Alien vs. Predator Timeline: The Full AvP Movie Order

All together, the Alien vs. Predator franchise contains 14 movies and an upcoming TV series. The Alien movies include the 4 original Alien movies, the 2 Alien vs. Predator movies, 2 Prometheus movies, and finally, the stand-alone Alien: Romulus, which is getting a sequel. The Predator movies include 5 films (not counting the Alien vs. Predator movies), including Prey, with Predator: Badlands and an untitled animated anthology movie being released in late 2025. The size of the movie franchise has grown beyond even Star Wars, while the timeline has become somewhat confusing. Here's a complete guide to watching the Alien vs. Predator franchise in chronological order, which should help newcomers understand the complicated AvP timeline. If you don't care for a combined timeline, a separated Alien timeline and Predator timeline are also available.

Prey: 1719

Predator: Prey serves as a prequel to the Predator films and suggests that the Feral Predator's hunt on the Great Plains in 1719 may have been the first Yautja hunt on Earth. However, it's possible that this was merely the first recorded hunt by that particular Predator clan or species, leaving room for earlier encounters, such as the scene from AvP with the temple worshippers. The Feral Predator spent days stalking the forests of North America, hunting bears, Native Americans, and even French trappers. Ultimately, it was challenged by the Comanche Tribe, particularly a female warrior named Naru, who proved to be a formidable opponent. The Feral Predator's technology was slightly less advanced than those seen in later years, which aligns with the historical setting.

Predator: 1987

The original Predator movie is set in 1987, the same year it was released. However, its exact location remains a subject of debate. Many believe Dutch Schaefer's team was operating in Val Verde, a fictional country appearing in other Hollywood films like Die Hard 2 and Commando. In Predators, Isabella mentions that the creature once hunted in Guatemala, a claim supported by Paul Monette’s Predator novelization. Meanwhile, the Dark Horse Predator comics reference Colombia, placing it further south. Given this conflicting information, it's possible that the mission involved crossing between Central and South American borders before concluding.

Predator 2: 1997

Predator 2 is set in 1997, during a record-breaking heatwave in Los Angeles, which coincided with rising gang violence—conditions that attracted the Lost Tribe Predators, particularly the City Hunter. The tribe concealed their ship within the sewers, and only one or two of its members actively ventured into the city. The City Hunter eliminated numerous gang members before clashing with the LAPD, specifically detective Mike Harrigan. Harrigan tracked the Predator to its ship, ultimately killing it in a brutal duel, where he then encountered the rest of the Lost Tribe. As a sign of respect, he was gifted the same flintlock pistol that Greyback had acquired in the early 18th century. Afterward, the Lost Tribe departed from Earth and have not been seen since.

Alien vs. Predator: 2004

1904: The inhabitants of Razorback Point Whaling Station become casualties in a battle between Xenomorphs and Predators.
October 2004: Charles Bishop Weyland leads an expedition to Bouvet Island, Antarctica, to investigate a mysterious energy surge beneath an abandoned whaling station. The team stumbles upon an ancient pyramid beneath the ice, a ceremonial training ground for Young Blood Predators. Three Young Blood Predators enter the pyramid, triggering a deadly clash between humans, Xenomorphs, and Predators. Only Alexa Woods and Scar Predator make it to the surface, as the temple is obliterated by a Yautja self-destruct mechanism. Scar Predator, who had marked Alexa as an honorary warrior, is later slain by the Alien Queen before she is sent plunging into the Antarctic ocean. Scar’s body is retrieved by his clan, unaware that he carries a Predalien embryo.

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem: 2004, October

Mid-October 2004: A Predalien emerges from Scar Predator's body, leading to the crash of a Predator scout ship near Gunnison, Colorado. The resulting Xenomorph outbreak spreads throughout the town while Wolf Predator is dispatched from Yautja Prime to eliminate the threat. Initially successful in eradicating evidence, Wolf is soon overwhelmed by a horde of Xenomorphs and the Predalien. A climactic battle between Wolf and the Predalien unfolds on a hospital rooftop, coinciding with a nuclear strike that wipes out the town. A few survivors manage to escape in a helicopter, carrying a piece of Predator technology.
Late October 2004: Wolf Predator's plasma pistol ends up in the possession of Miss Yutani, presumably from the Yutani Corporation.

