From a single extraterrestrial egg, the Alien franchise was hatched 45 years ago, and it’s still growing. With movies, video games, a TV show in the works, and more, it’s as exciting today as it was in 1979. This summer, Alien: Romulus, the ninth film in the series (depending on how you order them; more on that below), will premiere in theaters and take us on another interstellar journey with devastating consequences. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
In order to truly appreciate the next film, you have to remember how we got here. It all started with the original Alien, which starred Sigourney Weaver as the warrant officer on a commercial spaceship who’s roped into a battle with an otherworldly foe. From there, the franchise took off, churning out sequels, prequels, and spinoffs. If you want to brush up on your Alien knowledge—which we highly recommend—then join us on a space walk down memory lane.
Below, we’ve rounded up all nine Alien films. Each is available to stream on Hulu, so you can watch the whole series without having to click in and out of different streamers. Keep reading for more information on the films. And note that this list presents them in the order of their release, not in chronological order. We’ll tip our hats to the Esquire reader who can untangle the timeline—but if you’re new to the series, don’t stress yourself out. This way works, too.
All right, enough technicalities. It’s time to embark on an adventure through time, space, and increasingly disturbing Xenomorphs.
Alien (1979)
The saga begins when the space tug Nostromo detects a transmission from a nearby moon. The crew investigates and discovers an abandoned spaceship with a nest of alien eggs. When one of the organisms latches onto a crew member, the rest of the team is suddenly thrust into a fight for survival.
Aliens (1986)
Aliens picks up with Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), who survived the Nostromo attack, waking up 57 years later in a medical space station circling the Earth. Eventually she learns that the aliens who attacked her crewmates have grown stronger—and deadlier. To stop them, Ellen and a new crew embark on a mission to wipe the species out.
Alien 3 (1992)
Once again, Ripley survives an alien attack. After the events of Aliens, she crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a planet housing a penal colony. It’s not the ideal location, but at least it’s safe... Psych! The pesky aliens return, and Ripley is forced to lead everyone into battle without a single weapon.
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s the Xenomorphs’ ability to make a comeback. Alien: Resurrection takes place 200 years after Ripley sacrifices herself to kill the alien queen. The military resurrects her through cloning, but in the process, her DNA merges with that of a Xenomorph. The experiment unleashes even more aliens, leading to yet another battle.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Alien vs. Predator is a crossover between two iconic sci-fi series. The story takes place in Antarctica, where wealthy explorer Charles Bishop Weyland finances an expedition to uncover a newly detected heat source. When he and his crew arrive, they find a pyramid—and, of course, aliens! To their surprise, the aliens aren’t the only foreign creatures out in the frozen wilderness. There are also extraterrestrial Predators. Their intent is to kill the aliens, but the humans are inevitably swept into the madness. Let this be a lesson to always mind your business!
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
The Xenomorphs and Predators are at it again. This time, the extraterrestrial beings decide to duke it out in Gunnison, Colorado—and its residents are caught in the crossfire. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem is the lowest-rated film in the Alien franchise, but if you want to see another massive showdown featuring the creepy ’80s sensations, then it’s worth a watch.
Prometheus (2012)
In the prequel Prometheus, a crew sets out to discover the origins of humanity. Their search leads them to a distant planet where they find the remnants of an ancient civilization. Its builders appear to be extinct, but the crew is not alone. A violent alien awaits, with powers that could destroy mankind.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
In Alien: Covenant, a group of humans try to colonize—where have you heard this one before?—a remote planet. They land in a lush oasis but quickly learn that it isn’t as peaceful as it seems. As they explore the planet, they make a horrifying discovery.
Alien: Romulus (in Theaters August 16, 2024)
The next Alien movie premieres this summer. Alien: Romulus is set between the events of Alien and Aliens. In what feels like a refreshing return to the franchise’s origins, the plot follows a group of space cadets who explore an abandoned space station and find a deadly life-form. Will they ever learn to leave well enough alone?!
