The Alien franchise remains one of the most iconic and unpredictable horror series ever made. It all began in 1979 when Ridley Scott introduced the world to the terrifying Xenomorphs. Since then, the story has taken many twists and turns; some exciting, others confusing.
With a potential new film that may follow the events of Alien: Covenant, fans hope the timeline will finally come full circle. But with prequels, sequels, and spin-offs, the timeline gets messy. Here's a clear breakdown of all Alien movies in the order their stories happen.
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Every Alien Movie in Chronological Order
With a potential new film that may follow the events of Alien: Covenant, fans hope the timeline will finally come full circle. But with prequels, sequels, and spin-offs, the timeline gets messy. Here's a clear breakdown of all Alien movies in the order their stories happen
The Alien movies tell one big story across space and time. But the order they came out in is not the order the events happened. Some movies are prequels, and others are sequels. That makes it hard to follow the full story. Watching them in the right timeline helps everything make more sense.
Below is a list of all the Alien movies in chronological order. You'll see how the Xenomorphs were created and how Ripley became a hero. Let's begin.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Some fans argue that AVP doesn't belong in the main Alien timeline. But there are clear links to the original series that can't be ignored. Surprisingly, this movie takes place in a more modern era, not the far-off future the franchise is known for.
In 2004, a group of scientists and mercenaries explored a mysterious pyramid beneath the Antarctic ice. What they uncover is a deadly battle between two ancient alien species. Lance Henriksen appears as Charles Bishop Weyland, the man who later inspires the android Bishop. This connection, however, was later adjusted in the timeline
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
This direct sequel picks up immediately after the first AVP film. After the chaotic battle, a Predator ship crashes in a quiet American town. The residents find themselves caught between Xenomorphs and a lone Predator.
The movie does show us the Predator homeworld. It also introduces a new hybrid creature. Still, the story adds very little to the larger Alien or Predator lore. Many fans see it as an unnecessary detour.
Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus marked Ridley Scott's return to the franchise. Though it shares many visual similarities with the original film, it isn't a direct prequel. Scott aimed to explore new ideas instead of repeating himself.
Set in 2093, the story follows a team of scientists who search for humanity's creators. They find a race known as the Engineers. This film introduces Peter Weyland, the founder of the Weyland Corporation. It also begins to explain the origins of the Xenomorphs, though the classic creature doesn't appear just yet.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien: Covenant continues where Prometheus left off. It's still set before the events of the original Alien. In 2104, a colony ship diverts course to a planet believed to be home to the Engineers. The crew soon discovers deadly alien life waiting for them.
We get a deeper look at how the Xenomorphs came to be. It's revealed who played a key role in their creation. While the film doesn't fully bridge the gap to the original movie, it adds chilling new pieces to the puzzle.
Alien (1979)
This is where it all started. Set in 2122, the original Alien introduced viewers to Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. Ripley and the crew of the Nostromo respond to a distress call. But the signal leads them to an alien threat unlike anything they've seen before.
The film is a masterpiece of sci-fi horror. It gave birth to the terrifying Xenomorph and made Ripley a horror icon. Her courage and humanity became the heart of the series.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
This one happens between Alien and Aliens. A group of colonists finds a broken space station. They quickly realize that deadly secrets and new Alien dangers are waiting for them. They have to fight hard just to survive.
Alien: Romulus introduces a new type of alien hybrid called the Offspring. It fills in some missing pieces and expands the Alien world. If you like suspense and surprises, this one's for you.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron took the story in a bold new direction. Instead of repeating the first film's horror approach, he made a high-octane action thriller. The result is one of the best sequels in movie history.
Set in 2179, Ripley wakes up after decades in cryosleep. She's asked to return to the same planet, now colonized. Alongside a team of marines, she faces a full Xenomorph hive. The film cemented Ripley as a legend and introduced a new kind of chaos.
Alien 3 (1992)
David Fincher made his directorial debut with Alien 3. Sadly, the production was plagued with issues. The final result felt uneven to many fans.
The movie begins with Ripley's escape pod crash-landing on a prison planet. She's the only survivor — except for another alien. As the Xenomorph begins its killing spree, Ripley discovers she may be carrying a queen embryo. She sacrifices herself to prevent the company from getting it.
This was supposed to end Ripley's story. But it wasn't the last time we'd see her.
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Set centuries after Alien 3, this film takes the story in a strange new direction. Ripley is cloned by scientists hoping to harvest the alien inside her. But things go wrong — again. Xenomorphs escape, and chaos returns.
Ripley, now a hybrid clone, teams up with mercenaries to stop the outbreak. The tone is more bizarre and often humorous, thanks to writer Joss Whedon. While it's considered the weakest in the series, it remains Weaver's final outing as Ripley.
How to Make the Alien Movie Timeline in EdrawMind?
Making a timeline is just as much fun as watching a movie from the Alien franchise. The EdrawMind's user-friendly interface, easy-to-use customization options, and built-in templates make the experience even better.
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So, here's how you can make the Alien timeline on EdrawMind:
Step 1: Open a New File
- Install and open EdrawMind.
- Create a new account or use one of your socials to log in.
- At the homescreen, click New Mindmap with the + symbol.
Step 2: Set the Timeline Layout
- Select the Main Idea and click Layout from the floating menu.
- Pick any timeline layout from the menu. For this guide, let's go with the Timeline (Down).
Step 3: Customize & Edit Topics
- Select a topic to customize it via the floating menu or the right toolbar. You can change its shape, fill color, border, and corner settings.
- Double-click a topic to start typing in it. Delete the placeholder text and write new content. Similarly, use the floating menu to customize font settings.
Step 4: Add New Topics
Want to add more topics?
- Simply select your Main Idea and click Topic from the top menu bar.
- To add a detail for each node, create Floating Topics from the top menu bar.
- Customize these newly added topics according to your family tree.
Step 5: Connect the Topics
- Use the Relationship from the top menu bar to connect your main topics with floating topics.
- Click any topic after selecting the relationship. Then, draw the line until it connects to the floating topic.
- Lastly, select the line to customize its weight, style, and color.
Step 6: Add Images
- Download an image and open it in EdrawMind.
- Use the floating menu and right toolbar to change image settings.
How to Reshape an Image?
- Open the image in EdrawMax.
- Select it and click Crop to shape from the floating menu.
- Position the image in the frame to crop it properly.
- Next, copy and paste it into EdrawMind.
Step 7: Save or Export
Everything finalized?
- Click the File button and export the file in graphics or PDF format.
- Export options available are PNG, JPG, PPT, PDF, and more for easy sharing.
- Or, you can save the file in its default format by clicking the Save button.
Closure
The Alien movies are full of action, mystery, and scary moments. Watching them in story order makes the timeline easier to understand. You see how the monsters came to be, and why Ripley's fight matters.
If you'd like to organize timelines or movie plots, EdrawMind is a great tool. It helps fans turn big movie plots into clear timelines. Great for timelines, ideas, or even your own sci-fi world. Start mapping your own Alien universe today!
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