At long last, Alien: Romulus has landed. Judging by the online buzz, Fede Álvarez’s prequel/sequel has split the fandom, with some criticizing its return to basics and others celebrating it for that very reason. Personally, I loved it, flaws and all. So, where does it rank among the other Alien movies in the franchise?
Read on to find out — ranked from worst to best!
9) Alien vs. Predator (2004)
There’s nothing particularly wrong with Paul W.S. Anderson’s Alien vs. Predator, but there’s nothing particularly memorable about it either. As a glorified piece of fan fiction, this monster mash team-up gets the job done with efficiency and style and even establishes some interesting lore for the legendary extraterrestrials. Extra points for having the balls to utilize James Cameron’s Alien Queen, even though it is last on our list of Alien movies.
8) Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Shamelessly morbid and dark — literally and figuratively — The Brothers Strause’s very R-rated follow-up to Anderson’s bland AvP is a trashy but occasionally fun slasher that makes the most of its iconic creatures, particularly the Predator. On the other hand, the cast includes a handful of forgettable TV actors who fail to leave a mark. Still, AvP: R delivers a few slick set pieces and goes all in on the sadism, killing kids and pregnant women before nuking a town full of civilians.
7) Alien 3 (1992)
David Fincher’s wildly divisive Alien 3 delivers as a standalone thriller and gets credit for taking a buzzsaw to audience expectations. This might be the most depressing summer release of all time. Killing off Newt and Hicks is a ballsy movie but also an incredibly mean-spirited slap in the face to fans of James Cameron’s Aliens.
That said, Sigourney Weaver gives another powerful performance as Ellen Ripley, here existing more as a tired shadow of her former self after too many encounters with the Xenomorph. Charles S. Dutton and Charles Dance stand out among an otherwise forgettable cast. Also, from a production standpoint, Alien 3 sizzles, thanks to Alex Thompson’s crips cinematography, Fincher’s assured direction, and Elliot Goldenthal’s haunting score.
Alas, as a devoted fan of Aliens, I remain deeply frustrated by 20th Century Fox’s careless treatment of the franchise. If their goal was to alienate the core audience, Alien 3 succeeded spectacularly.
6) Alien Resurrection (1997)
I might get a lot of flack for placing Resurrection so high on the list. Yet, on my most recent viewing, I really dug Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s much-maligned sequel and appreciated its swing-for-the-fences approach to the material. As an Alien chapter, it lacks the sophistication of previous efforts, relying more on rip-roaring action and chest-bursting gore than intelligent ideas and/or character development.
Still, Resurrection delights as a cheesy B-monster movie packed with stunning sets, fun characters, wild set pieces, and a few franchise-altering story beats. Sigourney Weaver clearly enjoys adding new wrinkles to Ripley, while Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, and Brad Dourif add just the right amount of camp in effective supporting roles. The Xenos also look great, particularly the Alien Queen.
Overall, Resurrection offers fans a fun, often exciting 109 minutes to chew on. At least it’s more fun than Alien 3.
5) Alien: Covenant (2017)
Ridley Scott continues his Prometheus saga with Alien: Covenant, a fascinating chapter filled with ideas that never entirely come together. Like Prometheus, Covenant raises too many questions it’s unprepared to answer, culminating in a messy second half that tries desperately to merge Scott’s ambitious designs with the slasher-aesthetic audiences crave from the franchise.
Even so, Covenant stands out from most empty-headed summer blockbusters and aims a little higher rather than lean on formula. Visually, it’s downright glorious, thanks to Dariusz Wolski’s stunning photography and Scott’s artistic eye. Michael Fassbender remains the de facto MVP of the Prometheus franchise, here portraying two androids with entirely different personalities. David makes for a compelling villain; his machinations may be sadistic, but we understand the why behind his murderous desires.
Alien: Covenant steers the franchise beyond its limitations, even if it tends to illuminate mysteries that would have been better left unexplored, which is why it lands in the middle of our list of Alien movies ranked.
