Core Alien Franchise Releases in Chronological Release Order
The Alien franchise began with the 1979 film Alien, directed by Ridley Scott and produced by 20th Century Fox, followed by Aliens in 1986, Alien 3 in 1992, and Alien Resurrection in 1997. The prequel series includes Prometheus in 2012 and Alien: Covenant in 2017, both also directed by Ridley Scott and distributed by 20th Century Studios, with the most recent mainline entry being Alien: Romulus in 2024, produced by Scott Free Productions and distributed by 20th Century Studios. For the full alien movies timeline chronological order by theatrical release date, the sequence is Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and Alien: Romulus, with the franchise spanning multiple decades and production cycles under the broader Walt Disney Studios umbrella after the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets. Forbes reported on the latest entry and its position in the franchise timeline.
Box office performance shows Aliens as the highest-grossing mainline entry worldwide, followed by Alien: Romulus, Prometheus, Alien, Alien: Covenant, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection, with global totals reflecting both theatrical runs and post-pandemic rereleases. The franchise has generated billions in cumulative revenue across theatrical, home entertainment, and merchandise channels, with Alien and Aliens frequently cited in industry rankings as among the most influential sci‑fi horror films ever produced. Box Office Mojo provides detailed gross data for the Alien series.
Chronological Story Timeline and Expanded Universe Releases
The in-universe chronological order differs from release order because the prequel films are set before the original 1979 story, with Prometheus and Alien: Covenant exploring the origins of the Engineers and the Xenomorph creatures before the events of Alien. The expanded timeline includes short films, comic series, and video games that fill gaps between Alien: Covenant and Alien, with 20th Century Studios and Disney publishing additional lore through official books, podcasts, and digital content that expand the chronology beyond the theatrical releases. IGN published a guide to the Alien chronological story timeline.
Television and streaming projects have also expanded the alien movies timeline chronological order, with the FX on Hulu series Alien: Earth premiering in 2025 as a live-action addition set in the broader universe and produced by 20th Century Television and Scott Free Productions. These projects add new chapters to the franchise lore, introducing new characters and storylines while maintaining connections to the films, and they are cataloged by streaming platforms and entertainment databases as part of the official Alien expanded universe alongside the feature films.
Production Companies, Distribution, and Franchise Structure
The Alien franchise is primarily owned by 20th Century Studios, a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, with production handled by Scott Free Productions for most entries and co-production partnerships with Brandywine Productions for the original films and prequels. Distribution has been managed by 20th Century Studios and its predecessors under the Fox umbrella, with international distribution often handled through regional partners and streaming platforms including Disney+ for newer titles and digital releases.
Future projects in development include additional films and series under the 20th Century Studios banner, with Ridley Scott attached to multiple entries and new creative teams exploring spinoffs and sequels that continue the alien movies timeline chronological order. Industry tracking services and trade