Predator Franchise Watch Order – Chronological and Release Order Guide
Whether you’re a franchise veteran or new to the hunt, here’s the definitive guide to watching every Predator movie, from Prey to Badlands, in timeline and theatrical order.
The Predator franchise is a wild ride through intergalactic chaos: Earth invasions, genetic evolution, and one relentless species of hunters who just won’t stop. With several timelines, crossovers, and new projects on the table, it can become challenging to figure out how to watch these movies. Do you follow the narrative as it unfolds in the timeline or watch it as the fans did originally in the theaters? Here is the Predators movies and shows’ chronological and release order, so you don’t miss a single spine-ripping moment.
Table of Contents
Predator Movies in Chronological Watch Order
It is preferable to watch the Predator movies in chronological order if you want to trace the Yautja’s millennia-long history with humanity. From their earliest hunts in the 1700s to gruesome battles in the modern day, and even starship combat. This approach gives you a clearer picture of the evolution of the Predator’s technology, their warrior code, and how human response to these alien hunters has changed through the centuries.
1. Prey (2022)
Prey brings the Predator franchise back to a raw, unforgiving chapter in 1719. You follow Naru, a young Comanche warrior, who is tasked to confront an unknown threat, a savage, early-era Predator. Unlike any other film, this one leaves the sci-fi back to primal combat. No space technology. No government conspiracy. Just one woman, one Predator, and a will to survive.
It’s a great reimagining that injects new life into the franchise. Although it’s the newest film, Prey is where you need to start out in the Predator timeline. It has a low-stakes plot and minimal tech, and it walks us through a Predator on one of its earliest Earth hunts, so if you’re doing the historical route, you must start here.
2. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
This animated anthology puts Predators into three different time frames: 841, 1609, and 1941. But World War II is the one that finds its place here. While each short is self-contained, the film continues from where Prey ended, and we see how the Yautja’s encounters evolve over time.
It also adds some massive surprises in its final act, setting up potential future Predator sequels. But reader beware: you’ll need to see Prey beforehand in order to enjoy some payoffs on the narrative front. This isn’t your standard entry; it’s stylized, experimental, and serves as a bloody bridge across human history.
3. Predator (1987)
The original that started it all. Deep within a South American jungle, Major Dutch Schaefer’s top rescue squad is ambushed by an unseen enemy. The twist? Their enemy isn’t human. John McTiernan’s original Predator seamlessly blends action and horror, and Schwarzenegger’s battle with the alien hunter instantly became cinematic legend.
It was set in 1987, our initial modern encounter with the Yautja. It’s not full of lore, but that brutal simplicity is exactly why it’s iconic. Watching it after Prey and Killer of Killers gives you a disturbing glimpse at how much more deadly the Predators have become.
4. Predator 2 (1990)
Set in a near-future Los Angeles that is experiencing heat and gang warfare (1997 to be precise), Predator 2 drops the alien hunter into a concrete jungle. Detective Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) stumbles into a silent war between the Predator and the criminal underworld. But it doesn’t take long for things to heat up. You will find military intervention, clandestine labs, and a trophy room that suggests an Alien crossover.
This sequel expands the Predator lore, introduces the possibility of multiple hunts on the planet, and even nods to Prey with a familiar firearm. It is also the franchise’s first serious flirtation with the Alien universe.
5. Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Note:AVP and AVPR may not align perfectly with the Predator or Alien canon. They’re often viewed as “soft canon” or alternate timelines.
Alien vs. Predator (2004) united two of cinema’s scariest alien species in one ambitious crossover. Paul W.S. Anderson directed the film, which follows a group of explorers and adventurers who uncover a hidden pyramid where Predators raise Xenomorphs to hunt.
They inadvertently begin an ancient rite of passage: the Predators have come to hunt Xenomorphs, and the humans are trapped in the crossfire.
Although more action-oriented and less horror-based than its predecessors, the movie thrives on spectacle, particularly in its creature action-packed fights and lore-building.
