Introduction
The Alien film series is undeniably one of the most important cinematic sagas of all time, and the movies continue to reverberate in popular culture decades after their initial release. While it’s easy to jump in and watch any movie in the series, even a seasoned fan can benefit from understanding the narrative connections between them. This guide will provide a chronological viewing order for the Alien movies and where you can find them online.
From Ridley Scott’s original masterpiece up to Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming sequel, there are no fewer than eight titles making up one continuous universe – six major releases and two spin-offs with various side-projects written as part of wider stories. However you choose to watch, every piece of this sprawling puzzle is just as thrilling today as when released.
Alien (1979)
Alien (1979) is the first movie in the iconic Alien franchise. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, Alien is a sci-fi horror classic that focuses on a group of astronauts who find and battle a hostile alien creature. It’s an essential watch for any fan of the genre and can be seen streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Where to watch
Alien (1979) is the first installment in the Alien film franchise and follows a commercial towing spaceship crew members who encounter an alien organism in deep space. The movie was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, and John Hurt.
If you’re looking for where to watch Alien (1979), you can get it from a variety of sources:
- It is available on many streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and YouTube where you can rent or purchase digital copies to watch anytime.
- DVD and Blu-ray copies are also widely available if you prefer physical discs.
- Cable providers such as Comcast Xfinity have subscriptions that offer access to the movie through On Demand services.
- The film is occasionally aired on premium cable networks such as HBO or STARZ making it viewable that way as well.
Aliens (1986)
The first movie in the Alien movie franchise is Aliens, released in 1986. This movie, directed by James Cameron, follows a group of space marines and their fight against an extraterrestrial species, known as the Xenomorphs. This movie set the tone for the rest of the Alien movies, establishing the universe and its rules.
Aliens is a classic science fiction movie that stands the test of time, and is one of the most iconic movies of all time.
Where to watch
The Alien movie franchise has become one of the most popular and successful movie franchises in action-adventure and science fiction. The success of the movies has spawned several spin-off media, including comic books, novels, video games, and more.
If you’re interested in watching the Alien movies in order as well as finding out where you can watch them, then read on. Here is a comprehensive guide to streaming and purchasing all of the Alien films.
First up on the Alien movie timeline is the iconic classic Aliens (1986). This can be watched through a variety of digital streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Hulu Plus or Google Play Movies & TV. It can also be purchased through digital retailers such as Apple Store or Google Store so you able to watch it whenever you want.
The sequels to Aliens (1986) are Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997), Prometheus (2012) and finally Covenant (2017). These films are also available to stream on Netflix, Amazon Video, iTunes and other digital platforms or be purchased from digital retailers such as Apple Store or Google Store.
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien 3 (1992) is the third installment in the Alien franchise and directed by David Fincher. In this movie, the action shifts to a maximum-security prison colony, where Ripley’s shuttle has crash-landed. Here, the survivors of the crashed ship must face off against a new, and far more dangerous, Alien threat.
Want to watch Alien 3 (1992)? Let’s find out where to watch it and the order to watch all of the Alien movies:
Where to watch
Alien 3, released in 1992 and directed by David Fincher, follows up from the events of Aliens (1986). It is the third movie in the Alien franchise, and what makes this installment so interesting is that it features a service dog playing an important role. The film has been released on various streaming services, and here are the most popular ones you can watch it on:
- Netflix: Alien 3 is available to rent or buy on Netflix.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can rent or buy Alien 3 through Amazon Prime Video’s Movies & TV section.
- Hulu: You can find this classic sci-fi adventure available to stream on Hulu.
- YouTube Movie Rentals/Purchases: YouTube has made it easy for users to rent or purchase Alien 3 right from their site.
- iTunes Movie Rentals/Purchases: iTunes also allows for users to purchase and view content from their page.
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Alien: Resurrection is the fourth installment in the Alien franchise and is set 200 years after the events of Alien 3. This movie follows the initial cloning of Ellen Ripley played by Sigourney Weaver, and her battle against a new species of Alien, called the Newborn.
The movie was released in 1997, and if you want to watch this movie, here are all the details:
Where to watch
Alien: Resurrection is the fourth installment of the Alien franchise. This film follows the events of Alien 3 (1992) and features Sigourney Weaver returning as Ellen Ripley, a clone created by scientists on board a space station. The film follows Ripley as she battles against her alien enemies while trying to find a way off the station.
Alien: Resurrection can be seen on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and YouTube. It is also available in HD, 4K UHD or re-mastered Blu-Ray discs. Watching this movie as a part of the larger story arc might be confusing without having seen the previous films first. Therefore, it should be viewed after watching:
- Aliens (1986)
- Alien 3 (1992)
- Alien – Director’s Cut (2003)
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
The Alien vs. Predator films began in 2004 with the release of the eponymous movie. It tells the story of a group of scientists who travel to an ancient pyramid in Antarctica in an effort to learn more about an extraterrestrial species. The movie is one of the few films in the Alien franchise to feature the Predators, an alien species that is a rival to the Alien species. It follows the story of the protagonists as they confront the creatures.
