The Xenomorph from the Alien film franchise is one of the coolest, most nefarious movie monsters ever hatched, with its acid blood, mouths-within-mouths, and diabolical claws. It pretty much single-handedly (and multi-teethily) invented the space horror genre and gave an entire generation a new boogeyman to fear. After we got the first Alien TV show with Alien: Earth, you may be wanting to do a full rewatch of the Alien franchise (including the Alien/Predator films, which are set on Earth).

But what's the correct order to watch them in? We've got you covered. Below you'll find full listings for the Alien movies, in both chronological order and by release date.

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

How Many Alien Movies Are There?

There are a total of nine movies and one TV series in the Alien franchise — four in the mainline series of films, two Predator crossovers, two prequels from Ridley Scott, and a standalone movie from Fede Álvarez. The newest addition, Alien: Earth, is currently airing its first season.

Alien Movies in Chronological Order

1. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

The story of the Xenomorphs begins, time-wise, in the first of the two crossover films for the franchise, AVP. Set in 2004, Alien vs. Predator, from Resident Evil/Event Horizon's Paul W. S. Anderson, brought to life a "battle of the titans" concept that first originated in a 1989 comic. In the film, humans discover that Predators (aka the "Yautja") have been coming to Earth for thousands of years. Old cults worshipping them would sacrifice themselves to a Xenomorph Queen's brood -- the facehuggers -- producing adult Xenomorphs, so the Predators could hunt the "ultimate prey." Sufficed to say, things go badly during the Predators' 2004 hunting trip.

2. Aliens vs Predator: Requiem (2007)

Still set in our modern times, and therefore still happening before everything else in the Alien franchise, crossover sequel Aliens vs Predator: Requiem picks up right where AVP left off. An Alien-Predator hybrid -- the "Predalien" -- is now on the loose in a small Colorado town. A skilled, veteran Predator arrives to help clean up the mess and an ample amount of carnage ensues. This would be the final crossover film of the Alien franchise. You can see our guide to the Predator movies in order for more info.

3. Prometheus (2012)

Oscar-winning director Ridley Scott returned to the franchise he created in 1979 with the star-studded prequel film, Prometheus. Here, in the late 21st Century, Peter Weyland (presumedly a descendant of AVP's Charles Weyland) funds a cosmic trip into the unknown, following a star map left on Earth that might lead the crew of the Prometheus to the beings who created humankind. Sadly, the crew also stumbles across these creators' bio-weapon -- the Xenomorph. Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Charlize Theron star.

Read our review of Prometheus.

4. Alien: Covenant (2017)

Still in prequel mode here, as Alien: Covenant is a sequel to Prometheus, the story picks up 11 years later and follows a colonization ship. The crew gets pulled out of stasis years early and heads to a different target planet, a possible "utopia," to track down a distress signal. The downed ship emitting the message, however, is connected to the previous movie and contains all sorts of sinister things -- ranging from Xenomorphs to androids. The film doesn't exactly take us up to the doorstep of 1979's Alien, as there's room for more story if deemed so, but it does get us close. Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, and a returning Michael Fassbender star.

Read our review of Alien: Covenent.

5. Alien: Earth (2025)

Alien: Earth premieres tonight, so this description is going to be light on plot details, but one thing we know for sure is how the series fits into the Alien timeline. Alien: Earth takes place just two years before the original Alien movie, in the year 2120. The series follows the survivors of the space vessel Maginot after crash-landing on none other than our very own Earth, where they come face to face with one of the universe's strongest threats.

Read our spoiler-free review of Alien: Earth Season 1

6. Alien (1979)

Space would never feel the same after Ridley Scott's landmark horror film, Alien, which featured the hardscrabble crew of a commercial space tug, the Nostromo, accidentally discovering a moon full of Xenomorph eggs. With no knowledge of what these creatures are or how they cocoon inside humans before bursting out and rapidly growing into killing machines, these underpaid workers -- played by Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, and hero-in-the-making Sigourney Weaver -- find themselves going toe-to-toe with a cosmic nightmare.

Aliens also made our list of one of the best Sci-Fi movies of all time.

7. Alien: Romulus (2024)

The newest Alien movie is a standalone film from Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead) that takes place about 20 years after the events of the first Alien. Rain Carradine (played by Cailee Spaeny) and her brother join a group of young space colonizers' efforts to escape a life of deadly labor on their incredibly isolated home planet. When an abandoned Weyland-Yutani vessel appears in the planet's atmosphere, the group believes their best chance at escape is using the ship's cryo pods. Of course, however, they soon discover the terrifying reason the vessel was abandoned in the first place. Alvarez takes plenty of inspiration from previous Alien movies for his addition to the franchise, as well as Alien video games and even The Last of Us.

