming on Hulu, has cemented itself as a sci-fi horror classic. However, the franchise’s timeline is not as straightforward as the release dates suggest.

It requires some jumping around when looking to watch the narrative unfold chronologically. Even the most recent FX series technically takes place before the original 1979 movie Alien.

Here’s how to watch the Alien movies in chronological order and where the latest installment, Alien: Romulus, falls in the timeline.

How to Watch the Alien Movies in Release Order

Alien (1979)Aliens (1986)Alien 3 (1992)Alien: Resurrection (1997)Alien vs. Predator (2004)Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)Prometheus (2012)Alien: Covenant (2017)Alien: Romulus (2024)Alien: Earth (2025)

How to Watch the Alien Movies in Chronological Order

Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Alien vs. Predator is the first of the Alien movies set in the present day and not the distant future. It follows an expedition led by Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen) as the crew investigates a massive heat signal on an island off the coast of Antarctica.

A fight ensues between long-dormant Xenomorphs and three Predator hunters, with the latter attempting to keep the monsters from reaching Earth’s surface and wreaking havoc.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem starts right after the previous movie ends, in 2004.

The story follows the immediate aftermath of the battle, as the Xenomorphs and a new “Predalien” hybrid incite mayhem in a small Colorado town.

Prometheus (2012)

Prometheus is set in 2089 and follows archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) as they discover an ancient star map on Earth, which they interpret as an invitation from humanity’s creators.

This leads them to a distant moon in 2093, where they encounter the “Engineers,” the creators of the Xenomorphs and David (Michael Fassbender), an android with his own agenda. While classic Xenomorphs don’t appear, the film explores the origins of the species.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Alien: Covenant, takes place in 2104, 11 years after the events of Prometheus. Starring Fassbender as David 8 and Walter One, two synthetic androids, and Katherine Waterston as Daniels, the chief of terraforming and the wife of the late ship’s captain, Jacob Branson (James Franco).

The ship Covenant is en route to the planet Origae-6, but detours to a nearby planet. There, it encounters David from Prometheus, who is still pursuing his mission to breed the alien species.

The crew later discovers a horrifying truth about the origins of the Xenomorphs and their creators.

Alien: Earth (2025)

Set in 2120, over a decade after the events of Alien: Covenant, the FX series follows a humanoid robot named Wendy (Sydney Chandler) as she leads a team of rag-tag soldiers to investigate a mysterious space vessel that crash-lands on Earth.

The wreckage brings the group face-to-face with unheard of life forms that are more terrifying than they could ever imagine.

Alien (1979)

The original Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is set in 2122. In the film, the crew of the Nostromo investigates a distress call from a derelict spaceship on moon LV-426 and encounters the deadly Xenomorph.

The film introduces Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who becomes the franchise’s central character. The movie’s blend of sci-fi and horror set the tone for the series and introduced the infamous Xenomorph.

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Directed by Fede Álvarez, Alien: Romulus is set between the events of Alien and Aliens, following a group of young space explorers — Rain (Cailee Spaeny), Tyler (Archie Renaux), Kay (Isabela Merced), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and an android named Andy (David Jonsson) — who stumble upon the wreckage of a space station, where they inevitably encounter a Xenomorph.

It centers on Rain (Spaeny), a young contract worker from a harsh, sunless mining colony, alongside Andy (Jonsson), a glitchy android programmed by her father, whom she affectionately refers to as her brother.

Aliens (1986)

Aliens is set 57 years after the events of Alien, in 2179. Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo, is rescued and debriefed by her employer, Weyland-Yutani.

She joins a mission to LV-426, where they discover a Xenomorph hive. Directed by James Cameron, the film deploys an action-packed narrative.

Alien 3 (1992)

Alien 3, directed by David Fincher, begins shortly after Aliens, still in 2179. At the end of Aliens, the ship carrying Ripley and her crew crash-lands on the prison planet Fiorina 161, with Ripley as the sole survivor.

The film highlights Weyland-Yutani’s ongoing pursuit of the Xenomorph, with Ripley as the central figure. It’s soon discovered that she is infected and has a chest-burster growing inside her. In a desperate bid to prevent the alien from falling into the wrong hands, Ripley chooses to end her life along with the creature.

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Alien: Resurrection takes a significant leap to 2381, 202 years after Ripley’s death. Scientists clone Ripley, along with the Xenomorph Queen embryo inside her, to study the aliens. The film explores the consequences of the cloning experiment and introduces Winona Ryder as Annalee Call, the newest member of the crew aboard the Betty ship.

Familiar with Ripley and the aliens, Call’s true nature is unveiled as the film progresses: she is a synthetic. Throughout the story, Call assists the remaining crew in communicating with the cloning scientists.