Counting Down The Best ‘Alien’ Movies To Celebrate The Streaming Release of ‘Alien: Romulus’
Where does the latest installment rank on the list of best ‘Alien’ movies?
With “Alien: Romulus” now available to watch on streaming, there’s no better time to dive back into one of sci-fi horror’s most iconic franchises. Directed by Fede Álvarez, “Romulus” has already stirred up praise for returning to the series’ roots, offering the kind of terrifying, claustrophobic tension that made the original “Alien” such a classic. With a fresh cast thrown into the never-ending fight against the xenomorphs, “Romulus” continues the franchise’s legacy of blending heart-pounding horror with stunning visuals. But is it enough to make the top spot on the list? To celebrate its release, I’m ranking all the Alien movies—from Ridley Scott’s genre-defining 1979 original to the intense new entry. So without further ado, here are all the films in the “Alien” series, ranked!
All of the “Alien” movies ranked:
No. 7: ‘Alien 3’ (1992) | Hulu
One of David Fincher’s weakest outings (rumor has it he was forced to start shooting without a finished script and left before the final edit was done) “Alien 3” mostly misses the mark. The film takes a much darker and more nihilistic tone than the first two movies, as Ripley crash-lands on a prison planet only to find out that an alien has followed her. Despite Fincher’s atmospheric direction, the tone is all over the place, and fans didn’t love that multiple beloved characters from “Aliens” are killed off. Fincher himself distanced himself from the project and doesn’t talk about it often. With a budget of $50 million, the film grossed $159.8 million worldwide.
Alien³
After escaping with Newt and Hicks from the alien planet, Ripley crash lands on Fiorina 161, a prison planet and host to a correctional facility. Unfortunately, although Newt and Hicks do not survive the crash, a more unwelcome visitor does. The prison does not allow weapons of any kind, and with aid being a long time away, the prisoners must simply survive in any way they can.
No. 6: ‘Alien Resurrection’ (1997) | Hulu
Set 200 years after the events of “Alien 3,” “Alien Resurrection” features scientists cloning Ripley in an effort to breed an alien queen. Huh. I wonder what could go wrong with that? Everything. The Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed film does a slightly better job than “Alien 3” at upholding the standard of horror and action the franchise is known for. But it gets a failing grade in what I call the “give a crap factor” – the emotional connection between the audience and the characters. Every great film nurtures that connection and makes us care about what happens to the people on screen. And if it doesn’t… all the pretty images and explosions won’t make any difference. There are plenty of pretty images and action sequences in this film, but it’s missing the emotional depth and tension of other “Alien” movies. The movie grossed $161.4 million worldwide on a $70 million budget.
Alien Resurrection
Two hundred years after Lt. Ripley died, a group of scientists clone her, hoping to breed the ultimate weapon. But the new Ripley is full of surprises … as are the new aliens. Ripley must team with a band of smugglers to keep the creatures from reaching Earth.
No. 5: ‘Alien: Covenant’ (2017) | Hulu
“Alien: Covenant” directed by Ridley Scott, attempts to merge the philosophical ambitions of “Prometheus” (namely, existential questions about humanity’s origins, the nature of creation, and the role of advanced civilizations in the universe) with the horror elements of the original “Alien.” And it mostly succeeds.
In this film, the crew of the Covenant stumbles upon what at first glance looks like an uncharted paradise, only to discover it is home to the deadly xenomorphs. The film is at its best during the intense horror sequences, but it once again struggles with character development and a shaky plot. The film broke even financially, making back its budget and marketing expenses (a film usually has to make 2.5 times the budget to break even) by grossing $240.9 million worldwide on a budget of $97 million.
Alien: Covenant
The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise but is actually a dark, dangerous world.
No. 4: ‘Prometheus’ (2012) | Hulu
“Prometheus” saw Ridley Scott return to the franchise with a prequel that explores the origins of the xenomorph species. The story follows a group of scientists and explorers aboard the ship Prometheus as they search for the origins of humanity on a distant planet. The team, led by Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace) and funded by the Weyland Corporation, discovers an alien species known as the Engineers, who may have been responsible for creating humanity. But the crew’s discovery soon turns into a nightmare as they uncover a deadly biological weapon that threatens not only their lives but also the future of Earth.
