Humans often see themselves at 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 hunters from space who journey across worlds for deadly sport and have been known to abduct species for hunts back on their home planet.

The first two Predator films, released in 1987 and 1990, established the saga's foundation. As Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise also pose a significant threat to humanity, it was a natural progression in the 2000s to create a shared universe with two Alien vs. Predator movies. In the subsequent decade, directors like Robert Rodriguez, Shane Black, and Dan Trachtenberg each added their unique flair to the series.

With two new Predator movies slated for release in 2025, now is the perfect time to revisit the original sci-fi classics. If you're looking to watch every Predator movie in order, we've got you covered! Below, you'll find the complete timeline of the Predator movies and where to 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 of films, two Alien crossovers, and one prequel. Two new Predator movies are set to release 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 is a prequel and is designed to be watched after the other films, particularly after Predator 2. However, for a true chronological experience, start here. Set in 1719 on the Great Plains, Prey follows a young Comanche woman, Naru (Amber Midthunder), who gets more than she bargained for when she joins her brother on a hunt and finds herself targeted by a more primitive Predator. Determined to prove herself, Naru aims to take down the alien stalker in this fresh and thrilling addition to the three-decade saga.

Read IGN's review of Prey

Where to Stream: Hulu

2. Predator (1987)

It all started with 1987's Predator, directed by John McTiernan of Die Hard fame and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his career, alongside Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, and Shane Black (who later directed his own Predator film). Predator is a classic action film where a near-unstoppable military rescue team is outmatched by an invisible force in the jungles of South America. When the attacker is revealed as an alien hunter on a sinister safari, Schwarzenegger's Dutch must devise a way to ambush and defeat a foe far superior in technology and tactics.

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

3. Predator 2 (1990)

A few years later, Predator returned to cinemas with more massacres and mayhem, this time with a new cast and setting. Set during a heatwave and crime wave in 1997 Los Angeles, Predator 2 follows a group of cops played by Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Ruben Blades, and María Conchita Alonso as they tackle a bloody cartel war and a 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, Predator returned with a crossover film, merging with the Alien franchise. Alien vs. Predator, directed by Paul W. S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Event Horizon fame, was a major hit that revitalized both sci-fi/horror franchises. Set in present-day America, AVP reveals a dark history connecting the Yautja and Xenomorphs, with Predators conducting hunts on Earth for centuries, using humans as hosts for Xenomorphs and then hunting the resulting creatures for sport. 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)

The sequel to AVP, Aliens vs Predator: Requiem, continues the battle from where AVP left off. Though not as successful as its predecessor and the final crossover film, Requiem introduced the "Predalien," a hybrid of Alien and Predator, as it wreaks havoc in a small Colorado town while a Predator "cleaner" is sent to eliminate the new threat.

Read IGN's review of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem here.

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

6. Predators (2010)

The only Predator movie not set on Earth, Predators, directed by Robert Rodriguez, brought a fresh twist to the franchise by taking audiences to a distant planet, a Yautja game reserve. With a stellar cast including Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Alice Braga, Predators explores how humans, specifically established killers, are abducted and used for sport between warring Yautja tribes.

Timeline-wise, this film's placement is ambiguous, as the exact Earth year is not specified. However, you can reasonably assume it's set around 2010, the year of its release, or at least in the early 21st Century. Thus, Predators can be watched at this point in your chronological journey or saved for last.

Read IGN's review of Predators

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

7. The Predator (2018)

Despite Predators being a modest hit, it took eight years for the next Predator film to hit theaters. With 2018's The Predator, directed and co-written by Shane Black (Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), the franchise returned to its roots (which Black himself starred in). The film follows a squad of unstable soldiers—played by Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Thomas Jane, and Alfie Allen—as they confront a pair of rampaging Predators and foil their plans involving DNA splicing. The film ends with a tease for more, while alternate/unused endings hinted at time-traveling versions of Alien's Ellen Ripley and Rebecca "Newt" Jorden for potential crossover appeal.

Read IGN's review of The Predator

Where to Stream: Hulu | Rent/Buy: Prime Video

How to Watch the Predator Movies by Release Date

If you prefer to watch the movies in the order they were released in theaters, follow this 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 set to be released in 2025. Predator: Badlands, hitting theaters on November 7, 2025, will star Elle Fanning and feature the Predator as the protagonist, according to director Dan Trachtenberg.

The second movie, also directed by Trachtenberg, was kept under wraps for a while. However, we can now confirm that Predator: Killer of Killers is an animated film that follows three different encounters with the ultimate killer at various points in history. This movie is scheduled for a direct-to-Hulu release on June 6.