Ridley Scott is back to scare the pants off moviegoers with the latest installment in the Alien franchise, Alien: Covenant. For years, the franchise has had a strong grip on popular culture and the horror genre. With that in mind, let’s take a look back at the franchise as a whole and see how each movie stacks up to each other. A spoiler alert is in effect.
#8: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
I would like to give a more in-depth blurb about this film, but the film was way to dark for me to see anything of note. Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, other than being a stupid, stuffy title, is almost incomprehensible to watch due to the cloud of darkness that the film is always under. This leads to all the fights (which is the only reason you’d see this movie in the first place) to be not watchable since they are basically silhouettes jumping around in the darkness.
AVP: Requiem is also full of downright horrible characters and a stupid plot that lands the two iconic monsters on Earth. If you’re a fan of these monsters, stay away. Please.
image via Xenopedia
#7: AVP – Alien vs. Predator (2004)
The first AVP is a wholly better film than its dreadful sequel, but that doesn’t really say much.
Filled with a contrived setup that gets the two monsters together, AVP is just a bunch of fluff surrounding less than stellar fights scenes. The film even messes up a ton of lore setup in previous Alien films by having the film take place years before the original Alien, making us all wonder when events actually took place.
AVP also has some pretty annoying characters that bog down the story, if you can even call it a story.
image via The Mind Reels
#6: Alien Resurrection (1997)
This attempt to resurrect (see what I did there?) the Alien franchise after Alien 3 disappointed many was not a success to say the least.
I’ll give the film credit for having some interesting ideas regarding the study and evolution of Xenomorphs, but the execution of the film is certainly less than stellar.
Sigourney Weaver is pretty fantastic in the rest of the Alien films, but she is just plain weird as the clone of Ripley as she seemingly only wants to procreate with the Aliens themselves (yuck).
Plus, that Newborn Alien design is just plain awful.
#5: Alien 3 (1992)
I can’t really fault David Fincher for the finished product of this film as it has been well-documented as one of the worst examples of studio interference in movie history.
Forced to start shooting without a finished script, Fincher did his best, but Alien 3 has too many disjointed pieces and conflicting tones to be consider a solid film (which is probably a result of the production issues).
Sigourney Weaver and the rest of the cast do their best to salvage the final product with solid performances. However, lackluster editing from a rushed post-production stage make a lot of characters beats seem out of place.
Production of the film was so terrible for Fincher that he seldom discusses the project to this day.
image via Bloody Disgusting!
#4: Alien: Covenant (2017)
The newest installment in the Alien franchise is a visual masterpiece. Some moments in this film will have your mouth agape with how seamlessly the film blends practical and CGI elements. Every frame is absolutely stunning.
Michael Fassbender once again proves that he’s one of the best working directors in Hollywood with his performance in this film. As an android, he goes to deeper levels than any other actor in the picture. The most fascinating moments of the film are when Fassbender is on screen. He’s easily the best performance in the film.
However, for all its treats, Alien: Covenant is pretty frustrating. It attempts to cater to fans of Alien, Aliens, and Prometheus but doesn’t really hit any of them to a satisfying degree. Rather than further delve into the big ideas of Prometheus, film settles for horror thrills that don’t stack up with the best in the franchise.
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*To read my full review of Alien: Covenant, please click here.
#3: Prometheus (2012)
Prometheus has been a highly divisive film since it was released in 2012. Many complain that it raises more questions than it answers and lacks a certain tempo. In this critic’s humble opinion, Prometheus may be one of those films that becomes beloved and rediscovered years down the road.
There’s a lot to love about this film, most notably Michael Fassbender’s performance as an android that has less than stellar motivations. The film is genuinely creepy with many horrific moments that is highlighted by the birth of a disgusting alien creature from Noomi Rapace’s womb via a Caesarean procedure.
Other than some really stupid character decisions and the infamous “Prometheus school of running away from things,” Ridley Scott’s prequel is a solid, solid film.
#2: Alien (1979)
Amazingly, Ridley Scott’s original Alien has continued to remain relevant. The film certainly has a ton of scares, but its best qualities may be how it ratchets up the tension with every scene, making you feel more claustrophobic by the second.
