Every Alien Movie in the Franchise, Ranked From Worst to Best

As one of the most recognized franchises in the history of science fiction horror, looking back at the Foreigner The rating of the films shows how varied the series has been. Although Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley is an icon of both the science fiction genre and cinema in general, the Foreigner The films have focused on many different characters over the years and explored the mythology of the monstrous xenomorphs and their origins. The franchise also had some of the world’s most talented filmmakers at the helm, with the Foreigner films in order from Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher and more.

After the four original Ripley-focused films, the Foreigner the franchise began to expand with prequels set well before the events of Alien Resurrection. Be Ridley Scott Foreigner previous films following Michael Fassbender’s David or Fede Álvarez Alien: AllianceThe 20th Century continued to look for ways to continue the series. THE Foreigner The franchise has been adaptable to new filmmakers and directions, but while some big risks have worked out perfectly, others have fallen short. THE Foreigner The films ranked from worst to best show the low points of the series and also how brilliant these films can be.

9

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

The worst alien movie

THE Alien vs. Predator the films were always better conceptually than they were in practice, but it was the second attempt that really doomed the idea. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem picks up where the last film left off and really establishes some interesting ideas, including an Alien/Predator hybrid called the “Predalien.” Requiem It’s also a big improvement over the previous one. Alien vs. Predator film in terms of on-screen deathsfully embracing the R rating and recording a huge kill count.

However, Visual spectacle alone does not make a good Foreigner filmand that’s why it’s rated as the worst Foreigner film. The human characters in Requiem they’re two-dimensional, underdeveloped, and based mostly on well-worn tropes. Most of them feel they have lines in the script simply to increase the body count. As far as cinematography goes, Alien vs. Predator: Requiem it’s poorly lit, robbing the audience of the joy of seeing the admittedly great practical effects. Those looking for a gory monster movie will be quite pleased, with even Fede Álvarez praising it Requiem‘skills.

8

Alien vs. Predator (2004)

The first franchise crossover is missing

Since their interaction was teased in a fun Easter egg in Predator 2fans were waiting for a Alien vs. Predator film – so this 2004 release, being a watered-down, small-scale PG-13 crossover, was a significant disappointment and is rarely ranked among the best Foreigner films. Alien vs. Predator the reluctance to cross the line into R-rated territory was a baffling decision seeing as two of cinema’s deadliest monsters are sharing the screen, and the film definitely suffered for it.

Similar to Alien vs. Predator sequel, the film brings in human characters to keep the conflict grounded, but none of these characters compare to Ripley or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch in Predator. Where Alien vs. Predator shows its strengths, however, it is in the way it masterfully, it unites the tradition of the two franchises – even if it means the exposition gets heavy in some spots. The fights between the titular monsters also delivered, with some excellent action sequences showcasing the power of the Alien and the Predator.

7

Alien Resurrection (1997)

Ripley’s story ends disappointingly

As Sigourney Weaver’s last appearance in the series to date Alien: Resurrection is not a fitting ending for Ripley in Foreigner franchise. However, for those who watch these films for the monster deaths and action, the fourth film is very good. The xenomorph’s escape sequence inside the military facility is a particularly fun scene that showcases the film’s horror elements as well as its intentionally cheesy sense of humor. Although not a prominent installment, Resurrection is far from the worst entry when it comes to Foreigner rated movies.

Not all in Alien: Resurrection works so well, with Joss Whedon’s funny dialogue feels particularly out of place in the franchise. Some details of the story, including the human-xenomorph hybrid, also do not arrive as planned. However, there are still elements of the sci-fi action movie that can make it fun. There’s a fun supporting cast that includes Winona Ryder and Ron Perlman. It’s also significantly closer in spirit to what makes the franchise so great than the worst Foreigner films. If any input begins to separate the good Foreigner terrible movies, it would be Alien: Resurrection.

6

Alien 3 (1992)

David Fincher’s film is divisive

Alien 3 It feels like the franchise’s most wasted potential to date, as it had all the ingredients to move forward Aliens with the excitement of the end of a trilogy. Hiring music video director David Fincher for his directorial debut, the unique setting of a prison planet and a xenomorph bursting out of a dog’s chest made Alien 3 seems like a guaranteed success. Sadly, studio interference and a limited budget derailed the sequel – and meant a disappointing start to Fincher’s film career, as well as a low ranking Foreigner films.

Things start boldly with Alien 3 killing Newt and Hicks in the opening scene. From the beginning, the stern tone of Alien 3 clearly differentiates it from the work of James Cameron Aliensalthough the change was not universally appreciated. To Alien 3 credit, the iconic shaved hair Sigourney Weaver delivers a remarkably powerful performance as Ripley and – although hampered by the studio – Fincher’s talents are unmistakable with some beautiful shots throughout. Unfortunately, behind-the-scenes problems are impossible to ignore in the dull, anticlimactic third act.

5

Prometheus (2012)

Ridley Scott’s prequel is bold but uneven

The news of Ridley Scott’s return to science fiction films and Foreigner The franchise was enthusiastically received and many expected the veteran filmmaker to bring the franchise back to its glory days. However, Scott clearly wasn’t interested in simply redoing what he did in Foreignerand so Prometheus It was a very different film than expected.both in tone and content. With PrometheusRidley Scott seemed to be trying hard to create a film within the Foreigner universe that was not explicitly a Foreigner film, and this strange approach translated into less interesting monsters and an over-emphasis on exposition-heavy dialogue.

