Now that Alien: Romulus is in theaters and fans across the world have gathered to watch, tension and divisiveness have arisen, even as many heap praise upon the new horror film from Fede Álvarez.
As a fan of the Alien franchise since the late 1980s, I’ve come to realize how rare and precious it is to get new content. There have been several spans of time when the franchise appeared dead and all hope nearly lost. (I’m looking at you Alien Resurrection and Alien: Covenant.) Die-hard fans have always had to keep the flame of the franchise alive in our hearts.
No Plot Armor for Alien Fandom
While I welcome robust discussion and believe no film is above criticism, I also fear the divisiveness may backfire and leave us forever in the dark when it comes to our favorite franchise. We need look no further than The Acolyte to see how a toxic and divided fandom can destroy the dream of new content. The prospect of more Alien films isn’t guaranteed, and we can be sure that 20th Century Studios and Disney are paying attention to the winds of discontent whipping through social media.
Even if you didn’t enjoy Alien: Romulus and wished the studio had gone in another direction, there’s always hope for a better film around the corner. You’ll always have the first two films; calling for the franchise to simply end eliminates the possibility of future content you enjoy.
I know that we can’t all agree on the value of particular Alien films; in fact each film has its cult-like defenders. And honestly, that’s part of what makes this franchise great. We ought to celebrate that rather than silencing the opinions of others.
With this piece, I hope to start a small wave of positivity, a moment we can all stop and reflect as Alien fans on what has brought us joy. Hopefully by doing so, we can also send a loud and clear message to Disney and 20th Century Studios that we want more.
Films Worth Celebrating
The following is my list for the seven mainline films and both AVP movies; it’s in chronological order and the explanations are about what I enjoyed or see as a valuable contribution to the storytelling universe.
Alien (1979): It’s difficult to know where to start with a legendary film, so I’ll keep it simple. I love how critically acclaimed Alien is as a science-fiction / horror movie. I’ve spent my life in academic circles, teaching English at both the high school and college level, and it’s always been so painful to experience the skepticism and dismissiveness that many academics hold towards these genres. I’ve long believed that horror and science-fiction have immense value in regard to better understanding our humanity and the way in which we relate to one another. When Alien released to the world, it became a shining beacon for the best that these genres can offer and forced many to finally take such storytelling seriously. Alien is a masterpiece of fiction and downright terrifying.
Aliens (1986): Colonial Marines. Of course, the legendary space force is the greatest contribution to Alien fandom from this 1986 classic. Indeed, some of my greatest memories related to this franchise have been blasting Xenomorphs in video games like Aliens: Fireteam Elite. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to appreciate the gravity and beauty of Ellen Ripley’s maternal drive to protect Newt. When she chose to face her nightmares, to descend into the hive itself to recover the child she loved, it moved me deeply. I think of Ripley often as I try to protect my own children and seek to guide them through the dangers of childhood and adolescence.
Alien 3 (1992): I love that this film rips your heart out in its opening moments. That autopsy scene still haunts my dreams. Sure, I wish that Newt and Hicks survived (perhaps in an alternate universe); growing up, these characters were my favorites. But here’s the thing: good stories don’t give you what you want; they tell the story that needs telling. And Alien has always been a grim, terrifying look at the cannibalistic world humanity has made for itself. Alien 3 recognizes this, and tells a gritty, hopeless story that is the perfect backdrop for Ripley’s heroic defiance. The film famously went through development hell, but David Fincher managed to tell an important story that properly set the tone for the Alien universe. As an aside, I love that Alien 3 is the first in the franchise to refer to the Xenomorph as a dragon, along with giving us the first variant form of the Perfect Organism.
Alien Resurrection (1997): In the years since this film’s release, genetic manipulation has become a major theme within the Alien franchise. It’s easy to forget that Alien Resurrection was the first film to explore this idea. While the return of Sigourney Weaver as Ripley 8 was controversial, the move opened up a wealth of storytelling pathways that have benefited the franchise significantly.
Alien vs. Predator (2004): Like many kids of the 1980s, I grew up watching both the Alien and Predator franchises. I’ll never forget seeing that Xenomorph skull on the trophy wall at the end of Predator 2. Sure, the AVP film we finally got didn’t live up to the R-rated brand these two franchises pioneered, but for a lifelong fan, it was still a dream realized seeing the Xeno and Yautja clash on the big screen.
Perhaps now that these franchises have been revived with Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey and Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus, maybe we can get an AVP film worthy of the crossover. That Álvarez somewhat pitched the idea recently is a very good sign.
AVP: Requiem (2009): In the spirit of celebration, I’ll say something nice about this film… but this one is largely responsible for killing the AVP franchise, something I hold bitterness toward. Perhaps if the rumors are true about a regrade of the film, and fans can actually see what’s happening in this unwatchable dark movie, it might get more love. I will say that finally getting a Predalien on the big screen was awesome to behold.
Prometheus (2012): When Prometheus was announced and rumors spread of its possible connection to the Alien franchise, I felt excited. After the disappointments of Alien Resurrection and AVP Requiem, I had feared my favorite franchise was dead. Like many, I was disappointed at the lack of Xenomorphs in Ridley Scott’s prequel, but was thrilled by the philosophical scope of the film. It asks the big questions about humanity, our place in the universe, and the unmatched hostility of what lies beyond earth. Prometheus returned a kind of seriousness to the franchise that had been lost by the previous few films. For that, I will always be thankful.
Alien: Covenant (2017): With this film, fans finally saw the return of the classic Xenomorph (well, mostly). The Praetomorph, while lacking the bio-mechanical elements, was a fiercely aggressive variant that wreaked havoc on screen. But what I love most about Alien: Covenant has nothing to do with the classic Xenomorph.
The Michael Fassbender experience was phenomenal, taking the Alien staple of artificial personhood to the next level while asking the big questions of the relationship between the creator and the created. The Neomorphs are a fantastic variant, and I simply loved the gothic atmosphere of the film.
Alien: Romulus (2024): While there is a contingent of Alien fans that felt disappointed with this film, I am not among that number. I loved Fede Álvarez’s installment in this franchise. He managed to capture so much of what I have loved about these stories: vulnerable people finding creative ways to stand up to greedy corporations, powerful artificial life, and the most terrifying creature in the universe.
Sure, it plays like a “greatest hits” at times, but it has delivered a love of this franchise to a new generation of fans. Since the films release, I’ve had some variation of the “I need to dive into this franchise” conversation with many friends and acquaintances. Alien: Romulus worked, and because of its success, we’ll get new stories that take bigger risks. I, for one, can’t wait!
What’s Your List?
Tell us what you think! Copy the list above and share your highlights from each film; we can’t wait to hear from you. You can also join in the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
Featured Image: 20th Century Studios
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