Alien: Romulus takes place in 2142, between Alien (2122) and Aliens (2179). In story order, watch it after the original Alien and before Aliens. For a first viewing of the franchise, however, Hulu recommends release order.
Where does Alien: Romulus fit?
Romulus is set 20 years after Alien and 37 years before Aliens, according to the official chronology published in Hulu’s 2025 franchise guide. 20th Century Studios also describes the film as occurring between the first two movies, about 20 years after Alien, in its studio press material. That makes it a bridge in the fictional timeline, even though it was released decades after both films.
The Alien films in story order
Hulu’s canon timeline places the films in this order:
| Story order | Film | In-universe year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prometheus | 2089 |
| 2 | Alien: Covenant | 2104 |
| 3 | Alien | 2122 |
| 4 | Alien: Romulus | 2142 |
| 5 | Aliens | 2179 |
| 6 | Alien 3 | 2179 |
| 7 | Alien: Resurrection | 2379 |
These are the dates in Hulu’s published canon sequence, not independently verified production records. Hulu places Alien 3 in the same year as Aliens and says it directly follows that film; it dates Resurrection 200 years after Alien 3.
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Where Alien: Earth fits
The TV series Alien: Earth is not part of the film-only list. Hulu dates it to 2120, between Alien: Covenant and Alien.
Story chronology or release order?
Release order follows when viewers first encountered the films; story order follows their fictional years. Hulu recommends release order for first-time viewers and presents canon chronology as an option for a rewatch.
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| Viewing approach | Order | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Release order | Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus | First-time franchise viewers, following Hulu’s recommendation. |
| Canon chronology | Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien, Alien: Romulus, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection | Viewers who want to follow the published in-universe timeline. |
So, although Romulus belongs before Aliens in the story, it comes after Aliens in release order. You do not need to watch Prometheus or Alien: Covenant first to follow Hulu’s first-time viewing recommendation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about the film
The studio synopsis follows young colonists scavenging an abandoned space station for technology that could help them leave their doomed planet; there, they encounter an alien organism. Director and co-writer Fede Álvarez described the film to the Associated Press as, “At its core, at its heart, it’s a horror thriller.”
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20th Century Studios lists Álvarez as director and co-writer with Rodo Sayagues, a runtime of 1 hour 59 minutes, an R rating and an August 16, 2024 release date on its official film page. For home viewing, the studio lists a 4K UHD + Blu-ray set, and Disney’s corporate article records a December 3, 2024 release of 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. Formats and availability can vary by market; see Disney’s release announcement.
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- Experience the ultimate in sci-fi terror with these 7 iconic films: Alien, Aliens, Alien3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant and Alien: Romulus. From deadly chestbusters, relentless xenomorphs and horrific facehuggers, to unflinching heroines and unexpected synthetics, you’ll be shocked, surprised and terrified at every turn.
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