The Xenomorph and the Yautja – two of science fiction's most iconic and terrifying alien species. For decades, their individual sagas have captivated audiences, delivering unparalleled horror and adrenaline-pumping action. But when these two titans clash in the realm of "Alien vs. Predator," the universe of lore suddenly becomes a tangled web. If you're looking to unravel the Alien vs. Predator: Complete Chronological Viewing Order, prepare for a journey that's as thrilling as it is complex.
This isn't just about watching movies in release date order; it's about navigating divergent timelines, conflicting origins, and the ever-shifting sands of cinematic canon. Whether you're a purist of the Alien universe, a die-hard Predator fan, or simply curious about the full crossover experience, figuring out the "right" way to watch these films chronologically can feel like a hunt in itself.
At a Glance: Your Chronological Viewing Cheat Sheet
Before we dive deep into the murky waters of intergalactic continuity, here are the essential takeaways for watching the Alien, Predator, and Alien vs. Predator films in chronological order:
- The Great Divide: The Alien vs. Predator (AVP) movies are generally considered non-canonical to Ridley Scott's Alien prequel films (Prometheus, Alien: Covenant) due to conflicting Xenomorph origins.
- Predator's Embrace: The Predator franchise, however, occasionally nods to the AVP films, creating a partial bridge.
- Two Paths: You can choose a "Unified (But Contradictory)" timeline that includes everything, or a "Franchise-Specific" path that respects individual canons.
- Earliest Known Hunts: Prey (2022) kicks off the Predator timeline, while the opening of Prometheus sets up the Engineers' ancient legacy.
- The AVP Start: The first official crossover, Alien vs. Predator (2004), is set in 2004, but it builds on a much older lore.
The Great Divide: Canon, Crossovers, and Conflicting Lore
To truly understand the chronological viewing order, you first need to grasp the fundamental split in the narrative. The core issue lies with the origin of the Xenomorphs.
In Ridley Scott's vision for the Alien prequels (Prometheus and Alien: Covenant), the Xenomorphs are bio-engineered weapons created by the Engineers and further refined by the synthetic David. Their birth is a dark, deliberate act, steeped in a specific cosmic mythology.
The Alien vs. Predator films, on the other hand, imply that Xenomorphs have existed for millennia, used by the Predators (also known as Yautja) as ceremonial prey for "coming-of-age" hunts. This ancient, ritualistic history directly contradicts the Engineers' storyline. For this reason, most fans and filmmakers involved in the main Alien franchise consider the AVP films to be in their own, separate continuity—a fun, fan-service crossover that doesn't fit the main narrative.
However, the Predator franchise is a bit more forgiving. Elements like the Xenomorph skull trophy on the Predator ship in Predator 2, or the planned (but cut) references in The Predator, suggest that the Yautja's encounters with Xenomorphs, as depicted in AVP, could plausibly exist within their own timeline.
So, when we talk about a "complete chronological viewing order," we're essentially discussing two distinct interpretations: one that attempts to weave everything together despite the logical breaks, and one that separates the Alien saga from the Predator saga and its AVP offshoots. We'll explore both.
A Journey Through Time: The Unified (But Contradictory) Chronological Viewing Order
If you're ready to embrace all the films, acknowledging the narrative dissonance where it occurs, this is your ultimate timeline. We'll blend the ancient past with future horrors, showcasing the full scope of both franchises and their crossover adventures.
Ancient Echoes & First Hunts (Thousands of Years Ago - Early 20th Century)
This era sets the stage, revealing the deep-seated history of both the Engineers and the Yautja on Earth, long before humanity truly understood its place in the cosmos.
- Thousands of years before Prometheus: The opening scene of Prometheus introduces us to an Engineer who ingests a black liquid, disintegrating and seeding life on Earth. This pivotal moment predates all other events, establishing the Engineers' ancient influence.
- Early 18th Century: A critical piece of Predator lore, though seen later, originates here. Greyback, a Predator, acquires a flintlock pistol, a trophy he would later gift to Detective Harrigan in Predator 2. This shows Predators have been visiting Earth for centuries.
