Humans may consider themselves at the top of the food chain on Earth, but in the cosmic arena, we're just barely holding our own. The Predator franchise, which kicked off with the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger film in 1987, introduces us to the "Yautja"—towering, trophy-seeking hunters from space who travel across galaxies for lethal sport and have even been known to abduct species for hunts back on their home planet.
The first two Predator films, released in 1987 and 1990, set the stage for this thrilling saga. The addition of Xenomorphs from the Alien series, another cinematic threat to humanity, led to the creation of a shared universe in the 2000s with two Alien vs. Predator movies. In the following years, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg added their unique twists to the franchise.
With two new Predator movies slated for release in 2025, now is the perfect time to dive into the original sci-fi classics. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, we've compiled 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
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You can also explore our guide to the Alien movies to get the full timeline experience.
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 more Predator films are set to hit the screens in 2025.
Blu-Ray + Digital
Predator 4-Movie Collection
2Includes Predator, Predator 2, Predators, and The Predator. See it at Amazon.
Predator Movies in (Chronological) Order
1. Prey (2022)
Prey is a prequel that's best watched after the other films, especially Predator 2, but for a true chronological journey, start here. Set in 1719 on the Great Plains, Prey follows Naru, a young Comanche woman (played by Amber Midthunder), who faces a primitive Predator while on a hunt with her brother. Determined to prove herself, Naru sets her sights on taking 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 saga began with Predator in 1987, directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Shane Black. This action classic showcases a military rescue team facing off against an invisible alien hunter in the jungles of South America. Schwarzenegger's Dutch must outsmart and defeat a technologically advanced predator on a sinister safari.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
3. Predator 2 (1990)
Predator 2 shifts the setting to a heatwave-hit, crime-ridden Los Angeles in 1997. Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso star as cops battling both a brutal cartel war and an alien Predator stalking the city for victims.
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
4. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise roared back with AVP: Alien vs. Predator, a crossover with the Alien saga. Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, this film was a major hit, revealing that Predators had been hunting Xenomorphs on Earth for centuries, using humans as breeding hosts. Sanaa Lathan, Lance Henriksen, Raoul Bova, and Ewen Bremner lead the cast.
Read IGN's review of AVP: Alien vs. Predator
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
5. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)
Aliens vs Predator: Requiem continues the crossover saga, introducing the "Predalien" and a Predator "cleaner" sent to eliminate it in a small Colorado town. While not as successful as its predecessor, it remains a thrilling chapter.
Read IGN's review of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
6. Predators (2010)
Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, takes the action off Earth to a Yautja game reserve on a distant planet. With a cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, the film shows humans, known as "established killers," being abducted for sport between rival Yautja tribes. While the exact Earth year is unclear, it's generally placed in the early 21st century.
Read IGN's review of Predators
Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video
7. The Predator (2018)
Shane Black, who starred in the original Predator, directed The Predator in 2018. This film returns to the franchise's roots, featuring a squad of unstable soldiers (played by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen) battling two Predators and thwarting their DNA-splicing plans. The movie teases future developments, including unused endings with Alien characters Ellen Ripley and Newt.
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 movies in the order they were released in theaters, 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, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.
The second film, also directed by Trachtenberg, was shrouded in secrecy until recently. Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated movie that will explore three different encounters with the ultimate killer across various points in history. It is scheduled for a direct-to-Hulu release on June 6, 2025.