Predator Timeline Explained: Every Movie in Order (1719–2025) — From Prey to Badlands

If you think you know the Predator story, think again. The galaxy’s most dangerous hunters have been stalking humanity for over three centuries — from the Comanche plains in Prey to the distant worlds of Predator: Badlands (2025).

But the Predator saga isn’t just about brutal hunts; it’s a sprawling mythology filled with warrior codes, alien cultures, and unexpected human connections.

In this guide, we’ll explore the complete Predator timeline, placing every film in chronological order and explaining how each one connects to the next — from the 18th-century Comanche Nation to the futuristic Weyland-Yutani era.

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1. Prey (1719) — The Beginning of the Hunt

Released in 2022, Prey is the earliest chapter in the Predator universe. Set in 1719 in the Great Plains of North America, it introduces us to Naru, a young Comanche warrior who faces a Predator armed with rudimentary but deadly technology.

Director Dan Trachtenberg stripped the franchise back to its primal essence: one hunter, one hunted, no modern tech — only survival and skill.

The most important connection comes in the form of a flintlock pistol engraved “Raphael Adolini 1715”. This same gun reappears over 270 years later in Predator 2, creating a direct link between Prey and the classic series.

🪶 Fun fact: The original Comanche-language dub of Prey was the first major Hollywood film fully available in an Indigenous language.

2. Predator (1987) — The Classic That Started It All

When Predator hit theaters in 1987, it changed action cinema forever.

Set in the Central American jungle, it follows an elite commando team led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) on a rescue mission gone wrong. They soon realize they’re being hunted by a creature that sees in infrared and collects human skulls as trophies.

The 1987 film defined the Predator mythos:

• Heat vision and cloaking technology

• A strict warrior code (it doesn’t kill unarmed opponents)

• The first use of the Predator’s iconic self-destruct device

It ends with Dutch defeating the creature through pure cunning — setting the tone for every future encounter.

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3. Predator 2 (1990) — The Urban Hunt

Three years later, Predator 2 moved the hunt to Los Angeles, 1997, in a city overrun by gang wars and heat waves.

Danny Glover stars as Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, a street-smart cop who faces a Predator operating in the chaos.

This sequel expanded the lore:

• We saw multiple Predators for the first time.

• Introduced the concept of an honor culture among the Yautja.

• Featured the legendary flintlock pistol (1715) from Prey — proving that Predators had been hunting humans for centuries.

It also teased the idea that these creatures had fought other alien species, which would later inspire the Alien vs. Predator crossovers.

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4. Alien vs. Predator (2004) — The Cross-Franchise Crossover

Set in 2004, this film explores humanity’s deeper connection to both alien species.

A Weyland Industries expedition discovers an ancient pyramid beneath the ice of Antarctica. Inside, humans awaken both the Predators and their ancient prey — the Xenomorphs from the Alien franchise.

This movie reveals that Predators have visited Earth for thousands of years, training young warriors by hunting Xenomorphs as rites of passage.

It’s the first time the two iconic monsters share the screen — and the first major crossover that links the Predator timeline to the Alien universe.

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5. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Picking up immediately after AVP, Requiem takes the chaos to a small Colorado town where a hybrid Predalien wreaks havoc.

A single elite Predator arrives to “clean up” the mess — killing Xenomorphs and humans alike to erase all traces of the outbreak.

This film is darker and bloodier, showing how dangerous these creatures can be when their two species merge.

It ends with Weyland-Yutani recovering Predator technology, further connecting both franchises’ corporate storylines.

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6. Predators (2010) — The Game Preserve Planet

Directed by Nimród Antal, Predators takes place sometime in the 2010s–2020s, on a remote alien planet used as a hunting ground.

A group of elite killers — mercenaries, soldiers, and criminals — are dropped into a jungle and hunted by a clan of “Super Predators.”

We learn that there are different Yautja factions, each with unique hunting styles and technologies. It’s the first real expansion of Predator culture beyond Earth.

This chapter shows that Predators hunt across the galaxy, not just on Earth — a concept that will return in Badlands (2025).

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7. The Predator (2018) — Genetic Upgrades and Modern Warfare

Directed by Shane Black (who played Hawkins in the original 1987 film), The Predator modernizes the mythos with genetic experimentation.

A rogue Predator crashes on Earth, pursued by an “Upgraded” Predator who has been enhancing himself with DNA from other species — including humans.

While divisive among fans, this movie is important because:

• It reveals the Predators’ evolving goals: survival and adaptation.

• It suggests they are collecting human DNA for their own evolution.

• Introduces a potential human-Predator alliance setup for future films.

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8. Predator: Badlands (2025) — A New Perspective

November 7, 2025, Predator: Badlands is the next major step in the saga — and the most daring one yet.

Directed again by Dan Trachtenberg, the visionary behind Prey, this film flips the script: for the first time, a Predator is the protagonist.

Set in a distant future on a harsh alien planet, Badlands follows Dek, a young Yautja exiled from his clan. Forced to survive in hostile territory, Dek forms an uneasy alliance with Thia (Elle Fanning), an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation — a clear link to the Alien continuity.

This marks a huge shift:

• We’ll finally explore Predator culture, language, and hierarchy from their perspective.

• The presence of Weyland-Yutani implies a shared cinematic universe growing closer to the Alien timeline.

• Early footage suggests a PG-13 rating but a darker, character-driven story focusing on exile, honor, and redemption.

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🗺️ Complete Chronological Order (In-Universe Timeline)

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🧬 Themes That Connect Every Predator Film

1. The Code of the Hunt

The Yautja only hunt worthy prey — those who can fight back. This ancient warrior code defines their morality and culture.

2. Evolution and Adaptation

From The Predator’s genetic upgrades to Badlands’ exile story, evolution — both biological and philosophical — drives the saga forward.

3. Humanity as Both Prey and Predator

From Dutch to Naru, humans often mirror the Yautja’s survival instincts. The line between hunter and hunted is constantly blurred.

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💥 How Badlands Connects to Prey and the Wider Universe

Although Prey and Badlands are set centuries apart, they share DNA — literally and metaphorically. Both are directed by Dan Trachtenberg, both focus on outsiders, and both strip away the notion of “evil alien,” replacing it with cultural complexity.

Badlands may even explain the ancient Predator lineage seen in Prey — possibly connecting the honor code of early hunters with the fractured clans of the future.

And with Weyland-Yutani entering the picture, the timeline edges closer to the Alien franchise’s 22nd-century events, setting up potential crossover territory.

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🔮 The Future of the Predator Universe

With Disney now owning both the Predator and Alien IPs through 20th Century Studios, the future could hold:

• A shared cinematic universe uniting both species

• Streaming spin-offs exploring other time periods (like a feudal Japan Predator story)

• A possible Alien vs Predator: Origins series bridging Prey and Badlands

Given Trachtenberg’s involvement, fans expect a more thoughtful, world-building approach rather than endless reboots.

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🧩 Conclusion: The Hunt Never Ends

From Naru’s flintlock pistol to Dek’s exile across alien deserts, the Predator saga has evolved from a simple survival story into an intergalactic myth about honor, power, and identity.

As Predator: Badlands (2025) approaches, it promises not just another hunt — but a deeper understanding of the hunters themselves.

So whether you’re revisiting Dutch’s one-liner-filled jungle showdown or preparing to explore the Yautja homeworld, remember the rule that ties every Predator together:

“The hunt is eternal — and only the worthy survive.”

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Sources:

• IMDb — Predator Franchise

• The Hollywood Reporter — Predator: Badlands (2025)

• People.com — Predator: Badlands Details