The best of which comes when the Alien bursts out of John Hurt’s chest. The moment captures the real reactions of the other cast members as Ridley Scott did not tell them what was going to occur.
The film should be praised for having a strong woman lead in a time where that was practically nonexistent, especially since woman were mostly relegated to the damsel role in similar films.
In the end, Alien redefined horror and has produced many copycats since 1979.
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*To read my full review of Alien, please click here.
image via Secret Cave
#1: Aliens (1986)
Alien packs a twisted, understated punch, but the sequel takes the concept in a completely different direction, making one of the best action movies ever put to screen. The practical action continues to look great to this day, not aging one bit.
However, every great sequel doesn’t just throw away what made the original so great. James Cameron perfectly captures the essence of what made Ridley Scott’s Alien so great while adding a completely different spin to up the ante. In a time where sequels retread the film that preceded it to an annoying degree, Aliens becomes even more impressive with age.
image via Horror Freak News
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24 comments
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I have not seen Alien: Covenant so I can’t rank it but my rankings would be slightly different. First of all I think Alien 3 gets a terrible rep. I thought the atmosphere of the film was great and the alien itself is awesome. It’s one of the more unique xenomorphs of the franchise in my opinion. The AVP’s are so godawful that I don’t care how they’re ranked as long as they’re at the bottom. Here’s where I differ although I’m cheating: I rank Alien and Aliens as 1a and 1b. Both are phenomenal but I always felt Alien is more of a sci-fi-horror film whereas Aliens is action-horror. Simply put, I can’t pick one over the other as being better. Both are classics. Love this list though. Really glad you have the AVPs at the bottom.
Lol I think if I put the AVPs anywhere except the bottom I’d have to stop writing!
As for Alien 3, I totally get where you’re coming from. It’s by no means a bad movie. But, personally I feel it’s too jumbled and all over place in terms of tone and what not to fully recommend IMO.
I think there’s a director’s cut that’s closer to Fincher’s vision than what the studio put out there. It’s on a trilogy DVD, I believe. I’ve never seen it but something tells me it’s better than the theatrical version. I’m on the opposite side: I’d recommend it but it does fall in the middle ground where you either recommend it or don’t.
I’ve actually done some research on the movie myself and Fincher has always refused to call any cut of the movie his “director’s cut” due to what the studio did with the film. But I’ve heard of a three hour rough cut of the film that was super gory and different from the original. Maybe one day we’ll see it!
The movie Alien: Covenant is bad.
It lacks something.
Watch Alien:
Covenant online
So you say you don’t like it but put a link to watch it?
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Alien is far better than Aliens, which is still very good. Prometheus sucked, but so did Alien 3 and I have never rewatched it. Alien Resurrection was terrible. AVP sucked. I didn’t watch the sequel, thankfully. Here’s hoping Covenant is at least better than Prometheus.
Jeeez tell them how you really feel! Lol I’m just messing with you.
No worries :)
Little bit different take here. Alien and Prometheus are in a tie for first place – Alien for its atmosphere and Prometheus for its epic scale and imagination. Thereafter I agree Aliens, Alien 3, etc. The first AVP movie was fun but stupid, the less said about its sequel the better.
Prometheus is certainly a gorgeous film. I love when directors take what people love about a property but then add a completely new spin to it. Like I said in the article, I’ll probably like it more with age too!
Yes, everyone was talking about that first Alien flick, especially when the alien burst out of Hurt’s chest. I remember the entire packed theater was still and tense at that moment. Then, boom, with shrieks, gasps and swearing following. Very intense. Excellent listing. Cheers
That must have been an amazing theater experience, wish I was alive then to have been there!
Yes, one of the advantages of being old and being there. By the way, have you seen the movie, “Being There”?
I haven’t! It’s one of those films that I’ve just never gotten around to watching.
I am in 100% agreement with these rankings. ???? Bravo. I really didn’t like Prometheus, and in my opinion James Cameron’s Aliens is perfection.
Glad to have your approval! Aliens truly is fantasic, I need to rewatch it it’s been a little since I have.
I watched Alien last night and Aliens a couple days ago. Great movies.
I’m very excited for Alien: Covenant! Hopefully it takes some inspiration from those films
Let’s keep our fingers crossed.