Every 'Alien' Movie, Ranked!
From 'Alien' to 'Alien: Romulus', Moviefone counts down every film in the franchise, including the latest.
Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Director Ridley Scott's 1979 film 'Alien,' which featured Sigourney Weaver's first appearance as series hero Ripley, spawned one of the most successful and durable science-fiction franchises in cinema history.
The series continued in 1986 with director James Cameron's sequel, 'Aliens,' which once again starred Weaver as Ripley. Weaver would return for two more outings, 'Alien³' and 'Alien Resurrection' before the franchise would be merged with the 'Predator' series with 'AVP: Alien vs. Predator' and 'Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem'.
Scott would return to the franchise to direct two prequels, 'Prometheus' and 'Alien: Covenant,' and now is a producer on the latest installment, 'Alien: Romulus,' which was directed by Fede Álvarez and opens in theaters on August 16th.
In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every 'Alien' movie ever made, including the 'AVP' movies and 'Romulus'.
Let's begin!
9. 'Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem' (2007)
2007's 'Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
After a horrifying PredAlien crash-lands near a small Colorado town, killing everyone it encounters and producing countless Alien offspring, a lone Predator arrives to "clean up" the infestation.
8. 'Alien: Covenant' (2017)
(L to R) Katherine Waterston and Michael Fassbender in 'Alien: Covenant'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
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.
7. 'Alien³' (1992)
Sigourney Weaver in 'Alien³'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
After escaping with Newt (Carrie Henn) and Hicks (Michael Biehn) from the alien planet, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) 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.
Alien³
6. 'AVP: Alien vs. Predator' (2004)
2004's 'AVP: Alien vs. Predator'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
When scientists discover something near Antarctica that appears to be a buried Pyramid, they send a research team out to investigate. Little do they know that they are about to step into a hunting ground where Aliens are grown as sport for the Predator race.
5. 'Prometheus' (2012)
Michael Fassbender in 'Prometheus'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
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.
Prometheus
4. 'Alien: Romulus' (2024)
Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
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.
3. 'Alien Resurrection' (1997)
(L to R) Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder in 'Alien Resurrection'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Two hundred years after Lt. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) 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.
2. 'Alien' (1979)
(L to R) Ian Holm, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt and John Hurt in 'Alien'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host (John Hurt) is birthed.
1. 'Aliens' (1986)
(L to R) Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn in 'Aliens'. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