Read our review of Alien: Romulus

8. Aliens (1986)

Terminator director James Cameron, before creating his own landmark sequel with T2: Judgment Day, gifted us with Aliens, taking the slow-boil brutality of the Ridley Scott original and ramping it up into a full-tilt masterpiece. Sigourney Weaver, returning as Ellen Ripley, would solidify herself as an action hero icon in this thrilling, endlessly-quotable film that would introduce the world to idea of space marines AND space marines getting their asses kicked, pal! Aliens would handily feature more than one Xenomorph (hence the plural title) as well as stars Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen (who would play Charles Weyland decades later in AVP) and Carrie Henn.

9. Alien 3 (1992)

An appreciation for Alien 3 eventually bubbled up over the past 30 years but at the time David Fincher's directorial debut (three years before Se7en) would be deemed thin, grim, and, essentially, disappointing regarding Ripley's story (despite it giving us one of the most iconic images from the franchise, seen above). Alien 3 picks up right where Aliens left off, as the Colonial Marine spaceship, the Sulaco, is destroyed from within by a Xenomorph and an escape pod carries Ripley to a planet housing a penal colony. There, she and the inmates must deal with a rampaging alien before it massacres them all.

10. Alien Resurrection (1997)

The final film in the Ripley Saga, Alien Resurrection, hurls us 200 years beyond the events of Aliens and Alien 3 and into the inner workings of a military project aboard the USM Auriga that uses Ellen Ripley clones (and kidnapped humans) to try and successfully breed Xenomorphs. The City of Lost Children and Amélie's Jean-Pierre Jeunet directs this bizarrely-horrific chapter with cartoonish flare, casting Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, J. E. Freeman, Brad Dourif, and Michael Wincott as the story's new space grunts. The film ends with a possible tease of Xenomorphs headed to Earth, though we'd never get that story as a follow up (only in crossover prequel form with AVP).

What's Next for the Alien Franchise?

Ridley Scott recently announced his departure from the franchise in an interview with Screenrant. After the success of last year's Alien: Romulus, there have been talks of a sequel, with director Fede Alvarez revealing that the new film could start shooting this year. An official release date has not been set, but it's a promising update from the latest Alien director.

Beyond the big screen, the first Alien TV series hit FX and Hulu earlier this year with a second season already on the way. While Alien: Earth, is another prequel to the original Alien films, showrunner Noah Hawley isn't too attached to the backstory reveals from Prometheus.

Otherwise, Alien references made their way into Predator: Badlands, potentially hitting at more crossovers in the future.

More Alien Deep Dives

• Every Xenomorph (and Alien) from the Alien Movies
• The Terrifying (and Sometimes Terrible) History of Alien Games
• Every Alien Blu-ray Set and Special Edition

2026 is here, so let's look at what Hollywood's got in store for us over the next 12 months, ranging from horror and sci-fi to superheroes and fantasy to whatever Disney and Pixar have planned. The name of the game these days? Sequels. Or prequels. Or remakes. Or basically anything embedded in a franchise or based on an IP. There are only like two or three standalone original films tucked away among the 50 plus movies here, so let's get to it!

The MCU is ready to go supermassive with both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday while the DCU is landing a bit softer (but still awesomely) with Supergirl and Clayface. Pixar has Hoppers in the chamber but its big shot is Toy Story 5, while Disney rolls the dice with Hexed (while still having a surefire hit with the live-action Moana).

Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Sam Raimi, and M. Night Shyamalan all have new flicks this year, while the horror landscape screams loudly with Primate, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Evil Dead Burn, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil, and Robert Eggers' Werwulf. Animated fare includes The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Coyote vs. Acme (finally!), Minions 3, The Cat in the Hat, and the aforementioned Hexed and Hoppers.

Check out the movies we can't wait to catch in 2026!

January

Greenland 2: Migration

Release Date: January 9, 2026

The Greenland gang is back, baby! Well, most of them, anyhow, as Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin return to the bleak, ruined Earth -- which suffered global catastrophes in the first movie -- to trek across Europe five years later in search of a new safe haven for their family. The cast of Greenland 2: Migration includes Amber Rose Revah (The Punisher), William Abadie (Emily in Paris), and Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), who now plays their son Nathan.

