Alien: Romulus was a welcome return to form for the Alien series, performing well critically and commercially. Despite all its success, the movie was unable to break a significant franchise record – currently held by Ridley Scott’s 2012 prequel Prometheus. Prometheus‘ Place in the Alien Franchise is often called into question, because of its many controversial changes and retons. However, despite its mixed reputation, it stands tall among Alien films in at least one regard.
Much like Alien: RomulusContemporary critical reactions to Prometheus are generally positive. Where the 2024 sequel scored 80% positive reviews, according to the review aggregator Rotten tomatoesScott’s film secured a similar 73% rating. In a franchise that has fluctuated wildly throughout its history, that’s enough to put both movies near the top of the list when ranking each. Alien Movie. however, While Alien: Romulus outperformed Prometheus Critically, it could not match its financial success.
Alien: Romulus Couldn’t Beat Prometheus’ Box Office Record
Ridley Scott’s movie remains the highest in the series
Made for an estimated $120 million, Prometheus commanded the largest budget in the Alien series to date. As a result, the pressure was on for the film to perform financially – a challenge it easily overcame. Prometheus Made a little over $400 million at the global box officeSet a new record for an Alien Movie. Even after two follow-up films, Alien: Covenant And Alien: RomulusIt’s a record that Prometheus Hold still.
|
Movie |
Box Office |
Rotten tomatoes |
|---|---|---|
|
alien (1979) |
$187 million |
93% critics / 94% audience |
|
Aliens (1986) |
$183 million |
94% critics / 94% audience |
|
Alien 3 (1992) |
$159 million |
44% critics / 46% audience |
|
Alien Resurrection (1997) |
$161 million |
55% critics / 39% audience |
|
Alien vs. Predator (2004) |
$177 million |
22% critics / 39% audience |
|
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) |
$130 million |
12% critics / 30% audience |
|
Prometheus (2012) |
$403 million |
73% critics / 68% audience |
|
Alien: Covenant (2017) |
$240 million |
65% critics / 55% audience |
|
Alien: Romulus (2024) |
$350 million |
80% critics / 85% audience |
rather, Alien: Romulus was made for a relatively modest budget of $80 million and made $350 million globally – placing it second on the all-time Alien List for money made. This is an impressive achievement, especially given Bond‘s somewhat disappointing performance in 2017, and was undoubtedly helped by the film receiving the best reviews in the franchise since James Cameron’s 1986 sequel, Aliens. However, it’s telling that even with such positive buzz, Romulus Still couldn’t settle down Prometheus At the top. If an 80%-rated sequel, revitalizing the franchise with fresh blood, can’t beat PrometheusIt’s unlikely anything can.
Why Prometheus made so much money
It has many factors in its favor
There are several reasons why Prometheus was and remains such a financial success. The first, and perhaps most important, is the broad state of the Alien franchise when the film was released. The paste Alien vs. Predator films apart, Alien has remained dormant as a series for 25 years previously Prometheus‘ Notice. Since Alien: Resurrection Ending the original quadrilogy on a disappointingly mediocre note, fans have been craving a film that could finally enhance the legacy of the first two entries in the franchise. Before its release, hopes are high that Prometheus May be that film, driving audience interest.
[Prometheus‘] Prequel status made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and newcomers to the series, since it promised to be an introduction and a fresh start.
There was also the intriguing mystery surrounding the story of the movie and a wider relationship to it Alien narrative. for publication, Ridley Scott has teased cryptic connections about Prometheus share “Alien’s DNA“ And a story set to focus on the strange”Space jockeys” of the 1979 original. Its prequel status made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and newcomers to the series, since it promised to be an introduction and a fresh start. It was a powerful mix that will be almost impossible for any future Film to recover in the same way.
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Another underrated consideration is Prometheus‘ Budget and history. Whereas Alien was a claustrophobic”Haunted house movie in place“, Prometheus was a deliberately expansive sci-fi spectacle – Promising modern visual effects and incredible visuals. Despite its cerebral themes, this made it more appealing to a mass audience than the more traditional grungy body horror that was a hallmark of the franchise. While it’s not impossible for later films to go down the budget sci-fi route, such an approach would seem to be at odds with the Alien Series ‘Horror Origins’.
The foreign franchise should not worry about beating Prometheus
It is best when it takes a different approach
While it is understandable that studios would want new films to break records, the truth is that Hit PrometheusBox office should not be the Alien Franchise’s primary driver. Time and again, the series has proven that it is at its best when spectacle and blockbuster set pieces are used to support the story, rather than justify it. In their heart, the most successful Alien Films all embrace the series’ unique blend of science fiction and horror—a combination that, by its very nature, isn’t for everyone. It is telling that, even adjusted for inflation, there is not a huge financial discrepancy between the best and worst films in the series.
Movies like Alien Don’t need to make $1 billion to justify their existence. Ridley Scott’s 1979 original, which made around $187 million, is widely cited as one of the most influential and important sci-fi horror movies of all time, with praise reserved for its unique design and inventive gory chills. so too, Alien: Romulus was widely praised for returning to the series’ blood-soaked origins and was much more violent than Prometheus. The 2012 film proves that it is possible to create a more commercially minded film set in the Alien Universe. However, the mixed legacy proves that this is not necessarily what is best for the franchise.