skip to main content
We may earn money when you click our links.

How to Watch the Alien Movies in Order

Here’s all you need to know to stream, rent, or buy the Alien movies—and watch them in order.

CableTV.com uses paid Amazon links.

By

Edited By Aaron Gates

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.

Jump to:

A close up shot of a Xenomorph alien hissing amid steam from a broken spaceship

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

A facehugger alien covers the face of a man lying on an exam table while a gloved hand points at one of the creature's arms.

“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+.

Pro tip: At the time of writing, Hulu has the first four Alien movies and STARZ has the Alien vs. Predator films. Look to VOD outlets for Prometheus and Alien: Covenant.

Where to watch Alien (1979)

A green-tinged Xenomorph alien

Where to watch Aliens (1986)

From behind the title Aliens, a blue-tinged Xenomorph alien bares its sharp teeth.

How-to-watch horror movie guides

Ready to tackle another horror movie series in order? Check out some of our other guides.

Where to watch Alien3 (1992)

A green-tinted chestburster alien coiled below the title Alien3

Where to watch Alien Resurrection (1997)

Amid black space and white stars, a green-tinted Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) peers out from behind the word Alien.

Even more how-to-watch horror movie guides

Where to watch Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Xenomorph and Predator aliens face off. The film's title appears on the top third of the image.

Where to watch Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Xenomorph and Predator alien heads, face off with a planet in the background.

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?

A green-eyed ginger cat peers out from a safe place aboard the spaceship Nostromo.

Jones, the Nostromo ship’s cat, watches from safety as Brett (Harry Dean Stanton, not shown) meets a Xenomorph in 1979’s Alien.

Click for answer

According to Ian Nathan’s making-of book Alien Vault (Aurum Press, 2011), four ginger kitties played Jones, the ship’s cat.

Where to watch Prometheus (2012)

A humanoid Engineer's head with the title Prometheus covering the lower third of the image

Where to watch Alien: Covenant (2017)

A Xenomorph alien crouches beneath the title Alien: Covenant

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.

Where to watch H.R. Giger Revealed (2010)

H.R. Giger poses mysteriously beneath the title H.R. Giger Revealed.

Where to watch Dark Star: H.R. Giger’s World (2014)

A female cyborg with an arachnid skull helmet. The documentary title covers the bottom third of the image.

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.

More CTV #bloodstream

Don't miss an update

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.

Go to screen top.
SVG Icons