- 1719 – Prey (2022): Our earliest documented, full-fledged Predator encounter. Naru, a skilled Comanche warrior, defends her tribe against a technologically advanced Feral Predator on the Northern Great Plains. This visceral hunt is a raw, terrifying look at the Yautja's primal instincts.
- 1904 – Alien vs. Predator (Flashback/Opening): While the main AVP film is set in 2004, its lore explains that Predators have been coming to Earth for sacrificial hunts involving Xenomorphs for centuries. A brief glimpse into 1904 at the Razorback Point Whaling Station shows one such violent confrontation between Xenomorphs and Predators. This is where the direct AVP crossover narrative begins its deep past.
Modern Encounters: From Jungles to Cities (Late 20th Century)
The late 20th century saw humanity's first terrifying, sustained encounters with the Yautja.
5. 1987 – Predator (1987): Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his elite mercenary team are stalked and hunted in the Central American jungle by a formidable Predator. This film introduced the world to the iconic alien hunter and its brutal code.
6. 1997 – Predator 2 (1990): Ten years later, a new Predator, the City Hunter, brings its hunt to the sweltering streets of Los Angeles amidst gang warfare. Detective Mike Harrigan defeats it and is rewarded with Greyback's antique flintlock pistol by the arriving Lost Tribe Predators, who then depart. Crucially, this film also features a quick shot of a Xenomorph skull in the Predator trophy room, a subtle, early nod to the crossover films that would come much later.
The AVP Saga: When Icons Collide (October 2004)
This brief but intense period marks the direct cinematic crossover between the two species, providing an origin story for the Xenomorphs that stands apart from the main Alien prequels.
7. October 2004 – Alien vs. Predator (2004): A mysterious heat signature in Antarctica leads Charles Bishop Weyland (the founder of Weyland Corp) and his expedition to an ancient pyramid beneath the ice. They discover it's a ceremonial hunting ground where three Young Blood Predators awaken a hibernating Alien Queen to unleash Xenomorphs. A violent three-way battle ensues. Scar Predator, the last surviving Young Blood, is eventually impregnated by a Facehugger, setting the stage for the sequel.
8. Mid-October 2004 – Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007): Immediately following the first AVP film, a Predalien (a Xenomorph-Predator hybrid) bursts from Scar's chest aboard a Predator scout ship, causing it to crash near Gunnison, Colorado. A Xenomorph outbreak quickly engulfs the town. A seasoned Wolf Predator is dispatched from Yautja Prime to "clean up" the mess. The climax sees Wolf and the Predalien destroy each other, and the town is nuked to contain the infestation. Survivors escape, taking some Predator tech with them.
9. Late October 2004: The Wolf Predator's plasma pistol, recovered from the Gunnison incident, somehow makes its way into the hands of Miss Yutani, a representative of the Yutani Corporation, further intertwining the lore and setting up the future Weyland-Yutani mega-corporation.
The Predator Continues: New Hunts, New Threats (2010s - Future)
With the AVP saga concluded, the Predator franchise continues to explore the Yautja's hunting rituals and the evolution of their species.
10. 2010 – Predators (2010): A diverse group of human killers and soldiers, including Royce and Isabelle, are abducted and dropped onto an alien Game Preserve Planet. They become prey for a larger, more aggressive Super Predator clan, revealing a civil war within the Yautja species.
11. 2018 – The Predator (2018): Set on Halloween, this film deepens the Predator civil war lore. A "Fugitive" Predator crashes on Earth with advanced "Predator Killer" technology, pursued by an even larger, genetically enhanced "Assassin" Predator. A group of military veterans (the "Loonies") must band together to stop the Assassin Predator. The film has minor ties to Predator 2 through the character Sean Keyes, son of Peter Keyes.
