Predator Movies in Order: Release and Chronological Watchlists
Key takeaways
- For a first watch, see the Predator movies in release order.
- Chronological order is less straightforward than release order.
- Choose release order for a first watch.
- Choose chronological order if you’re revisiting the series.
- The simplest Predator watch order is release order.
Table of contents
- Predator Movies in Order: Release and Chronological Watchlists
- Key takeaways
- Table of contents
- Predator movies in release order
- Do the Alien vs. Predator movies count?
- Predator movies in chronological order
- Which order should you choose?
- Quick answer
Predator movies in release order
For a first watch, see the Predator movies in release order. It follows the franchise as audiences first encountered it and avoids presenting a disputed timeline as settled fact. The list below includes both Alien vs. Predator crossover films; skip those two if you only want the standalone Predator movies.
| # | Movie | Release year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Predator | 1987 | The original film |
| 2 | Predator 2 | 1990 | The first sequel |
| 3 | Alien vs. Predator | 2004 | Crossover with the Alien franchise |
| 4 | Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem | 2007 | Sequel to the crossover |
| 5 | Predators | 2010 | A standalone entry |
| 6 | The Predator | 2018 | A later sequel |
| 7 | Prey | 2022 | A prequel set in the past |
| 8 | Predator: Killer of Killers | 2025 | An animated anthology |
| 9 | Predator: Badlands | 2025 | A standalone entry |
The franchise began with Predator in 1987, followed by Predator 2 in 1990, as reflected in 20th Century Studios’ film pages and sequel listing. Later films broaden the series with new settings and formats. Prey is a prequel, while Killer of Killers is an animated anthology that connects Predator encounters across different historical periods. The release-order list from Space.com includes the 2025 films.
Do the Alien vs. Predator movies count?
They’re crossover films, so some watchlists include them and others focus only on movies centered on the Predator franchise. If you include the crossovers, the list above has nine films released through 2025. If you leave them out, it has seven standalone Predator movies.
For the smoothest release-order watch, keep Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem between Predator 2 and Predators. You don’t need to watch the wider Alien series to follow the basic premise of these crossovers, though familiarity with both franchises can add context.
Predator movies in chronological order
Chronological order is less straightforward than release order. Prey is set in the early 18th century, long before the original film, while Killer of Killers covers multiple historical periods and can’t be assigned one simple place in the timeline. Guides also differ on where to position some later entries, and Predator: Badlands doesn’t have a consistently established place in published timelines.
For a rough timeline, start with:
- Prey (2022) — set in the early 18th century.
- Predator (1987)
- Predator 2 (1990)
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) — follows the events of Alien vs. Predator.
- Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018) — guides vary on their relative timeline placement.
Treat this as an approximate viewing arrangement, not a definitive official chronology. Put Killer of Killers wherever suits you: its anthology format moves across eras, so the full film doesn’t belong at a single point. Badlands is also best left outside a strict chronological sequence unless you’re following a timeline guide that explains its placement. People’s guide, for example, notes the anthology’s multiple periods; other guides differ on timeline details.
Which order should you choose?
Choose release order for a first watch. It gives you the franchise’s development in the order the films appeared, and the list is easy to follow even if you skip the crossovers.
Choose chronological order if you’re revisiting the series. Starting with Prey lets you see an earlier Predator encounter first, but it means moving backward and forward through films that weren’t made in timeline order. It’s a fun alternative rather than a required way to understand the story.
Want only the core Predator films? Watch Predator, Predator 2, Predators, The Predator, Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands in release order. Add the two Alien vs. Predator films if you want the cross-franchise entries too.
Quick answer
The simplest Predator watch order is release order: Predator, Predator 2, Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, Predators, The Predator, Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands. Chronological order is possible as a rough guide, but the anthology and differing timeline placements make it less definitive.
