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When it comes to extraterrestrial movies, few have been able to match the fascination attached to the Alien movie franchise. It all started with Ridley's Scott's 1979 movie Alien and the latest title in the franchise was released in August of this year. In the Alien movie franchise, all titles are set in the same universe, however, each has a distinctive style thanks to the talented filmmakers who worked on them.
There are a total of nine movies in the Alien movie franchise to date. Fans can opt to watch them by release order, however, the same wouldn't be ideal for those who want to follow the chronological flow of the narrative. But, it is imperative to note that even in chronological order, viewers will notice certain discrepancies as some events tend to be contradictory.
Fans of the Alien movie franchise who want to watch the titles in their correct chronological order can follow the sequence in this list.
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Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Here's how you can watch every title in the Alien movie franchise in chronological order
1) Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Paul W. S. Anderson's Alien movie is a crossover wherein scientists get caught in the middle of an epic battle between Predators and Xenomorphs. Set in 2004, the movie is based on a concept from a 1989 comic book. The cast includes Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, and others.
The fifth installment in the Alien movie franchise, Alien vs. Predator, will particularly appeal to viewers who have a fondness for action-packed narratives with a "battle of the titans" angle.
Even though this movie received negative feedback after its release, Alien vs. Predator is not a total bust. The storyline may pale in comparison to other titles on this list but it delivers in terms of special effects, eye-catching action scenes and unexpected twists. It also boasts plenty of violence and gore which isn't exactly new to fans of Alien and Predator movies.
Where to watch: Alien vs. Predator is available for streaming on Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV+.
2) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Marking the directorial debut of The Brothers Strause, this Alien movie is a direct sequel to Alien vs. Predator. Set in 2004, innocent humans become entangled in a fight between Predalien, an Alien-Predator hybrid, and a Predator assigned to kill it. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem stars Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, and more.
Many fans were critical of the poor lighting in the movie but it is still worth watching because the narrative brings to light several interesting in-universe concepts which include connecting Yutani Corp’s advancements to Predator tech.
While it is true that this Alien movie could have done better in terms of compelling character arcs, it still delivers in terms of impressive makeup and costumes in addition to brutal fight scenes.
Where to watch: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem can be streamed on Disney+, Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
3) Prometheus (2012)
This Alien movie, by Ridley Scott, is set in the late 21st century. The crew members on board Prometheus follow a star map to find answers about mankind's origins. But, when they arrive at their destination, they come across a terrifying threat.
Prometheus has a star-studded cast that includes the likes of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron and others. Scott has a knack for epic storytelling and it certainly shows in Prometheus. The amount of detail that went into the set, costumes and cinematography is impressive, to say the least.
The movie thrives on well-developed characters especially David, an android played by Fassbender, who serves the founder of the Weyland Corporation. The layered narrative does a good job of maintaining the intrigue from start to finish.
Where to watch: Prometheus is available on Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
4) Alien: Covenant (2017)
A sequel to Prometheus, this Ridley Scott movie witnesses the return of Michael Fassbender who plays dual roles. David from the earlier installment and Walter, a newer android model who monitors the colonization ship Covenant. After receiving a transmission from a nearby planet, the crew decides to investigate and encounter deadly aliens.
Like Prometheus, this Alien movie boasts captivating visuals and special effects that will appeal to fans of the franchise. The well-made score also adds to the intensity of the events that the characters experience on the planet.
The film does feel a bit rushed at certain points but it still delivers in terms of engaging twists and surprising revelations. Fassbender is clearly the star of the show as he effortlessly plays both characters without any overlap of their distinctive personalities.
Where to watch: Alien: Covenant is available for streaming on Apple TV+, Disney+ and Prime Video.
5) Alien (1979)
The success of this Alien movie resulted in the Alien movie franchise. The beloved classic set in 2122 focuses on the crew of a commercial space tug named Nostromo who decide to investigate a transmission received from a nearby planet. After they land on the planet, they are attacked by an alien. It even manages to get inside their ship which leads to chaos and bloodshed.
Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and others, star in this Alien movie that stands out because of its exciting premise and well-thought-out plot.
Nowadays, more often than not, extraterrestrial movies tend to give precedence to special effects instead of the narrative but this 1979 movie achieves a fine balance between the two which is why it is still dear to fans of the genre. Weaver, in particular, deserves credit for making her character, Ripley, believable and endearing.
Where to watch: Alien can be viewed on Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
6) Alien: Romulus (2024)
The latest installment in the Alien movie franchise, Alien: Romulus is set between the events of Alien and Aliens. In this Fede Álvarez movie, the focus is on six young space colonists played by Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
When they decide to steal cryostasis equipment from a Weyland-Yutani station, they come face to face with facehugger parasites. It has a fairly straightforward plot with many throwback moments that will make fans of the franchise nostalgic. In terms of visuals, it is closer to the vibe of Alien than Prometheus.
Even though Rain Carradine will never be able to match Ripley, Spaeny's compelling performance makes her a character that the audience will remember for a long time to come. The movie deserves praise for being able to embrace the Alien universe and still present a standalone story that is fresh and entertaining.
Where to watch: Alien: Romulus is available for rent on Apple TV+.
7) Aliens (1986)
This James Cameron movie is set in 2179, which is 57 years after the events of the 1979 installment. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley who has to go back to the site where her crew first encountered aliens to investigate the loss of communication with an established human colony. It also stars Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and others.
Like in Alien, Weaver steals the show by realistically showcasing her character's vulnerabilities and proves yet again that true courage is to never give up, even when faced with a powerful enemy. Ripley's growing bond with Carrie Henn's character, Newt, also adds to her endearing character arc.
In addition to adrenaline-pumping action scenes, the movie does a great job of elaborating on the backstories and universe mythos which will appeal to fans of all ages.
Where to watch: Aliens can be streamed on Disney+ and Apple TV+.
8) Alien 3 (1992)
This Alien movie by David Fincher is set right after the events of Aliens. Ellen Ripley's pod crashes on Fiorina 161, a penal colony planet. When an alien starts to threaten the lives of the inmates, she convinces them to band together in order to kill it. But, she soon realizes that the enemy is closer than she imagined.
Sigourney Weaver is joined by Charles Dance, Brian Glover, Charles S. Dutton, and others. After the success of Alien and Aliens, fans had high expectations from this sequel but it received mixed reviews when it was released. The visuals, apart from a few scenes, weren't able to match the intensity of its predecessors.
Alien 3 is still enjoyable thanks to Ripley and a few key characters but it's best not to expect too much from the narrative which seems to follow the same patterns as other Alien movies.
Where to watch: Alien 3 is available on Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+.
9) Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Chronologically, this Alien movie by Jean-Pierre Jeunet should be at the end of every Alien movie marathon. It is set 200 years after Alien 3. It centers around a clone of Ellen Ripley, who is different from the character fans have adored in the previous installments.
The United Systems Military decides to breed Aliens for study and research but things take a drastic turn when they escape their enclosures. In addition to Sigourney Weaver, Alien: Resurrection also stars Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, and more.
In terms of storytelling, Alien: Resurrection is different from its predecessors. It has its fair share of action but it also focuses on the psychological angle of the situation. It helps that the layered narrative has plenty of engaging sub-plots that help keep the audience interested.
Where to watch: Alien: Resurrection can be streamed on Apple TV+, Prime Video and Disney+.
Fans planning to indulge in an Alien movie marathon will find that this chronological sequence will help them follow the plot progression better.