Primate

Release Date: January 9, 2026

A family's adopted chimpanzee suddenly becomes violent due to being bitten by a rabid animal in Primate, a murderous monkey (okay, ape) movie that was all the rage at 2025's Fantastic Fest. So get ready for the most bananas movie since 1990's Shakma.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Release Date: January 16, 2026

Filmed back-to-back with 28 Years Later, but directed by Nia DaCosta in place of Danny Boyle, The Bone Temple will continue the story of Ralph Fiennes's Dr. Kelson while also diving into the big Jack O'Connell "Jimmy" cliffhanger, featuring Spike (Alfie Williams) meeting the cult leader and his blonde, track-suited, karate squad. If you didn't see 28 Years Later then that part probably sounded very weird. Anyhow, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is back too, as well as (finally!) Cillian Murphy's Jim.

Mercy

Release Date: January 23, 2026

Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson star in Mercy, a dystopian thriller about a detective who has 90 minutes to prove to an AI judge that he's innocent of murdering his wife. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov of Night Watch, Wanted, and, um... also that Ice Cube War of the Worlds movie fame.

Return to Silent Hill

Release Date: January 23, 2026

Writer/director Christophe Gans (Brotherhood of the Wolf, Silent Hill) is back to helm Return to Silent Hill, based on Konami's Silent Hill 2. Jeremy Irvine plays protagonist James Sunderland while Evie Templeton, who played Laura in the Silent Hill 2 game remake, reprises that role. Do you dare return to the psychological torment of this small town nightmare?

Send Help

Release Date: January 30, 2026

After dipping his toe in the MCU with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, director Sam Raimi is back in the small-scale scares business with Send Help, about a mocked and abused office worker who turns the table on her d-bag boss when they wind up stranded on a deserted island. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, and written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon (of Freddy vs. Jason and 2009's Friday the 13th fame).

February

Cold Storage

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Liam Neeson, Stranger Things' Joe Keery, and Barbarian's Georgina Campbell star in Cold Storage, about two employees at a self-storage facility, built atop a former military base, who must deal with a spreading government-sealed parasitic fungus. Written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Black Bag).

Crime 101

Release Date: February 13, 2026

With an ensemble featuring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry, Crime 101 tells the tale of an elusive jewel thief known as "Davis" (Hemsworth) who follows a strict code of conduct (the titular Crime 101). Based on a Don Winslow novella, the film is written and directed by Bart Layton.

Wuthering Heights

Release Date: February 13, 2026

The latest adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, which arrives just in time for Valentine's Day, stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as tragic couple Catherine and Heathcliff. Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) puts her own personal spin on this classic gothic drama, with original songs coming in hot from Charli XCX.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Gore Verbinski (The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) directs Sam Rockwell in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (review), about a man from the future who recruits patrons at a Los Angeles diner to help combat a rogue artificial intelligence. Also starring Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple, and Haley Lu Richardson.

Psycho Killer

Release Date: February 20, 2026

Se7en's Andrew Kevin Walker pens a new serial killer thriller, Psycho Killer, about a highway patrol officer who's determined to track down a sadistic murderer after her husband is taken from her. Barbarian's Georgina Campbell stars, alongside Logan Miller and Malcolm McDowell.

Scream 7

Release Date: February 27, 2026

Scream 7, written (and directed!) by original series scribe Kevin Williamson, enters the franchise amidst some controversy following the firing of star Melissa Barrera and the loss of co-star Jenna Ortega. With the Carpenter sisters gone, the franchise returns once more to Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott as she faces down a new "But I'm different from the rest" Ghostface(s?). Dead characters are also back in the form of David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley -- perhaps getting the Force ghost treatment that Skeet Ulrich got in the last two movies. Unless...

March

The Bride!

Release Date: March 6, 2026

Set in 1930s Chicago, Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! follows Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale) as he has a companion created for him in the person of Men's Jessie Buckley. Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penélope Cruz also star in this Bonnie and Clyde-esque take on The Bride of Frankenstein.

Hoppers

Release Date: March 6, 2026

One of Pixar's 2026 offerings -- a few months ahead of Toy Story 5 -- comes from We Bare Bears' Daniel Chong. Hoppers follows a teenager, Mabel (Piper Curda), who uses new technology to embody a robotic beaver and thwart a construction company's plot to destroy the local animal habitat. Other voices include Jon Hamm, Demetri Martin, and SNL alums Bobby Moynihan and Melissa Villaseñor.

Project Hail Mary

Release Date: March 20, 2026

From Cloverfield and Cabin in the Woods' Drew Goddard and directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) comes the story of a teacher-turned-astronaut sent to deep space in order to solve a catastrophic solar event. Ryan Gosling stars in Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi adventure based on Andy Weir's 2021 best-seller. Sandra Hüller, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, and The Bear's Lionel Boyce also star.

