The Highest-Grossing Film in the Alien Franchise Shows There’s One Last Xenomorph Story to Uncover

The Highest-Grossing Film in the Alien Franchise Shows There’s One Last Xenomorph Story to Uncover

Prometheus stands out as the most financially successful installment in the Alien franchise, yet a significant aspect of its storyline has remained unresolved. Unlike the earlier Alien films featuring Ripley, where each sequel concluded with definitive endings—culminating in the demise of Sigourney Weaver’s character in Alien 3—Prometheus aimed to launch an expanded sci-fi narrative under Ridley Scott’s direction. Both Prometheus (2012) and its sequel, Alien: Covenant, left audiences on cliffhangers, hinting at further developments.

The reception to Scott’s vision was mixed, with critiques often directed at the characters’ questionable decisions and a disconnect from the franchise’s iconic xenomorphs. Following these films’ lukewarm responses, the upcoming 2024 installment, Alien: Romulus, is set to reboot the franchise with fresh leads, effectively steering the series in a new direction. This shift further indicates that Scott’s unresolved Prometheus storyline may not find closure anytime soon.

The Legacy of Prometheus: An Unfinished Tale

The Excitement for the 2012 Prequel

Michael Fassbender's David and Noomi Rapace's Shaw in Prometheus
Custom image by Yeider Chacon

Ridley Scott hadn’t contributed to the Alien series or the science fiction genre for nearly three decades prior to the debut of Prometheus, which heightened audience expectations. The film benefited from an impressive cast, including Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, and Guy Pearce, which added to the anticipation. Totaling a remarkable $400 million in worldwide box office receipts (as reported by Box Office Mojo), Prometheus ranks second only to the original film when adjusted for inflation.

Its cliffhanger promised an exploration of the Engineers, as android David (played by Michael Fassbender) and Dr. Shaw (Noomi Rapace) embarked on a journey to discover humanity’s creators. However, Alien: Covenant shifted narrative focus by eliminating Shaw off-screen and showcasing David’s twisted ambition to create a new life form using the Xenomorph. This sequel closed with an even more significant teaser, where David plotted to explore the colonists in suspended animation for further experimentation with the mysterious black goo.

The Fate of Alien: Covenant and its Implications for the Franchise

Covenant’s Performance and Its Impact

David (Michael Fassbender) from Prometheus and a neomorph from Alien: Covenant
Custom image by Yailin Chacon

In the lead-up to Alien: Covenant, Scott was optimistic, hinting at future films and suggesting that at least two more sequels were planned. However, the film’s box office earnings fell short, accumulating just over $240 million, which stifled any further development of Scott’s vision. While this figure is not catastrophic, it represented a notable decline compared to the performance of Prometheus and suggested that audiences were losing interest in the franchise’s direction.

Every Alien Movie & Spinoff

Release Year

Alien

1979

Aliens

1986

Alien 3

1992

Alien Resurrection

1997

Alien vs Predator

2004

Alien vs Predator: Requiem

2007

Prometheus

2012

Alien: Covenant

2017

Alien: Romulus

2024

This disappointing reception was especially unfortunate as many viewers felt that Alien: Covenant concluded with an engaging cliffhanger that warranted further exploration of David’s character arc. Despite the film showcasing some of Fassbender’s finest performances, the studio hesitated to greenlight another entry, likely questioning the merit of pursuing Scott’s plans given the critical mixed reviews and audience responses.

The Future of the Franchise: Alien: Romulus and Beyond

The Success of Alien: Romulus and Its Implications

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Nevertheless, Alien: Romulus proved successful, grossing over $350 million, which reassured Disney of its strategic decisions regarding the franchise. Though not universally acclaimed, Romulus successfully reignited interest in the Alien universe, incorporating nostalgic callbacks while delivering an engaging and thrilling experience that showcased the talents of rising star David Jonsson. The film achieved its goal of soft-rebooting a stagnating series and reminding audiences of what made Alien so compelling to begin with.

Interestingly, while Romulus carries forward some of the narrative elements from Prometheus, particularly the Engineer’s influence on the black goo, it also hints at a potentially expansive future. The presence of Ripley easter eggs raises speculation about midquels, though caution is advised to avoid missteps. Given that Sigourney Weaver’s return seems unlikely, a complete shift away from her character might yield a more favorable outcome.

Furthermore, with Scott remaining a producer on the series, there exists the possibility of integrating his unused story elements from Awakening into future installments of Alien: Romulus. However, it is essential to steer clear of the original prequels’ pitfalls that suffered from ambitious storytelling but lacked substance. Ultimately, Alien: Romulus successfully reinvigorated the franchise, paving the way for a more promising future.

Source: Box Office Mojo

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