Franchise Report Card: Alien

“In space no one can hear you scream.”

The tagline for the original Alien (1979) is as classic as the film itself.  And since its original theatrical release, the sci-fi horror movie has spawned an impressive and profitable franchise, including sequels and prequels (Prometheus, and Covenant).  With the latest entry Alien: Romulus (2024), which takes place 20 years after the events of the original Alien (1979)and 30 years before Aliens (1986), scheduled to be unleashed into theaters on August 16, right now seems like as good a time as any to celebrate both the box office and critical highs and lows of the Alien universe, which for these purposes will exclude Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2008). 

Are you excited to see Romulus?  And what is your favorite Alien movie?

WHICH ENTRY KILLED IT THE BEST AT THE WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE (USD):

1. Prometheus (2012) – $403,354,469
2. Alien: Covenant (2017) – $240,891,763
3. Alien: Resurrection (1997) – $161,376,069
4. Alien 3 (1992) – $159.814,498 
5. Aliens (1986) – $131,060,248 
6. Alien (1979) (includes re-releases + Director’s Cut) – $113,590,281

WHICH ENTRY HAS THE HIGHEST IMDB RATING:

1. Alien (1979) – 8.5
2. Aliens (1986) – 8.4
3. Prometheus (2012) – 7.0
4. Alien 3 (1992) – 6.4
5. Alien: Covenant (2017) – 6.4
6. Alien: Resurrection (1997) – 6.2

WHICH ENTRY HAS THE HIGHEST ROTTEN TOMATOES (RT) CRITICS RATING:

1. Aliens (1986) – 98%
2. Alien – Director’s Cut (2003) – 94%
3. Alien (1979) – 93%
4. Prometheus (2012)– 73%
5. Alien: Covenant (2017) – 65%
6. Alien: Resurrection (1997) – 55%
7. Alien 3 (1992) – 48%

WHICH ENTRY HAS THE HIGHEST ROTTEN TOMATOES (RT) AUDIENCE RATING:

1. Alien – Director’s Cut (2003) – 95%
2. Alien (1979) – 94%
3. Aliens (1986) – 94%
4. Prometheus (2012) – 68% 
5. Alien: Covenant (2017) – 55%
6. Alien 3 (1992) – 46%
7. Alien: Resurrection (1997) – 39%

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