Yautja-tastic! Your Guide to Watching Predator Movies in the Right Order (Because Time Travel is Confusing Enough)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
So you wanna watch the Predator movies in the right order? This guide, based on IGN's breakdown, tells you exactly how to do it, with a bit of cheeky commentary and the right amount of skepticism because, let's face it, some of these movies are a bit rough.
Right, so you wanna dive into the Predator universe? Fair enough, mate. It's a bloody wild ride. We're talking hulking alien hunters, Schwarzenegger in his prime, and enough explosions to make Michael Bay blush. But where do you even start? Chronological order, that's where. Why? Because release order is for squares, and we're diving deep, like finding a hidden level in a classic RPG.
IGN South Africa (cheers to them!) has put together a cracking guide to watching the Predator movies in chronological order, and I've tinkered with it a bit to make it even easier to digest (and hopefully more entertaining, because let's be honest, some of these films… well, we'll get to that).
First things first: how many Predator films are we talking about? Eight, count 'em, eight! That's four mainline flicks, two Alien crossovers (we'll try not to dwell on those too much), a prequel that actually slaps, and an anthology film that's trying to be all clever. And apparently, another mainline film, *Predator: Badlands*, is slated for later this year.
So, grab your popcorn (or biltong, if you're feeling South African), settle in, and let's get this show on the road:
1. **Predator: Killer of Killers (2025):** This animated anthology is first chronologically, with segments set in the Viking Age, Feudal Japan, and after World War 2. Apparently, it can be watched at any point in a Predator marathon, but personally, I reckon watching it first gives you a good taste of what's to come (think of it as the appetizer before the main course of alien mayhem).
2. **Prey (2022):** Set in 1719, this prequel is a breath of fresh air. It follows Naru, a young Comanche woman who goes head-to-head with a Predator in the Great Plains. Trust me, it's way better than it sounds. It's a solid film that does the franchise proud, showing that you don't need a massive budget or Arnold Schwarzenegger to make a good Predator movie.
3. **Predator (1987):** The OG. The one that started it all. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura… need I say more? A military rescue team gets utterly destroyed by an invisible alien hunter in the jungles of South America. Classic 80s action goodness. If you haven't seen this, stop reading and go watch it now. Seriously.
4. **Predator 2 (1990):** Swapping the jungle for the concrete jungle of 1997 Los Angeles, Predator 2 sees Danny Glover and co. battling a Predator amidst a bloody Cartel war. It's not as good as the original, but it's still a fun watch. Plus, it's got Bill Paxton, so you know it's gonna be at least a little bit entertaining.
5. **AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004):** Okay, here's where things get a bit… divisive. The first crossover movie, merging the Predator and Alien universes. It's not terrible, but it's not exactly a masterpiece either. Basically, Predators have been using humans as breeding bodies for Xenomorphs for centuries. Sounds about right.
6. **Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007):** The sequel to AVP, and arguably worse. A Predalien (Alien-Predator hybrid, naturally) attacks a small Colorado town, and a Predator “cleaner” is sent to deal with it. Let's just say this is the film that killed the crossover series. Probably for the best.
7. **Predators (2010):** This one's actually not bad! It takes place on a distant planet, a Yautja game reserve, where humans are abducted and used for sport between warring Predator tribes. The cast is great (Adrien Brody, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne), and the concept is pretty cool. It's a nice change of pace from the Earth-bound Predator movies.
8. **The Predator (2018):** Shane Black (who was in the original Predator, remember?) directs this one, bringing the franchise back to its roots with a squad of unstable soldiers taking on a pair of rampaging Predators. It's… okay. Not great, not terrible. It's got some fun moments, but it's also kind of a mess. Apparently, there were even plans for time-traveling Ripley and Newt from *Alien* to show up. Thank the gaming gods that didn't happen.
And there you have it! Your complete guide to watching the Predator movies in chronological order. Now go forth and enjoy the carnage (and maybe skip *Requiem* entirely. You've been warned). If you’re really feeling frisky, you could try fitting the *Alien* films into the mix as well, but that’s a whole other level of madness. You’ve been warned!
Tags: Predator, Movies, Sci-Fi, Alien, Chronological Order
Original article: IGN South Africa