We discover that Predators have been using Earth as a hunting ground for centuries, breeding Xenomorphs as a demonstration of strength. Although greeted with mixed reviews, AVP gained a cult following and regained popularity in both franchises, providing fan service and alien-on-alien brutality that keeps jaws open.
6. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Coming directly after AvP, this gory sequel starts with a crash-landing in Colorado of a Predator ship. Out comes the Predalien, a disgusting hybrid creature, and a lone Predator is dispatched to mop up the mess. The film pulls no punches in the horror division, offering the darkest entry in the series until now.
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While it was widely criticized by critics, Requiem brings some important elements to the table, such as glimpses of Predator homeworld and Yutani Corporation technology that would later become Alien’s infamous Weyland-Yutani. It’s a mess, but it’s canon and important to bridge the Predator and Alien timelines.
7. Predators (2010)
We’re off-world now. Predators drops an elite team of killers, Adrien Brody and Alice Braga among them, on a remote alien game reserve. The Yautja, it seems, have been abducting humans for sport. It’s kill or be killed, with warring Predator clans and new creatures in play.
There’s no confirmed year, but based on tech and context, it likely takes place in the early 2010s. It exists on the fringes of the main storyline, but it introduces further Predator mythology and confirms these hunts extend beyond Earth.
8. The Predator (2018)
The most divisive installment to date. In 2018, a Predator crash-lands on Earth and is taken over by the government, until it breaks free. Genetic upgrades, factional warfare, and speculation about time travel all collide as a new generation of anti-heroes attempts to prevent mankind from being wiped out.
The Predator rewrites a lot of lore, both positive and negative. A lot of it has since been ignored, but it’s notable for including AvP easter eggs and introducing Stargazer, a group that takes up work from Predator 2’s Peter Keyes. It’s messy, but if you’re sticking with the whole canon, it’s needed.
9. Predator: Badlands (2025)
Note: Predator: Badlands is a standalone movie and not a direct sequel to “Prey,” as it is set in the future.
Predator: Badlands throws you in alien badlands like never before, this time, on the Predators’ homeworld. You’ll witness Dek, a humiliated young Yautja, who is fighting to regain his honor, and Thia, played by Elle Fanning, introduce mystery in the guise of a Weyland-Yutani synthetic.
With Alien ties, director Dan Trachtenberg hints at crossover potential. Later, the film flips the switch: you’re not just watching a Predator hunt, you’re watching what it’s like to survive as a Predator.
Predator Movies by Release Order
Watching the Predator films in order of release means you get to experience the franchise as the fans did, starting with Dutch’s showdown and slowly building up the drama of the mythos. You’ll notice Easter eggs, callbacks, and evolving Predator designs. It’s inconsistent in quality, but it’s worth it.
Final Thoughts on Predator Franchise Watch Order
So, which order should you go with? If you’re new to the franchise or want to soak in the rich, expanding lore? The chronological order is the way to go. But if you’re in the mood to experience the cultural evolution the series underwent over the years, from ’80s blockbusters to current genre mashup, release order is the way.
No matter how you watch it, one thing is certain: the hunt never stops. With Predator: Killer of Killers already making waves and Predator: Badlands on the horizon, the Yautja legacy is only getting more brutal and better.
Umair Nakade
Umair has loved anime since it was still pretty niche, growing up watching classics like Pokémon, Dragon Ball, Zatch Bell, and Beyblade in the early 2010s. Death Note really got him hooked, and since then, he’s caught up with everything from the Big Three to the latest Shonen Jump hits, with Haikyuu!!! as his favorite. But he’s not just about anime, Umair’s a huge cinephile, especially superhero flicks from Marvel and DC, and never misses opening day at theaters. When he’s not watching or writing, you will find him playing Wuthering Waves, AAA titles, or listening to Harry Styles on repeat. At Techwiser, Umair is dedicated to covering anime and pop culture content.
