If you’re just getting into the Predator movies — or maybe you’re just hyped for the upcoming Predator: Badlands, set to hit theaters this December — you might be wondering in what order to watch the Predator movies. Good news: we’ve got you covered.
Should I watch the Predator movies in release or chronological order?
Our take? Stick with the release order. While watching in chronological order can help you track the timeline, you lose out on a lot of context and character development. Plus, there’s something fun about experiencing the films the same way longtime fans did. And if you’re really amped to get into this universe, you can do the same with the Alien franchise, too. But for now, let’s dive into the Predator movie watch order.
The best order to watch the Predator movies as of 2025
If you’re still reading, we’ll assume you’re planning to follow our advice and watch the Predator movies in release order. Or at least they are still here for the sake of the argument. That said, you’ll of course want to start with the 1987 classic Predator. Personal take here — it’s by far the best one. Then move on to Predator 2 (1990), followed by Predators (2010). We’ve also added the crossover films in release order, with Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator 2, AKA Alien vs. Predator: Requiem.
Okay, so the franchise hasn’t exactly lived up to the original’s success. But we’ve got high hopes for Predator: Badlands under the direction of Dan Trachtenberg, who gave us the absolutely incredible Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, the final film on our watch list. Alright, let’s get into it.
Predator (1987)
U.S. soldier Dutch Schaefer, played by (at this point) rising star Arnold Schwarzenegger, heads to Guatemala to rescue a group of politicians being held hostage. It seems like a straightforward mission for the paramilitary rescue team, but once they arrive, Dutch — along with CIA agent George, weapons specialist Blain Cooper, explosives expert Jorge “Ponch” Ramirez, radio operator and group comedian Rick Hawkins, and mercenaries Billy Sole and Mac Eliot — discover a string of dead, skinned bodies. Soon enough, they realize it’s them who are being hunted by something inhuman and powerful. It was directed by John McTiernan, who changed the landscape for action movies. Like McTiernan’s Die Hard, Predator is a classic.
Predator 2 (1990)
The sequel to the first film, Predator 2, stars Danny Glover as a disgruntled LA police officer already dealing with warring cartels. Naturally, he’s got to shift his focus when a savage extraterrestrial monster arrives in the city. This one didn’t fare nearly as well as the original Predator, leaning heavily into ’90s action tough-guy vibes, with more guns and less emphasis on story. This one lost both Arnold Schwarzenegger and director John McTiernan, who, by this point, were in high demand and very expensive. Still, Predator 2 is an enjoyable watch if you view it as its own B-level action movie. (Danny Glover, we love you.)
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
After a failed attempt at an AvP movie in the 1990s, we finally got a crossover film in 2004, written by Shane Salerno and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. It’s not what we’d call a satisfying watch, but it holds its place as the official crossover between the Alien and Predator franchises. To keep it brief, a group of humans heads to Antarctica to investigate a mysterious heat signal. They discover a tunnel leading to a buried pyramid beneath the ice, complete with a creepy sacrificial chamber filled with human skeletons and busted-open rib cages. A Xenomorph Queen wakes up, the Predators arrive for the hunt, and the humans are soon caught in the middle of an alien-versus-Predator war, just trying to make it out alive.
Alien vs. Predator 2 (2007)
While Alien vs. Predator: Requiem was an even less well-received follow-up, it still had just enough squint-through-your-fingers horror moments to keep the hardcore fans engaged. The plot is pretty straightforward: a Predator spaceship crashes in Colorado, unleashing aliens, a Predator, and freaky mutant offspring. The humans, led by a local sheriff and an ex-con, are caught in the middle in a desperate attempt to survive.. Most of the disappointment here stems from a weak script, forgettable characters, gratuitous violence, and a general lack of anything new or meaningful added to the Alien or Predator lore.
Predators (2010)
Adrien Brody can make any movie watchable — we’d watch the guy shop for groceries. He once again delivers a fantastic performance in a film whose plot is arguably inspired by the 1924 short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. That said, we can’t forget the rest of the cast — Walton Goggins, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Mahershala Ali, and Laurence Fishburne all deliver strong performances. This all-star ensemble plays a group of elite but kidnapped humans who wake up on a mysterious planet, only to realize the planet is a game preserve and they’re the sport. While the movie is already action-packed, the ensemble cast is what elevates the whole thing. This one is a solid watch in the franchise.
The Predator (2018)
Okay, not that we’re suggesting you skip any on the Predator watch list, but if you’re short on time, this might be the one to miss. The Predator (2018) ups the stakes with bigger, stronger Predators — genetically upgraded using DNA from other species. The story begins when a young boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth while playing with some discarded Predator tech equipment. What follows is, again, an unlikely team trying to save humanity. Despite some promising ideas, the movie ultimately had a messy script and too many moving parts.
Prey (2022)
Released in 2022, Prey takes us out of the futuristic space age and back to 1719 on the Great Plains. Naru, a young Comanche woman (played by the extraordinary Amber Midthunder), sets out to prove herself as a warrior. Soon enough, she faces off with an invading Predator that’s come to Earth, hunting humans. As if one galactic invader wasn’t enough, Naru is also dealing with another enemy — French fur trappers destroying the buffalo her tribe needs to survive. The film did exceptionally well and gave new hope to a venerable but recently mishandled franchise. Prey was directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison.
Predator: Killer of Killers (2025)
The most recent addition to the Predator watch list, Killer of Killers is an animated anthology film directed by Dan Trachtenberg, co-directed by Joshua Wassung, and written by Micho Robert Rutarewich. The film spans multiple periods, including the Viking era, feudal Japan, and World War II. In each time period, a skilled warrior faces off against an invading Predator. This one is currently receiving rave reviews for its story and a critically acclaimed animation style reminiscent of Into the Spider-Verse, but set in the horror sci-fi genre. Between Prey and Killer of Killers, we’re very ready for Badlands.
