Having seen the latest entry in the “Alien” franchise over the weekend, I can safely say that “Alien: Romulus” is comfortably the third best entry in the iconic sci-fi series. Dating back to Ridley Scott‘s original from in 1979, the “Alien” universe has expanded across multiple mediums, having boasted: video games, comic books, novelisations and animated series to name a few, not to mention the seven canonically linked feature films and two cross-over projects with the “Predator” franchise. Despite a drop in quality since the earliest outings, the franchise is still regarded as one of the most iconic in both the science fiction and horror genres, and I will always remain excited whenever a new project is announced.
To celebrate the release of Fede Alvarez‘s latest release, I have constructed my own personal ranking of all seven films within 20th Century Studios’ “Alien” Universe, as well as including the non-canonical “Alien vs. Predator” titles. Let me know your favourite “Alien” movie in the comments.
My Ranking:
9. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
Dir: Greg Strause, Colin Strause
Cast: Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis, Ariel Gade
Synopsis: A spacecraft brings a lethal alien to Earth, followed by another predator who aims to kill the former. Meanwhile, a bunch of survivors too split into two rivalling groups in a bid to save themselves.
My Rating: 1.5/5
8. Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Dir: Paul W. S. Anderson
Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan
Synopsis: Weyland Industries discovers a pyramid buried under an island in the Antarctic. The owner sends a group of archaeologists to investigate it but the humans get trapped in a war between two alien races.
My Rating: 2/5
7. Alien 3 (1992)
Dir: David Fincher
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Lance Henriksen
Synopsis: Ellen Ripley’s escape pod crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a penal colony planet terrorised by an alien. She rallies the inmates into killing it but realises that she is carrying an alien embryo herself.
My Rating: 2.5/5
6. Alien: Covenant (2017)
Dir: Ridley Scott
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demian Bichir
Synopsis: The crew of a colony ship, Covenant, receive a radio transmission from a habitable planet. However, they encounter deadly aliens while investigating the planet and try to escape.
My Rating: 3/5
5. Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, J. E. Freeman, Brad Dourif
Synopsis: Ripley 8, a human-alien hybrid clone, is aboard a vessel, Auriga, along with space pirates. However, when aliens invade Auriga, Ripley does her best to prevent them from reaching and destroying Earth.
My Rating: 3/5
4. Prometheus (2012)
Dir: Ridley Scott
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron
Synopsis: After a clue to mankind’s origins is discovered, explorers are sent to the darkest corner of the universe. Their different expectations take a toll on them when they find something unimaginable.
My Rating: 3.5/5
3. Alien: Romulus (2024)
Dir: Fede Alvarez
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu
Synopsis: Space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life-form in the universe while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.
My Rating: 4/5
2. Alien (1979)
Dir: Ridley Scott
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto
Synopsis: The crew of a spacecraft, Nostromo, intercept a distress signal from a planet and set out to investigate it. However, to their horror, they are attacked by an alien which later invades their ship.
My rating: 5/5
1. Aliens (1986)
Dir: James Cameron
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Rico Ross, Al Matthews
Synopsis: Ellen Ripley is sent back to the planet LV-426 to establish contact with a terraforming colony. Once there, she encounters the Alien Queen and her offspring and has to fight them to survive.
My Rating: 5/5
Dan Loves Film 
I would put them in exactly the same order as you did, Dan! Great job! 🌺
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Nice list it looked similar to another list I saw online elsewhere. but I like how your reviews scores back up the placement. although it’s sad there to see a 3 or 4 way fight for the bottom.
my only thing is comparing Alien to Aliens seems almost that they’re not in the same genre.
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Alien and Aliens are very interchangable depending on mood as they are different but both masterpieces
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Terrific list! SO great to hear that the series has righted itself…hoping they can continue to take the story in an interesting worthwhile direction!
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Great ranking of the Alien movies. I have not seen all the movies just yet but I do love the first film most. Ridley Scott’s 1979 film set the standard for the genre. The breathtaking special effects, great acting and strong storytelling combine to create a movie that’s truly a classic. I look forward to seeing the rest of the films but doubt whether they will live up to the first movie. It’s truly a classic in a league of its own.
Here’s why I loved the first “Alien” movie:
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