Watch Predator Movies in Chronological Order: A Guide

Humans often view themselves as the top of the food chain, but in the galactic gladiator competition, we're just barely scraping by. Enter the Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film in 1987. The story revolves around the "Yautja," towering trophy-seeking hunters from space who travel to different planets for lethal sport and have been known to abduct species for hunts back on their home world.

The first two Predator films, released in 1987 and 1990, established the saga's foundation. Given the cinematic terror brought by Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to create a shared universe with two Alien vs. Predator films. In the subsequent decade, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg each brought their unique vision to the series.

With two new Predator movies slated for 2025, it's an ideal time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. Whether you want to watch the Predator movies in chronological order or by release date, we've got you covered. Below, you'll find the complete timeline and where to watch these films online.

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• 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. Two new Predator movies are set to release in 2025.

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Predator 4-Movie Collection

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Predator Movies in (Chronological) Order

1. Prey (2022)

Prey is a prequel and should be watched after everything else, especially Predator 2, if you're aiming for chronological order. Set in 1719 across the Great Plains, Prey follows Naru, a young Comanche woman (played by Amber Midthunder), who encounters a primitive Predator while hunting with her brother. Determined to prove herself, Naru sets out to take down the alien hunter in this 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 and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Shane Black (who would later direct his own Predator film). This action classic follows a military rescue team ambushed by an invisible alien hunter in the South American jungle. Schwarzenegger's character, Dutch, must outsmart and defeat a technologically advanced predator.

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

3. Predator 2 (1990)

Predator 2 shifts the setting to a heatwave-stricken Los Angeles in 1997. Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso portray cops battling both a cartel war and a Predator stalking 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 AVP: Alien vs. Predator, a crossover directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. This film introduced a historical connection between the Yautja and Xenomorphs, revealing that Predators have been using humans as breeding hosts for Xenomorphs for centuries. Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen, Raoul Bova, and Ewen Bremner star.

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, focusing on the aftermath with the introduction of the "Predalien," an Alien-Predator hybrid that attacks a small Colorado town. A Predator "cleaner" is sent to eliminate the threat.

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

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

6. Predators (2010)

Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is the only film not set on Earth, taking place on a Yautja game reserve planet. It features a cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga. The film shows how humans, specifically "established killers," are abducted for sport between Yautja tribes.

Timeline-wise, this film's placement can be flexible, but it's commonly viewed as happening around the early 21st century.

Read IGN's review of Predators

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

7. The Predator (2018)

The Predator, directed by Shane Black, returns to the original formula with a squad of soldiers (Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen) facing off against two rampaging Predators. The film hints at further adventures, with alternate endings featuring time-traveling characters from 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 movies in the order they were released, 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 2025. Predator: Badlands, set for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature the Predator as the protagonist, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

The second film, Predator: Killer of Killers, also directed by Trachtenberg, is an animated movie exploring three different historical encounters with the ultimate killer. It will be available directly on Hulu starting June 6.