Prometheus was one of the most divisive movies in the Alien franchise, but the film’s biggest issues are helped by watching the Alien series in chronological order. 33 years after kicking the story off with the brilliant 1979 original movie, Ridley Scott returned to the Alien franchise with 2012’s Prometheus. Serving as a prequel, it followed the story of explorers venturing out into deep space in search of the creators of humanity but finding something darker, which leads to the creation of the xenomorphs.

The excitement about Scott returning was somewhat tempered by the mixed reaction to Prometheus. Those expecting a return to the Alien franchise were given something quite different in themes and tone. However, the timeline of the Alien franchise is one that can be experienced in different ways. While Prometheus might feel like an awkward entry when viewed as it was released, a new way of looking at the movies as a whole makes for quite an improvement.

Prometheus Is A Much Better Movie When Watching The Alien Movies In Timeline Order

Prometheus’ Faults Become More Interesting In Chronological Order

Within the Alien franchise as it exists now, Prometheus takes place before every other movie. When viewed this way, the more difficult aspects of the film suddenly become more understandable in the context of the larger story, feeling like it is a more natural fit. In fact, while the tonal shift and the subversion of certain expectations were viewed by many as weaknesses upon its release, they become strengths if Prometheus is seen as the start of it all.

It is true that the Alien franchise has gone through some alarming tonal shifts in the past. The first Alien was a claustrophobic horror movie, only for James Cameron to boldly and effectively turn it into an action movie in Aliens. Alien 3 returned with a bleak tone, only for Alien: Resurrection to include a lot more humor. However, many fans weren’t expecting the philosophical musings of Prometheus. A story about the search for humanity’s creators felt like an oddly epic idea to explore in an Alien movie.

However, if Prometheus is the first movie, that big scope works for establishing this world. The tonal shift is less jarring if the film goes from these big ideas to dealing with the consequences of exploring the truth behind these ideas. In that way, it also deals with another issue fans had with Prometheus, which was the lack of xenomorphs. Ridley Scott seemed uninterested in revisiting the monsters, but fans were still waiting for them. Prometheus becomes much more interesting if it ends with the hint of the creation of these monsters that will rule the rest of the franchise.

In terms of the mythology of the Alien franchise and the feeling of the story, Prometheus does feel slightly out of place, thrown in so many years after the original. However, if it is viewed as a jumping-off point for the rest of the story, those apparent flaws are much less noticeable, and it actually feels more interesting.

Which Order Is Best For Watching Alien? Release Or Timeline

The Release Schedule Is Ideal For First-Time Viewers

When it comes to long-running franchises like Aliens that sometimes have complicated timelines, there are always discussions about what the best watch order would be. The release schedule of how the movies were actually presented to audiences originally is one option, while watching them chronologically can offer a new perspective. When choosing what order to watch the Alien franchise, it really comes down to how familiar the viewer is with the franchise.

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From deadly showdowns with Xenomorphs to consistent corporate greed, the Alien movies have recurring themes and motifs running through the franchise.

For new viewers of the Alien franchise, the release order is the right choice, as it was how the filmmakers intended the story to unfold. Watching it chronologically, starting with Prometheus, is a fun way to see things differently, but it only works for those who have already watched all the movies. For example, there are references and callbacks in Alien: Romulus that wouldn’t make sense for fans who never watched Aliens, which takes place later in the timeline. The release order shows us how the story unfolds, and the chronological order can be used to enrich that story afterward.

Prometheus

9/10

Release Date

June 8, 2012

Runtime

124 Minutes

Writers

Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof