What is the correct way to enjoy the most terrifying sci-fi sagas in cinema?
Understanding the timeline of Alien and Predator can be a real challenge for fans of the franchise. Over the decades, cinematic releases have jumped from the spatial future to Earth's historical past, intertwining the stories of the lethal Xenomorphs and the relentless Yautja hunters through prequels, sequels, and crossovers.
Collection of TV series and movie merchandise
To enjoy this cinematic experience without getting lost in space-time, there are two main methodologies: the order by theatrical release date and the internal chronology of events. If you want to understand the evolution of the story from the first encounters on Earth to survival in deep space, watching the films according to their ambient year is the most immersive option.
In addition to its narrative, this franchise is widely recognized in pop culture for the technological and combat arsenal used by the characters. From the pulse rifles of the Colonial Marines to the claws, wrist blades, and retractable spears of the Predators, the artifacts from these films have generated a highly coveted collecting market for fans of movie prop replicas and science fiction gear. Below, we break down the official timeline so you can prepare your ultimate marathon.
Alien and Predator timeline
1st - Predator: Prey – 2022
Set in 1719.
Naru, a young Comanche warrior, struggles to prove her worth as an alien Predator arrives on Earth to hunt.
The film showcases human cunning against lethal technology, making it the oldest story in the Predator universe.
2nd - Predator – 1987
Set in 1987.
An elite commando unit led by Dutch is sent to the Central American jungle.
The rescue mission turns into a nightmare when an invisible and technologically advanced Predator begins to hunt them, initiating the iconic confrontation between humans and intergalactic hunters.
3rd - Predator 2 – 1990
Set in 1997.
Detective Mike Harrigan faces a Predator in Los Angeles.
The creature stalks an urban environment, showing that these intergalactic hunters are a threat in both nature and the city.
4th - Predators – 2010
Set in the early 2000s.
A group of mercenaries and soldiers awakens on a Predator hunting planet.
They must survive an intergalactic game, facing the brutality and strategy of the alien hunters.
5th - Alien vs Predator (AVP) – 2004
Set in 2004.
A scientific expedition discovers a temple in Antarctica where Predators hunt Xenomorphs.
The film pits humans, Predators, and Xenomorphs against each other for the first time, blending action, horror, and science fiction in a shared universe.
6th - Alien vs Predator: Requiem (AVPR) – 2007
Also set in 2004.
A Predator and a Xenomorph arrive in a Colorado town, unleashing chaos.
Humans are caught between these deadly creatures, expanding the narrative of the Alien vs Predator universe.
7th - The Predator – 2018
Set in 2018.
An advanced Predator arrives on Earth accompanied by lethal genetic hybrids.
A group of ex-soldiers and civilians fights to stop these experiments, showcasing the technological and biological evolution of the Predators.
8th - Predator: Badlands – 2025
Set on a remote planet in 2025.
Dek, a young exiled Predator, must prove his worth in a hostile world.
He allies with a synthetic android while facing trials, predators, and dangers unique to the planet, showcasing the Yautja culture and hierarchy.
9th - Prometheus – 2012
Set between 2089 and 2093.
A scientific expedition travels to LV-223 in search of human origins.
There, they discover the Engineers and their biological experiments, precursors to the Xenomorphs, blending science fiction, mystery, and horror.
10th - Alien: Covenant – 2017
Set in 2104.
The crew of the Covenant discovers a planet with lethal biological hazards.
They face creatures derived from the Engineers, initiating the evolution of the Xenomorphs that will mark the future of the Alien universe.
11th - Alien: Earth – 2025
Set in the year 2120.
This production expands the Alien cinematic universe, placing the Xenomorph threat on our own planet (in a more direct and extensive way than in Alien vs Predator) and offering a proposal that combines horror, science fiction, and action.
12th - Alien – 1979
Set in 2122.
The Nostromo responds to a distress signal on LV-426 and faces the first Xenomorph.
The creature begins to hunt the crew, establishing the foundations of the Alien universe, as this was the first movie released that introduced the Xenomorphs and gave birth to that universe.
13th - Aliens – 1986
Set in 2179.
Ripley returns to LV-426 with space marines.
The human colony has been invaded by Xenomorphs, unleashing an intense confrontation and solidifying Ripley as a hero against the extraterrestrial threat.
14th - Alien 3 – 1992
Also in 2179.
Ripley is trapped in the Fiorina 161 penal colony.
A Xenomorph begins to hunt the prisoners, forcing Ripley to confront the creature again while fighting to protect the innocent.
15th - Alien: Resurrection – 1997
Set in 2381.
A clone of Ripley is revived to study and control the Xenomorphs.
The creatures escape and cause chaos aboard the ship, once again showing the lethality of these aliens and exploring the ethical limits of cloning.
Watching the Alien, Predator, and AVP films according to their timeline allows for an understanding of the evolution of the Xenomorphs and Predators, enjoying action, suspense, horror, and science fiction.
This guide is ideal for fans and the curious, as well as for planning marathons and exploring the Alien vs Predator universe.
