"Predator Movies: Chronological Viewing Guide"

Humans often pride themselves on being at the top of the food chain, but in the grand scheme of the galaxy, we're barely holding our own in the cosmic gladiator arena. Enter the Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film in 1987. This series introduces us to the "Yautja," formidable trophy-hunting aliens who roam the universe in search of worthy prey and have been known to abduct species for sport back on their home world.

The first two Predator films, released in 1987 and 1990, set the stage for this thrilling saga. As the Xenomorphs from the Alien series also pose a significant threat to humanity, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to merge these two universes with the Alien vs. Predator films. Over the subsequent decade, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg each brought their unique vision to the franchise.

With two new Predator movies slated for 2025, there's no better time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, we've got the ultimate guide on how to watch every Predator movie in order. Below, you'll find a complete timeline of the Predator movies along with details on where to watch them online.

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

How to Watch the Predator Movies in Chronological Order

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You can also check out our guide to the Alien movies in order to incorporate the whole timeline.

How Many Predator Movies Are There?

There are a total of seven movies in the Predator franchise — four in the mainline series of films, two Alien crossovers, and one prequel. Two new Predator movies are set to release in 2025.

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Includes Predator, Predator 2, Predators, and The Predator. See it at Amazon.

Predator Movies in (Chronological) Order

1. Prey (2022)

Prey serves as a prequel and is designed to be watched after the other films, particularly after Predator 2. However, if you're intent on following the chronological order, start here. Set in 1719 on the Great Plains, Prey follows a young Comanche woman, Naru (Amber Midthunder), who embarks on a hunt with her brother and unexpectedly finds herself in the sights of a primitive Predator. Determined to prove her worth, Naru sets out to take down the alien hunter in this fresh and thrilling addition to the three-decade saga.

Read IGN's review of Prey

Where to Stream: Hulu

2. Predator (1987)

The saga began with 1987's Predator, directed by John McTiernan of Die Hard fame and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Shane Black, who later directed his own Predator film. Predator is a classic action movie where a seemingly invincible military rescue team faces a terrifying invisible force in the South American jungle. Once the alien hunter, on its own deadly safari, is revealed, Schwarzenegger's character, Dutch, must devise a strategy to ambush and defeat a technologically and tactically superior foe.

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

3. Predator 2 (1990)

A few years later, Predator returned with a new cast and setting. Set in a future heatwave and crimewave-ridden Los Angeles of 1997, Predator 2 follows a group of cops, portrayed by Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso, as they tackle a bloody cartel war while also contending with a Predator stalking the city for victims.

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After a 14-year hiatus filled with novels, comics, and video games, Predator returned with a bang through a crossover with the Alien franchise. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Event Horizon fame, Alien vs. Predator was a major hit that revitalized both sci-fi/horror universes. Set in present-day America, AVP reveals that Predators have been hunting on Earth for centuries, using humans to breed Xenomorphs for their rites of passage. The film stars Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen, Raoul Bova, and Ewen Bremner.

Read IGN's review of AVP: Alien vs. Predator

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

5. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

The sequel to AVP, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem, continues the battle immediately where AVP left off. Although not as successful as its predecessor and the last of the crossover films, Requiem introduced the "Predalien," a hybrid creature that wreaks havoc on a small Colorado town, prompting a Predator "cleaner" to be sent to eliminate this new threat.

Read IGN's review of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

6. Predators (2010)

The only Predator movie not set on Earth, Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, shifts the setting to a distant planet used as a Yautja game reserve. Featuring a stellar cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, Predators explores how humans, specifically skilled killers, are abducted and used in the deadly sport between rival Yautja tribes.

While the exact Earth year is unclear, you can assume it's around 2010, or at least the early 21st century, making it fit well at number six in the chronological order.

Read IGN's review of Predators

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

7. The Predator (2018)

After an eight-year gap, Shane Black, who starred in the original, directed and co-wrote The Predator in 2018. This film brings the franchise back to its roots, featuring a squad of unstable soldiers, played by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen, who confront not one but two Predators and their sinister plan involving DNA splicing. The film teases further adventures, with alternate endings hinting at crossovers with the Alien universe.

Read IGN's review of The Predator

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

How to Watch the Predator Movies by Release Date

If you prefer to watch the movies in the order they were released in theaters, follow this list:

• Predator (1987)
• Predator 2 (1990)
• AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
• Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)
• Predators (2010)
• The Predator (2018)
• Prey (2022)

The Future of the Predator Franchise

Two new Predator movies are slated for release in 2025. Predator: Badlands, hitting theaters on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature the Predator as the protagonist, as directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

The second film, also helmed by Trachtenberg, was shrouded in secrecy for some time. Now, it's been revealed that Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated movie that will explore three different encounters with the ultimate killer across various historical periods. This movie is set to premiere directly on Hulu on June 6.