The Alien Saga: Origins, Horrors, and Humanity's Fate (2089 - 24th Century)
This is the main Alien timeline, beginning with the origins of humanity's creators and the terrifying birth of the Xenomorph as we know it from Ridley Scott's vision.
12. 2089 – Prometheus (Pre-Expedition): Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discover a celestial map across ancient cultures, pointing to the distant moon LV-223—the Engineers' hidden bioweapons facility.
13. 2091 – Prometheus (Expedition Departs): The USCSS Prometheus embarks on its journey to LV-223.
14. 2093 – Prometheus (2012): The crew arrives at LV-223, uncovering the abandoned Engineer base and the horrific "Black Goo Pathogen." Sir Peter Weyland dies, a Deacon alien is born, and Dr. Shaw, with the reanimated synthetic David, escapes LV-223 in an Engineer ship.
15. Late January 2094: Dr. Shaw, in hypersleep, directs David to take them to the Engineer homeworld.
16. 2094 – David's Betrayal: Upon reaching Planet 4, the Engineer homeworld, David unleashes the black goo pathogen, wiping out the entire Engineer civilization. Shaw dies under unclear circumstances, becoming one of David's horrific experiments.
17. 2103 – Alien: Covenant (Pre-Expedition): The colonization vessel USCSS Covenant departs Earth for Origae-6 with thousands of colonists in hypersleep.
18. 2104 – Alien: Covenant (2017): The Covenant intercepts a distress signal, diverting to an uncharted planet (Planet 4). They encounter Neomorphs, Protomorphs, and a twisted David, who has been cultivating the perfect organism. David ultimately infiltrates the Covenant, assuming the identity of Walter, with two facehugger embryos in tow, bound for Origae-6.
19. 2112 – Alien: Covenant (Estimated Arrival): The Covenant, now under David's control, is estimated to arrive at Origae-6, presumably to unleash his perfected Xenomorphs.
20. 2120 – Alien: Earth (TV Series - Imminent): This upcoming series centers on the USCSS Maginot recovering Xenomorph specimens and crashing into a city on Earth, kicking off a new conflict between Weyland-Yutani and a rival corporation. This directly sets up Xenomorphs on Earth.
21. 2121 – Alien (Pre-Expedition): The commercial tow-cargo vehicle Nostromo departs Thedus en route to Earth.
22. 2122 – Alien (1979): The Nostromo crew investigates a distress signal from LV-426, discovering the derelict Space Jockey ship and its cargo of Xenomorph eggs. Executive Officer Kane is attacked by a Facehugger, leading to the birth of the Chestburster and the subsequent decimation of the crew. Ellen Ripley is the sole survivor, escaping on the Narcissus shuttle and entering hypersleep.
23. 2142 – Alien: Romulus (2024): Set between Alien and Aliens, this film sees a group of young individuals encounter a Xenomorph outbreak aboard the Renaissance Space Station, a Weyland-Yutani research facility. It explores the early spread of the species as the corporation attempts to weaponize them.
24. 2150s – Aliens (Pre-Colony): Hadley's Hope colony is established on LV-426, unknowingly over the derelict ship Ripley encountered.
25. 2179 (June-July) – Aliens (1986): Ellen Ripley is rescued after 57 years in hypersleep. She learns Hadley's Hope has gone silent. A Colonial Marine squad, with Ripley as an advisor, is sent to LV-426, discovering the colonists have been overwhelmed by Xenomorphs. Ripley, Corporal Hicks, the synthetic Bishop, and young Rebecca "Newt" Jorden are the only survivors as the colony is destroyed.
26. 2179 (August) – Alien 3 (1992): An escape pod from the USS Sulaco crash-lands on Fury 161, a remote penal colony. Hicks and Newt die in the crash. Ripley discovers she is infected with a Xenomorph Queen embryo. She battles a new Xenomorph on the planet, ultimately sacrificing herself to prevent Weyland-Yutani from capturing the Queen.
