What Order to Watch Alien Movies – An In-Depth Guide

Introduction

The Alien movie franchise has been around since 1979 and has become one of the most iconic science fiction series of all time. With six films spanning over four decades, there are plenty of ways to watch the movies. But what is the best order to watch Alien movies? This article will explore the different approaches to watching the Alien movies and provide an in-depth guide on which order is best for viewers.

Timeline of the Alien Movies

The Alien film franchise began with Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic, Alien. The movie follows the crew of the Nostromo, a commercial spacecraft, as they investigate a strange signal coming from a nearby planet. They soon discover that their mission is more than it seems and must fight off a terrifying alien creature. The movie was praised for its groundbreaking special effects, intense suspense, and iconic death scenes.

James Cameron took the reins with the sequel, Aliens, released in 1986. The story picks up 57 years after the events of the first movie and follows Ellen Ripley as she returns to the planet where the alien species was discovered. Joined by a team of marines, she must battle against a horde of aliens and survive the horrific encounter. Cameron’s action-packed sequel added more depth to the mythology and gave fans more of the thrilling action they craved.

David Fincher took over directing duties for the third installment, Alien 3. Released in 1992, this movie follows Ripley as she crash lands onto a prison planet. She soon discovers that the planet is infested with aliens and must find a way to destroy them before they can escape. While the movie was met with mixed reviews, it still holds an important place in the franchise for its dark tone and exploration of Ripley’s inner turmoil.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet directed the fourth installment, Alien: Resurrection, released in 1997. The movie takes place 200 years after the previous installment and follows Ripley as she is cloned and sent on a mission to retrieve the alien queen. Along the way, she teams up with a group of mercenaries to battle against the aliens and stop them from escaping into the universe. While the movie received mixed reviews, it was praised for its unique visuals and exploration of the themes of life and death.

Ridley Scott returned to the franchise with Prometheus, released in 2012. The movie follows a team of scientists as they search for the origins of humanity and uncover a terrible secret. While the movie is not directly connected to the alien franchise, it serves as a prequel and provides insight into the mythology of the series. Despite some divisive reviews, the movie was praised for its stunning visuals and thought-provoking themes.

The sixth installment, Alien: Covenant, was released in 2017 and serves as both a sequel to Prometheus and a prequel to the original Alien. The movie follows a new crew of colonists as they explore a distant planet and discover a sinister threat lurking in the shadows. The movie was praised for its relentless action, intense horror, and exploration of religious themes.

Comparing and Contrasting the Alien Movies

When deciding on the best order to watch the Alien movies, it’s important to consider the differences between them. Each movie has its own unique style, tone, and director.

The first two movies, Alien and Aliens, differ greatly in genre. Alien is a horror movie, while Aliens is an action-packed sci-fi adventure. The change in genre was intentional, as James Cameron wanted to create a movie that felt entirely different than the original. As he said, “If you’re going to make a sequel, you have to make a different film. You have to take the same characters, but you have to take them in a completely different direction.”

The third and fourth movies, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection, have similar tones but are directed by different people. Alien 3 was helmed by David Fincher, while Alien: Resurrection was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Both directors brought their own unique visual style to the movies, with Fincher creating a dark and oppressive atmosphere and Jeunet opting for a more whimsical and surreal approach.

The fifth and sixth movies, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, were both directed by Ridley Scott. These movies explore the origins of the alien species and provide insight into the mythology of the franchise. While they are both prequels to the original Alien, they differ in tone. Prometheus is a slow-burning mystery, while Alien: Covenant is a fast-paced horror movie.

Reasons to Watch the Alien Movies in Chronological Order

When watching the Alien movies, the best order to do so is in chronological order. Watching the movies in this order allows viewers to fully appreciate the story development, character evolution, and themes explored throughout the series. Here are a few reasons why watching the movies in chronological order is the best approach.

Story Development: Watching the movies in chronological order allows viewers to follow the story as it unfolds. From the discovery of the alien species to the ultimate fate of Ripley, viewers can appreciate the journey of the characters and see how the story progresses from one movie to the next.

Character Evolution: Following the movies in chronological order allows viewers to get a better understanding of the characters and how they develop over time. From Ripley’s transformation from a scared survivor to a formidable warrior, to the android David’s descent into madness, viewers can appreciate the arc of the characters and how they change throughout the series.

Better Understanding of Themes: Watching the movies in chronological order also helps viewers gain a better understanding of the themes explored throughout the series. From the nature of the alien species to the consequences of human ambition, viewers can appreciate the deeper messages of the movies and how they are connected.

Easier to Make Connections: Watching the movies in chronological order makes it easier to make connections between the different installments. From the subtle references to the obvious plot points, viewers can appreciate the links between the movies and how they all fit together.

Full Appreciation of the Franchise: Finally, watching the movies in chronological order gives viewers the full appreciation of the franchise. From the groundbreaking special effects to the iconic characters, viewers can appreciate the legacy of the Alien movies and how they all fit together.

Interview with a Die-Hard Fan

To get an even better understanding of the best order to watch the Alien movies, we spoke to Alex, a die-hard fan of the franchise. Here’s what he had to say:

“I think the best way to watch the Alien movies is in chronological order. It allows you to appreciate the story development and character evolution, as well as giving you a better understanding of the themes explored throughout the series. Plus, it makes it easier to make connections between the movies and gives you a full appreciation of the franchise as a whole.”

Interactive Quiz

Still not sure what order to watch the Alien movies? Take our interactive quiz to help determine which order is best for you.

• Are you a fan of horror movies?
• Do you prefer action-packed sci-fi adventures?
• Are you interested in exploring the mythology of the franchise?
• Do you want to appreciate the story development and character evolution?
• Do you want to understand the themes explored throughout the series?

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best order to watch the Alien movies is in chronological order. Watching the movies in this order allows viewers to follow the story as it unfolds, appreciate the character evolution, and gain a better understanding of the themes explored throughout the series. Additionally, it makes it easier to make connections between the different installments and gives viewers a full appreciation of the franchise as a whole. So if you’re looking for the best way to watch the Alien movies, watching them in chronological order is the way to go.

Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below.