The film Aliens is definitively set in the year 2179.
Released in 1986, James Cameron's Aliens serves as a direct sequel to the 1979 film Alien. While the film itself premiered in the 20th century, its narrative unfolds far into the future, specifically several decades after the events of the first movie.
Understanding the Timeline
To place Aliens within its broader cinematic universe, it's helpful to look at the established timeline of the Alien saga:
- Alien (1979): The original film, featuring Ellen Ripley's first encounter with the Xenomorph, takes place in the year 2122.
- Aliens (1986): This sequel picks up with Ripley after she has been in hypersleep for 57 years following the events of Alien. Given the first film's setting of 2122, this places the events of Aliens precisely in 2179 (2122 + 57 years = 2179).
- Alien: Romulus (2024): This film's narrative is positioned roughly 20 years after the events of Alien (around 2142) and approximately 37 years before Aliens (2179 - 37 years = 2142), further solidifying the 2179 setting for Aliens.
This progression highlights the vast temporal distances covered within the science fiction series, allowing for significant character development and changes in the universe between installments.
Key Dates in the Alien Universe
| Film Title | Release Year (Real World) | In-Universe Setting Year |
|---|---|---|
| Alien | 1979 | 2122 |
| Alien: Romulus | 2024 | ~2142 |
| Aliens | 1986 | 2179 |
| Alien 3 | 1992 | 2179 (directly after Aliens) |
| Alien Resurrection | 1997 | 2379 |
| Prometheus | 2012 | 2093 |
| Alien: Covenant | 2017 | 2104 |
The setting of Aliens in 2179 allows for Ripley's isolation and the advancement of Weyland-Yutani Corporation's colonization efforts, leading to the dramatic events on LV-426.
