Summary
Few horror franchises have impacted popular culture as much as theAlienseries has. Starting in 1979 with Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi masterpiece, the series has grown to include numerous film sequels, novels,video games, and comics.
With the recent release ofAlien Romulus, the long-running sci-fi horror franchise has moved into its sixth decade. H.R. Giger’s iconic monster remains as terrifying and compelling as it was when it first appeared in the original movie. With the series moving to Disney and the upcoming release of the TV seriesAlien: Earth, the franchise remains a major part of the horror landscape. While, over the years, the series has dipped in quality, its most recent addition has brought new life to the series, with Fede Alvarez at the helm.
9Alien Vs Predator: Requiem
An Unoriginal And Unforgettable Entry
Based on the classic comic series,Alien Vs Predator: Requiemis by far the worst movie in the franchise. The film follows directly on fromAlien Vs Predator, with the release of a Xenomorph/Predator Hybrid, stupidly named “Predalien”. After escaping to Earth, the hybrid runs amok in a local town, before a specialist Predator is sent tokill the monster.
Alien Vs Predator: Requiemwas panned by critics, who noted its terrible lighting, unoriginal story, and lackluster editing. The film is a true B-Movie that killed off the spin-off series before it had a chance to go anywhere.Alien Vs Predator: Requiemis a forgettable entry into the series and one best left in the bargain bin.
8Alien Vs Predator
Fails Its Potential
Based on a popular series of comic books,Alien Vs Predatorwas a highly anticipated spin-off of two heavy-weight sci-fi franchises. The film follows a team investigating a strange heat signature in the Antarctic ice and who discover an ancient ruin that holds hidden dangers.
The film pits Aliens, Predators, and humans against each other and offers some great Easter eggs for fans of the comics and movies. While the film is mindless fun, it lacks any real depth and doesn’t bring anything new to the setting. With such rich source material available,Alien Vs Predatoris a lost chance to bring a beloved comic series to the screen. While it isn’t a terrible film, it is largely forgettable.
7Alien Resurrection
A Stylish Fourth Installment
Alien Resurrectionwas a long-awaited sequel that featured up-and-coming French art-house director Jean-Pierre Jeunet at its helm. With two cult hits under his belt,Delicatessen(1991) andThe City of Lost Children(1995), the European director was primed to make a big Hollywood splash with hisAlienentry.
Alien Resurrectionfollows the story of a cloned Ellen Ripley two centuries after her death as scientists attempt to weaponize and control the Aliens. The film offered a lot of style, action, and gore but failed to capture the audience’s imagination. While the film is a solid entry to the series, it struggles to live up to its classic heritage. While this would not be Jeunet’s breakout Hollywood hit, he would later strike gold with the critically acclaimedAmelie(2001).
6Alien: Covenant
A Solid Entry From the Original Director
Alien: Covenantcontinues Ridley Scott’s return to the series that kickstarted his career. Following on fromPrometheus(2012), the film revolves around the crew of a colonization ship, the Covenant, which lands on a mysterious planet, only to discover the android, David, is continuing his experiments in creating the perfect organism.
WhileAlien: Covenanthas great performances, stunning cinematography, and heart-pumping action, it never reinvents the wheel. The film does everything right and is a solid entry to the series, but it is largely forgettable against greater movies. WhileAlien: Covenantfails to rise above the best of the franchise, itremains a must-watchforAlienfans.
5Alien 3
A Troubled Production
WhileAlien 3was not the success many hoped for, it remains a unique entry to the series, with its gritty cinematography and bleak, apocalyptic tone. The film continues Ellen Ripley’s story directly after the events ofAliens. Taking a tragic turn, she finds herself on a prison planet alone and surrounded by violent and dangerous criminals.
In his directorial debut, David Fincher was brought in late to the troubled production, which was plagued with numerous rewrites and studio interference. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the film’s stylish look and performances. David Fincher would ultimately disown the movie. In 2003, theAssembly CutofAlien 3was released without Fincher’s input. This new cut would garner better reviews than the original theatrical release.
4Prometheus
Expanding The Lore
In 2012 Ridley Scott returned to the setting that made his career withPrometheus. Set before the events of the first film,Prometheustells the story of a group of scientists searching for the origins of humanity on a distant planet. The film delves into the lore of the “Space Jockey”, the mysterious Alien skeleton seen in the original film.
Prometheuswas highly anticipated, with hype steadily growing until release. While the film could never live up to the high expectations,Prometheuswould divide opinions. While it is set in theAlienuniverse, the film dares to be different. It expands on the lore and introduces a new Alien species named The Engineers.Prometheusis an underrated entry to the series, with great performances, stunning visual effects, andcomplex ideas explored. While it never reaches the heights of the series' best, it is a worthy addition to the franchise.
3Alien Romulus
A Return To Form
WithAlien Romulus, genre extraordinaire Fede Alvarez brought horror back to the series with his slick and gory entry. The film follows a group of colonists illegally scavenging a derelict space station. They soon discover they are not alone, with terrifying monsters already inhabiting the vessel.
Alien Romulusmakes excellent use of practical effects, blending the grime ofAlien 3with the futurism ofPrometheus. Fede Alvarez’s horror experience shines through with apitch-black atmosphere, tense action, and plenty of gore.Alien Romulusbreathes new life into the long-running series, setting a new standard for any subsequent movies to follow.
2Aliens
An Action Classic
WhereAlienwas a claustrophobic nightmare, with a lone monster hunting the crew of the Nostromo,Aliensturns everything up to 11. Coming off the back of his action classicThe Terminator(1984), James Cameron scored another hit with his over-the-top action masterpiece.Aliensfollows Ellen Ripley as shereturns to the planetLV-426 with a group of colonial marines after the colony goes quiet.
Aliensnot only dialed the action up but added new lore to the series. It introduced the Alien Queen, expanding the xenomorph species and making them even more terrifying.Aliensis an all-time action classic that holds up as well today as it did on release and cemented James Cameron as one of the top directors in the world.
1Alien
A Horror Masterpiece
With an effective marketing campaign leading up to release, with the tagline, In space, no one can hear you scream,Alienburst onto cinema screens and made an immediate impact. The film follows the crew of the Nostromo, who, after reacting to a distress signal coming from an alien ship, are hunted down by aterrifying monster.
Alienmade a star of Sigourney Weaver and cemented Ridley Scott as a world-class director. The film shocked audiences with its visceral horror and gritty setting, while its stellar class brought depth and realism to the characters. The film is claustrophobic and tense, with the crew being slowly picked off throughout.Alienwas the perfect antidote to the sci-fi spectacle ofStar Warsand appealed to a mature sci-fi audience. It is now hailed as an all-time classic and remains as powerful as it was on release.