Thematically, Prometheus raises philosophical questions about the relationship between creators and their creations, including humans and their gods, as well as artificial life. The android David, played by Michael Fassbender, adds a layer of complexity by questioning his own purpose and autonomy as a creation of humans. Visually, “Prometheus” is stunning, with beautiful cinematography compounded by detailed production design. Audiences obviously liked what they saw, as the film grossed $403.4 million worldwide on a budget of $130 million, making it a commercial success.
Prometheus
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
No. 3: ‘Alien: Romulus’ (2024) | Rent It On Prime Video
Fresh to rent on Prime Video, “Alien: Romulus” directed by Fede Álvarez, lands third on this list. Sure, there’s some recency bias at play, but ultimately, the movie is a fun ride – and that’s what you want from the “Alien” franchise.
Set between “Alien” and “Aliens,” the film focuses on a small group of survivors who face a xenomorph threat aboard a broken-down space station. The claustrophobic atmosphere will have your pulse up, and the set pieces are extremely satisfying. Throw in great performances from Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson and you’ve got one of the best “Alien” movies in almost 40 years. Audiences agree as the film has grossed $350.4 million worldwide so far on a budget of just $80 million.
Alien: Romulus
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
No. 2: ‘Aliens’ (1986) | Hulu
From genius filmmaker James Cameron comes “Aliens.” In this sequel, Ripley returns to the planet from the first film, this time leading a group of marines, which means this film’s tone is a lot more militaristic than others on this list. Instead of mimicking the claustrophobic horror of the first film, Cameron transforms “Aliens” into a high-octane action thriller while still managing to maintain the core elements of tension and fear that made the first “Alien” so good. The result is a fast-paced action movie that also hits home emotionally – a winning combination.
“Aliens” also marks the first collaboration between Cameron and Sigourney Weaver, whose performance as Ellen Ripley is now iconic. Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress – which is a rare feat for a sci-fi film. On a budget of just $18.5 million, it grossed $131 million worldwide, transforming both Cameron’s career and Weaver’s in the process.
Aliens
When Ripley’s life pod is found by a salvage crew over 50 years later, she finds that terraformers are on the very planet where they found the alien species. The company has also sent a family of colonists out to investigate her story… and have since lost all contact. Directed by James Cameron, Aliens takes a small sidestep from the horror genre and goes for a more sci-fi action approach as Ripley and the colonial marines return to the feared planet and search for answers. This endlessly quotable flick is enjoyable every time you see it.
According to legend, Cameron landed the directing job by writing “Alien” on a dry erase board. Then adding an “s” so it said “Aliens.” And then he drew two lines through the “s” - “Alien$.”
No. 1: ‘Alien’ (1979) | Hulu
There was never any doubt. “Alien” holds up as well today as it did on its release in the summer of 1979. Part of that is because it doesn’t rely wholly on special effects (though the film did win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects) and over-the-top CGI. But instead, it’s a slow burn of foreboding fear. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film introduces the crew of the Nostromo, who are hunted by a terrifying alien creature after investigating a distress signal. Its masterful suspense, claustrophobic atmosphere, and reimagining of extra-terrestrial life as something other than a benevolent humanoid creature helped usher in “space horror” as a genre, while also pulling out themes of isolation and corporate greed that would go on to influence future sci-fi and horror filmmakers for decades.
And for director Scott, it was the ultimate coming-out party. It transformed him from a relatively unknown director to a major Hollywood force. His unique blend of sci-fi and horror set a new standard for atmospheric tension and world-building, while the film’s success (it grossed $108.6 million on a budget of just $11 million – almost a 10x return) opened the doors to projects like “Blade Runner.” The film is best watched in a theater, but if you haven’t seen it do your best to turn out the lights, turn on the TV… and enjoy one hell of a ride.
Alien
The commercial spaceship Nostromo is heading back to Earth when they’re tasked with intercepting a distress signal from a distant planet. The crew discovers a chamber full of seemingly benign eggs. When one hatches unexpectedly, the crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them. Directed by Ridley Scott, this film is the first in the series to feature its most-known protagonist, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).