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Predator Movie Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch the Predator movies in order

Last updated: April 13 2026

Written by: ChronoBob

The Predator franchise pits humanity's deadliest warriors against an alien hunter that trophies its kills. From the jungles of Central America to the American frontier of the 18th century, the series spans centuries — and knowing the watch order helps you appreciate the full scope of the hunt.

Few creatures in cinema history have been as immediately iconic as the Predator (also known as the Yautja). Arnold Schwarzenegger's original 1987 film introduced a technically superior alien hunter that stalks prey purely for sport, and the franchise has returned to that thrilling concept in various settings ever since. The 2022 Hulu prequel Prey stands as one of the franchise's finest entries, taking the action all the way back to 1719 and a Comanche warrior named Naru. Whether you enjoy the original jungle carnage or the stripped-back tension of Prey, there's plenty to love across the full series.

🕐 Release Order

Release order shows the franchise in the sequence audiences experienced it, which is the best way to understand how the series evolved from a straight action film into something more varied and experimental.

  1. Predator (1987)
  2. Predator 2 (1990)
  3. Predators (2010)
  4. The Predator (2018)
  5. Prey (2022)

Chronological order reshuffles the series significantly, since Prey is a prequel set more than 250 years before any of the other films.

📖 Story Chronology

In chronological order, Prey comes first by a wide margin. The other films each feature separate, largely independent hunts by different Predators, so the chronological viewing order reveals how the Yautja have been visiting Earth for centuries.

  1. Prey (2022) — 1719: a young Comanche warrior named Naru faces a Predator on the Great Plains
  2. Predator (1987) — 1987: Dutch and his mercenary team are hunted through a Central American jungle
  3. Predator 2 (1990) — 1997: a Predator stalks gang members and cops through futuristic Los Angeles
  4. Predators (2010) — present day: a group of elite killers wake up on an alien game preserve
  5. The Predator (2018) — present day: an upgraded Predator threatens Earth with a new agenda

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with the original 1987 Predator — it's a taut, brilliantly crafted action-horror film and one of Schwarzenegger's best. From there, release order works well since each entry is largely self-contained. If you want to save the best for last, consider watching Prey after the original; it's the franchise's most critically acclaimed film and functions perfectly as either a first watch or a triumphant finale. Predators (2010) is a solid mid-tier entry, while The Predator (2018) is the weakest link — completionists will want to include it, but casual fans won't miss much by skipping it.

🔗 Related Guides

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  • Die Hard Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!