In this guide, you’ll learn where to stream, rent, or buy all six Alien movies (the first four are on Hulu), the Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover flicks (see STARZ), and two documentaries about H.R. Giger, the Swiss artist who created the Alien series’ most terrifying creatures. And, for those still flying the physical media flag, we tell you the most affordable way to buy the Alien movies on disc.
In space, no one can hear you stream. A Xenomorph bares its fangs in Aliens (1986). (Video screenshot)
Pro tip: Watching every Alien movie in order will take 15 hours and 16 minutes.
What are the Alien movies?
“In space, no one can hear you scream.” In 1979, director Ridley Scott and writer Dan O’Bannon destroyed our psyches with the story of a doomed deep-space rescue mission where we met such cosmic yucks as facehuggers, chestbursters, and Xenomorphs. We also encountered Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver in her first major film role), the warrant officer aboard the Nostromo—and the first cinema crush of a zillion sci-fi geeks.
An instant horror/sci-fi classic, Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) spawned four sequels, two prequels, and two Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossover films. Among these, only the first sequel, Aliens (1986), is as good as the original—both rate 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. The middle films (1992–2007) range from garbage to so-so. But the prequels, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), somewhat rekindled the old magic.
If you’re a sucker for gory, slimy, butt-kickin’ sci-fi action—even if it kinda sucks—here’s how to watch the Alien movies in order and judge them for yourself.
List of Alien movies in order
- Alien (1979)
- Alien (1986)
- Alien3 (1992)
- Alien Resurrection (1997)
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (1979)
- Prometheus (2012)
- Alien: Covenant (2017)
- Untitled Alien film (2024)
“He said it hurts riiight here.” Ash (Ian Holm) prepares to remove the facehugger alien from Kane (John Hurt) in Alien. (Video screenshot)
How to watch the Alien movies in order
See below for links (courtesy of JustWatch.com) to stream, rent, or buy the Alien movies via on-demand streaming TV services or video-on-demand (VOD) retailers like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Where to watch Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Pro tip: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (Uncut) is eight minutes longer than the theatrical version, but it’s not on JustWatch. You can rent or buy the film on Amazon Prime Video.
Pop quiz! How many feline thespians played Jones, the ship’s cat, in the Alien movies?
Jones, the Nostromo ship’s cat, watches from safety as Brett (Harry Dean Stanton, not shown) meets a Xenomorph in 1979’s Alien.
According to Ian Nathan’s making-of book Alien Vault (Aurum Press, 2011), four ginger kitties played Jones, the ship’s cat.
How to watch Alien documentaries
If you dig the Alien movies’ visual design, check out these documentaries about H.R. Giger, the Swiss artist who created the films’ iconic towering, double-mawed Xenomorph alien (and the horrifying facehuggers and a whole lot more).
Pro tip: The widely acclaimed documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune streams on STARZ.
You’ll learn about Giger and his body of work, which also included imagery and designs for avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s lost version of Dune and cover art for albums by Celtic Frost, Danzig, Dead Kennedys, Deborah Harry, Korn, and Emerson, Lake, & Palmer.
How to rent or buy the Alien movies digitally
If you can’t find the Alien movies on one of your streaming services, you can still rent or buy the films from the video-on-demand (VOD) retailers using the JustWatch links above.
Pro tip: Most newer 4K TVs have AI upscaling, which can boost 1080p HD to near-4K quality. You can save a few bucks by buying the Alien movies on HD (digital) Blu-ray (disc) instead of waiting for 4K.
How to rent or buy the Alien movies on Blu-ray or 4K UHD
All six Alien movies, both Alien vs. Predator (AVP) films, and one of the Giger docs are available on physical media. As usual, the collections are the best deal. At the time of writing, Amazon has the Alien: 6-Film Collection on Blu-ray—with digital codes for all—for under $25.
Only the original Alien, Prometheus, and Alien: Covenant have 4K UHD releases. We’ve linked those below, along with individual Blu-rays of the other three Alien movies, the two AVP films (separately or as a set), and Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World (DVD only). H.R. Giger Revealed is unavailable on disc.
If you buy all of the movies (nine total, including the doc) right now, the cheapest way is through Amazon. The Alien 6-Film Collection, the AVP set, and Dark Star cost around $60 altogether (all Blu-rays except Dark Star).
Pro tip: Most newer 4K TVs have AI upscaling, which can boost 1080p HD to near-4K quality. You can save a few bucks by buying the Alien movies on HD (digital) Blu-ray (disc) instead of waiting for 4K.
CableTV.com uses paid Amazon links.
Pro tip: A new—as-yet-untitled—Alien movie directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, 2013) is tentatively scheduled for a 2024 release.
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