"Predator Movies: Chronological Viewing Guide"

Humans often pride themselves on being at the top of the food chain, but in the vast expanse of the galaxy, we're just another species in the Predator's hunting grounds. The Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic 1987 film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, introduces us to the "Yautja"—towering, trophy-seeking hunters from space who travel across worlds in search of lethal competition. These extraterrestrial hunters have even been known to abduct species for hunts back on their home planet.

The saga began with two films in 1987 and 1990, establishing the core narrative of the Predator universe. Given the cinematic threat posed by the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to merge these two universes with the Alien vs. Predator films. In the following years, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg have each added their unique touch to the franchise.

With two new Predator movies set to hit the screens in 2025, now is the perfect time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. Whether you want to watch the films in chronological order or by release date, we've got you covered with a complete timeline and streaming options.

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, two Alien crossovers, and one prequel. Additionally, two new Predator movies are scheduled for release in 2025.

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Predator 4-Movie Collection

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Predator Movies in (Chronological) Order

1. Prey (2022)

Prey serves as a prequel and is intended to be watched after the other films, particularly Predator 2. However, for a true chronological experience, 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 finds herself facing off against a more primitive Predator. Determined to prove herself, Naru sets her sights on taking down the alien hunter in this fresh addition to the three-decade saga.

Read IGN's review of Prey

Where to Stream: Hulu

2. Predator (1987)

The saga began with Predator in 1987, 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). This action classic follows a military rescue team that finds itself outmatched by an invisible alien hunter in the South American jungle. Schwarzenegger's Dutch must devise a plan to defeat a technologically superior foe.

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

3. Predator 2 (1990)

Predator 2 shifts the setting to a futuristic 1997 Los Angeles, where a heatwave and crime wave set the stage for another Predator hunt. Danny Glover leads a cast including Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso as they navigate a city under siege by both a cartel war and an alien hunter.

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

4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise returned with AVP: Alien vs. Predator, a crossover that merged the Predator universe with the Alien saga. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, this film was set in present-day America and revealed that Predators had been using Earth for centuries as a hunting ground, breeding Xenomorphs for their rites of passage. Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen, Raoul Bova, and Ewen Bremner star in this thrilling blend of sci-fi and horror.

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

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

5. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

Aliens vs Predator: Requiem continues the crossover saga, picking up immediately after AVP. Though not as successful as its predecessor, it introduced the "Predalien," a hybrid creature that wreaks havoc on a small Colorado town. A Predator "cleaner" is dispatched 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)

Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, takes the franchise off Earth to a distant Yautja game reserve. Featuring a cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, the film explores how humans, specifically "established killers," are abducted for sport between rival Yautja tribes. While the exact Earth year is unclear, it's safe to place it in the early 21st century.

Read IGN's review of Predators

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

7. The Predator (2018)

Eight years after Predators, The Predator directed by Shane Black returned to the franchise's roots. A squad of unstable soldiers, portrayed by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen, confront a pair of rampaging Predators and uncover their DNA splicing plans. The film teases further developments, with alternate endings hinting at potential crossovers with the Alien franchise.

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 films 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, set to premiere in theaters on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature the Predator as the protagonist, according to director Dan Trachtenberg.

The second film, also directed by Trachtenberg, was kept under wraps for some time. However, it has been revealed that Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated movie that will explore three different encounters with the ultimate killer at various points in history. This film is scheduled for a direct-to-Hulu release on June 6, 2025.