Alien Movies in Order: Release Order, Chronological Order and Where Alien: Earth Fits

Watch the Alien movies in release order: Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997), then Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017) and Alien: Romulus (2024). Add the FX series Alien: Earth (2025) at the end. That is the order the story was told, and it is the best path for a first viewing.

If you prefer the in-universe timeline, the order is different, and the Alien vs. Predator crossovers sit apart from it. This guide gives both orders, explains where Romulus and Alien: Earth land and tells you what you can skip. It is spoiler-free.

Alien movies in release order

Years are the in-universe dates listed on Wikipedia’s franchise page. Treat them as a guide: the films themselves rarely lead with a year.

Alien chronological order

To follow the story as it unfolds inside the fiction, use this order:

1. Prometheus (2093)
2. Alien: Covenant (2104)
3. Alien: Earth (2120)
4. Alien (2122)
5. Alien: Romulus (2142)
6. Aliens (2179)
7. Alien 3 (2179)
8. Alien Resurrection (2381)

Alien: Earth is set two years before the events of Alien, according to Wikipedia. Romulus is set between Alien and Aliens: the film’s story begins in 2142 on the mining colony LV-410, and Wikipedia describes it as “set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986)”.

Our recommendation: do not start with the chronological order. The original Alien is built on discovery, and starting with the prequels explains things the first film leaves in the dark. Use the timeline for a rewatch.

The essential path

If you only want the core story of Ellen Ripley, watch these four films:

• Alien (1979), the haunted-house-in-space original.
• Aliens (1986), the action-horror sequel. Our Aliens review explains why it still holds up.
• Alien 3 (1992), the bleaker follow-up.
• Alien Resurrection (1997), the most divisive entry.

You can stop after Aliens and have a complete, satisfying arc. The next two films are where opinion splits most.

Where do Prometheus and Alien: Covenant fit?

Ridley Scott returned to the franchise for Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). They are prequels, set decades before Alien, and they lean into questions about the creators of the aliens and the android David, rather than straight monster horror. Wikipedia says Scott described Prometheus as sharing “strands of Alien’s DNA” while exploring its own mythology.

If you are watching for tension and creatures, you can skip them. If you want the franchise’s larger mythology, watch them in order, because Covenant continues directly from Prometheus. Scott’s plans for a follow-up are covered in our report on a possible Alien: Covenant sequel and David’s story. That is reported, not confirmed by a studio release date.

Where does Alien: Romulus fit?

Alien: Romulus is a standalone story that you can watch after Alien or after Aliens. 20th Century Studios lists it as released August 16, 2024, directed by Fede Álvarez, with Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu. Wikipedia gives the runtime as 119 minutes.

Because it sits between the first two films in the timeline, the cleanest first-viewing choice is to watch it after Aliens, as the seventh film in release order. A rewatcher can slot it between Alien and Aliens.

Where does Alien: Earth fit?

Alien: Earth is a live-action series created by Noah Hawley. Its first season has eight episodes and premiered on August 12, 2025, on FX and FX on Hulu in the US, with Disney+ carrying it internationally, according to Wikipedia. The story starts in 2120, two years before the 1979 film.

You do not need the whole franchise first, but watching Alien helps. Season 2 was renewed on November 11, 2025, per a Deadline report cited by Wikipedia, and Wikipedia lists it as in pre-production with no release date confirmed. We will update this guide when an official date arrives.

What is optional or non-canon?

• Alien vs. Predator (August 13, 2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (December 25, 2007). These crossovers are a separate branch. Wikipedia does not give them a clear place in the Alien timeline or a formal canon status. If you like the creature design, our Predator review covers the other side of the crossover.
• Alien: Isolation – The Digital Series (February 28, 2019). A web series set in 2137, in the world of the video game. It is a side story, not a prerequisite for anything else.
• Director’s and special editions. Several of the original films exist in more than one cut. For a first viewing, the theatrical versions are the reference point for this guide.

What is coming next?

Wikipedia lists several projects with no confirmed release dates: a sequel to Romulus with a script completed by Álvarez, who has said he will not direct it; a continuation of Scott’s prequel films, which Scott reportedly said in August 2026 he is rewriting; a new film from Aaron Guzikowski announced in October 2026; and a rumored third Alien vs. Predator film. Treat all of these as in development. None has a confirmed date, and we will not list one until a studio does.

If you want something else to watch in the same vein, our Blade Runner watch order covers another Ridley Scott sci-fi universe. For the actors behind the original ship, see our tribute to Tom Skerritt, who played Captain Dallas in Alien. Browse everything we have published in the Alien hub, and check the release calendar for confirmed dates.

FAQ

What order should I watch the Alien movies in?

Release order: Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012), Alien: Covenant (2017), Alien: Romulus (2024), then the series Alien: Earth (2025).

What is the Alien chronological order?

By in-universe year: Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Earth, Alien, Alien: Romulus, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. This is a rewatch order, not a recommended starting point.

Do I need to watch the older movies before Alien: Romulus?

No, it works as a standalone story, but it is built on the first two films. Watching Alien and Aliens first gives you the context it relies on.

Is Alien: Earth connected to the movies?

Yes. It takes place two years before Alien (1979), according to Wikipedia, and is part of the same franchise.

Are the Alien vs. Predator movies canon?

Wikipedia does not state a formal canon status for them or place them in the main timeline. Most viewers treat them as a separate crossover branch.

Will there be more Alien movies?

Several projects are in development, but none has a confirmed release date. We list them above and will update this guide if that changes.