Summary
- Alien: Romulus earns a solid 82% initial critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, placing it third in the franchise behind Alien and Aliens.
- The film, directed by Fede Álvarez, is set between Alien and Aliens, featuring scavenging space colonists facing Xenomorph horrors.
- Despite not matching the scores of the first two films, Alien: Romulus is a return to form for the franchise in of its score.
The Rotten Tomatoes score for story of Alien: Romulus takes place between the events of Alien and Aliens, following space colonists who stumble across an abandoned space station. Determined to gather supplies, the group soon learns they've stumbled across the home of a Xenomorph living on the ship. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez, best known for 2013's Evil Dead and the 2016 thriller Don't Breathe.
Now, Rotten Tomatoes has indicated positive reviews for Alien: Romulus, with a critics score of 85% based on 68 reviews as of writing. This puts the movie just behind the critics score of Alien, which is 93%, and that of Aliens, which sits at 94%. This makes it the third highest-rated movie in the franchise on the site, indicating just how much of a return to form it is, even if it's a slightly lower score than the first two installments.
Ridley Scott's prequel movies Prometheus and Alien: Covenant also have fresh scores on Rotten Tomatoes, holding a 73% and 65% respectively.
Why Alien: Romulus Is (Almost) As Good As The First Two Movies
Gore & Easter Eggs Triumph In The Sequel
Reviews for Alien: Romulus have been extremely positive, with many praising it or having a similar aesthetic to Ridley Scott’s original movie. Many critics have praised it for putting the horror of the franchise first, including terrifying kill scenes and plenty of references to previous movies. Others still praise Cailee Spaeny as lead character Rain, marking her performance as a key standout within all the gore and terror onscreen. These elements indicate the movie is just as memorable as the originals that defined the franchise.
However, the film isn't without criticisms, as some have pointed out a reliance on Easter eggs and references to previous movies that make it feel less standalone than previously thought. While some of these could involve story elements that have yet to be revealed, some critics indicate there are many familiar elements and kills that make it feel like a retread of the movies that came before. Since this is the seventh installment of the series, it's unsurprising for this to be the case. However, repeated elements of the Alien movie timeline could be a deal-breaker for some interested viewers.
Where To Watch Alien Romulus: Showtimes & Streaming Status
Alien: Romulus marks the return of the Alien movie franchise, and there are options for where to watch it in theaters or at home on streaming.
Nonetheless, the high score indicates that, while some elements from past films are present, Alien: Romulus manages to stand on its own thanks to strong characters and thrilling horror. Since the movie is clearly a return to form for the franchise, its references might instead be exciting for eagle-eyed viewers as the film unfolds. With a high score praising the horrors in store, it seems the film is a proper entry in the franchise that does justice to all that's come before.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
Alien: Romulus
- Release Date
- August 16, 2024
- Runtime
- 119 Minutes
- Director
- Fede Alvarez
Cast
Rain
Andy
WHERE TO WATCH
Alien: Romulus is the seventh film in the Alien franchise. The movie is directed by Fede Álvarez and will focus on a new young group of characters who come face to face with the terrifying Xenomorphs. Alien: Romulus is a stand-alone film and takes place in a time not yet explored in the Alien franchise.
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