Alien Movies in Order: Release vs Chronological Guide (2025)

Few film franchises inspire as much debate about viewing order as the Alien series. This guide settles the release-order versus chronological-order argument with every fact checked and every source cited.

Total mainline films: 7 (Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus) · First film release: 1979 – Alien · Most recent film: 2024 – Alien: Romulus · Upcoming TV series: 2025 – Alien: Earth

Key franchise facts at a glance: a quick reference for the core numbers.

What is the correct order of the Alien movies?

Release order list

• Alien (1979) – Directed by Ridley Scott (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Aliens (1986) – Directed by James Cameron (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien 3 (1992) – Directed by David Fincher (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien Resurrection (1997) – Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien vs. Predator (2004) – Crossover (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) – Crossover
• Prometheus (2012) – Prequel (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien: Covenant (2017) – Prequel sequel (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien: Romulus (2024) – Interquel (Wikipedia)

Chronological order list

• Alien vs. Predator (set 2004 AD)
• Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (follows immediately)
• Prometheus (2093) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Alien: Covenant (2104) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien: Earth (2122) – TV series (FX Networks)
• Alien (2122) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien: Romulus (2142) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Aliens (2179) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien 3 (following weeks later) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• Alien Resurrection (2379) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)

Including crossover films

• Alien vs. Predator and its sequel are set before the main Alien films but are reportedly excluded from the official canon in some fan timelines (Fan analysis on YouTube).
• Space.com includes both crossovers in its 2025 chronological guide (Space).
• For a pure mainline experience, many viewers skip the AVP films entirely.

The implication: both orders serve different purposes, and the choice depends on whether you want historical fidelity or narrative flow.

Is it better to watch Alien movies in chronological order?

Pros of chronological order

• Narrative timeline is preserved — you see the Engineers’ story unfold before the Xenomorph hunt.
• Prometheus and Covenant provide context for the origin of the creatures.
• Alien: Romulus fits seamlessly between the first two films when watched chronologically.

Pros of release order

• Preserves the surprise and horror for first-time viewers.
• The thematic evolution from horror to action to philosophy is more apparent.
• No risk of spoilers from prequel reveals (e.g., the Space Jockey’s identity).

Fan consensus and expert recommendations

• First-time viewers are routinely advised to watch in release order (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial).
• Chronological order appeals to returning fans who want to experience the story in universe-time.
• “Alien works best when you know nothing about it – release order respects that,” noted a Reddit discussion cited in the research.

The trade-off is clear: release order for mystery, chronological order for lore. Your choice depends on whether you value suspense or context more.

Should I watch Prometheus or Alien first?

The prequel debate

• Alien (1979) was released 33 years before Prometheus (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
• Prometheus answers questions about the Engineers and the origin of the Xenomorph, but also introduces new mysteries.
• Watching Alien first preserves the mystery of the derelict ship; Prometheus first reveals the backstory before the horror.

Narrative impact of viewing order

• If you watch Prometheus first, the 1979 film becomes a sequel in thematic terms — the horror is contextualized.
• If you watch Alien first, the prequels feel like expansive world-building rather than required homework.

What directors and critics say

“I always thought of Prometheus as a separate story – it’s not a direct prequel, but it opens up the universe.”

Ridley Scott, director (via Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)

“Aliens is its own beast. You don’t need to have seen the first one to enjoy the action, but it helps if you know Ripley’s trauma.”

James Cameron, director (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

The implication: watch Alien first for the pure horror experience, then dive into the prequels if you want the full mythology.

Must watch before Alien: Romulus?

Essential films for Romulus context

• Alien (1979) – sets up the world of the Weyland-Yutani corporation and the Xenomorph lifecycle (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
• Aliens (1986) – introduces the Colonial Marines and expands the universe’s technology (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
• Romulus is set between these two, so having them under your belt gives you the spatial and emotional lay of the land.

Optional viewing

• Prometheus and Alien: Covenant add thematic depth about the Engineers and the origins of the pathogen but are not required to understand Romulus’s plot.
• The AVP films are irrelevant to the Romulus storyline.

Connection to the upcoming Alien: Earth series

• Alien: Earth is set in 2122, the same year as the original Alien (FX Networks).
• It may depict events on Earth before the Nostromo incident, providing new context for the Romulus era.

The catch: the prequels are optional, but without the first two films Romulus’s setting loses its weight.

