Alien movies in order
The Alien saga is seven films and one series, and the two sensible orders disagree completely. Release order starts with Alien (1979), which is the right first experience: the prequels answer questions the original works hard to keep mysterious. Timeline order starts eighty years earlier with Prometheus, and is the rewatch route.
The Alien vs. Predator crossovers are not part of this timeline and are left out, matching the app's curated track.
Release order
The order the saga was made in, and the right first watch.
- Alien (1979) Film
- Aliens (1986) Film
- Alien 3 (1992) Film
- Alien Resurrection (1997) Film
- Prometheus (2012) Film prequel era starts here
- Alien: Covenant (2017) Film
- Alien: Romulus (2024) Film
- Alien: Earth (2025) Series
Timeline (chronological) order
The in-universe order, from the Prometheus expedition to the far future.
- Prometheus (2012) Film set in 2089 to 2093
- Alien: Covenant (2017) Film set in 2104
- Alien: Earth (2025) Series set in 2120, two years before Alien
- Alien (1979) Film set in 2122
- Alien: Romulus (2024) Film set in 2142, between Alien and Aliens
- Aliens (1986) Film set in 2179
- Alien 3 (1992) Film follows Aliens directly
- Alien Resurrection (1997) Film set around 2381
Keep your place
I Like Movies, the free Android app behind this page, carries a curated Alien track: the same catalogue as above, in watch order, with your progress marked per film and per episode. Ratings and a watchlist come along for everything else you watch.
Questions people ask
Should I watch Alien or Prometheus first?
Alien first. Prometheus is a prequel that explains things Alien deliberately leaves unexplained, and the original film is stronger when the mystery is intact. Timeline order, with Prometheus first, is a rewatch order.
Where does Alien: Romulus fit in the timeline?
Between Alien and Aliens: it is set in 2142, twenty years after the Nostromo and decades before Ripley is found. It was made as a standalone, so it also works with only Alien behind you.
Where does the Alien: Earth series fit?
Two years before Alien, in 2120, and on Earth rather than deep space. It stands alone as an entry point, but it plays best knowing the original film.
Do the Alien vs. Predator films count?
They sit outside this continuity: the prequel films and Alien: Earth tell a history the crossovers contradict. They are omitted here, and from the app's Alien track, for that reason.
More watch orders: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Middle-earth, Dune, Wizarding World, Fast & Furious, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Or browse every guide and comparison.