April

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Release Date: April 3, 2026

The follow-up to 2023's billion-dollar hit, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie brings Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key back for a new cosmic adventure based on 2007's Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii (and possibly other Mario properties as well). Newcomers include Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. and Brie Larson as Rosalina.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Release Date: April 10, 2026

Radio Silence's directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (with EP Chad Villella) have returned to the horror romp that put them on the map (and got them the Scream 5 and 6 gigs) with Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Samara Weaving is also back as Grace, now joined by Sarah Michelle Gellar as well as Abigail's Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand. Add to that The Faculty's Shawn Hatosy and Elijah Wood, and director David Cronenberg, and you’re on track for a splattery good time.

The Mummy

Release Date: April 17, 2026

Ahead of The Mummy 4, which will bring back franchise stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Blumhouse and James Wan's latest Universal Monster update (even though this is for New Line) is Lee Cronin's The Mummy, as the Evil Dead Rise director looks to untomb some sinister scares with this classic cursed character. Midsommar's Jack Reynor, Moon Knight's May Calamawy, and The Wheel of Time's Laia Costa star.

Michael

Release Date: April 24, 2026

Antoine Fuqua's much-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic moonwalks into theaters ahead of the summer movie season, with the "King of Pop" being portrayed by Jackson's real nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), Michael also features Colman Domingo as Michael's abusive father Joe, Nia Long as Michael's mother, and Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca.

May

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt are back, 20 years later, for The Devil Wears Prada 2 -- based on the novel Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger. This time they're joined by Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, Sydney Sweeney, and Lady Gaga.

Mortal Kombat II

Release Date: May 8, 2026

Originally slated for October of 2025, Mortal Kombat II, featuring The Boys and Star Trek's Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, will flawlessly land on May 8. Cage will join the fight against the rule of Shao Kahn, whose rise threatens the survival of Earthrealm and its defenders. Other new characters include Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Ana Thu Nguyen as Sindel, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Release Date: May 22, 2026

The first Star Wars film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker will bring Jon Favreau's Mandalorian to the big screen, but will what worked so well on Disney+ strike box-office gold? And was the seven-year pause better for the brand? Written by Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm chief creative office Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian and Grogu tracks Din Djarin and "Baby Yoda" taking on "legit" contract work for the New Republic. And let's not forget Sigourney Weaver joining the cast, as well as Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta.

June

Animal Friends

Release Date: June 5, 2026

Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn, and Aubrey Plaza star in this live-action/animation tale about two on-the-run animals (who sure look to be a horse and a bear) being pursued while on an adventure across America.

Masters of the Universe

Release Date: June 5, 2026

At long last, a new live-action He-Man movie. Masters of the Universe follows Nicholas Galitzine's Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia, after two decades away, to wield the Power Sword of Grayskull and battle Jared Leto's Skeletor. Alison Brie will play Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba is Man-At-Arms, Camila Mendes is Teela, and Morena Baccarin is the Sorceress. Will this new version have THE POWER that the '80s iteration lacked?

Disclosure Day

Release Date: June 12, 2026

Icon Steven Spielberg returns to extraterrestrial territory with Disclosure Day. Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell fill out the cast of this UFO thriller. Frequent collaborator David Koepp wrote the script while the legendary John Williams scores.

Scary Movie 6

Release Date: June 12, 2026

It'll have been 13 years since a Scary Movie last made us bust a gut, but now the Wayans brothers have a full decade of horror flicks to lampoon in Scary Movie 6 -- like Heretic, Nope, Get Out, Longlegs, and more. Anna Faris and Regina Hall are even back, reprising their roles from the first four films.

Toy Story 5

Release Date: June 19, 2026

Will post-Toy Story 3 Toy Story movies continue to be diminishing returns or have they finally cracked the code to continuing this franchise? Either way a billion-dollar haul is all but guaranteed as Pixar's Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E) takes the reins here, bringing us back into the world of Bonnie, now eight years old, and her obsession with a new toy -- a frog-like tablet named Lilypad (Anna Faris). Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack are all back for Toy Story 5, as well as Tony Hale's Forky.

Supergirl

Release Date: June 26, 2026

July

Minions 3

Release Date: July 1, 2026

After four Despicable Me films and two Minion spinoffs, it's time for Minions 3! And we don't know a damn thing about it except that it was bumped up from its original 2027 release date and that Pierre Coffin will continue to voice those little yellow rascals. No plot yet. No cast yet. Hold firm, everybody.

