Every ‘Alien’ movie ranked from worst to best, including ‘Alien: Romulus’
August 14, 20240
“Alien vs. Predator: Requiem.”
20th Century Fox
Made smack-dab in the dark days of the “Alien” franchise, when Ridley Scott was too busy making movies with Russell Crowe (“Gladiator,” “Body of Lies,” “American Gangster”) to worry about what was happening to his creation, “Requiem” was apparently able to get off the ground solely on the basis of having the alien fight the Predator again.
It’s a terrible sequel, featuring low-grade special effects and zero stars.
We all have to thank Sir Ridley for deciding to make Alien prequels, or who knows what other characters from the 20th Century Fox library the xenomorph would have fought next.
8. “Alien: Resurrection” (1997)
“AVP.”
20th Century Fox
Director Paul W. S. Anderson (the “Resident Evil” movies) was tasked with overseeing this movie about two iconic sci-fi characters going up against each other. It wasn’t very memorable, but it worked enough that an even more forgettable sequel came around three years later.
6. “Alien: Covenant” (2017)
Sigourney Weaver in “Alien 3.”
20th Century Fox
Probably the most misunderstood of any of the “Alien” movies, David Fincher’s gritty contribution to the franchise is a thrill to watch, as it picks up right after the events of “Aliens.”
Weaver adds to the Ripley legacy with another powerful performance, and it’s another release with standout character actors, led by Charles S. Dutton, who steals every scene he’s in.
4. “Prometheus” (2012)
The Xenomorph in “Alien: Romulus.”
20th Century Studios
“Alien: Romulus” follows a group of teens in a hellish mining colony who go scavenging on a nearby space station to try to make a better life for themselves. Once they get there, however, it isn’t long before all xenomorph-induced hell breaks loose.
To put it bluntly, “Alien: Romulus” is a monstrous delight because Álvarez relies on practical effects, sets, and creature designs to terrify the audience in a way that more recent entries in the franchise could only dream of.
While the slow start is initially a letdown, the time spent on character development is worth it once Álvarez hurls the gore and body horror madness into overdrive in the second half.
2. “Aliens” (1986)
“Alien.”
20th Century Fox
Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic inspired a beloved franchise that equally astounds and frightens to this day, while Weaver’s Ripley became one of the most memorable female roles in modern movies.
Plus, actor John Hurt delivered one of the most unforgettable scenes in cinematic history with the nightmarish birth of the chestburster.
