Film · in order
Alien Movies in Order
The complete Alien saga in two clear paths: release order (start with 1979's Alien) or in-universe chronological order (start with the Prometheus prequels), including 2024's Alien: Romulus.
Alien Movies in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Alien is two stories braided together: Ellen Ripley's original survival saga and the prequel mythology Ridley Scott built decades later to explain where the creatures came from. Because the prequels were made last but are set first, the franchise reads very differently depending on which thread you pull, so there are two sensible ways to watch.
Release order is the default and the one we recommend for newcomers. Start with Alien (1979), the slow-burn haunted-house-in-space that started everything, then Aliens (1986), James Cameron's louder action sequel. Continue through Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection before jumping to the prequels — Prometheus and Alien: Covenant — and finishing with Alien: Romulus (2024). Watching this way preserves the mysteries exactly as audiences first met them: you discover the xenomorph before you ever learn who engineered it.
Chronological (in-universe) order rewinds the timeline. It opens with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, which take place decades before the Nostromo ever answers a distress call, then moves into Alien. Romulus slots in next because it is set in the gap between Alien and Aliens, followed by Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection. This path is great on a rewatch — it front-loads the origin story and lets the dread build toward Ripley.
One gotcha: the Alien vs. Predator crossover films (2004 and 2007) exist but sit in a separate, loosely-connected continuity tied to the Predator series. We mention them for completeness but keep them off the main lists so the core saga stays clean. Fans of monster crossovers may still want to seek them out on their own.
Timeline 1979–2024
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Alien movies are there?
There are seven films in the main Alien continuity: Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017), and Alien: Romulus (2024). The two Alien vs. Predator crossovers are a separate continuity.
What order should I watch Alien in?
For a first watch, use release order: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, then Alien: Romulus. This preserves the original mysteries before the prequels explain them.
Should I watch Prometheus before or after Alien?
In release order you watch Prometheus after the original four films. In chronological order it comes first, since it's set decades before Alien. We recommend saving it for after Alien on a first viewing.
Where does Alien: Romulus fit in the timeline?
Alien: Romulus (2024) is set in the gap between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). In release order it comes last; in chronological order it sits right after the original Alien.
Are the Alien vs. Predator movies canon?
Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) belong to a separate, loosely-connected continuity shared with the Predator series. They aren't part of the core Alien saga, so we keep them off the main list.
Do I need to watch the prequels to understand the saga?
No. The original four Ripley films stand on their own. Prometheus and Alien: Covenant add origin backstory about the Engineers and the creature's creation, but they're optional context rather than required viewing.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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