Moana

Release Date: July 10, 2026

Just a year after Moana 2, we're getting the live-action Moana remake starring Dwayne Johnson as the role he voices in the animated films, Maui. Catherine Laga'aia portrays Moana in a retelling that is sure to rake in a ton of cash (the live-action Lilo & Stitch is the top-grossing American movie of 2025, globally, as of this writing).

The Odyssey

Release Date: July 17, 2026

Christopher Nolan one of the few directors nowadays that can put butts in seats just on his name alone. But how will The Odyssey fare on its own? Unpaired with a tonally opposite film like Barbie? Maybe it should have shared theaters with Moana to create a new "Moadyssey" phenomenon. Regardless, the cast is stacked, with Nolan players Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Elliot Page anchoring newcomers to the director's realm like Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and more. Oh, and the source material is pretty solid too.

Evil Dead Burn

Release Date: July 24, 2026

The Deadites are back to swallow our souls in Evil Dead Burn, from director Sébastien Vaniček. Introducing a French protagonist (Souheila Yacoub) who faces a new, brutal supernatural threat, the main plot of the film is still under wraps. Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Rob Tapert continue to produce, like they've done with all Evil Dead incarnations.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Release Date: July 31, 2026

At one point, briefly, Avengers: Doomsday was releasing before Spider-Man 4, but now things got flipped (and thwipped?). Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton takes over the Spidey saga from Jon Watts as the film (as indicated by the Brand New Day title and how it relates to the comics) deals with Peter Parker's life post-Peter Parker erasure. Jon Bernthal's Punisher joins the mix, as well as actress Sadie Sink, who some fans think is playing Punisher protégé Rachel Cole-Alves. Plus, Mark Ruffalo is back as Hulk, Michael Mando returns as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, and Marvin Jones III will be Tombstone. Oh, and Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are back as MJ and Ned, of course.

August

Untitled Insidious 6

Release Date: August 21, 2026

The sixth Insidious movie -- not counting the spinoff, Jeremy Slater's Thread: An Insidious Tale with Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani, which doesn't have a release date yet -- is poised to pop in August of 2026. It stars Nope's Brandon Perea, Legends of Tomorrow's Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Insidious franchise powerhouse Lin Shaye.

Coyote vs. Acme

Release Date: August 28, 2026

The live-action/animation hybrid caper that became ground zero in the debate over the nefarious streaming landscape and the contempt for artists and performers in the eyes of greedy CEOs -- after the unceremonious disposal of Batgirl had lit the flame -- will finally have its day in theaters. With a story by Samy Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, Coyote vs. Acme follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation for repeatedly selling him alleged faulty products. John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, P. J. Byrne, Tone Bell, and Martha Kelly represent the human cast while the full breadth of Looney Tunes characters fills out the rest.

September

Clayface

Release Date: September 11, 2026

A slight detour in the DCU is happening because -- well -- The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan had an idea for a standalone movie and wrote a Clayface script heavily influenced by the character's portrayal in the Batman: The Animated Series two-part episode "Feat of Clay." Now, Clayface does exist in the DCU already, as he was voiced by Alan Tudyk in Creature Commandos, which not only is canon but is part of James Gunn's experiment of "mostly" casting the same actors in both animated and live-action forms. And we saw Frank Grillo already make that leap as Rick Flag Sr. in Peacemaker: Season 2. (Tom Rhys Harries will play Clayface in the movie though.) Of course, this kind of breaks Gunn's crossover rule (because he did say "mostly") but we also could be dealing with multiple Clayfaces (aka "the Mudpack"). Tudyk also played silly Clayface on the Harley Quinn series, but yeah, that's not the version we're dealing with now. James Watkins (Eden Lake, Speak No Evil) directs.

Resident Evil

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Though he terrified us with both Barbarian and Weapons, writer/director (and sketch comedian) Zach Cregger is a video game addict at heart, loving the Resident Evil series so much that he basically has free reign with this version of it. His take on the storied series comes out in September and stars Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis. Sure, there are already seven Paul W. S. Anderson Resident Evil movies, and in the last four years there was another movie -- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City -- AND a Netflix series. But given Cregger's track record, THIS reboot is the one we really want to see.

Practical Magic 2

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Though the original Practical Magic was a dud at the box office, and mostly maligned by critics, it's grown as a Halloween season cult classic over the last couple of decades. Enough so that a full sequel is coming, complete with Owens sisters Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and their aunts Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. It looks like Joey King is playing the older Kylie Owens (instead of Evan Rachel Wood, who said they never asked her to come back) while GoT's Maisie Williams will play Alexandra. Lee Pace and Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña also star in Practical Magic 2.

