Few horror franchises have had the impact of Alien. Over the last four-plus decades, there have been nine movies, several video games and comics, and the hit TV series, Alien: Earth. The films have a wide range of quality, but it all started with Ridley Scott‘s Alien, followed by the equally great Aliens from James Cameron seven years later. The original trilogy concluded in 1992 with David Fincher‘s much-maligned Alien 3. Today, Fincher’s debut is looked at differently and deserves to be alongside the first two entries, creating a phenomenal trilogy.
What Is the Alien Trilogy About?
Alien was only Ridley Scott’s second time behind the camera. Most of the action takes place on board a ship called the Nostromo, which lands on an alien planet in search of life. It’s found in the form of numerous eggs, with one releasing a face hugger that attaches itself to the face of poor Kane (John Hurt). When he’s taken back inside the ship, an alien xenomorph rips out. After that, it’s man against beast as the quickly growing monster begins hunting down the crew one by one.
Ridley Scott didn’t return for Aliens. Instead, the job went to James Cameron, who was fresh off The Terminator. Sigourney Weaver returned as well as Ellen Ripley, the only survivor of the Nostromo attack. When Weyland-Yutani decides to go back to the planet, Ripley joins them in an effort to kill the aliens. Once there, what was one alien in the first film now becomes an entire colony as Ripley and a group of Marines engage in a battle that will cost many lives.
David Fincher’s Alien 3 begins with a shocking and highly controversial reveal we won’t give away here. Once more, Ripley is at the center of the action. Now Ripley, having just survived the crash of her ship, is recuperating at a prison where every inmate is a man. If that’s not scary enough for a lone woman, another xenomorph has hatched, and it’ll be up to Ripley to save the day again.
Ridley Scott’s ‘Alien’ Ignited a Long-Running Sci-Fi Franchise
Ridley Scott’s Alien is the perfect sci-fi horror film. The realistic set design, with cold, twisting dark hallways inside the Nostromo, turned Alien into a haunted house flick where the monster could be hiding around every corner. At its center is a singular creature that picks off its prey with ease, like a slasher-film killer. Alien was the fifth-biggest box office draw of 1979. It was only a matter of time before there was a sequel.
The best sequels take what worked before and aim to be bigger and better. James Cameron’s Aliens is definitely bigger and arguably better, but its importance lies in its refusal to repeat what worked before. While Alien is a slow-burning, quiet horror movie, Aliens is all-out action. The premise ups the stakes. Instead of one alien villain, what if there were dozens? It replaces the overwhelmed workers on the Nostromo with well-trained and brave Marines. Importantly, it brings back Ripley and ups the ante by giving her more weapons and a child, Newt (Carrie Henn), whom she must save. Aliens is a thrill ride, and audiences loved it. Once more, for 1986, it was the fifth-biggest movie of the year.
As a Fan of the Alien Franchise, Here’s How I’d Rank All the Movies
A perfect organism. NOT a perfect franchise.
1992’s Alien 3 did not receive the same praise when it came out. David Fincher was new to the game, and a frustrating plot and bad reviews led to mediocre box office returns. The opening scene twist immediately turned off viewers. Today, it’s seen as a brave choice, one that told the audience that the third film wouldn’t hold onto the past. It was going to be its own beast, bleak and dark, for better or worse. The theatrical version of Alien 3 is admittedly flawed. For the best experience, check out the Assembly Cut, which creates an all-new experience with more characterization and alternate xenomorph scenes.
Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley Is One of the Most Iconic Sci-Fi Heroes Ever
The original Alien trilogy made Sigourney Weaver a household name. Her turn as Ellen Ripley was so iconic that the American Film Institute put her at number eight on their list of best film heroes. It’s well-earned. Ripley debuted during an era where the only female heroes were final girls in slashers. Ellen Ripley is so much more than a trope. In Alien, she’s another member of the crew, a smart one who doesn’t want to bring the attacked Kane back on board. When the xenomorph is unleashed, she doesn’t hide. Instead, despite her fear, she takes the fight to the enemy.
In Aliens, Ripley is turned into a badass who could hang with any Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone character of the era. She’s all intent, focus, and cool bravery as she lugs around a grenade launcher and even gets her own iconic catchphrase. (“Get away from her, you bitch!”) Ripley isn’t a simple action hero. She’s a scarred woman, one mourning the loss of her own daughter (as shown in a deleted scene), who must now become a mother-like figure to an orphan girl. Alien 3 strips that away. Ripley is no longer the badass hero. Now her head is shaved, and she’s stuck with the prying eyes of men in an all-male prison. It doesn’t stop her from kicking butt anyway.
There have been many Alien movies since, but none have beaten the original trilogy with Sigourney Weaver and three now-iconic directors who used the franchise to break out. The first two entries are all-time classics passed down over generations. The third is a misunderstood film that deserves a rewatch and a second chance. Put them all together, and you have one of the best three-chapter sci-fi horror stories ever made.
