Humans like to consider themselves the top of the food chain, but in 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 extraterrestrial hunters who scour different worlds for deadly sport and have been known to abduct species for hunts on their home planet.
The first two Predator films in 1987 and 1990 set the stage for the saga. With the Xenomorphs from the Alien series also posing a cinematic threat to humanity, it was a natural step in the 2000s to create a shared universe with two Alien vs. Predator films. In the subsequent decade, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg brought their unique visions to the franchise.
With two new Predator movies slated for release in 2025, now is the perfect time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer, we've outlined the complete timeline of the Predator movies and where you can 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, two Alien crossovers, and one prequel. Two new Predator movies are set to hit screens in 2025.
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 other films (especially Predator 2), but if you're aiming for a chronological viewing experience, start here. Set in 1719 across the Great Plains, Prey follows a young Comanche woman, Naru (Amber Midthunder), who encounters more than she bargained for while hunting with her brother and finds herself in the sights of a primitive Predator. Determined to prove herself, Naru sets out to take down the alien hunter in this fresh addition to the three-decade saga.
Read IGN's review of Prey
Where to Stream: Hulu
2. Predator (1987)
The franchise began with the 1987 classic Predator, directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Shane Black (who later directed his own Predator film). This action-packed film sees a formidable military rescue team ambushed by an invisible alien hunter in the jungles of South America. As the alien's identity is revealed, Schwarzenegger's Dutch must outsmart and defeat a technologically superior foe.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
3. Predator 2 (1990)
A few years later, Predator 2 brought more action and a new setting. Set in a heatwave-ridden, crime-infested 1997 Los Angeles, the film follows a group of cops led by Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso as they navigate a brutal cartel war while also contending with a Predator stalking the city.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise returned with a bang through a crossover with the Alien saga in AVP: Alien vs. Predator. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, this film 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 hunts. 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)
Picking up immediately after AVP, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem introduced the "Predalien," an Alien-Predator hybrid that wreaks havoc in a small Colorado town. A Predator "cleaner" is dispatched to eliminate the new threat. Though not as successful as its predecessor, this film concluded the crossover series.
Read IGN's review of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem here.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
6. Predators (2010)
Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, is the only film in the series not set on Earth. It transports viewers to a Yautja game reserve on a distant planet where humans, specifically "established killers," are abducted for sport between rival Yautja tribes. While the exact Earth year is unclear, it can be placed in the early 21st century.
Read IGN's review of Predators
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
7. The Predator (2018)
After the modest success of Predators, it took eight years for The Predator to hit theaters, directed by Shane Black. The film returns to the original formula, following a squad of unstable soldiers (played by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen) as they battle two rampaging Predators and thwart their genetic splicing plans. The movie ends with a tease for future installments, with alternate endings hinting at crossovers with the Alien series.
Read IGN's review of The Predator
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
How to Watch the Predator Movies by Release Date
For those who prefer to watch the films in the order of their theatrical release, here's the 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 slated for release in 2025. Predator: Badlands, set for a theatrical release on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature the Predator as the protagonist, as announced by director Dan Trachtenberg.
The second film, also directed by Trachtenberg, was shrouded in secrecy but has been revealed as Predator: Killer of Killers. This animated movie will explore three different encounters with the ultimate killer across various historical periods and is scheduled for release directly on Hulu on June 6, 2025.
