The Predator Movies in Order: The Predator franchise, launched in 1987, is a thrilling blend of sci-fi, action, and horror centered on the Yautja, an alien species of trophy hunters who stalk humans for sport. From Arnold Schwarzenegger’s iconic battle in the jungle to the critically acclaimed Prey, the series has captivated fans with its intense showdowns and expanding mythology. This guide will help you navigate the Predator movies in both release order and chronological order, including the Alien vs. Predator (AVP) crossovers, with brief plot summaries, release years, and viewing tips to enhance your marathon experience.
Also Read: Alien Movies in Order
How to Watch Predator Movies in Chronological Order
The chronological order follows the in-universe timeline, which rearranges the films based on when their events occur. Note that Predator: Killer of Killers has multiple settings, but its primary narrative is early in the timeline.
1. Prey — (1719)
Timeline Context: Set centuries before other films, this prequel shows an early Predator hunt on Earth, clashing with Comanche warriors. It introduces the Yautja’s long history of visiting Earth.
Plot: Set in 1719 on the Great Plains. The film follows Naru, a brave young Comanche woman aspiring to prove herself as a skilled hunter like her brother Taabe. After witnessing strange phenomena in the sky, she senses an unknown threat stalking the land—a technologically advanced alien predator. As Naru faces cougars, colonial trappers, and the ruthless extraterrestrial, her courage and cunning sharpen into warrior strength. Using traditional knowledge and tactical brilliance, she overcomes the deadly creature, earning the title of War Chief.
Why Watch Here?: Establishes the Predator’s ancient hunting tradition and sets up the recurring motif of human ingenuity against alien strength.
2. Predator: Killer of Killers (Unknown, potentially pre-1719 or spanning multiple era
Timeline Context: The multi-planet setting suggests events could predate or overlap with Prey. Its placement is speculative until more plot details emerge.
Plot: Spanning centuries, where elite warriors from history face off against deadly Predators, in 841 AD, Viking warrior Ursa slays a Predator after avenging her father’s murder, but loses her son. In 1609 Japan, exiled shinobi Kenji reconciles with his brother Kiyoshi before they defeat a Predator together. In 1942, pilot Torres destroys a Predator craft but is later abducted. The three warriors awaken on an alien world, forced into a gladiator arena by a Warlord Predator. Together, they escape, battling beasts and aliens, with Ursa sacrificing her freedom to ensure the others’ survival.
Why Watch Here?: Likely expands the Yautja’s interstellar culture, offering a broader view of their hunting practices.
3. Predator (1987)
Timeline Context: Set in the “present” of 1987, this film depicts a Predator hunting in a Central American jungle, targeting a military team.
Plot: In Predator (1987), a covert mission in the Central American jungle turns into a deadly game of survival when Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his elite commando team are hunted by an unseen alien predator. Initially sent to rescue hostages, the team uncovers a sinister CIA ploy and soon faces a camouflaged extraterrestrial that stalks them using advanced technology and thermal vision. One by one, the soldiers fall, leaving Dutch to confront the creature alone. Using mud to mask his heat signature and setting clever traps, he defeats the predator, barely escaping its self-destruction.
Why Watch Here?: The modern era begins, showing humanity’s first documented encounter with a Predator’s advanced technology.
4. Predator 2 (1997)
Timeline Context: A decade later, a new Predator hunts in Los Angeles, revealing government awareness of the species via the OWLF task force.
Plot: Set in a crime-ridden, sweltering Los Angeles in 1997, Predator 2 follows LAPD Lieutenant Mike Harrigan as he becomes entangled in a brutal turf war between drug cartels—unaware that a deadly extraterrestrial hunter is stalking the chaos. After witnessing mysterious massacres, Harrigan and his team begin to suspect something far more dangerous than human rivals. As the Predator picks off gang members, cops, and federal agents alike, Harrigan relentlessly pursues the creature across rooftops, subway trains, and into a hidden alien ship beneath the city.
Why Watch Here?: Builds on the first film’s lore, hinting at the Predator’s repeated visits to Earth and their trophy-hunting culture.
5. Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Timeline Context: Set in 2004, this crossover reveals ancient Predator visits to Earth, using pyramids to hunt Aliens as a rite of passage.
Plot: In Alien vs. Predator (2004), a heat bloom beneath Antarctica draws a team of experts to a buried pyramid built by an ancient civilization. As they explore the mysterious structure, they unwittingly activate a deadly hunt orchestrated by Predators—extraterrestrial warriors engaging in a rite of passage. Trapped inside, the team encounters Xenomorphs born from human hosts, triggering a brutal three-way conflict between humans, Predators, and the alien creatures. Guide Lex Woods ultimately allies with the Predator known as Scar to prevent the Xenomorphs’ escape. Though Scar is mortally wounded, the Queen is defeated, and Lex survives—honored by the Predator clan.
Why Watch Here?: Slots neatly into the timeline, showing the Predator’s historical presence and their conflict with Aliens.
6. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2004)
Timeline Context: Immediately follows AVP, with a Predalien outbreak in Colorado. A Predator arrives to clean up the mess.
Plot: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) plunges into chaos when a Predator ship crash-lands in Gunnison, Colorado, unleashing a deadly hybrid creature—the Predalien—and several facehuggers. As the aliens infest the town, a veteran Predator named Wolf arrives to contain the outbreak, erasing evidence and engaging in brutal combat with the Xenomorphs. Amid the carnage, local residents—including ex-con Dallas, his brother Ricky, and soldier Kelly—struggle to survive. The conflict peaks at a hospital overrun by aliens, where Wolf and the Predalien engage in a fatal showdown. A nuclear strike wipes out the town, and a mysterious corporation, led by Ms. Yutani, claims Wolf’s weapon.