Predators: 2010

The movie Predators (also referred to as Predator 3) is difficult to pinpoint within the timeline due to the absence of specific dates. Most sources place the Game Preserve Planet hunt in 2010, aligning with the film's release year. A group of abducted humans is transported to an alien world, serving as prey for the Super Predator clan. The Super Predators successfully hunt most of the group, but in the process, all three of them are killed. Ultimately, only Royce and Isabella remain, stranded on the planet. Later, Predator: Hunting Grounds reveals that Isabella makes it back to Earth on a Predator ship, while Royce’s fate remains uncertain.

The Predator: 2018

The Predator, the latest film in the Predator timeline, takes place during Halloween in 2018. Unlike previous installments, this movie spans multiple locations, including Mexico and a classified Stargazer facility in the United States. A Predator civil war seemingly erupts on Yautja Prime, prompting the Fugitive Predator to flee to Earth with the Predator Killer technology. This advanced tool was meant to aid humanity against the dominant Assassin Predators, who sought to conquer Earth. However, the Fugitive Predator turns hostile, killing multiple humans before being swiftly eliminated by the much larger Assassin Predator. Ultimately, a ragtag group of veterans, known as the Loonies, take down the Assassin Predator, with the U.S. military securing the Predator Killer technology.

Prometheus: 2093

2089: Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discover a celestial map on Earth leading to LV-223.
2091: The Prometheus expedition departs from Earth.
2093: The USCSS Prometheus arrives at LV-223, uncovering an abandoned Engineer bioweapons installation. The team investigates the site but suffers heavy casualties due to the deadly Black Goo Pathogen, a volatile mutagen stored in mysterious urns. Wealthy industrialist Sir Peter Weyland, secretly aboard the vessel, perishes when a surviving Engineer is awakened and turns hostile. To prevent catastrophe, the Prometheus collides with an Engineer Juggernaut poised to unleash the pathogen on Earth.
January 2094: Dr. Elizabeth Shaw commandeers another Engineer ship and departs LV-223. Meanwhile, a Deacon alien is born from the fallen Engineer's remains, with no other survivors left on the planet.

Alien: Covenant: 2104

Late January 2094: Dr. Elizabeth Shaw restores the damaged synthetic David before entering hypersleep, setting their course for the Engineer Homeworld.
2094: Their Juggernaut reaches Planet 4, where David exterminates the Engineer civilization. Shaw dies under unclear circumstances.
2103: The Covenant mission departs Earth, en route to colonize Origae-6.
2104: The Covenant crew intercepts a distress signal from Shaw and investigates a seemingly habitable world. The crew suffers devastating losses due to encounters with Neomorphs, Protomorphs, and David himself. Katherine Daniels and Tennessee Faris are the only known survivors, though David assumes Walter’s identity and gains control of the USCSS Covenant.
2112: The estimated arrival date of the Covenant at Origae-6.

Alien: Earth: 2120

Alien: Earth is a television series set in 2120, two years before the events of Alien. A mysterious spacecraft recovers Xenomorph specimens from a distant moon (possibly LV-426) and transports them to Earth. The show is expected to lay the groundwork for Weyland-Yutani's Special Order 937, which later diverts the USCSS Nostromo to LV-426, leading to the events of the first Alien film. Xenomorphs have appeared on Earth in the Expanded Universe and Alien vs. Predator films, but never in the main Alien movie continuity.