October

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

Release Date: October 9, 2026

Taking place years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and before The Legend of Korra, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will follow the series' main characters -- Aang, Toph, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko (now voiced by Steven Yeun) -- in their young adult years. Dave Bautista will voice the movie's big bad.

The Social Reckoning

Release Date: October 9, 2026

Most films on this list are sequels, or part of a larger franchise, but let it be known than even lauded Oscar-winning movies aren't immune to the errant follow up. Enter... The Social Reckoning, a sequel to David Fincher’s The Social Network, this time written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (who wrote the first film). Succession’s Jeremy Strong takes over the Mark Zuckerberg role, leading an ensemble featuring Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, Portia Doubleday and more. The story is based on the 2021 Facebook leak by whistleblower Frances Haugen where we learned that the social media giant was aware of harmful societal effects from its platforms, yet did nothing.

Street Fighter

Release Date: October 16, 2026

The third live-action Street Fighter movie (if anyone remembers Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) has a fun, stacked cast -- with Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, Noah Centineo, WWE stars Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes (as Akuma and Guile, respectively), and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison. Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.

Remain

Release Date: October 23, 2026

M. Night Shyamalan's latest will hit right in time for Halloween, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as a New York architect who heads to Cape Cod to design a summer home for his best friend, seeking a fresh start after being treated for acute depression. Still mourning his sister's death, he meets Wren (Phoebe Dynevor), a young woman who disrupts his carefully ordered world. Remain is based on an idea Shyamalan conceived with author Nicholas Sparks, who separately wrote the novel version of the same story.

November

The Cat in the Hat

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Bill Hader voices the title character, the classic Dr. Seuss scamp, as he takes on his toughest assignment yet: to cheer up Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town. Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang, Matt Berry, and Quinta Brunson also star in this new take on The Cat in the Hat.

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

Release Date: November 13, 2026

What's director Ti West up to after thrilling us with his X-Pearl-MaXXXine hat trick? Why, he's diving into Dickens and giving Johnny Depp his first major American studio starring role since 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Depp will play Scrooge, joined by Sir Ian McKellen, Andrea Riseborough, and Severance’s Tramell Tillman (as the Ghost of Christmas Present).

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Release Date: November 20, 2026

Director Francis Lawrence returns to the Hunger Games-verse (after taking a brief dystopian break with The Long Walk) to adapt Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, Sunrise on the Reaping. This time we learn all about young Haymitch Abernathy's time, and victory, in the the 50th Hunger Games -- the Second Quarter Quell -- which requires double the number of tributes from each district. Joseph Zada plays 16-year-old Haymitch, joined by Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and The Long Walk's Ben Wang. Ralph Fiennes is on hand as a middle-age President Coriolanus Snow while Jesse Plemons plays a young Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning portrays a young Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin embodies a youthful Caesar Flickerman.

Focker In-Law

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Ben Stiller is more of a behind-the-camera guy these days, what with his acclaimed miniseries Escape at Dannemora and Apple TV's Severance, but the comedy legend is returning to one of his biggest focking franchises with the fourth Focker flick, Focker In-Law. Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo are all back for this new comedy of errors, while adding Superman's Skyler Gisondo as son Henry. Ariana Grande, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco also star.

Hexed

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Disney's animated entry this year is Hexed, following a teenage oddball and his mom who discover that his "weirdness" is actually hidden magic, transporting them to a world where magic can run free. The cast is unknown at this time but the directors are Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand (Moana 2).

December

Violent Night 2

Release Date: December 4, 2026

David Harbour reprises his role as a rough and tumble, take no shit Santa Claus, this time stranded in a New Jersey mall and cut off from the North Pole while facing down a local crime lord and his goons. Violent Night 2 also stars Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, The Suicide Squad's Daniela Melchior, and AEW's MJF, with Kristen Bell onboard as Mrs. Claus.

Untitled Jumanji Sequel

Release Date: December 11, 2026

The next Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart Jumanji movie -- from a series which has traditionally cleaned up during the holidays -- is slated for December. We don't know anything about this fifth Jumanji chapter (or fourth, if you're just counting the Rock timeline, or third if you don't include Zathura!) except that Johnson, Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all back. AND that it's the final Jumanji film from this quartet.

Avengers: Doomsday

Release Date: December 18, 2026

With the MCU's Kang pivot, Disney backed up a huge truck o' cash and got both Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers back for an Avengers movie that was once supposed to be called The Kang Dynasty and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Instead, it's now about our assembled heroes trying to save the world (and the multiverse) from Doctor Doom (who we assume has kidnapped baby Franklin Richards and is using the tot's Power Cosmic to rewrite reality). The cast here is too big to list so just know that everyone's coming back. Everyone. Even the Fox franchise X-Men. Even people that weren't listed on those director's chairs.

