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Quick Answer: Stream the entire series on Hulu, or sign up for the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle
Alien: Romulus hits theaters this Friday — it’s the 7th film in the franchise, or the 9th if you count the Alien vs Predator crossover films. The standalone film takes place between the events of the original Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). It’s directed by Fede Álvarez, known for his work in the horror genre, and the marketing suggests that Romulus may be more in line with the Ridley Scott-directed horror classic than the action-oriented James Cameron sequel or the philosophical Prometheus.
According to THR, Alien: Romulus was originally slated for a streaming release on Hulu, similar to the critically acclaimed Predator prequel, Prey (2022). That it’s getting a full theatrical release suggests confidence in the film, and fans of the franchise will appreciate seeing the xenomorphs on the big screen for the first time in seven years. Alien superfans can also look forward to Alien: Earth, a TV series slated to be released on FX.
Fans looking to stream the films before the new one is released are in luck because the entire franchise is on one streaming service for the first time. Every film in the series (yes, including the critically-panned AVP films) is available to stream on Hulu. The ad-supported tier costs $7.99/month, and new subscribers can get a month for free. The ad-free tier is $17.99, but the best value is the Disney+, Hulu, and Max Bundle, which costs $16.99/month with ads or $29.99/month ad-free. Students can also enjoy the ad-supported tier of Hulu for a mere $1.99/month once verified.
Thanks to Hulu, streaming all of the films is easy. Deciding what order to watch them in is a different story. It arguably makes the most sense to watch the films in release order, though whether you decide to include the AVP films is a decision between you and your TV remote. The films, by theatrical release date, can be found below. They’re all available to stream on Hulu, except for Romulus, which is exclusively in theaters this Friday.
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Alien vs Predator (2004)
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem (2007)
Prometheus (2012)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien: Romulus (2024)
If you’d rather watch all of the films in story order, you’ll actually want to start with the AVP films, which were set in the present day. The Ridley Scott-helmed Prometheus and its direct sequel Alien: Covenant take place before the original four-film series. The original four-film series comprises Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection and all star Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Since Romulus takes place somewhere in the 57-year gap between Alien and Aliens, there’s no way to watch all of the movies in chronological order before the new one comes out. Here’s the order of the films in narrative order:
Alien vs Predator (2004)
AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem (2007)
Prometheus (2012)
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien (1979)
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien Resurrection (1997)
There’s no guarantee that the Alien franchise will stay on Hulu forever, so fans of physical media can pick up a box set comprising the original four-film series and the Ridley Scott prequels on Blu-Ray or DVD. The AVP films can also be found in physical formats.
AVP Double Feature
Collectors can also pick up this AVP double feature, which includes both Alien vs Predator films on Blu-Ray. It’s also available on DVD.