Don't Fall 'Prey' to the Wrong Timeline! How to Watch 'Predator' Movies In Order of Story

First debuting in 1987, the Predator movie franchise is a staple of the action sci-fi genre. Over the decades, seven movies have been produced that feature the titular hunters.

Since the series includes crossovers with another franchise, a reboot and, most recently, a prequel, it may be confusing for new viewers trying to watch the movies in order. Fortunately, this guide to how to watch Predator movies in order will help clear things up.

What order do the Predator movies go in? How to watch Predator movies in order

1. Prey (2022)

The newest Predator movie, Prey, is also set the earliest in the film series' timeline. Prey takes place in 1719 and features members of the Comanche Nation facing off against a Predator. The events of this film may be a reference to the ending of Predator 2 (1990), which shows Danny Glover retrieving an ancient flintlock pistol from the Predator ship that has an inscription on it that reads "Raphael Adolini 1715."

How to watch Prey: Prey will stream exclusively on Hulu starting Aug. 5, 2022.

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2. Predator (1987)

The first film in the series, Predator, is set in 1987, the year it was released. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Major Alan "Dutch" Schaeffer, who leads a military rescue team into the fictional Central American jungles of Val Verde to rescue a kidnapped cabinet minister. Unfortunately, they come across the titular Predator, who hunts down each member of the team for sport.

How to watch Predator: Stream Predator on Hulu. You can also rent or buy Predator from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

3. Predator 2 (1990)

Predator 2 takes place in 1997, despite being released in 1990. It depicts a version of Los Angeles that's been taken over by violent gangs. During a record-breaking heat wave, a Predator shows up to hunt down each of the gangs and some local law enforcement. Unfortunately, the Predator wasn't prepared for Danny Glover.

How to watch Predator 2: Stream Predator 2 on Hulu. You can also rent or buy Predator 2 from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

4. Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After stalking Los Angeles in 1997, the Predators returned to Earth in 2004 during the events of Alien vs. Predator. This time, the hunters stalked an ancient temple buried under the ice of Bouvet Island, the world's most remote island located about 1,000 miles from Antarctica. According to this film, the Predators trapped a Queen Alien in the temple so they can return every 100 years to hunt humans and aliens as a rite of passage.

How to watch Alien vs. Predator: Stream Alien Vs. Predator on Hulu. You can also rent or buy Alien vs. Predator from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

5. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Alien vs Predator ends with a chestburster alien emerging from a dead Predator after being taken back aboard its ship. The sequel Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem picks up immediately where the last movie ended in 2004, with the resulting Predalien hybrid causing the ship to crash near a small town in Colorado. Of course, another Predator arrives to catch the hybrid Predalien and poorly lit chaos ensues.

How to watch Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem: Stream Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem on Hulu. You can also rent or buy Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

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6. Predators (2010)

While all of the previous movies in the series showed the Predators coming to Earth to hunt, Predators reveals that sometimes the aliens abduct humans they'd like to hunt and drop them off on a game-reserve planet. Adrien Brody leads a team of some of Earth's most brutal killers against a team of Predators who apparently like to hunt but don't want to travel too far to do so.

How to watch Predators: Stream Predators on Hulu. You can also rent or buy Predators from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Vudu.

7. The Predator (2018)

Finally, the last film in the Predator franchise timeline is 2018's The Predator. After a Predator ship crashlands on Earth, U.S. Army Ranger Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) finds himself in possession of Predator tech. After accidentally mailing it to his son (Jacob Tremblay), McKenna must lead a team of soldiers struggling with PTSD to retrieve the tech and rescue his boy.

How to watch The Predator: You can rent or buy The Predator from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

How many Predator movies did they make?

So far there are a total of seven Predator movies, including Prey, Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. If Prey is successful, you can bet they'll probably make more sequels. So far the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, so fingers crossed!

How many Alien Predator movies are there?

Right now there are just two Alien-Predator crossover movies. These are Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

Is there a Predator 5?

While there's no official Predator 5 in terms of title, Prey is a prequel in the movies, taking place nearly 300 years before the events of the first Predator film in 1987.

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Who is playing the Predator in Prey?

Dane DiLiegro will star as the Predator in Prey. A former professional basketball player, DiLiegro stands tall at 6'9", which will make him quite the imposing presence onscreen in the thriller.

Is there a new Predator movie coming out in 2022?

Prey is the latest installment of the Predator franchise. It hits streaming on Hulu on Aug. 6, 2022. Though it's the most recent film in the franchise, it's the first chronologically in the Predator timeline.

Will Prey (2022) be in theaters?

Prey will be released exclusively on Hulu, but make no mistake: The makers of the movie think it deserves a theatrical experience.

Director Dan Trachtenberg told Uproxx, "I mean, look, we made it to be a big theatrical experience and on the downside, it’s not being released that way. So you can’t see it in the theater, but on the upside, the thing you’re getting straight into your living room is a giant theatrical experience. It’s not like a straight video dumping ground. It’s like, 'This is a real movie.'"

He added, "So Hulu hasn’t really had… There hasn’t been a 20th [Century Studios] franchise baby that has come out yet. So they’re hoping to really ignite the platform to say, 'We’re not just putting out the smaller, lower-budget fare. That this is also a place to have giant cinematic experiences.'"

Is Prey a prequel to Predator?

Prey takes place about 300 years before the events of the first and original Predator film in 1987. This makes it a prequel in the franchise in terms of timeline.

Next, check out the scariest and best horror movies of all time.