In 1979, the tagline “In space, nobody can hear you scream” helped codify the Alien franchise as one of the most defining sci-fi horror stories of all time. Since then, the franchise has exploded in popularity with a plethora of action figures, comic books and video games. Any horror fan worth their salt knows what an Xenomorph is—and just how terrifyingly deadly they are. H. R. Giger’s intricate and monstrous designs have seeped their way into popular culture, and the Alien franchise has been delivering thrills for generations.
Despite all that, not all movies in the Alien franchise are created equal. In fact, one could argue that outside of one or two excellent movies, the rest of the franchise is mediocre at best and disposable at worst. The most logical viewing experience would be to watch every Alien movie in release order, but if you're only interested in watching the very best of the franchise, we've got you covered. Here are the five best movies in the Alien franchise that you absolutely must see at least once.
5. AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Horror, as a genre, casts a wide net. Not all horror movies try to go for the same tone, which can lead to several inconsistencies between entries in the same series. The Alien series is all about experimentation, and AVP: Alien vs. Predator is nothing if not experimental… for better or worse.
Like combining peanut butter and chocolate, mixing the Alien and Predator franchises should be a slam dunk. The ultimate hunter versus the ultimate prey. At times, AVP: Alien vs. Predator lives up to that excitement, though the film is limited significantly not only by its CG but also by its PG-13 rating. That said, the actual Predator and Xenomorph fights are still fun, and fans of movies like Freddy vs. Jason (2003) or Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) who just want to see two iconic monsters fight will be left satisfied. Is it a good movie? Not really. It’s definitely one of the weaker Alien films if you want a traditional horror experience. However, if you want a popcorn movie filled with a decent amount of B-movie charm, AVP: Alien vs. Predator is a solid choice.
4. Alien: Covenant (2017)
Seeing Ridley Scott return to the Alien franchise after decades was an exciting moment for fans. This homecoming of sorts delivered two prequels: Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. These films were, and still are, divisive, but of the two, Alien: Covenant is a smidge better than Prometheus.
While Prometheus was more interested in its numerous allegories and expanding on the lore of the series in lieu of the thrills one would expect from an Alien movie, Alien: Covenant tries to have its cake and eat it too. Michael Fassbender is wonderful as the replicant David, delivering a villainous performance that ranks as one of the series’ best. It’s also a fairly gruesome entry in the series, with the film containing some of the most brutal death scenes in the franchise. When the Xenomorphs appear, they instill a sense of fear unlike ever before, and a panic begins to set in that fans of Evil Dead Rise (2023) will feel right at home with. If you’re looking for a more philosophical sci-fi horror movie that still delivers gruesome thrills, Alien: Covenant finds the proper balance between the two.
3. Alien: Romulus (2024)
Seeing the Alien franchise make a resurgence with Alien: Romulus felt like a minor miracle. Here was a franchise that had disappeared after the prequel duology, and here comes a new film that promises to be the most visceral one in the series yet. And the best part? It actually is!
Fede Álvarez delivers an Alien installment that feels just as grimy as Alien3 (1992), but with the artistry of Covenant. In many ways, the film is a jack-of-all-trades. The horror present is gory and pulse-pounding in the same way that his 2013 Evil Dead remake was, injecting gallons of blood and grizzly kills in almost every scene. It also captures the unease of Replicants in a way that hasn’t been felt since the first film and features special effects that rival the original's quality. It may be a bit too eager to throw in callbacks and references, which longtime fans will either love or hate, but as a pure distillation of everything that is Alien, Alien: Romulus has a little something for all kinds of horror fans.
2. Aliens (1986)
Aliens serves as a radical departure from the first film. While Alien (1979) was entirely centered on horror, Aliens injects a heaping dose of action, resulting in one of the finest action movies of the 80s. What helps make Aliens stand out from all the other action movies of its time is entirely because of Sigourney Weaver. While she played Ellen Ripley in the original film, her appearance here helped flesh her out into more of a badass, cementing her as one of the greatest female protagonists of all time.
Femininity and motherhood are strong themes in Aliens, both thanks to Ellen and the Xenomorph Queen, making this a perfect watch for anyone looking for an action movie starring and revolving around women and for anyone who was a fan of the Kill Bill duology. James Cameron knows how to direct an action movie, and the set pieces, script, and characters all help deliver one of the best sequels of all time, right alongside Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991). It may not be quite as scary as the first film, but when the action is this adrenaline-pumping, does it really matter?
1. Alien (1979)
There’s a certain terror that you feel when watching the original Alien. While the franchise has shifted toward action thanks to Cameron’s follow-up, the first film is all about being as terrifying as possible. The premise is simple: A space crew has to contend with an alien that invades their ship. They know very little about it, and the name of the game is survival. It’s an elevation of the slasher genre, taking cues from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) to portray the Xenomorph as an unstoppable monster.
The film also clearly has a love for classic monster movies of the ‘50s, and the decision to make all of its effects practical, much like those classic B-movies, has only helped it stand the test of time. While there were sci-fi horror movies before Alien, very few of them managed to be as scary as this, delivering scares on par with The Exorcist (1973) and Halloween (1978). Yes, the franchise has shifted more toward action in nearly every other installment. However, Alien executes its scares and tension better than any other entry.
