How to watch

Alien Earth and the Alien Franchise in the correct order

The ultimate guide to watching every Alien movie—and the new Alien: Earth series—in the correct order 🛸👽🔥

Last updated: August 1 2025

Written by: ChronoChris

With *Alien: Earth* set to premiere soon, there’s renewed excitement around one of sci-fi horror’s most iconic franchises. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer curious about Xenomorphs, synthetic androids, and Weyland-Yutani secrets, this is your complete guide to watching the Alien universe in the right order.

*Alien: Earth* is the highly anticipated FX series set between the events of *Prometheus* and *Alien* (1979), offering fans a grounded but terrifying return to the franchise’s roots—this time, on Earth. Before diving into this new chapter, let's break down the best way to watch the entire Alien saga.

🧭 Chronological Order (Story Timeline)

Want to experience the story from humanity’s first contact with Engineers all the way to Ripley’s final standoff? This chronological watch order is perfect for understanding the full Alien timeline, including the prequels and upcoming series.

  1. Prometheus (2012)IMDb
  2. Alien: Covenant (2017)IMDb
  3. Alien: Earth (2025)IMDb
  4. Alien (1979)IMDb
  5. Aliens (1986)IMDb
  6. Alien 3 (1992)IMDb
  7. Alien: Resurrection (1997)IMDb

Watching chronologically reveals the rise of AI, the obsession with biological weaponry, and the haunting truth behind the Xenomorph species. *Alien: Earth* bridges a major gap—showing us how the terror finally arrives home.

📅 Release Order (For Classic Fans)

For a true fan experience, watching the films in release order lets you follow the evolution of filmmaking, practical effects, and horror storytelling—starting with Ridley Scott’s 1979 masterpiece.

  1. Alien (1979)IMDb
  2. Aliens (1986)IMDb
  3. Alien 3 (1992)IMDb
  4. Alien: Resurrection (1997)IMDb
  5. Prometheus (2012)IMDb
  6. Alien: Covenant (2017)IMDb
  7. Alien: Earth (2025)IMDb

Release order preserves the surprise of each twist, especially with Weyland-Yutani’s deeper motives slowly unfolding. It's also a nostalgic trip for fans who grew up with Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley.

👽 What Is *Alien: Earth* About?

Set on Earth decades before Ripley’s nightmare aboard the Nostromo, *Alien: Earth* explores the early spread of Weyland-Yutani experiments, the first Xenomorph outbreaks on human soil, and a collapsing society on the brink of losing control.

With Ridley Scott returning as executive producer and Noah Hawley (*Fargo*, *Legion*) as showrunner, this FX series combines cerebral sci-fi with body horror and corporate dystopia. Expect synthetic secrets, Alien evolution—and no place left to run.

📺 Should You Watch the AVP Films?

The *Alien vs. Predator* movies (2004, 2007) exist in a loosely connected alternate timeline. They’re action-heavy and offer fun crossovers, but they aren’t part of the canonical Alien timeline involving Prometheus, Ripley, or *Alien: Earth*.

  • Alien vs. Predator (2004)IMDb
  • Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)IMDb

Watch them as bonus content if you’re curious, but skip them if you're focusing purely on the core Alien story.

Which Order Is Best?

If you’re new to the franchise, start with *Prometheus* and follow the timeline forward into *Alien: Earth*. This builds suspense and helps you appreciate how deep the lore goes. Classic fans, however, may prefer the original release order to relive Ripley’s legendary journey.

No matter your path, *Alien: Earth* promises to expand the mythos while honoring everything that made the franchise iconic—paranoia, isolation, and creatures that hunt in the dark.

Do you think *Alien: Earth* will live up to the original films? Got your own watch order? Let us know!