Ridley Scott and Dan O’Bannon’s beloved Alien universe has had its ups and downs, whether the director is attached to the project or not. The first film proves that science fiction horror films can be complex and terrifying, while James Cameron’s sequel, Aliens, proves that sci-fi horror can blend with action-packed elements. For better or worse, all this is to say that the Xenomorphs have undergone various iterations, designs, and transformations. With the recent successful release of Alien: Romulus and the warm welcome of FX’s Alien Earth, the world lore appears to be on the positive side again.
With Alien Earth finished airing, this is an entertaining season packed with plenty of nods to the original films. The show sets a new precedent for being the first TV media for the Alien mythos. There are some peculiar narrative choices that tie themes to Peter Pan, but they also add an innovative spin to this sci-fi horror franchise. So, where does Alien Earth fall in the rankings amongst all the Alien films?
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10. Alien: Covenant
Writer: John Logan, Dante Harper
Director: Ridley Scott
Alien: Covenant is a derivative of Prometheus in all the wrong ways. The film relies on Michael Fassbender to carry it, with his creepy dual roles as Walter and David, the android and Synth. While there are impressive VFX and practical shots throughout this movie, they cannot compensate for a poorly written script and story. Somehow, this is one of the most boring Alien movies to date. For a second prequel film meant to expand the Alien universe, the story falls short of accomplishing that as a bare minimum. Don’t even mention why David plays a flute in this movie.
Watch on: Hulu
9. Alien vs. Predator Requiem
Writer: Shane Salerno
Director: The Brothers Strause
Alien vs. Predator Requiem’s saving grace from being ranked at the bottom of this list is that it’s a good bad movie, and that’s not saying much. There are countless killings, disturbing set pieces, and creative liberties to keep audiences entertained. The human storylines are trashfires when they make the worst decisions possible, and make the viewer root for both the Predator and Xenomorphs to slice, dice, and dissolve them with acid. The Predalien is a cool concept, but it lacks the kill count required to make this a fun watch. With zero A-list actors in this sci-fi flick, that says it all.
Watch on: Hulu
8. Alien 3
Writer: David Giler, Walter Hill, Larry Ferguson
Director: David Fincher
Alien 3 features outstanding character acting between Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley and Charles Dance’s Jonathan Clemens, with Charles S. Dutton as the de facto leader of the prison, Leonard Dillon. The only reason this film ranks so low on the list is the poor quality of the CGI work, particularly in the scenes featuring the Xenomorph. To David Fincher’s credit, the production and budget issues didn’t hinder the project. The ending is a questionable choice, but the film features some meaningful conversations and themes on mortality that salvage this third installment in the Alien series.
Watch On: Hulu
7. Alien Resurrection
Writer: Joss Whedon
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Putting aside Joss Whedon’s toxic workplace allegations, he knows how to write entertaining ensemble characters. Alien Resurrection could arguably be put below Alien 3, but the wild and wacky acting and story beats make it a fascinating watch. Before Ezio Auditore used two hidden blades in Assassin’s Creed II, Gary Dourdan’s Gary Christie introduced hidden pistols akimbo on-screen. This movie is bonkers with its concepts and contains many outdated, offensive jokes/insults, but the practical effects make it a memorable watch. Despite the high entertainment value, Alien Resurrection fails to bring anything new to the franchise.
Watch On: Hulu
6. Alien vs. Predator
Writer: Paul W. S. Anderson
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Somehow, Paul W.S. Anderson was the guy to create the first crossover film for the Alien and Predator movie series. The Aztec mythology about an ancient battle between Xenomorphs and Predators could be dispensed with, but it worked well for Earth being the battleground. From an Alien perspective, the Xenomorph is vicious in this movie—able to take on three Predators and a group of human expeditioners. The film heavily relies on Lance Henriksen for the nostalgia factor, but it’s Sanaa Lathan’s performance as Alex “Lex” Woods that steals the spotlight. She is the first BIPOC lead in the Alien franchise, and she nails it—but is never mentioned again in other films or shows.
