From Alien to Predator: Badlands- Timeline of Alien and Predator Universe & Creature Effects
- Koji Ohmura
- Dec 23, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Are you Alien fan? Or Predator fan? Or both? Since 1979, the Alien and Predator movies have captivated sci-fi and horror fans for decades. Both series feature terrifying extraterrestrial creatures (not like E.T.), intense action, and rich lore. However, the timeline connecting these movies can be confusing. This article breaks down the Alien and Predator movie timeline clearly and chronologically, helping fans (and myself) understand how these stories fit together. I placed HR Giger's Xenomorph making video at the end of this article! It's a 1-hour video, but it is worth watching!
The Origins of the Alien Franchise
The Alien saga began with Ridley Scott’s 1979 film Alien. This movie introduces the Xenomorph, a parasitic alien species that uses humans as hosts. The story follows the crew of the Nostromo spaceship as they encounter the creature.
Inception of the Alien Series & Creature Effect Artists
Alien (1979)
Directed by Ridley Scott, this movie was the beginning of everything. The Nostromo crew discovers a derelict alien ship on a distant planet. A crew member is infected by a facehugger, leading to the birth of the Xenomorph.
HR Giger designed and created the Xenomorph. You can see his early work in this book.
HR Giger. 45th Ed. (45th Edition) (Multilingual Edition) Hardcover - $18.19 on Amazon
Aliens (1986)
Directed by James Cameron, this sequel focuses on Ripley, the sole survivor from the first film. She returns to the alien planet with a team of marines to confront the Xenomorph threat.
Stan Winston and his team created the Xenomorph and the Queen Alien! Howard Berger (KNB's co-owner) and Alec Gillis (ADI & Studio Gillis owner) joined the studio; Page 78 in this book.
The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio - $27.84 on Amazon
Alien 3 (1992)
Directed by David Fincher, Ripley crash-lands on a prison planet, where she faces a new Xenomorph outbreak. The film explores darker themes and Ripley’s connection to the alien species.
Stan Winston alumni Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis founded ADI in 1988. Their team created the Xenomorph and Runner. Tom also portrayed Xenomorph. You can see their work on this playlist.
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, set 200 years after Alien 3, scientists clone Ripley to extract the alien queen inside her. The movie explores genetic experiments and hybrid creatures.
ADI continued working in the Alien franchise and created the Xenomorph and Newborn hybrid. You can see behind scenes from this playlist.
Prometheus (2012)
Directed by Ridley Scott, this film serves as a prequel to Alien, exploring the origins of the Xenomorphs and the Engineers who created them. This film finally shows Sir Peter Weyland.
Neal Scanlan's team designed and created practical creatures on this film. Some of their work can be seen on this book,
Prometheus: The Art of the Film - $59 on Amazon
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Directed by Ridley Scott, this direct sequel to Prometheus follows a colony ship that lands on a planet inhabited by deadly creatures, including early forms of the Xenomorph.
Creature Inc and Odd Studio made early stage of Xenomorph and other creatures. You can see their practical effects before CGI added in the post production here,
Alien: Romulus (2017)
Directed by Fede Álvarez. This movie takes place 20 years after the Nostromo crew encounters the Xenomorph in deep space. Weyland-Yutani's team is sent here to find the wreckage.
Creature effects by Legacy Effects (formerly Stan Winston Studio), Weta Workshop, and Studio Gillis.
Alien Earth (2025)
This TV show focuses on the time right before the original Alien (1979). I loved that some of the crew members have '70s hairstyles like the original. This TV program shows Yutani, the owner of Weyland-Yutani. Her research spaceship, USCSS Maginot, crashes on Earth after they collect Xenomorph eggs, Ovomorphs.
Weta Workshop (known for Lord of the Rings) created Xenomorph. I can see that some coloring was different since it was coming out of a human lung instead of human body. Their work is on Weta Workshop.
The Predator Franchise Timeline
The Predator series started with the 1987 film Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It introduced the Predator, a highly skilled alien hunter who targets humans for sport.
Main Predator Films
Predator (1987)
Directed by John McTiernan, a special forces team in a Central American jungle encounters the Predator, which hunts them using advanced technology. And... of course, Schwa-chan! (with Japanese accent), Arnold Schwarzenegger!
Soon after Stan Winston's team finished making Xenomorph suits, they started creating Predator suits! Here is an interesting fact: according to this book, Rubberhead - Sex, Drugs, and Special FX, Steve Johnson's team started this project first before the production called Stan Winston. You see Steve Wang sculpting Predator in both books!