27. 2381 – Alien Resurrection (1997): 200 years after Ripley's death, military scientists clone her (Ripley 8) aboard the USM Auriga, extracting the Alien Queen embryo from her. The Xenomorphs inevitably escape, and Ripley 8, now with enhanced abilities and partial Xenomorph DNA, allies with a group of mercenaries to escape the crashing Auriga, which lands on Earth.
The Distant Future: Predator's Legacy Continues (Late 24th/25th Century)
The Predator saga also looks far into the future, indicating the Yautja's enduring presence across the galaxy.
28. Late 24th or 25th century – Predator: Badlands (2025): This upcoming film depicts Dek Predator fleeing Yautja Prime to a dangerous "Death Planet" called Genna. He partners with a Weyland-Yutani synthetic, battling various adversaries in a quest to reclaim his honor, further cementing the Predator presence far into the future.
Navigating the Canon Conundrum: Two Paths to Viewing
As you've seen, the "unified" order requires some mental gymnastics to reconcile conflicting lore. For those who prefer a more cohesive narrative, here are two alternative, franchise-specific viewing orders.
Option 1: The Purist's Path – The Alien-Only Canon
If you prioritize the continuity established by Ridley Scott for the Alien universe and largely disregard the Alien vs. Predator films, this is your definitive chronological journey. This order focuses on humanity's discovery, terror, and battle against the Xenomorphs as a unique, terrifying threat.
- Thousands of years before Prometheus (Engineer scene from Prometheus)
- 2089-2094 – Prometheus (2012)
- 2094 – David exterminates Engineers (Implied between Prometheus and Covenant)
- 2104 – Alien: Covenant (2017)
- 2112 – Covenant arrives at Origae-6 (Implied after Covenant)
- 2120 – Alien: Earth (TV Series)
- 2122 – Alien (1979)
- 2142 – Alien: Romulus (2024)
- 2179 (June-July) – Aliens (1986)
- 2179 (August) – Alien 3 (1992)
- 2381 – Alien Resurrection (1997)
This order keeps the Xenomorph origins consistent and maintains the dread and mystery intended by the original creators.
Option 2: The Hunter's Timeline – The Predator & AVP Canon
If your allegiance lies with the Yautja, and you're interested in their history, their code, and their interspecies rivalries (including their long-standing "relationship" with the Xenomorphs), this is your timeline. This path embraces the Alien vs. Predator films as part of the Predator lore.
- 1719 – Prey (2022)
- 1904 – Alien vs. Predator (Flashback)
- 1987 – Predator (1987)
- 1997 – Predator 2 (1990) (Note the Xenomorph skull trophy!)
- October 2004 – Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Mid-October 2004 – Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
- 2010 – Predators (2010)
- 2018 – The Predator (2018)
- Late 24th or 25th century – Predator: Badlands (2025)
This order fully explores the Yautja as an ancient, honorable species deeply entwined with the hunting of other dangerous beings, including the "serpents" (Xenomorphs). For a deeper dive into how these specific crossover films fit in, you might enjoy exploring the dedicated Alien vs Predator movie order.
Deeper Dives: Key Points and Misconceptions Explained
Understanding the timeline often raises more questions. Let's tackle some common areas of confusion.
The Xenomorph Origin Debate: A Tale of Two Beginnings
The biggest continuity hurdle is undoubtedly the Xenomorphs' origin story.
- AVP Origin: Implies Xenomorphs are ancient, naturally occurring (or long-existing) species used by Predators as ritualistic game. The Egg Morphing ability and Facehuggers are simply part of their natural life cycle on Earth in these films.
- Ridley Scott's Origin (Prometheus/Covenant): The "Black Goo Pathogen" created by the Engineers is the genesis of the Xenomorphs, later refined by David. This makes them a more recent, engineered horror, rather than an ancient, natural predator. This difference is why the AVP films are typically set aside by Alien purists.
Weyland-Yutani's Ubiquitous Presence
The omnipresent, sinister corporation Weyland-Yutani acts as a connective tissue across almost all the films, regardless of canon.
