Columbus, OH

Looper

The "Alien" movie saga has had its ups and downs. While entries like "Alien: Covenant" and "Prometheus" have received their share of moderately positive attention, the first two movies remain the franchise's brightest gems. Fans of Xenomorph horror would no doubt love to see the first brilliant entry in the series since 1986's "Aliens." Unfortunately, it's still unclear whether that fine day is looming on the horizon. The first reactions to Fede Álvarez's upcoming "Alien" movie are now here — and while many are positive, there's enough division that it remains to be seen whether "Alien: Romulus" will blow you away.

Alien: Romulus First Reactions Aren't Holding Back

GamesRadar

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Alien: Earth – Everything we know about the Alien TV show

ScreenCrush

Alien: Romulus is the ninth film in the Alien franchise that started way back in 1989 with Ridley Scott’s classic sci-fi horror movie. That includes sequels, prequels, and even a couple crossovers with the Predator franchise. And the new Romulus movie actually draws pretty heavily on the existing lore of the series — mostly from Alien, but also from Aliens, Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, and even some of the other sequels.

‘Alien’ Recap: What to Know Before ‘Alien: Romulus’

Streaming on Men's Journal Pursuits

Where you can watch all the Alien films and which order you should watch them in.

How To Watch All Alien Films – Story Order and Release Order

Starring Cailee Spaeney, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced. After three sequels, two crossover movies, and two Ridley Scott directed prequels, the Alien franchise feels somewhat directionless at the moment. No one has tried to continue Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) story post-Resurrection (dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1997), and Disney apparently has little interest in letting Scott complete his David trilogy. In a lot of ways that makes sense: aside from Aliens, every other follow up to the 1979 original has more detractors than fans. Positioning Alien: Romulus as a safe bet from the Xenomorphs’ new Disney owners–although it did feature prominently in one of their theme parks from 1989-2017) to welcome fans back to the fold–makes a lot of sense when you think about it from a studio perspective. And the choice of director and co-writer in Fede Álvarez, who successfully brought Evil Dead back to life with his 2013 standalone film, underlines this. But that is not why we are here.

ALIEN: ROMULUS feels like ALIEN: THE RIDE

For many fans, the Alien franchise officially ended after James Cameron’s Aliens. Everything that came afterward never felt like it matched the standard of the first two films as the story ventured into strange terrains. Never mind Ridley Scott’s much talked-about prequels, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, that seemed obsessed with philosophical metaphors and the creation (as well as the meaning) of life. Consequently, the anticipation for the Ellen Ripley-less Alien: Romulus was about as high as a Chihuahua looking forward to a bath.

‘Alien: Romulus’ Cares, Scares, and Dares to Be Controversial

I don’t know if I’ve ever been as frustrated by a movie as I am by Alien: Romulus. I would say Alien is my favorite film of all time, and Aliens isn’t far behind. This interstitial entry in the long-running action/horror franchise is more of a greatest hits showcase than a new horizon. It’s an impressive accomplishment, but the dawning horror of a Xenomorph attack fits comfortably alongside the terror of watching a franchise self-consciously consume itself.

Alien: Romulus Review — A Screaming Thrill Ride Without Much To Say

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make important astronomical discoveries. Sometimes, all it takes is an internet connection and some spare time. That’s all Tom Bickle, Martin Kabatnik, and Austin Rothermich needed to find a celestial object rocketing through the Milky Way at roughly one million miles (1.6 million kilometers) per hour. The trio were participants in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, an online collaboration wherein volunteers look at images captured by NASA’s recently retired Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The goal is to identify objects at the edge of the solar system, such as brown dwarfs (balls of gas too big to be planets, but too small to be stars), low-mass stars, and even a hypothesized ninth planet orbiting the Sun.

Citizen Scientists Spot Weird Object Careening Across the Cosmos at Ludicrous Speeds

“In space, no one can hear you scream,” went the tagline for the original “Alien” in 1979, a terrifying thought on multiple levels. There may indeed be a scientific rationale for a space scream to be inaudible, but isn't it scarier to simply realize nobody’s around to hear you? That was the case for Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, once she became the last one standing against the fearsome Xenomorph. Nobody could hear her scream — nobody human, that is — because, duh, everyone was dead.