Rubberhead Sex, Drugs, and Special FX - $49.99 on Dream Haven The Winston Effect: The Art & History of Stan Winston Studio - $27.84 on Amazon
Predator 2 (1990)
Directed by Stephen Hopkins and set in Los Angeles, this sequel shows the Predator hunting in an urban environment during a heatwave and gang war.
Stan Winston returned again to create the Predator suits, and Xenomorph Skull! (Page 120 of Stan Winston Book above)
Predators (2010)
Directed by Nimród Antal, humans are dropped on an alien planet as prey for a group of Predators. This film expands the Predator culture and hunting rituals.
KNB (co-owned by Greg Nicotero & Howard Burger) created Predator suits. You can see their work on this link, KNB EFX Group.
The Predator (2018)
Directed by Shane Black, a genetically enhanced Predator arrives on Earth, leading to a conflict involving humans and Predators.
ADI has created several Alien series and AVP series. They also made a solo version of the Predator film from this film. The playlist from ADI is here.
Prey (2022)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, set in 300 years ago. A young skilled warrior Naru protects her people from the Predator.
ADI created the Predator suits, worn by Dane DiLiegro. I got to work with him on Disney Plus "Quest" when he portrayed Doragior.
The Predator: Badlands (2025)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the outcast Predator Dek meets Thia, who was sent by Weyland-Yutani to the death planet. This shows some crossovers of Alien movies and Predator movies, although Xenomorphs were not in it.
Weta Workshop and Studio Gillis worked on creature effects, and CGI added facial emotions.
How Alien and Predator Connect
The two franchises officially crossed over in the early 2000s with the Alien vs. Predator (AVP) series. These movies explore what happens when the two alien species meet on Earth.
Alien vs. Predator Films
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
A team investigates an ancient pyramid beneath Antarctica, discovering a battleground where Predators hunt Xenomorphs as a rite of passage.
ADI created both Xenomorph and Predators, and Queen Alien!!
AVP: Alien vs. Predator: The Creature Effects of ADI - $74.35 on Amazon
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
The aftermath of the first AVP film shows a Xenomorph outbreak in a small American town, with Predators "Wolf" arriving to contain the threat.
ADI team again continued on AVP creatures. I was lucky enough to join the team as an SFX paint department artist for 4 months!
Aliens vs. Predator Requiem Inside the Monster Shop - $110.80 on Amazon
Chronological Order of the Movies
Even though I love this Alien & Predator universe a lot, it is always confusing to figure out which movie comes before and after. I put this universe timeline together for myself (and everyone, of course!) to remind myself what happens in their world whenever I watch these movies. Please enjoy!
Prometheus - Opening Scene (Unknown)
Engineer drinks black goo to seed life on the planet (possibly Earth).
Prey (1719)
Naru fights against the Predator.
Predator (1987)
The Predator hunts humans in a jungle.
Predator 2 (1990)
The Predator hunts in an urban setting.
Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Shows Predators hunting Xenomorphs on Earth in ancient times.
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2004)
Follows the immediate aftermath of the AVP events.
Predators (Around 2010)
Humans are hunted on an alien planet.
The Predator (2018)
A new Predator arrives on Earth.
Prometheus (2089-2093)
Explores the creation of the Xenomorph species and the Engineers.
Alien: Covenant (2104)
In 2099, Yutani & Weyland merged and created a giant tech company, Weyland-Yutani. Continues the story of early Xenomorph development.
10. Alien Earth (2120)
Weyland-Yutani research spaceship USCSS Maginot crashes on Earth, where the rival company Prodigy creates hybrids.
11. Alien (2122)
The Nostromo crew encounters the Xenomorph in deep space.
12. Alien: Romulus (2142)
Space colonizers scavenge the deep ends of a derelict space station.
Aliens (2179)
Ripley returns to the alien planet LV-426 with marines.
Alien 3 (2179)
Ripley crash-lands on a prison planet.
Alien: Resurrection (2379)
Scientists clone Ripley.
The Predator: Badlands (2400s)
The outcast Predator Dek meets Weyland-Yutani's android, Thia.
And Finally, HR Gigger's Xenomorph Making Video!
Thank you so much for reading this until the end! Now here is the climax! This is a 1-hour video, but it is worth watching. I know why we had H.R. Giger's books everywhere at the studio ADI when I was working for AVP Requiem. Respect!
Books Mentioned in This Article
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