As of last week, “Alien: Romulus” has become the third-highest-rated Alien film (75%), currently surpassed only by the first two classics. One of the most successful sci-fi horror series of all time returns to its roots, back to the space station of the first Alien movies, where this time a group of runaway teenagers tries to escape death—and, of course, in space, no one can hear them scream. Here are the most important installments of the franchise…
Alien (1979)
Director Ridley Scott’s original film is not only one of the best “Alien” movies but also one of the best sci-fi films, creating an unmistakable atmosphere of dread almost nonstop. The movie is based on a story by O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett and follows the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo, who, after discovering a mysterious, abandoned spaceship on an uncharted planet, come face to face with a deadly and aggressive alien. Even decades after the Oscar-winning visual effects were created, the sight of the alien bursting out of John Hurt’s chest remains terrifying and chilling. The film was a huge box office success at the time, grossing $108 million—equivalent to about $800 million in 2024.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron takes Ripley into the world of action films, where she awakens after 50 years of hypersleep and returns to LV-426, where her crew first encountered alien life. Ripley forms a super team that tries to fight off the extraterrestrial enemies. Today, the film is widely regarded as one of the best works of the ’80s, and it has influenced an entire generation—not just in the action and sci-fi genres, but in pop culture as a whole. Sigourney Weaver becomes a feminist icon and a (surrogate) mother figure here!
Prometheus (2012)
The film was highly anticipated, and though it was divisive among fans, we still consider this prequel one of the best in the series. It gradually revealed its connection to the franchise in a story where human archaeologists try to uncover the link between humanity and an ancient race. “Prometheus” is much more thought-provoking than action-packed—though there’s plenty of horror, including Noomi Rapace’s horrifying cesarean scene.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
This installment combines the world of Prometheus with the chaotic terror of the earlier films. The spaceship carrying the future of the human race makes an unfortunate stop on a paradise-like planet, and all hell breaks loose when some crew members become infected with the alien parasite. Michael Fassbender is outstanding in the roles of the android David and the new model, Walter. A sequel to Covenant was once planned, which would have centered on Michael Fassbender’s character, David, but those plans were eventually scrapped.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Fede Alvarez, the brilliant director of “Don’t Breathe,” focuses on the human characters before placing them in the worst-case scenario. Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) and her friends are just looking for a better life when they accidentally stumble upon a rundown space station, which soon turns into a house of horrors. “Romulus” blends what worked in the first two films of the franchise—the action and the sense of isolation—while adding an intriguing new element to the mythos.