Movie Review: Yep. They’re back! ‘Alien: Romulus’ introduces next-gen Xenomorph foe Cailee Spaeny

Showbiz Cheat Sheet

'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' stopped the director of 'Alien' from eating his lunch. In addition, the director said 'Alien' was similar to 'The Exorcist'. If you’ve seen two 1970s horror movies, they were probably The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Alien. Interestingly, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre inspired the director of Alien in a major way. In addition, the director said Alien was similar to The Exorcist.

How ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ Inspired ‘Alien’

While Alien: Romulus delivers on its terrifying thrills and brutal xenomorph kills, does the new Fede Álvarez flick have a post-credits scene waiting for fans at the very end? Here’s what you need to know. Seven years removed from the last film in the franchise, Alien: Romulus has...

Does Alien: Romulus have a post-credits scene?

FanSided

With Alien: Romulus releasing theatrically this week, many film buffs and Alien fans are rushing to do a complete franchise rewatch, but is that really necessary to do before the latest movie in the series? Not quite. While it's never a bad time to rewatch the Alien movies, if you're...

Which Alien movies do you need you watch before Alien: Romulus?

Ridley Scott's 'Alien' remains one of the most acclaimed horror movies of all time. Scott revealed he had issues with 'Alien vs. Predator' and the 'Alien' franchise as a whole.

Why ‘Alien’ Director Ridley Scott Hated ‘Alien vs. Predator’

Here's the thing - you don't need to know anything about the Alien franchise to enjoy Alien: Romulus. Director (and horror maven) Fede Álvarez has even said as much. But you, loyal Popverse reader, aren't only interested in the information you need, are you? No, you, my beautiful weirdo, are interested in all the information you can have.

Catch up on the Alien timeline, from Prometheus to Resurrection, ahead of Romulus's release

Consequence (formerly Consequence Of Sound)

A well-used express elevator to hell, courtesy of Don't Breathe director Fede Alvarez. 
Alien: Romulus Slithers Its Way Through a Fun But Familiar Entry in the Series: Review
Clint Worthington

Alien: Romulus Slithers Its Way Through a Fun But Familiar Entry in the Series: Review

Entertainment Weekly

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alien: Romulus. With each generation, cultural customs change, but some things from my day — and that of my parents and grandparents — remain. It is right and good and important that couples occasionally make a date at the cinema to see something aimed more at the central nervous system than at the head. It should offer opportunities to squirm in your seat, to mutter "ew, gross," even to shout out, "Girl, don't go in there!" It is also key that if attention wanders from the screen during some of the talky bits in favor of making out, you'll still easily piece together what's happening when a crash on the soundtrack recaptures your attention. I am happy to say that Alien: Romulus, the 75th entry in the Alien franchise (note to self: double-check that number) easily ticks all these boxes.

Alien: Romulus launches Cailee Spaeny into winning gross-out orbit

WhatToWatch

If you're planning to watch the new Alien: Romulus, here's which of the other Alien movies you need to watch first.

Do you need to watch Alien or Prometheus to understand Alien: Romulus?

The very first Alien in 1979 described its central character as a “perfect organism” with a “structural perfection” that “is matched only by its hostility.” And while not every Alien movie has been structurally perfect, their hostility toward humanity (and especially poor Sigourney Weaver) might be unmatched among big Hollywood franchises.

Every ‘Alien’ Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

Of the ’90s Trek series to get their proverbial flowers in the franchise’s streaming renaissance, Deep Space Nine has arguably been the show that, much as it was in the ’90s, has been treated as a bit of an underdog. With a few nods here and there, and a few voice-over returns in Lower Decks, it’s not been entirely brushed aside, but it’s not exactly on the same level of things like Star Trek: Picard becoming a big Next Generation follow-up, or Prodigy being a loving tribute to Voyager and Captain Janeway’s legacy in particular. But if Paramount’s Star Trek future were to include some kind of Deep Space Nine love letter, maybe don’t include a Miles O’Brien appearance among the plans.

Colm Meaney Isn’t Sure Star Trek Needs an Old Man Miles O’Brien

USA TODAY

Director Fede Alvarez's "Alien: Romulus" unleashes familiar franchise foes like Facehuggers and Chestbursters while embracing new youthful swagger.

'Alien: Romulus' movie review: Familiar sci-fi squirms get a sheen of freshness

NewsBreak

What You Need to Remember Before Alien: Romulus

The Alien franchise is probably one of the top four or five sci-fi brands out there. From its dynamite first two installments, to its saturation into...

What You Need to Remember Before Alien: Romulus

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