Release Order: The Complete Predator Film Sequence
The original 1987 film Predator introduced the iconic extraterrestrial hunter to audiences, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch. This was followed by the 1990 sequel Predator 2, which shifted the setting to Los Angeles and starred Danny Glover. The franchise then expanded with the crossover films Alien vs. Predator in 2004 and its 2007 sequel Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. The reboot Predators arrived in 2010, followed by the nonlinear prequel The Predator in 2018. The most recent entry is Prey, a 2022 Hulu original film set in the 18th century.
Watching in release order provides the chronological evolution of the franchise's tone and visual effects. The original 1987 film established the Predator's hunting code and thermal vision. The 2022 prequel Prey is the highest-rated entry on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94% critics score, and it is the first film in the franchise to feature a female lead protagonist.
Chronological Timeline: The In-Universe Story
Ancient Origins and Earth Settings
The chronological timeline begins with Prey, set in 1719 in the North American Great Plains. This film reveals the earliest known encounter between the Yautja and Comanche warriors. The timeline then jumps significantly to the 20th century with the original Predator in 1987, followed by Predator 2 in 1997. The crossover films Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem are set in 2004 and 2010 respectively, bridging the Alien and Predator universes.
Modern Entries and Standalone Stories
The 2010 film Predators shifts the timeline to an unknown year where multiple Predators abduct humans for hunting on an alien planet. The 2018 film The Predator is set in the present day and