Alien: Romulus
Alien : Romuluswas a welcome return to form for theAlienseries , perform well critically and commercially . Yet , for all its achiever , the movie was unable to break a significant franchise criminal record – currently held by Ridley Scott ’s 2012 prequelPrometheus . Prometheus ' position in theAlienfranchiseis often name into question , on account of its many controversial lore changes and retcons . However , despite its mixed repute , it digest supreme amongAlienfilms in at least one respect .
Much likeAlien : Romulus , modern-day critical reactions toPrometheuswere generally overconfident . Where the 2024 sequel grade 80 % positive reviews , according to the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes , Scott ’s cinema secure a similar 73 % military rating . In a franchise that has wildly fluctuate throughout its history , this is enough to point both movies near the top of the list whenranking everyAlienmovie . However , whileAlien : RomulusoutperformedPrometheuscritically , it could n’t twin its fiscal success .
Alien: Romulus Couldn’t Beat Prometheus' Box Office Record
Ridley Scott’s Movie Remains The Highest-Grossing In The Series
Made for an estimated $ 120 million , Prometheuscommanded the expectant budget in theAlienseries to date . As a consequence , the pressure was on for the film to do financially – a challenge it easily overcame . Prometheusmade a little over $ 400 million at the global box office , set up a new record for anAlienmovie . Even after two follow - up films , Alien : CovenantandAlien : Romulus , it ’s a record thatPrometheusstill detainment .
moving-picture show
Box Office
Rotten Tomatoes
Alien ( 1979 )
$ 187 million
Custom image by Tommy Lethbridge
93 % Critics / 94 % Audiences
Aliens ( 1986 )
$ 183 million
94 % Critics / 94 % interview
Alien 3 ( 1992 )
$ 159 million
44 % critic / 46 % audience
Alien Resurrection ( 1997 )
$ 161 million
55 % critic / 39 % audience
Alien vs Predator ( 2004 )
$ 177 million
2012’s Prometheus is the fifth installment in the Alien franchise and was directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, the film acts as a direct prequel to 1979’s Alien.
22 % Critics / 39 % Audiences
Aliens vs. Predator : Requiem ( 2007 )
$ 130 million
12 % critic / 30 % consultation
Prometheus ( 2012 )
$ 403 million
73 % Critics / 68 % Audiences
Alien : Covenant ( 2017 )
$ 240 million
65 % Critics / 55 % Audiences
Alien : Romulus ( 2024 )
$ 350 million
80 % critic / 85 % Audiences
By direct contrast , Alien : Romuluswas made for a comparatively fair budget of $ 80 million and made $ 350 million globally – aim it secondly on the all - timeAlienlist for money made . This is an telling accomplishment , particularly givenCovenant ’s somewhat unsatisfying performance in 2017 , and was undoubtedly helped by the picture receiving the honorable reviews in the enfranchisement since James Cameron ’s 1986 subsequence , Aliens . However , it ’s telling that even with such a overconfident buzz , Romulusstill could n’t unseatPrometheusat the summit . If an 80%-rated sequel , revitalize the franchise with fresh lineage , could n’t beatPrometheus , it ’s improbable anything can .
Why Prometheus Made So Much Money
It Had Lots Of Factors In Its Favor
There are several reasons whyPrometheuswas and remain such a financial winner . The first , and perhaps most authoritative , is the wider nation of theAlienfranchise when the film was release . The pulpyAlien vs. Predatorfilms apart , Alienhad stay abeyant as a series for 25 years beforePrometheus ' handout . SinceAlien : Resurrectionended the original quadrilogy on a in spades second-rate billet , devotee had been hunger a motion-picture show that could finally enhance the legacy of the first two entries in the franchise . onwards of its dismission , hope were mellow thatPrometheuscould be that film , driving audience pastime .
[ Prometheus ' ] prequel position made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and freshman to the serial publication , since it promised to be an introduction and a fresh start .
There was also the challenging closed book around the movie ’s story and wider relevancy to theAliennarrative . Pre - release , Ridley Scott had badger deep connections aboutPrometheussharing " Alien ’s DNA"and a news report set to focus on the strange"space jockey " from the 1979 original . Its prequel position made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and starter to the serial publication , since it promised to be an unveiling and a fresh start . It was a potent mix that will be almost out of the question for any future film to recapture in the same way .
The ninth episode in the Alien cinema series , Alien : Romulus , has been released 38 years after the first movie , but it makes the timeline confusing .
Another underrated consideration isPrometheus ' budget and story . WhereasAlienwas a claustrophobic " haunted house movie in space",Prometheuswas a deliberately heroic sci - fi spectacle – promising state - of - the - art visual effects and unbelievable visuals . Despite its intellectual themes , this made it more likable to a mass audience than the more traditional grungy body - repulsion that has been a stylemark of the enfranchisement . While it ’s not unsufferable for later motion-picture show to go down the play - budget sci - fi route , such an approach would seem to be at odds with theAlienseries ' horror stock .
The Alien Franchise Shouldn’t Worry About Beating Prometheus
It’s At Its Best When It Takes A Different Approach
While it ’s understandable that studios would want fresh films to break records , the truth is thatbeatingPrometheus ' corner federal agency should n’t be theAlienfranchise ’s primary driver . Time and again , the series has turn up that it is at its best when spectacle and blockbuster set objet d’art are used to support the narrative , rather than justify it . At their core , the most successfulAlienfilms all espouse the series ' unparalleled blend of scientific discipline fiction and revulsion – a combination that , by its nature , is n’t for everyone . It ’s telling that , even adjust for inflation , there is not a huge financial discrepancy between the best and worst cinema in the series .
motion-picture show likeAliendo not require to make $ 1 billion to justify their universe . Ridley Scott ’s 1979 master , which made around $ 187 million , is wide summons as one of the most influential and authoritative sci - fi horror movies of all time , with praise reserved for its unique designing and inventively gory chill . also , Alien : Romuluswas wide praised for returning to the serial ' rakehell - soaked stemma and was much more crimson thanPrometheus . The 2012 picture proves that it ’s possible to create a more commercially - tending movie set in theAlienuniverse . However , it ’s motley bequest turn out that this is n’t needfully what ’s dear for the enfranchisement .
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2012 ’s Prometheus is the fifth installment in the Alien enfranchisement and was lead by Ridley Scott . Starring Noomi Rapace , Michael Fassbender , Idris Elba , and Guy Pearce , the film acts as a lineal prequel to 1979 ’s Alien .