4) Prometheus (2012)
Following the AvP films, it was a miracle that Ridley Scott returned to his beloved Alien franchise. Wisely, instead of delivering a retread of his original picture, the iconic director introduces a wealth of ideas designed to push the saga into uncharted territory. Prometheus aims for the stars but is ultimately undone by a sloppy script, weak characters, and far too many head-scratching plot contrivances.
Prometheus, starring Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron, and Idris Elba, follows a team of space explorers on a mission to contact extraterrestrial life. Their journey leads them to the “Engineers,” an ancient race credited with creating life on Earth. However, the team soon discovers that the Engineers are now intent on eradicating their creation, using a lethal bioweapon that harbors the key elements needed to spawn the infamous Xenomorph.
Scott presents these ideas via superbly designed visuals and hits more than a few high notes. While Prometheus is far from perfect, it remains tense, exciting, and always intriguing. You can’t fault Scott for his ambition, even if he shrinks from the more significant ideas that would have made this prequel truly memorable.
3) Alien: Romulus (2024)
After years of wading through Ridley Scott’s overly complicated and increasingly frustrating David adventures, Alien: Romulus feels like a breath of fresh air. Directed with flair by Fede Álvarez, the sequel/prequel often feels like little more than a glorified fan film with several eye-rolling callbacks to previous chapters. And yet, I found myself swept away in Romulus’ astonishing production design, macabre body horror, and simplistic but compelling storyline.
Cailee Spaeny stars as Rain, a young woman attempting to flee Jackson’s Star Space Colony’s dark, depressing, rugged, rain-soaked terrains for a brighter future on another planet. Teaming up with a group of friends, Cailee and her adopted synthetic brother Andy (David Jonsson), head to an abandoned space station to look for supplies and stumble upon the deadly Xenomorph. With the station on life support, Cailee’s crew must brave the nightmare standing between them and paradise.
As many others have stated, Romulus plays the hits and never deviates too far from its comfort zone. Álvarez clearly adores this universe and ensures every flashing light or meticulously lit corridor matches Scott’s (and, to a greater extent, the video game Alien: Isolation) beat for beat. Romulus feels like the summation of every Alien movie, but in a good way, right down to the batshit crazy finale that has left fans divided.
I’ve read several reviews balking at the nostalgia porn and overreliance on familiarity. Aside from a few overtly familiar beats, including a neat but utterly unnecessary cameo, Romulus did a fine job course-correcting the franchise without diminishing anything that came before, specifically Prometheus and Covenant. If anything, those films feel more relevant than ever, especially if Álvarez can continue the adventures of Rain and Andy — something I would welcome wholeheartedly.
Alien is a tricky franchise for any filmmaker. Deviate too far from the formula, and you alienate fans; hew too closely to the formula, and you alienate fans. It’s a no-win situation. Romulus may not part the Heavens in the same way as Alien or Aliens, but Álvarez’s dedication to the lore, combined with his strong direction, incredible production design, and standout performances from Spaeny and Jonsson, makes it an exciting return to form for the long-running series.
2) Alien (1979)
I love Alien, with its dark and creepy visuals, thrilling concept, and slow-building tension. Like its frightening antagonist, it really is the perfect organism — a frightening nightmare bursting at the seams with ideas and stunning visuals. Despite the lengthy list of knockoffs, sequels, and parodies, it remains a bloody brilliant motion picture and more than likely Ridley Scott’s best film.
1) Aliens (1986)
For me, the pinnacle of the franchise remains Aliens. While Ridley Scott laid the groundwork, James Cameron’s epic sequel propelled the series into a stratosphere no one else has reached. Cameron adheres to the original formula but amplifies every aspect, much like he did with Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Avatar: The Way of Water. Ripley becomes a more complex character, grappling with the loss of her daughter and severe PTSD; the stakes are higher, the characters more vibrant, the aliens more menacing, and the scope more expansive. Cameron both honors and surpasses Scott’s vision, delivering the perfect sequel, blockbuster, and perhaps the greatest action film ever made.
At this juncture, I’m done waiting for a proper follow-up to Aliens. Cameron set the bar too high, gifting us the ultimate cinematic creation, which is why it is number one on our list of Alien movies ranked.
