Alien Movies in Order: Release and Chronological Guide

Alien Movies In Order: The Definitive Guide

The Alien franchise stands as one of science fiction and horror’s most enduring and influential cinematic sagas. Spanning over four decades, the story of the terrifying Xenomorph has evolved through direct sequels, crossovers, and prequels. Fans often debate the ideal viewing order: Should you start with 1979’s original, or follow the intricate timeline that the prequels introduce? This guide will help you navigate every Alien film, in both release and chronological order, with a detailed timeline, summaries, and essential FAQs.

Contents

• About the Alien Franchise
• Alien Movies in Release Order
• Alien Movies in Chronological Order
• Critical Reception Table
• FAQs

About the Alien Franchise

Alien is renowned for its blend of sci-fi horror and action, featuring the menacing Xenomorph, conceptualized by H.R. Giger. The franchise launched in 1979 under director Ridley Scott and rapidly grew to include bold stylistic shifts, with sequels helmed by notable directors like James Cameron and David Fincher. Over time, the series expanded to encompass crossovers with the Predator franchise and later, under Scott’s guidance again, dove into prequel territory to explore the origins of humanity and the Xenomorph itself.

• Themes: Survival, corporate greed, the unknown, and human origins.
• Main character: Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), a pop culture and sci-fi icon.
• Legacy: Nine films by 2024, including prequels and crossovers, with ongoing influence in pop culture, games, and novels.

Alien Movies in Release Order

Following the original release order places you in the seat of audiences who witnessed the saga’s evolution as it happened, including its genre transitions and narrative expansions.

• Alien (1979)
  Ridley Scott’s genre-defining horror film set in the far reaches of space introduces the Nostromo crew and the lethal extraterrestrial known as the Xenomorph.
• Aliens (1986)
  James Cameron injects action and military sci-fi as Ripley returns to face a colony overrun by Xenomorphs in a thrilling, high-stakes rescue mission.
• Alien 3 (1992)
  Set in a bleak penal colony, Ripley discovers another Xenomorph threat after crash-landing, with David Fincher emphasizing psychological horror and despair.
• Alien: Resurrection (1997)
  Two centuries after Alien 3, scientists clone Ripley on a space station, unwittingly bringing back the Xenomorph menace.
• Alien vs. Predator (AVP) (2004)
  The franchises collide on modern-day Earth, revealing a secret pyramid where aliens and Predators battle, disrupting the timeline from prior films.
• Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
  The Xenomorph/Predator hybrid wreaks havoc in a small town as both species wage war, blending sci-fi and slasher elements.
• Prometheus (2012)
  Ridley Scott returns, shifting focus to ancient Engineers and humanity’s cosmic origins, leading towards the creation of the Xenomorphs.
• Alien: Covenant (2017)
  The doomed colony ship Covenant follows the path set by Prometheus and discovers the early Xenomorph prototypes, blending existential horror with series tradition.
• Alien: Romulus (2024)
  Returning to the franchise’s roots, Romulus is set between the events of Alien and Aliens, introducing a new generation of characters and horrors.

Release Order Timeline Table

Alien Movies in Chronological Order

The chronological order presents the story as it would unfold in-universe, beginning with humanity’s search for our creators and ending with Ripley’s struggle to finally end the Xenomorph threat. The AVP films are sometimes considered non-canon given their inconsistent fit with the main arc.

• Prometheus (2089–2094 AD)
  • Explores humanity’s origins and the ancient race called the Engineers, setting up the birth of the early Xenomorph creatures.
• Alien: Covenant (2104 AD)
  • The crew of the colony ship Covenant lands on an Engineer world and confronts bio-engineered horrors that bridge towards the classic Xenomorph design.
• Alien: Romulus (~between Alien and Aliens, 2122–2179 AD)
  • Set after the original Alien but before Aliens, it follows a new cast as they encounter the Xenomorph threat during early colonial expansion.
• Alien (2122 AD)
  • The Nostromo responds to a distress signal on LV-426, unleashing the Xenomorph on its unsuspecting crew.
• Aliens (2179 AD)
  • Ripley joins a squad of Colonial Marines to investigate lost contact with Hadley’s Hope, finding the colony overrun by Xenomorphs.
• Alien 3 (2179 AD)
  • Ripley is stranded on Fiorina 161 and faces another Xenomorph outbreak in a harsh penal colony.
• Alien: Resurrection (2379 AD)
  • Scientists clone Ripley 200 years after her death in Alien 3, hoping to weaponize the Xenomorph, but chaos predictably ensues onboard USM Auriga.
• Alien vs. Predator (AVP) (2004)
• Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2004–2005)

Note: The AVP films occur on present-day Earth and are debated in canonicity due to timeline conflicts.

Alien Franchise Critical Reception

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the best order to watch the Alien movies?

A: If you’re new to the franchise, the release order is recommended for the best experience. For in-universe chronology, watch Prometheus and Covenant before the original quadrilogy, then Alien: Romulus, and the AVP films last if you include them.

Q: Where does Alien: Romulus fit in the timeline?

A: Alien: Romulus is set between the original Alien and Aliens, focusing on new characters encountering Xenomorph horror during colonial expansion.

Q: Are Alien vs. Predator films canon?

A: The AVP films are crossovers whose events contradict established Alien continuity; many fans consider them non-canon, but they offer entertaining monster-versus-monster spectacles.

Q: Will there be more Alien movies?

A: With Romulus releasing in 2024 and continued interest from Disney and 20th Century Studios, more films exploring Ripley’s legacy or the Xenomorph mythos are possible.

Q: What makes the Alien franchise unique?

A: Its blend of science fiction and horror, inventive creature design, thought-provoking themes, and the central character of Ellen Ripley distinguish Alien from other sci-fi sagas.

Summary: Key Takeaways

• Alien is a genre-spanning series mixing horror, action, and sci-fi since 1979.
• The films can be watched by release order (best for newcomers) or chronological order (for in-universe logic).
• Alien: Romulus (2024) returns the franchise closer to its original roots, introducing new characters and Xenomorph terror set amidst colonial space exploration.
• The franchise remains culturally influential for blending iconic monster design, high-stakes survival action, and philosophical questions of identity and human destiny.