Watch On: Hulu
5. Prometheus
Writer: Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof
Director: Ridley Scott
With a strong ensemble cast, Prometheus brings the most dramatic acting from everyone. The stunning visuals and vistas complement the harrowing expedition, adding to the grey, atmospheric planet with monolithic structures. Fassbender’s performance as the logical and manipulative android is on par with Ian Holm’s Ash. Noomi Rapace delivers a strong female performance, reminiscent of Weaver’s performances in the original Alien films. The main critique is with the origin story of the Xenomorphs and the Engineers not adding up, but the action makes up for the flat and predictable horror elements.
Watch On: Hulu
4. Alien: Romulus
Writer: Fede Álvarez, Rodo Sayagues
Director: Fede Álvarez
As the latest film entry, Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus perfectly understands its source material. Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson lead a younger crew, bringing back the claustrophobic fear of space. Spaeny plays the Ellen Ripley role in a way that arguably makes her more adaptable and dependable. Jonsson’s portrayal of Andy the Synthetic requires examination for its realistic depiction of an android. From the Ovomorph, the Facehugger, and the Xenomorph to the next stage of evolution, the practical and prosthetic effects effectively capture real fear from the actors, making for a more palatable and entertaining viewing experience. This was the perfect homage to almost all the films that came before it.
Watch On: Hulu
3. Alien Earth
Writer: Noah Hawley, Bob DeLaurentis, Bobak Esfarjani, Lisa Long, Maria Melnik, Migizi Pensoneau
Director: Noah Hawley, Dana Gonzales, Ugla Hauksdóttir
Alien Earth boldly pushes the boundaries of television/streaming by bringing a fully fleshed-out Alien story. With approximately seven hours of content, this world delves into the finer details of the Alien universe. The most notable world-building aspects include the distinctions between different mechanical/android beings, the introduction of five tech companies like Weyland-Yutani, an exploration of the lives of the Colonial Marines, and an examination of more alien creatures beyond the Xenomorphs. It almost becomes like a Jurassic Park/World movie, with how many specimens they showcase.
The Peter Pan references and childlike tendencies for the hybrids are a strange choice, but they create an unsettling factor on their own. The attention to environmental detail keeps this show feeling like it’s set in the greater Alien universe. Looking at the USCSS Maginot is like looking at the Nostromo in the first Alien movie. Sydney Chandler’s Wendy portrays a charming hybrid, versus Babou Ceesay’s Morrow, a Cyborg security officer working for Weyland-Yutani.
Watch On: Hulu
2. Alien
Writer: Dan O’Banner
Director: Ridley Scott
The film that started it all: Scott’s Alien. Stepping into Alien for the first time without seeing the other movies, the twists and turns are unique. This is also the first film to fully utilize H.R. Giger’s biomechanical art style, from the Xenomorph designs to the schematics and layout of the Nostromo. Weaver is one of the first iconic strong female leads in a sci-fi film, alongside Ripley, Carrie Fisher’s Leia Organa, and Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor.
Alien demonstrates the importance of practical effects in enhancing the horror more effectively than any CGI special effects could achieve. And yet, it’s still the actors’ performances that add to the suffocating psychological effects of a crew trapped in a confined space with a menacing, unknown entity. The film also presents one of the first major ethical debates involving humans and androids in a film.
Watch On: Hulu
1. Aliens
Writer: James Cameron
Director: James Cameron
Coming in hot off the success of Alien, its first sequel had a lot of expectations to live up to—Cameron delivered. Aliens hits every good note of an entertaining blockbuster flick, which still pays homage to Alien’s horror roots. There’s horror, action, and comedy. Even if Scott intended Alien to be a strictly sci-fi horror film, Cameron brings a fun, action-heavy element to the world. Sometimes, audiences just want to see humans blast aliens, or vice versa.
Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, and Henriksen had standout roles, other than Weaver as the protagonist. What makes this movie work is still dependent on its predecessor, as viewers understand the power of one Xenomorph. Adding multiple Xenomorphs drives up the stakes for the humans. This sequel continues to be praised for pushing the boundaries of the Alien sci-fi horror elements, and adds more entertainment and tension through all the action, especially with the use of mechs and big guns.
Watch On: Hulu
The Alien universe has its ups and downs, but always bounces back. While the 1990s and 2000s films have some rough spots, the latest entries like Alien: Romulus and Alien Earth are revitalizing the hype for everyone’s favourite Xenomorph. Directors and writers are learning how to explore the sandbox of the original films’ worlds, where they innovate new stories that are both interesting and further flesh out the world. There are no limits to hearing people in space scream.