Alien: 2122

2121: The Nostromo departs Thedus en route to Earth with a crew of seven: Kane, Dallas, Lambert, Ripley, Ash, Parker, and Brett. Ash is assigned to the crew at the last minute.
2122: The Nostromo receives a distress signal from LV-426 (Acheron) and investigates a derelict spacecraft, where Executive Officer Kane is attacked by a Facehugger. Kane is brought back on board, unknowingly carrying a Xenomorph embryo that later emerges, grows rapidly, and eliminates most of the crew within a day. Ash is revealed to be an android working under secret directives and is deactivated. The Nostromo is destroyed via self-destruct, and Ellen Ripley is the sole survivor, escaping aboard the Narcissus shuttle with her cat, Jones, setting course for the Core Worlds before entering hypersleep.

Alien Romulus: 2142

Alien Romulus is set in 2142, two decades after Alien and 37 years before Aliens. The Corbelan IV, a spacecraft, arrives at the Renaissance Space Station, a vast, multi-purpose orbital facility likely constructed by Weyland-Yutani. A small group of young individuals from Corbelan IV finds themselves on the station, which is split into two sections: Romulus, the modernized part, and Remus, the aging sector with outdated technology. A containment breach in Weyland-Yutani’s research division on Romulus releases numerous facehuggers, triggering a Xenomorph outbreak. Several passengers perish, with only Rain Carradine and Andy, a synthetic, surviving the catastrophe.

Aliens: 2179

2120s - 2170s: Gateway Station is constructed in Earth's orbit.
2150s: Hadley’s Hope colony is established on LV-426.
2179: The Narcissus, with Ellen Ripley in hypersleep, is salvaged by a deep-space recovery team.
2179, June 12: Carter Burke orders a transmission sent to Hadley’s Hope, directing colonists to locate the derelict ship.
2179, June: The Jorden family finds the wreck, and Russ Jorden becomes the first infected victim.
2179, June - July: Hadley’s Hope, with its 158 inhabitants, is overrun by Xenomorphs.
2179, July: Contact with Hadley’s Hope is lost.
2179, July: A Colonial Marine squad led by Lt. Gorman is dispatched aboard the USS Sulaco to investigate. Ripley joins as an advisor. The marines find one survivor, Rebecca Jorden. Most of the team perishes due to Xenomorph attacks and friendly fire. The atmosphere processor detonates, destroying the colony. Four survivors escape: Ellen Ripley, Dwayne Hicks, the synthetic Bishop, and Rebecca Jorden.

Alien 3: 2179, August

2179, August: A fire breaks out aboard The USS Sulaco, triggering an escape pod launch. Ellen Ripley, unknowingly infected with a Xenomorph embryo, crash-lands on Fury 161, a penal colony housing 23 inmates, two wardens, and a doctor. Hicks and Newt perish in the crash, while a stowaway Xenomorph emerges, killing several prisoners and staff. Ripley consults the damaged Bishop android and ultimately disables him. The synthetic Bishop II and a special operations team arrive from The USS Patna, aiming to extract the Queen embryo within Ripley. To prevent its capture, Ripley sacrifices herself. Only inmate Morse survives as Fury 161 is decommissioned.

Alien: Resurrection: 2381

2381: Ellen Ripley is cloned aboard the USM Auriga after seven failed attempts, resulting in Ripley 8. A Queen embryo is extracted, and Ripley exhibits enhanced abilities. The freighter Betty docks with the Auriga, delivering human hosts for experimentation. The Xenomorphs break free, killing most of the crew. Ripley allies with the Betty’s crew, escaping as the Auriga crashes to Earth. Ripley 8, Call, Johner, and Vriess survive, landing on Earth.

Future And Alternate Timelines

The Alien vs. Predator timeline presented here includes only the movies and TV series, but the Expanded Universe—comprising games, books, and comics—offers a much broader scope. The timeline is set to grow with the upcoming Alien: Romulus sequel by Fede Álvarez and 2 Predator movies by Dan Trachtenberg. While Predator: Badlands will be set in the near future, the animated anthology movie might contain 3 different historical hunts, including the Predator fighting pirates and the Samurai. Furthermore, Prometheus 3 by Ridley Scott and Alien vs. Predator 3 are rumored to be in development. Additionally, the Alien TV series may expand across multiple seasons, further exploring the universe beyond its initial setting in the year 2120.