How to Watch Alien in Order

There are 4 films in the Alien franchise. Below is the full list in release-date order — the simplest way to watch. For some franchises the in-universe chronological order differs; where it does, we note it.

A science fiction horror film franchise, focusing on Lieutenant Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her battle with an extraterrestrial life-form, commonly referred to as "the Alien". Produced by 20th Century Fox, the series started with the 1979 film Alien, then Aliens in 1986, Alien³ in 1992, and Alien: Resurrection in 1997.

1. 1
   Alien (1979) May 25, 1979

   During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of …

2. 2
   Aliens (1986) July 18, 1986

   Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a …

3. 3
   Alienu00b3 (1992) May 22, 1992

   After escaping with Newt and Hicks from the alien planet, Ripley crash lands on Fiorina 161, a prison planet and host to a correctional facility. Unfortunately, although Newt and Hicks do not survive the crash, a more unwelcome visitor does…

4. 4
   Alien Resurrection (1997) November 12, 1997

   Two hundred years after Lt. Ripley died, a group of scientists clone her, hoping to breed the ultimate weapon. But the new Ripley is full of surprises u2026 as are the new aliens. Ripley must team with a band of smugglers to keep the creatures …

Film lists and dates come from TMDB. “In order” here means release-date order; a franchise's in-universe timeline can differ. NewsGiga links only to legitimate sources and never to pirated content.