The best Alien movies to stream tonight

TL;DR:

• Start with Alien, then Aliens for a foolproof double feature.
  
• Add Romulus after Alien for a tense mid-quel bridge.
  
• Prometheus and Covenant add lore and android drama.
  
• Alien 3 works best as the Assembly Cut, then Resurrection if curious.
  
• AVP films are bonus party watches, not core canon.

You want a tight plan, not a rabbit hole. This guide ranks the films, gives the vibe, and offers easy watch orders. It is updated on 2025-09-09.

How to use this guide

Pick one of the watch orders below. Then skim each movie’s vibe and “best for” note. Skip anything that does not match your mood tonight.

1) Alien (1979)

Ridley Scott’s original is a masterclass in dread. The design, sound, and pacing build a pressure cooker. One crew, one ship, one nightmare.

Vibe: haunted-house horror in space.
Best for: first-timers, anyone who likes slow tension.
Why it works: it shows less, suggests more, then strikes hard.

2) Aliens (1986)

James Cameron swaps pure horror for action and still keeps the fear. Ripley returns with a squad of marines, motion trackers, and a fierce ending.

Vibe: siege thriller with heart.
Best for: adrenaline nights and group viewing.
Pro tip: the Special Edition adds character beats that many fans love.

3) Alien: Romulus (2024)

A modern mid-quel that sits between Alien and Aliens. New faces, claustrophobic sets, and a nasty escalation. It plays like a love letter to the first two films.

Vibe: grim corridors, young crew outmatched.
Best for: a fresh but faithful hit after Alien.

4) Prometheus (2012)

The prequel shifts to big questions about who made us and why. It looks gorgeous and turns brutal when things go wrong.

Vibe: mystery to body horror.
Best for: lore fans and anyone who enjoys grand sci-fi ideas with sharp shocks.

5) Alien: Covenant (2017)

Covenant connects the prequel era to the classic creature terror. David steals scenes while the threat returns to stalking form.

Vibe: stormy planet, doomed colony ship, elegant menace.
Best for: following Prometheus without losing the scares.

6) Alien 3 (1992) — Assembly Cut recommended

The theatrical cut divided fans. The Assembly Cut restores character beats and gives the story cleaner weight. It is bleak, but purposeful.

Vibe: one beast, no weapons, nowhere to run.
Best for: viewers who want the toughest chapter after Aliens.

7) Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Wild tone, stylish look. A cloned Ripley, odd humor, and a grotesque lab finale. Not essential, but worth a curiosity watch.

Vibe: pulp sci-fi with creature mayhem.
Best for: late-night completists with snacks.

Bonus night: AVP double

Alien vs Predator and Aliens vs Predator: Requiem are crossover romps. They are not part of the current main Alien timeline, but they deliver simple monster fun with friends.

Vibe: arena chaos.
Best for: party night, low stakes.

Simple watch orders

Classic path for newcomers

Alien → Aliens.
Clean, perfect, done in under five hours.

Modern bridge path

Alien → Romulus → Aliens.
Keeps the classic feel, adds a sharp mid-quel.

Lore-first path

Prometheus → Covenant → Alien → Romulus → Aliens.
Builds the myth, then pays it off with action.

Full marathon

Prometheus → Covenant → Alien → Romulus → Aliens → Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) → Resurrection.
Finish with the TV series later if you want extra story.

Quick picks by mood

• One movie tonight: Alien.
  
• Two movies: Alien + Aliens, or Alien + Romulus.
  
• Loud group watch: Aliens, then AVP.
  
• Curious about origins: Prometheus, then Covenant.
  
• Bleak, intense chapter: Alien 3 (Assembly Cut).
  

Handy chart

Where to stream

Licensing changes fast. In many regions the films rotate across Disney platforms and major rental stores. Check your local app before you hit play. Avoid chasing a single platform in search; filter by country and year for the best result.

[Related: Alien timeline explained → /alien-timeline-explained]

Common mistakes to avoid

• Starting with the prequels by default. They land better after you know Alien.
  
• Skipping the Assembly Cut of Alien 3. It fixes pacing and character arcs.
  
• Watching Aliens first. Great film, but Alien sets the tone.
  
• Assuming AVP is core canon. Treat it as bonus fun.
  

Why it matters

Alien is a rare series where the first two entries are stone-cold great. New projects work best when you know that base. A clear plan saves time, avoids spoilers, and turns a scattered franchise into a sharp movie night.

Sources:

• Space.com, “Alien movies in order: chronological and release,” https://www.space.com/alien-movies-in-order, August 13, 2025.
  
• Rotten Tomatoes Editorial, “All Alien Movies In Order: How to Watch Chronologically,” https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/alien-movies-in-order/, accessed September 9, 2025.
  
• Rotten Tomatoes, “Alien: Romulus,” https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien_romulus, accessed September 9, 2025.
  
• RogerEbert.com, “Why Aliens is Even Better Than Alien,” https://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/why-aliens-is-even-better-than-alien, August 9, 2020.
  

Wikipedia, “Alien (film),” awards and preservation notes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film), accessed September 9, 2025.