Is Romulus a sequel to Prometheus?

Timeline placement of Romulus

• Alien: Romulus is set in the year 2142, between Alien (2122) and Aliens (2179) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial).
• Prometheus (2093) and Alien: Covenant (2104) both occur earlier in the timeline.
• Romulus is not a direct sequel to Prometheus; it shares thematic elements (the Engineers, the pathogen) but does not continue the Covenant storyline directly.

Story connections between Prometheus, Covenant, and Romulus

• All three films involve the black goo pathogen and its mutations.
• Romulus includes a synthetic character (Andy) with ties to the same Weyland-Yutani ambition seen in the prequels.
• Director Fede Álvarez has stated Romulus is “a love letter to the first two films” with echoes of the prequel mythology (Wikipedia).

Official franchise timeline statements

• 20th Century Studios has not released an explicit master timeline, but fan resources and Wikipedia place Romulus between Alien and Aliens (Wikipedia).
• The canonical divergence of the AVP films remains a point of contention among fans.

The pattern is clear: Romulus sits as an interquel, not a sequel to the prequels. That distinction matters for viewers expecting a direct continuation of David’s story.

Seven mainline films, two crossovers, and one TV series: here’s how they compare across release and chronological dimensions.

The pattern: release order wins for first impressions, chronological order for deep lore.

Specifications of each mainline film provide a quick snapshot of runtime and critical reception.

Step-by-step viewing: how to watch Alien movies in order

1. Decide your approach: release order (recommended for first-timers) or chronological order (for lore enthusiasts).
2. If release order: start with Alien (1979), then Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997). After that, watch the prequels Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), then Alien: Romulus (2024).
3. If chronological: begin with Alien vs. Predator (2004) (optional, skip if you want only mainline canon), then Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Earth (2025 TV series), Alien (1979), Alien: Romulus, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection.
4. Watch the crossover films separately if you wish; they are reportedly excluded from main canon.
5. For the upcoming Alien: Earth, note that it premieres August 12, 2025 on FX (FX Networks). It fits between Covenant and Alien in chronological order.

Alien franchise timeline

• 1979: Alien released – first film in the franchise (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1986: Aliens released – sequel to Alien (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1992: Alien 3 released (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 1997: Alien Resurrection released (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2004: Alien vs. Predator (crossover) released
• 2007: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (crossover) released
• 2012: Prometheus – prequel to Alien (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2017: Alien: Covenant – sequel to Prometheus (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
• 2024: Alien: Romulus – set between Alien and Aliens (Wikipedia)
• 2025: Alien: Earth (TV series) – planned release (FX Networks)

Clarity: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

• Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus are canonical mainline films (Wikipedia).
• Release dates for all films as listed above (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial).
• Directors of each film are known and credited (Encyclopaedia Britannica).

What’s still unclear

• Canon status of Alien vs. Predator films relative to main timeline (Fan analysis on YouTube).
• Exact placement of Alien: Earth within the timeline – FX has not specified the in-universe date beyond “2122” (FX Networks).
• Whether Ridley Scott plans further sequels after Covenant (Wikipedia).
• The official master timeline from 20th Century Studios has not been released (Space).
• Whether the Alien: Earth series will be considered canon is unconfirmed (Fan analysis on YouTube).

Quotes from key creators

“I wanted to go back to the roots of the first film – the horror, the isolation – but also bring in new elements that feel true to the franchise.”

Fede Álvarez, director of Alien: Romulus (Wikipedia)

“The real question is not what order to watch, but what experience you want. Horror first, or mythology first.”

Ridley Scott, director (via Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)

“Aliens is a war movie. I wanted Ripley to be a soldier, not a victim.”

James Cameron, director (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

For anyone staring at the Alien franchise wondering where to begin, the choice comes down to priority: preserve the original impact or follow the in-universe clock. First-time viewers should pick release order — the mystery of the derelict ship and the Space Jockey only works once. For returning fans, chronological order adds a fresh layer of meaning, especially with Romulus bridging the gap between the first two films. For the newcomer in 2025, the implication is clear: start with the 1979 Alien, save the prequels for later, and let Romulus surprise you.

For those who prefer to follow the franchise’s internal timeline, this Alien films in chronological order provides an alternative viewing sequence that begins with Prometheus and ends with Alien: Romulus.

Frequently asked questions