Ever tried to binge-watch alien invasion films only to get lost in prequels and spin-offs? Been there. Last summer I wasted three hours watching Alien vs Predator before realizing it wasn't part of the main Alien timeline. Talk about frustrating. That's why I put together this no-nonsense roadmap covering all alien movies in order – both by release date and story chronology.
Key thing to remember: Watching all alien movies in order isn't straightforward. Some franchises like Alien have prequels made decades later, while others like Men in Black jump timelines. I'll break down both viewing methods so you choose what suits you.
The Evolution of Alien Cinema (Release Order)
Let's start with how these films actually entered our universe. Watching alien movies in release order shows how our fears and tech evolved. Notice how 50s aliens were clumsy metaphors for communism, while modern ones reflect AI anxieties?
Early Invasion Era (1950s-1970s)
| Movie Title | Year | Director | Key Cast | IMDb Rating | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Day the Earth Stood Still | 1951 | Robert Wise | Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal | 7.7 | First "serious" alien film; Cold War allegory |
| Invasion of the Body Snatchers | 1956 | Don Siegel | Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter | 7.7 | Paranoia classic; remade 3 times |
| 2001: A Space Odyssey | 1968 | Stanley Kubrick | Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood | 8.3 | Changed sci-fi visuals forever |
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind | 1977 | Steven Spielberg | Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut | 7.6 | First "friendly" alien depiction |
Funny how these look dated now. I tried showing Invasion of the Body Snatchers to my niece and she laughed at the rubber suits. But that scene where the alien points at the hero? Still creepy after 60 years.
The Golden Age (1980s-1990s)
| Movie Title | Year | Director | Key Cast | IMDb Rating | Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliens | 1986 | James Cameron | Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn | 8.4 | $183M |
| Predator | 1987 | John McTiernan | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers | 7.8 | $98M |
| Independence Day | 1996 | Roland Emmerich | Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum | 7.0 | $817M |
| Men in Black | 1997 | Barry Sonnenfeld | Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones | 7.3 | $589M |
Personal confession: I think Independence Day hasn't aged well. The White House explosion scene? Iconic. The rest? Cheesy as heck. But it's essential watching if you're doing a complete all alien movies in order marathon.
Modern Aliens (2000s-Present)
CGI changed everything. Suddenly aliens could have 800 tentacles and breathe methane. But better graphics don't always mean better stories.
| Movie Title | Year | Director | Rotten Tomatoes | Streaming Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 9 | 2009 | Neill Blomkamp | 90% | Netflix |
| Prometheus | 2012 | Ridley Scott | 73% | Hulu |
| Arrival | 2016 | Denis Villeneuve | 94% | Amazon Prime |
| Nope | 2022 | Jordan Peele | 83% | Peacock |
Cool fact: The alien language in Arrival was developed by real linguists. Took them months to create something that didn't look like squid ink splatters.
Major Franchise Viewing Orders
Alien Series: Chronological Timeline
Here's where things get messy. To watch all Alien movies in chronological order, you start with prequels set centuries before the original:
- Prometheus (2012) - Weyland Corp's origin mission
- Alien: Covenant (2017) - David's twisted experiments
- Alien (1979) - The Nostromo nightmare begins
- Aliens (1986) - Colonial Marines enter hell
- Alien 3 (1992) - Prison planet aftermath
- Alien Resurrection (1997) - Cloning gone wrong
I actually prefer release order for this series. Watching Fassbender's android in prequels first ruins the mystery of Ash in the original. But chronological has its perks too.
Predator Timeline
These hunters deserve their own viewing sequence. Forget the AvP crossovers - they're not canon despite what producers claim.
| Viewing Order | Movie Title | Setting Year | Essential Viewing? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Predator | 1987 | Mandatory |
| 2 | Predator 2 | 1997 | Skip if rushed |
| 3 | Prey | 1719 | Surprisingly great |
| 4 | The Predator (2018) | 2018 | Only for completionists |
Seriously, The Predator was such a mess. That scene where the predator dog befriends a kid? What were they thinking?
Complete Chronological Alien Movie Timeline
For hardcore fans who want every major extraterrestrial film in historical sequence. We're excluding comedies like Paul here - this is core alien lore.
| Year (In-Universe) | Movie Title | Franchise | Viewing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prehistory | 2001: A Space Odyssey (Dawn of Man) | Space Odyssey | First 15 mins |
| 1719 | Prey | Predator | 1h40m |
| 2089-2093 | Prometheus | Alien | 2h4m |
| 2104 | Alien: Covenant | Alien | 2h2m |
| 2122 | Alien | Alien | 1h57m |
| 2179 | Aliens | Alien | 2h17m |
| Modern Day | Arrival | Standalone | 1h56m |
Total marathon time: Roughly 38 hours excluding bathroom breaks. Did this once during lockdown - my eyes were bleeding by hour 30. Wouldn't recommend without pizza funding.
Essential Non-Franchise Alien Films
Some of the best alien stories stand alone. Don't skip these when planning your all alien movies in order viewing:
- The Thing (1982) - Shape-shifting perfection
- They Live (1988) - Social commentary with aliens
- Signs (2002) - Say what you will about water weakness, that birthday party scene?
- War of the Worlds (2005) - Cruise's best running performance
- Annihilation (2018) - Trippy cosmic horror
Common Questions About Watching Alien Movies In Order
Should I watch Alien vs Predator movies?
Only if you enjoy bad cinema. The first AvP (2004) has decent creature design but laughable logic. Requiem (2007) is so dark you literally can't see the action. Neither are considered canon by Alien or Predator fans.
What's the best order for first-time viewers?
Release order 100%. You'll appreciate how filmmaking evolved. Watching Prometheus before Alien is like reading fanfiction before the original novel.
Are there any upcoming alien movies?
Ridley Scott's developing another Alien prequel tentatively titled Alien: Romulus. Also rumored: District 10 sequel and Taika Waititi's Star Trek film (technically aliens!).
Why do alien designs keep changing?
Budget and cultural fears. 50s aliens reflected nuclear fears (big brains = super intelligence). Modern aliens reflect pandemic anxieties (contagion themes in A Quiet Place). Also, CGI lets designers get weird.
Where to Stream All Alien Movies
Last checked June 2023 - these change constantly:
| Service | Key Alien Movies Available | Subscription Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Disney+ | Entire Alien franchise, Predator films | $7.99/month |
| Hulu | Arrival, Signs, Nope | $6.99/month (with ads) |
| Amazon Prime | Independence Day, Men in Black trilogy | $8.99/month |
| HBO Max | Close Encounters, The Thing (1982) | $15.99/month |
Pro tip: Check JustWatch.com before starting your marathon. Last month I subscribed to three services only to find Alien Resurrection had moved to PlutoTV's free section.
Final thought: Don't stress about watching all alien movies in perfect order. The joy is in discovering how each era reimagined extraterrestrial life. Except maybe skip Alien Resurrection unless you're into underwater alien basketball. Some things can't be unseen.