Dune: Part Three

Release Date: December 18, 2026

Denis Villeneuve will tackle Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah, essentially ending the director's Dune trilogy. Dune: Part Three will bring in Anya Taylor-Joy fully as Paul's sister, Alia Atreides, as well as introduce Paul's twin children, Leto II and Ghanima. Robert Pattinson is also in the fray now as the villain Scytale. Side note: It's crazy that Avengers and Dune are opening the same day.

Werwulf

Release Date: December 25, 2026

Director Robert Eggers is following up his Nosferatu remake with another creature feature, bringing back Nosferatu players Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson for a werewolf film, Werwulf. Unlike Nosferatu though, this is not a re-telling of a classic movie but instead a story set in 13th century England (and with all dialogue in Middle English), as a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside full of terrifed villagers. Eggers has said of the script that it's the darkst story he's written so far, so... Merry Christmas, y'all!

Streaming Original Movies

Streamers can be pretty coy with announcing their original content but here's what we know, right now, is coming in 2026.

The Rip

Release Date: January 16 (Netflix)

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck star opposite each other (in their twelfth film together!) in Joe Carnahan's (Smokin' Aces, Copshop) The Rip, about Miami cops who discover a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust and betrayal.

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew

Release Date: Nov. 26 (Netflix)

Writer/director Greta Gerwig's post-Barbie offering is Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which will get a brief theatrical release prior to streaming. Based on the sixth book in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (and a prequel to the other five books), the film stars Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, and Denise Gough.

11817

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this sci-fi horror film about a family who become inexplicably trapped inside their home and must work together to survive and figure out what is keeping them confined.

Enola Holmes 3

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown is back as Sherlock Holmes' younger sister in a third adventure. Co-starring Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Helena Bonham Carter and Henry Cavill (as Sherlock).

Animals

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Ben Affleck directs and stars in Animals, a kidnapping thriller which also features Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher.

The Whisper Man

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Robert De Niro stars in this crime thriller about a widowed father who, after his own son is abducted, enlists the help of his estranged father, a retired detective, to get him back. Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, and Owen Teague also star.

The Dink

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

Ben Stiller and Jake Johnson star in this new comedy about an aging tennis pro who must play pickleball to save a local club.

Being Heumann

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

This biography of disability rights activist Judith Heumann stars Rith Madeley, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O'Brien, Rob Delaney, and Ray Fisher.

Outcome

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

This dark comedy, directed by Jonah Hill, stars Keanu Reeves as a blackmailed actor who tries to make amends with those who he has wronged in the past in order to figure out who the blackmailer is. Hill, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, David Spade, and Laverne Cox also star.

That's all the biggest stuff coming in 2026. But what are you most looking forward to? Vote in our poll above, and let's talk in the comments!

You'd think it would be enough for filmmaker James Wan to have two hugely successful horror franchises under his belt with Saw and Insidious (both co-created with writing partner Leigh Whannell). But then he also went and created The Conjuring, which, since its debut in 2013, has produced nine films in total and grossed over $2 billion at the box office.

Starting as a 1970s ghost series, based on the real life investigations of married paranormal snoops Lorraine and Ed Warren, The Conjuring Universe has sprawled into a franchise that not only keeps track of the Warrens' demon-busting adventures, but also delves further into the haunted backstories of these cases with prequel installments set decades before the Warrens show up. Now that the fourth and final Conjuring movie has hit streaming, you might want to revisit the full timeline of The Conjuring-verse.

So are you looking to watch these Conjuring films as they were released - or do you want to absorb all the spookiness via chronological binge, kicking things off in 1950s Romania with The Nun? Whatever the case, you'll find both lists below.

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch in release order

How Many The Conjuring Movies Are There?

There are 10 total movies set within The Conjuring universe — four Conjuring movies, three Annabelle movies, The Nun and The Nun 2, and The Curse of La Llorona. The fourth Conjuring movie, titled Last Rites, is now available in theaters. If you're planning on marathoning all of these movies, you can currently stream most of them on HBO Max.

The Conjuring Movies in Chronological Order

1. The Nun (2018)

Prequel frightfest The Nun takes place in 1952 Romania, and stars Demián Bichir and Taissa Farmiga (sister of franchise star Vera Farmiga) as a Roman Catholic priest and a nun uncovering an unholy secret involving Bonnie Aaron's evil Nun from The Conjuring 2.