Although it significantly increases the tradition, the answers Prometheus The answers are also to questions that haven’t really been asked of the franchise – in fact, the xenomorphs were more intimidating when their origin was unknown. However, Scott still delivers a beautiful sci-fi film with some bold ideas and intense sequences. Michael Fassbender is also excellent as the android David, who at times seems as menacing as the alien threats come, and is a more than worthy bearer of the legacy left by the late Ian Holm as Ash in the first Foreigner.

4

Alien: Covenant (2017)

A More Suitable Alien Prequel

After the vague connections of Prometheus left audiences a little confused and disappointed, Ridley Scott fully embraced making another Foreigner film. Scott Alien: Alliance was considered by some as the best Foreigner film from the incomparable Foreigner and aliens, an extremely positive sign for the franchise. Covenant brings the horror back to the xenomorphs, masterfully weaving it between some absolutely stunning visuals and a suspenseful narrative. Again, Michael Fassbender is the film’s standout actorthis time playing dual android roles as the trustworthy Walter and the duplicitous David.

Foreigner: Covenant has the most brutal, bloody and graphic violence of any Foreigner film – the sequence of xenomorphs attacking defenseless victims in the shower helps to cement it as one of the scariest Foreigner films. Katherine Waterston lives up to Sigourney Weaver’s legacy in a fantastic performance, while comedic actor Danny McBride generally provides strong support. Although some foolish decisions by certain characters and Lackluster CGI diminishes immersion at some points, Alien: Alliance contributes to a solid return to form.

3

Foreigner: Rômulo (2024)

Fede Álvarez put the horror back in Alien

2024 marked the return of Foreigner film franchise after a seven-year hiatus after Alien: Allianceand seeing what director Fede Álvarez could do with the iconic property brought plenty of intrigue. Alien: Romulus strikes a surprising balance between pushing the franchise forward and building up universe-wide story points. Set between Foreigner and Aliensis a prequel/sequel that is I’m not afraid to make big changes to traditionmake audiences afraid of xenomorphs again and set up an exciting future for the franchise as a whole.

While everyone Alien: Romulus‘Bold choices might not work for everyone, there’s still a lot to like about the film beyond that. Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson are particularly standout cast memberswith Rain and Andy’s relationship providing the story with fully developed characters. Álvarez also pulls no punches when it comes to portraying the various deaths that occur throughout the film. Sometimes it can get too caught up in franchise connections, but if you go in the extremely bold direction of Alien: Romulus‘ ending, it’s a really good moment.

2

Foreigners (1986)

James Cameron’s most action-oriented sequel to Foreigner falls a little short of that. It effectively raises the stakes by trading one xenomorph for dozens. This sequence also added a new dimension to the character of Ripley, as she became something of a mother figure to young Newt. Seeing Ripley become a full-fledged action hero also earned Weaver an Oscar nominationrare in a genre film. The cast is also full of incredible supporting characters, from the heroic Hicks to the uptight Hudson and the friendly android Bishop.

Aliens It wasn’t as groundbreaking as Ridley Scott’s original, but Cameron’s approach to making sequels is unparalleled. Just as he would later do with Terminator 2Cameron Aliens pitch avoided simply following the same route as the first film and instead turned the Foreigner franchise forever. Subsequent sequels attempted to mix Scott’s atmospheric tension with Cameron’s elevated popcorn entertainment. Even if it falls a little short of the original, Aliens is often considered one of the best sequels ever made.

1

Foreigner (1979)

Ridley Scott made film history with this 1979 sci-fi horror masterpiece, setting an impossibly high standard for all Foreigner films that followed. The film is essentially a haunted house story, with the space setting even more disturbing. Part of the reason the rest of the franchise hasn’t surpassed Scott’s original is that they sought to lean into the sci-fi elements of the sci-fi horror franchise, expanding in scale and scope. However, it is the isolated and frightening claustrophobia of the cramped Nostromo that makes Foreigner so effective – and why it’s still the best Foreigner film.

However, it’s not just absolute terror Foreigner manages to create with a single xenomorph which gives him first place. While other franchises have struggled with flat or two-dimensional human characters ForeignerThe ensemble cast was acclaimed in its own right. Of course, Weaver’s Ripley stands out the most, transforming from supporting character to hero in an organic way that is still held up as an example of impeccable character development to this day.

The biggest contribution of Foreigner although it is, of course, the introduction of the xenomorph itself – an indisputable reference in movie monster design that, just like Foreigner within its own franchise, it has probably yet to be matched. This is the film that everyone else in the franchise still chases and tries to replicate or beat. But so far, nothing has been able to dislodge Ridley Scott’s original from the top spot in the majority. Foreigner movie ratings, including this one.

The best viewing order for the Alien franchise

There are several orders that a person can watch Foreigner franchise for maximum pleasure. Fans were able to watch the films in the order they were released, allowing them to see the films as intended and watch how clues about things are placed in later episodes. However, fans can now also watch them in chronological order, which can give very different meanings to things that happened in older films, such as how the Engineer’s identity was revealed over time.

Here’s a look at the chronological order of the franchise:

With that in mind, the Ripley saga should be watched in order, starting with Foreigner and passing to Aliens, Aliens 3and Alien Resurrection. It can also provide entertainment to watch Alien: Romulus between Foreigner and Aliens since that’s where the film took place, and there would be a short break between Ripley’s victory and her return in the next film. For the prequels, Prometheus and Covenantwhere to watch them is up to the viewer. They provide historical context that could be worthwhile regardless of whether it was seen before or after the Ripley saga.

Ultimately, it’s up to the viewer what experience they want when watching the films. Apart from the Ripley saga, there is little difference in when the films are watched. The only thing that really comes into play is that no one has to watch Alien vs. Predator or Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem unless they really want to. They have nothing to do with the race Aliens franchise and are often considered the weakest releases, intended only for completists.