- In Prometheus and Alien: Covenant: Peter Weyland funds the search for the Engineers, and the Weyland-Yutani Corporation is obsessed with acquiring the Xenomorph for bioweaponry.
- In Alien vs. Predator: Charles Bishop Weyland leads the expedition to Antarctica, a clear predecessor to the later mega-corporation. The Yutani Corporation is explicitly mentioned at the end of Requiem, picking up Predator technology, solidifying the two companies' eventual merger and shared interest in alien tech.
- In Alien and its sequels: Weyland-Yutani consistently pursues the Xenomorph, often at humanity's expense.
Their relentless pursuit of these deadly species is a constant, dark thread, providing a consistent antagonist across even the most disparate timelines.
Predator Technology & Lore
The Yautja bring their own rich lore to the table, which generally remains consistent across their solo films and the AVP crossovers.
- Plasma Casters, Cloaking, Thermal Vision: Iconic tools that define their hunting style.
- Honor Code: Despite their brutal methods, Predators adhere to a strict honor code, often sparing unarmed prey or those who defeat them fairly. This is a core element in Predator, Prey, and the AVP films.
- Trophies: They collect skulls and spines of worthy prey, a practice highlighted in Predator 2 (with the Xenomorph skull) and central to their culture in AVP.
- Yautja Prime: Their homeworld is occasionally referenced, notably in Requiem and The Predator, suggesting a larger galactic society.
Common Questions & Clarifications
Let's address some of the most frequently asked questions about the Alien, Predator, and AVP timelines.
Q: Are the Alien vs. Predator movies canon to the main Alien franchise?
A: Generally, no. Director Ridley Scott, who initiated the Alien prequels, considers the AVP films non-canonical due to their conflicting Xenomorph origin story. If you're following Scott's vision, you can skip them for the Alien timeline.
Q: But are the Alien vs. Predator movies canon to the Predator franchise?
A: More likely. The Predator films have made subtle nods to Xenomorphs (like the trophy in Predator 2) and characters and organizations from AVP (Weyland Corp/Yutani) directly tie into the later Predator films. So, for a Predator-centric viewing, including AVP makes more sense.
Q: Where does Prey fit into the Predator timeline?
A: Prey is the earliest known chronological encounter with a Predator. Set in 1719, it's a foundational story for understanding the Yautja's presence on Earth.
Q: Should I watch AVP if I only care about the Alien storyline?
A: If you're a purist focused on the narrative consistency of the Alien films from Prometheus onwards, you can safely skip the AVP films. However, if you're open to some fun, non-canonical crossover action, they're entertaining in their own right.
Q: Are the upcoming TV series and films (Alien: Earth, Alien: Romulus, Predator: Badlands) canonical?
A: Yes, these upcoming projects are intended to fit into their respective main franchise timelines. Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth are set within the main Alien saga, and Predator: Badlands extends the Predator timeline.
Your Next Hunt: How to Choose Your Viewing Order
Ultimately, the "best" chronological viewing order depends on what you prioritize as a viewer.
- For the "Everything Included" Experience: Follow our Unified (But Contradictory) Chronological Viewing Order. Be prepared for some lore inconsistencies, but enjoy the sheer scope of these intertwined universes. It's like reading a comprehensive history book that includes different accounts of the same event—you get the full picture, even with its contradictions.
- For the Alien Purist: Stick to the Alien-Only Canon. This ensures a coherent narrative focused on the Xenomorph's origins as bio-engineered horror and humanity's desperate struggle for survival against it.
- For the Predator Enthusiast: Opt for the Predator & AVP Canon. This sequence fully explores the Yautja's hunting culture, their code of honor, and their millennia-long interactions with various species, including the Xenomorphs.
No matter which path you choose, delving into the Alien vs. Predator saga chronologically offers a unique perspective on two of cinema's most enduring monsters. You're not just watching movies; you're tracing the dark history of humanity's encounters with the deadliest beings in the galaxy. So load your pulse rifle, activate your cloaking device, and prepare for a journey through time and terror!