Read our review of The Nun.

2. Annabelle: Creation (2017)

Taking place after The Nun, in 1955 California, Annabelle Creation was the fourth installment in the Conjuring Universe, but the second chronologically, depicting the origin of franchise breakout star -- Annabelle, the creep haunted dolll. It's the story of a story of a doll-maker who opens his home to six orphans and a nun, only to have an ancient evil released in his own house.

Read our review of Annabelle: Creation.

3. The Nun 2 (2023)

Although The Nun 2 takes place after the events of The Nun, it's actually the third movie in the timeline. The events of The Nun 2 take place in 1956, taking place four years after Sister Irene's first encounter with Valak and one year after the events of Annabelle: Creation.

Read our review of The Nun 2.

4. Annabelle (2014)

The second film made in the Conjuring Universe, even before The Conjuring 2, was prequel Annabelle, taking place in 1967 in Southern California, 12 years after the official origin of the doll. Annabelle tells the story of a young doctor and his wife who bring the doll into their home (to reside amongst other scary-looking dolls) only to have it make their life a living hell.

Read our review of Annabelle.

5. The Conjuring (2013)

The movie that started it all, The Conjuring, starred Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as real-life paranormal investigators/ghost hunters Lorraine and Ed Warren (whose exploits reportedly inspired The Amityville Horror), as they aid the besieged Perron family in 1971, on Rhode Island. Series creator James Wan directed this first outing, marking the third official blockbuster horror franchise he'd created.

Read our review of The Conjuring.

6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019)

Next up is Annabelle Comes Home. Taking place only one year later in the story, in 1972, the Warrens' young daughter, Judy (McKenna Grace), must contend with Annabelle and other demons who escape the Warrens’ artifact room while the couple is away. Conjuring Universe (and It: Chapter One and Two) writer Gary Dauberman makes his directorial debut here.

Read our review of Annabelle Comes Home.

7. The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Based on the Latin American folklore of La Llorona, this Conjuring Universe spinoff follows a mother in 1973 Los Angeles who must save her children from a malevolent spirit trying to steal them. Starring Linda Cardellini and Raymond Cruz, The Curse of La Llorona is the most detached and removed tale from the franchise's ongoing story, only featuring Tony Amendola's Father Perez from Annabelle as a connecting character.

Read our review of The Curse of La Llorona.

8. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Based on the events of the Enfield Poltergeist in England, The Conjuring 2 brings back Lorraine and Ed Warren, now notrious from the Amityville case, as they help a family being haunted by a malevolent spirit in 1977. Whereas the first Conjuring movie brought about the Annabelle films, this one originally introduced The Nun, who would go on to receive her own prequel. James Wan also returned to direct.

Read our review of The Conjuring 2.

9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)

The actual eighth film made in the franchise is also the next film you should watch if you're doing a chronological binge. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do brings us into the '80s with a ghoulish tale based on the real life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who claimed "demonic possession" after murdering his landlord. Lorraine and Ed Warren are drawn into the case after they'd apparently exorcised a demon out of a young boy's body... accidentally causing it to flee into Arne.

Read our review of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

The final film on the The Conjuring timeline is now in theaters and is off to a tremendous start at the box office. The Conjuring: Last Rites is the fourth mainline film in the series and is being billed as the final movie in the franchise. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators taking on their most dangerous case yet. Like other films in the series, Last Rites is based on the true story of the Smurl hauntings, a series of paranormal occurences at a Pennsylvania home in the 70s and 80s.

Read our review of The Conjuring: Last Rites and check out our The Conjuring: Last Rites ending and post-credits explained.

Future of The Conjuring Movies

The Conjuring: Last Rites has officially arrived on digital and streaming. The movie had the second biggest opening weekend for any horror movie at the global box office, behind only 2017's It, and already has a 4K steelbook release. Franchise veteran Michael Chaves returns as director for the finale, and IGN recently got the chance to speak with him about the end (and future) of The Conjuring franchise. We now know that includes a new prequel about the early investigative work of the Warrens.

In 2023, a TV series set in The Conjuring universe was greenlit for HBO Max, though little has been revealed about who will be involved or how the series will fit into the franchise's timeline. We do know the series is moving forward, as it recently brought on supernatural writer Nancy Won as showrunner. Otherwise, a sequel to The Curse of La Llorona has supposedly entered production, a sign of how the franchise will grow from here.

Matt Fowler is a freelance entertainment writer/critic, covering TV news, reviews, interviews and features on IGN for 13+ years.