Why Watch Here?: Continues the 2004 timeline, escalating the Alien-Predator conflict on modern Earth.
7. Predators (Unknown, likely post-2004)
Timeline Context: Set on an alien game preserve planet, this film’s timeline is vague but likely follows the 2004 AVP events due to advanced Predator tech.
Plot: In Predators (2010), ex-military mercenary Royce awakens in freefall, landing in a dense alien jungle alongside a group of lethal strangers—including a sniper, a cartel enforcer, and a death row inmate. The group soon realizes they’ve been abducted to an alien game reserve moon, where they are hunted by a trio of deadly Super Predators. After battling alien creatures, deadly traps, and each other, they meet a deranged soldier survivor and uncover a blood feud between Predator clans. As the group is picked off, Royce forms a risky alliance with a captive Predator, leading to a brutal showdown for survival.
Why Watch Here?: Expands the universe to alien worlds, showing the Predators’ broader hunting grounds.
8. The Predator (2018)
Timeline Context: Set in 2018, this film introduces an enhanced Predator and explores human attempts to weaponize Predator tech.
Plot: After a Predator ship crash-lands on Earth, Army sniper Quinn McKenna encounters the alien during a mission and sends parts of its armor as proof of extraterrestrial life. Captured by government agent Will Traeger, Quinn teams up with a group of military misfits and scientist Casey Bracket. They discover the Predator’s DNA contains human traits, and that the species is enhancing itself using superior genetics. With his autistic son Rory—who uniquely understands Predator tech—targeted, Quinn battles a larger super Predator to stop humanity’s extinction and inherits advanced alien weaponry in the process.
Why Watch Here?: A modern continuation, though its retcons may feel disjointed without prior films’ context.
9. Predator: Badlands (Future, post-2018)
Timeline Context: Explicitly set in the future, this film will explore new Predator encounters in an unspecified time period.
Plot: In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
Why Watch Here?: Likely concludes the current timeline, offering a fresh perspective on the franchise’s future.
How many Predator movies are there?
There is a total of Nine (9) Movies in the Predator film series.
All Predator Movies in Order of Release Date
Here is the list Predator Films in Order they released:
- Predator — June 12, 1987
- Predator 2 — November 21, 1990
- Predators — July 9, 2010
- The Predator — September 14, 2018
- Prey — August 5, 2022
- Predator: Killer of Killers — June 6, 2025
- Predator: Badlands — November 7, 2025
Alien vs. Predator Crossovers
The AVP films (Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem) are controversial among fans due to their divergence from the main Predator series. They fit into the chronological timeline in 2004 but are often considered semi-canon due to inconsistencies with Predator lore (e.g., advanced Predator tech in ancient times). For a pure Predator experience, you can skip them, but they’re essential for understanding the shared Alien-Predator universe, especially with potential future crossovers hinted at by studio executives in 2024. Watch them after Predator and Predator 2 in release order or in their 2004 slot for chronological viewing to grasp their context.
Which Order of Predator is Best to Watch?
- Newcomers: Start with release order (Predator → Predator 2 → AVP → AVP: Requiem → Predators → The Predator → Prey → Killer of Killers → Badlands). This follows the franchise’s narrative evolution and special effects advancements, with Prey as a highlight. Include AVP films for crossover fun, but skip them if you prefer a focused Predator experience.
- Longtime Fans: Try chronological order (Prey → Killer of Killers → Predator → Predator 2 → AVP → AVP: Requiem → Predators → The Predator → Badlands) to appreciate the in-universe timeline and the Yautja’s historical hunts. Revisit Prey and Killer of Killers for fresh takes on the lore.
- Marathon Tip: Mix both by watching Prey first for its standalone brilliance, then follow release order for the rest, saving Badlands for its theatrical release in 2025.
Where to Watch the Predator Film Series in Order
As of June 2025, availability may vary by region, but here are common platforms (check for updates closer to Killer of Killers and Badlands releases):
- Predator, Predator 2, Predators, The Predator: Available on Hulu, Disney+, or for purchase/rental on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, or Vudu. The Predator: 4-Movie Collection (Blu-ray/4K UHD) includes these.
- Alien vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem: Stream on Hulu or Disney+, or buy/rent on Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
- Prey: Exclusively on Hulu, with DVD/Blu-ray/4K UHD released in October 2023.
- Predator: Killer of Killers: Expected on Hulu or Disney+ as a streaming release in June 2025.
- Predator: Badlands: Theatrical release in November 2025; streaming availability TBD, likely on Hulu/Disney+ post-theatrical window.
- Physical Media: The Predator: 4-Movie Collection and Prey Blu-rays are widely available. Check retailers like Amazon or Best Buy for Predator Trilogy or Predator Triple Feature sets.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re a sci-fi newbie or a Yautja-obsessed fan, the Predator franchise offers a thrilling ride through jungles, cities, and alien planets. Release order keeps you grounded in the series’ cinematic history, while chronological order unveils the Predators’ timeless hunt across centuries. Grab some popcorn, dim the lights, and enjoy the hunt—may your marathon be as epic as Dutch’s showdown or Naru’s triumph! For More: Wikipedia.org
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