Humans often pride themselves on being at the top of the food chain, but in the grand scheme of the galactic gladiator competition, we barely hold our own. The Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film in 1987, introduces us to the "Yautja"—towering, trophy-seeking hunters from space. These extraterrestrial warriors travel across different worlds to engage in lethal competitions and have been known to abduct various species for hunts back on their home planet.
The first two Predator films, released in 1987 and 1990, set the stage for this thrilling saga. Given the cinematic threat posed by the Xenomorphs from the Alien series, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to create a shared universe with the Alien vs. Predator crossover films. In the subsequent decade, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg each added their unique flair to the franchise.
With two new Predator movies set to hit screens in 2025, there's no better time to dive into the original sci-fi classics. Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned fan, we've compiled a comprehensive guide to help you watch every Predator movie in order. Below, you'll find a full timeline of the Predator movies along with 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
8 Images
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 slated to release in 2025.
Blu-Ray + Digital
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 serves as a prequel and is designed to be watched after the rest of the series, especially Predator 2. However, for a true chronological experience, start here. Set in 1719 across the Great Plains, Prey follows a young Comanche woman named Naru (Amber Midthunder). On a hunt with her brother, Naru finds herself in the sights of a primitive Predator. Determined to prove herself, she sets her sights on taking down the alien stalker in this fresh and thrilling addition to the three-decade saga.
Read IGN's review of Prey
Where to Stream: Hulu
2. Predator (1987)
It all began with the 1987 classic 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). This action-packed classic features a near-unstoppable military rescue team that finds itself outmatched by an invisible force in the South American jungle. When the attacker is revealed to be an alien hunter on a sinister safari, Schwarzenegger's Dutch must devise a way 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 2 brought more massacres and mayhem, but with a new cast and setting. Set during a heatwave and crimewave in 1997 Los Angeles, the film follows a group of cops, played by Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso, as they tackle a bloody cartel war and 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, during which the franchise was kept alive through novels, comics, and video games, Predator returned with a bang in the form of a crossover with the Alien saga. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Event Horizon fame, Alien vs. Predator was a major hit that breathed new life into both franchises. Set in present-day America, AVP reveals that Predators have been conducting hunts on Earth for centuries, using humans to breed Xenomorphs for their rite 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, Requiem introduced the Alien-Predator hybrid, known as the "Predalien," as it terrorizes a small Colorado town. A Predator "cleaner" is dispatched to deal with this new threat.
Read IGN's review of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem here.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
6. Predators (2010)
The only Predator film not set on Earth, Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, shakes up the formula by taking audiences to a distant Yautja game reserve planet. With a stellar cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, the film shows how humans, specifically "established killers," are abducted and used for sport by warring Yautja tribes.
The exact timeline of Predators is ambiguous, but it can be assumed to take place in 2010 or early in the 21st century. For chronological viewing, it fits at number six, though it could also be watched last.
Read IGN's review of Predators
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
7. The Predator (2018)
Despite Predators being a modest success, it took eight years for another Predator film to hit theaters. The Predator (2018), directed and co-written by Shane Black (Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), returns to the franchise's original formula. It follows a squad of unstable soldiers, played by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen, as they confront two rampaging Predators and thwart their DNA-splicing schemes. The film ends with a tease for more, while alternate endings featured time-traveling versions of Alien's Ellen Ripley and Rebecca "Newt" Jorden, hinting at further crossover possibilities.
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 set to release in 2025. Predator: Badlands, hitting 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 a while. However, it's now confirmed that Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated movie that follows three different encounters with the ultimate killer at various points in history. It is scheduled for a direct-to-Hulu release on June 6.