Where to watch
Alien vs. Predator (2004) is the fourth installment in the Alien franchise and it is available to stream on a few popular platforms. You can watch it right now on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and on HBO Max.
For those who have been wanting to watch Ridley Scott’s classic Alien (1979) or James Cameron’s Aliens (1986), they are available to stream or rent on Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies and TV, YouTube, and Microsoft Movies & TV. If you’re an Alien fan and you want to continue through the whole series with 1992’s Alien 3, 1997’s Alien: Resurrection, 2012’s Prometheus and 2017’s Alien: Covenant – all of those movies are available too.
These streaming platforms are a great way for fans of the franchise to watch all of their favorite entries in the order of their choosing – and for newcomers to jump into this beloved series. Whether it be first watching the original four films before continuing with new additions from a modern perspective or starting with newer installments–everyone can find something that suits their needs when diving into this classic sci-fi horror franchise.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem is the fourth installment of the Alien franchise, released in 2007. While it has its own place in the Alien movie timeline, it’s the sequel to Aliens vs. Predator (2004) and a sequel to the 1979 classic Alien. This installment follows the same plot from its prequels, with humans trying to save themselves from the two extra-terrestrial species.
Let’s take a look at the details of this movie and how you can watch it:
Where to watch
If you’re interested in watching Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), there are several ways to do so. You can rent or buy the movie on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies & TV, YouTube and other digital stores; it’s also available on DVD or Blu-ray as part of the Alien/Predator Collection Blu-ray.
Additionally, Netflix users can watch the movie via their streaming service as of June 2020.
It’s also possible to watch Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) online via services like FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV. Depending on your area of residence and subscription type, it might be possible to catch the movie live during its theatrical window or possibly view it through one of those platforms’ video-on-demand libraries. Additionally, individual episodes can sometimes be purchased from select digital stores such as Microsoft Store for an additional fee – though often these digital copies lack some special features that come with getting an entire season at once.
Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus, released in 2012, is the first installment in the Alien movie series. It tells the story of scientists, archaeologists and engineers as they explore an alien world. This is the starting point of the journey that would eventually lead to the discovery of the iconic Xenomorph.
In this article, find out where to watch Prometheus and the other Alien movies in order:
Where to watch
Prometheus (2012) is one of the most talked about additions to the Alien movie universe, and for good reason. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce and more, it’s an exciting science fiction thriller that reveals some answers to the mysteries of Alien’s hugely popular world.
If you want to watch Prometheus in order with the rest of the Alien movies, here are a few options you can choose from:
- Netflix – You can watch Prometheus on Netflix in the US, UK, Canada and other countries around the world.
- Amazon Prime Video – Prometheus is available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video in many countries too.
- Hulu – The streaming service Hulu has Prometheus available for subscribers to watch in certain regions.
- FXNOW – If you have an FX subscription through a cable provider then you can stream Raider from the FXNOW app.
- Cinemax Go – Finally if you are an HBO Max subscriber then you can also stream Raider from their Cinemax Go app or website.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien: Covenant is the sixth installment of the Alien movie franchise and was released in 2017. It is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Michael Fassbender and Katherine Waterston. It’s a sequel to the 2012 film Prometheus and is set ten years after the events of that movie. Alien: Covenant brings an action-packed and thrilling experience of space exploration and helps to further the story arc of the Alien franchise.
Let’s dive into how to watch the Alien movies in order, and where you can watch them:
Where to watch
If you’re looking to re-watch the entire Alien movie series, there are several options for where you can watch the films. The Alien franchise has become a cult classic over the years, meaning there are numerous places to find them.
For starters, all of the movies from 1979’s Alien to 2017’s Alien: Covenant are available for digital rental or purchase on long-standing streaming sites like iTunes, YouTube and Google Play. You can also find them on Netflix (though this could somewhat limit your access, as some titles may be interchangeable between countries).
In addition to those options, offline home video platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Vudu and FandangoNOW also offer a selection of the movies to rent or own. If you want to keep it old-school and buy physical copies of the movies on DVD or Blu-ray, they’re easy to find online at retailers such as Best Buy and Target — plus local retail stores more likely than not have some sort of collection available.
Conclusion
Watching the Alien films in order is the best way to get a complete understanding of the amazing world of Xenomorphs and the other species that inhabit it. The movies span multiple generations and for fans, depicting countless interesting circumstances and characters.
There are various ways to watch all nine films, including via streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Google Play Movies & TV. Additionally, there are physical or digital buying options such as Blu-ray or DVD collectors editions. No matter which method you choose for watching the Alien movies, you’re sure to have a thrilling ride through space!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the order of the Alien movies?
A1. The order of the Alien movies is: Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992), Alien Resurrection (1997), and Alien: Covenant (2017).
Q2. How can I watch the Alien movies?
A2. You can watch the Alien movies on streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. You can also purchase or rent them from various digital stores such as iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.
Q3. Where can I find the Alien movies?
A3. You can find the Alien movies on various streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. You can also purchase or rent them from various digital stores such as iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube.