"Chronological Guide to Watching Predator Movies"

Humans often pride themselves on being at the top of the food chain, but in the grand scheme of the galaxy, we're just barely holding our own in the cosmic gladiator arena. The Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film in 1987, introduces us to the Yautja—towering, trophy-hunting extraterrestrials who scour different planets for their deadly sport and are known to abduct species for hunts back on their home world.

The initial two Predator films released in 1987 and 1990 laid the groundwork for what would become a thrilling saga. With the Xenomorphs from the Alien series also posing a significant threat to humanity, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to merge these two universes with the Alien vs. Predator movies. The franchise continued to evolve through the 2010s with directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg each adding their unique touch.

With two new Predator films set to hit screens in 2025, there's no better time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. If you're eager to watch every Predator movie in sequence, we've got you covered! Below, you'll find a comprehensive timeline of the Predator movies and 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 explore our guide to the Alien movies to incorporate the full timeline.

How Many Predator Movies Are There?

There are a total of seven movies in the Predator franchise—four in the main series, two Alien crossovers, and one prequel. Two more Predator films are slated for release in 2025.

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Predator 4-Movie Collection

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

Predator Movies in (Chronological) Order

1. Prey (2022)

Prey is a prequel and intended to be watched after the other films (especially Predator 2), but for a true chronological experience, start here. Set in 1719 on the Great Plains, Prey follows a young Comanche woman, Naru (Amber Midthunder), who encounters more than she expected during a hunt with her brother, finding herself in the sights of a more primitive Predator. Determined to prove herself, Naru sets out to take down the alien hunter in this fresh and exhilarating addition to the franchise.

Read IGN's review of Prey

Where to Stream: Hulu

2. Predator (1987)

The franchise 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 sees a nearly invincible military rescue team ambushed by an invisible, terrifying force in the South American jungle. When the attacker is revealed as an alien hunter on a deadly safari, Schwarzenegger's Dutch must outsmart and defeat a creature far advanced in technology and tactics.

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

3. Predator 2 (1990)

A few years later, Predator 2 hit theaters with a new setting and cast. Set during a heatwave and crime surge in 1997 Los Angeles, the film follows cops, including Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso, as they navigate a brutal cartel war while also facing a Predator hunting through the city.

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

4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise returned with Alien vs. Predator, a crossover with the Alien series. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Event Horizon fame, this film was a major success, revitalizing both franchises. 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 cast includes 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)

Aliens vs Predator: Requiem continues directly from AVP, featuring an Alien-Predator hybrid known as the "Predalien" that wreaks havoc in a small Colorado town. Although not as successful as its predecessor, it marks the end of the crossover films and introduces a Predator "cleaner" tasked with eliminating the 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, is the only film in the series not set on Earth. It takes place on a distant planet used as a Yautja game reserve. With a stellar cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, the film explores how humans, specifically known killers, are abducted for sport between rival Yautja tribes. While the exact Earth year is unspecified, it's commonly considered to take place around 2010.

Read IGN's review of Predators

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

7. The Predator (2018)

Despite Predators being a moderate success, it took eight years for the next film, The Predator, directed by Shane Black, to be released. Returning to the franchise's original formula, the movie features a squad of unstable soldiers, including Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen, battling two rampaging Predators and thwarting their genetic manipulation schemes. The film teases further adventures, with alternate endings hinting at 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, follow this sequence:

• 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 set to release in 2025. Predator: Badlands, hitting theaters on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature a Predator as the protagonist, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

The second film, also directed by Trachtenberg, was kept under wraps for a while. However, we can now confirm that Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated movie that explores three different historical encounters with the ultimate killer. It will be available directly on Hulu starting June 6.