A Chronological Guide To The 'Alien' Movie Franchise!

In theaters, everyone will hear you scream! Especially with the latest installment in the Alien franchise! Alien: Romulus released this past weekend, starring an incredible cast of actors and some thrilling scares. As another set of space explorers set out into the uncharted territory, the franchise-favorite villains -- the xenomorphs -- make a terrifying return. 

Cailee Spaeny, Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, and Archie Renaux join a long list of actors who have stepped into the Aliens Universe, including Sigourney Weaver, Michael Fassbender, and Winona Ryder. With now 7 films in its docket, here’s how to watch the films in chronological order to best understand the world and know the true terror of the perfect alien-beings, the xenomorphs!

1. Prometheus (2012)

Set in 2089, Prometheus sets up the culture and history of the monstrous aliens as well as laying the foundation of the future explorers of the franchise. The film introduces humans as they first encounter the xenomorphs in a ghostly planet environment. Stream on Hulu.

2. Alien: Covenant (2017)

Taking place 11 years after the events of Prometheus, Alien: Covenant shares a perspective of travelers looking for a new planet. The crew of the Covenant ship meet trouble when damage is caused and they find themselves having to piece together the past to escape the aliens that lurk in the shadows. Stream on Hulu.

3. Alien (1979)

The film that started it all, Ridley Scott's Alien was released in 1979 and takes place 20 years after Alien: Covenant, detailing the travels of a commercial spaceship housing 7 crew members. They are awakened from stasis before landing at their destination when intelligent life is detected. What follows is far from what they could’ve ever imagined when waking early. Stream on Hulu.

4. Alien: Romulus (2024)

This newest film takes place only 20 years after the original film. A group of young men and women seeking to escape their slave-like lives turn to desperate actions and dangerous endeavors when they accidentally awaken aliens in their travels. In theaters now.

5. Aliens (1986)

Taking place over 30 years past Romulus, James Cameron's Aliens reintroduces the character of Ripley (Weaver) of the original Alien film, whose knowledge of the aliens are put to the test as she’s sent on another mission to exterminate life forms found on a new planet. Stream on Hulu.

6. Alien 3 (1992)

Unlike the other films, there is no time gap between Aliens and Alien 3, which takes place immediately after the events of Aliens. In the aftermath of the xenomorph attack, an escape pod from the ship lands in a correctional facility. Ripley finds herself having to explain the events she’s lived through as well as defend the people of the facility. Stream on Hulu.

7. Alien Resurrection (1997)

With the biggest time jump between films, Alien Resurrection is set 200 years after Alien 3. This film takes a new approach to the relationship between aliens and humans as science takes the frontlines of the plot. The horror aspect of this movie poses a question of who the real monster in the story is. Stream on Hulu.