Alien: Romuluswas a welcome return to form for theAlienseries, performing well critically and commercially. Yet, for all its success, the movie was unable to break a significant franchise record – currently held by Ridley Scott’s 2012 prequelPrometheus.Prometheus' place in theAlienfranchiseis often called into question, on account of its many controversial lore changes and retcons. However, despite its mixed reputation, it stands supreme amongAlienfilms in at least one regard.
Much likeAlien: Romulus, contemporary critical reactions toPrometheuswere generally positive. Where the 2024 sequel scored 80% positive reviews, according to the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes, Scott’s film secured a similar 73% rating. In a franchise that has wildly fluctuated throughout its history, this is enough to place both movies near the top of the list whenranking everyAlienmovie. However,whileAlien: RomulusoutperformedPrometheuscritically, it couldn’t match its financial 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 biggest budget in theAlienseries to date. As a result, the pressure was on for the film to perform financially – a challenge it easily overcame.Prometheusmade a little over $400 million at the global box office, setting a new record for anAlienmovie. Even after two follow-up films,Alien: CovenantandAlien: Romulus, it’s a record thatPrometheusstill holds.
$187 million
$183 million
$159 million
$161 million
Alien vs Predator (2004)
$177 million
$130 million
$403 million
$240 million
$350 million
80% Critics / 85% Audiences
By contrast,Alien: Romuluswas made for a relatively middling budget of $80 million and made $350 million globally –placing it second on the all-timeAlienlist for money made. This is an impressive achievement, particularly givenCovenant’s somewhat disappointing performance in 2017, and was undoubtedly helped by the movie receiving the best reviews in the franchise since James Cameron’s 1986 sequel,Aliens. However, it’s telling that even with such a positive buzz,Romulusstill couldn’t unseatPrometheusat the summit. If an 80%-rated sequel, revitalizing the franchise with fresh blood, couldn’t beatPrometheus, it’s unlikely anything can.
Why Prometheus Made So Much Money
There are several reasons whyPrometheuswas and remains such a financial success. The first, and perhaps most important, is the wider state of theAlienfranchise when the film was released. The pulpyAlien vs. Predatorfilms aside,Alienhad remained dormant as a series for 25 years beforePrometheus' release. SinceAlien: Resurrectionended the original quadrilogy on a decidedly mediocre note, fans had been craving a film that could finally enhance the legacy of the first two entries in the franchise. Ahead of its release, hopes were high thatPrometheuscould be that film, driving audience interest.
[Prometheus'] prequel status made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and newcomers to the series, since it promised to be an introduction and a fresh start.
There was also the intriguing mystery around the movie’s story and wider relevance to theAliennarrative. Pre-release,Ridley Scott had teased cryptic connections aboutPrometheussharing “Alien’s DNA"and a story set to focus on the strange"space jockeys” from the 1979 original. Its prequel status made it an intriguing prospect for both existing fans and newcomers to the series, since it promised to be an introduction and a fresh start. It was a potent mix that will be almost impossible for any future film to recapture in the same way.
Alien: Romulus Timeline - When It Takes Place Compared To The Other Movies
The ninth installment in the Alien film 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 expansive sci-fi spectacle– promising state-of-the-art visual effects and incredible visuals. Despite its cerebral themes, this made it more appealing to a mass audience than the more traditional grungy body-horror that has been a hallmark of the franchise. While it’s not impossible for later films to go down the bid-budget sci-fi route, such an approach would seem to be at odds with theAlienseries' horror origins.
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 new films to break records, the truth is thatbeatingPrometheus' box office shouldn’t be theAlienfranchise’s primary driver. Time and again, the series has proven that it is at its best when spectacle and blockbuster set pieces are used to support the story, rather than justify it. At their core, the most successfulAlienfilms all embrace the series' unique blend of science fiction and horror – a combination that, by its nature, isn’t for everyone. It’s telling that, even adjusted for inflation, there is not a huge financial discrepancy between the best and worst films in the series.
Movies likeAliendo not need to make $1 billion to justify their existence. Ridley Scott’s 1979 original, which made around $187 million, is widely cited as one of the most influential and important sci-fi horror movies of all time, with praise reserved for its unique design and inventively gory chills. Likewise,Alien: Romuluswas widely praised for returning to the series' blood-soaked origins and was much more violent thanPrometheus. The 2012 film proves that it’s possible to create a more commercially-minded film set in theAlienuniverse. However, it’s mixed legacy proves that this isn’t necessarily what’s best for the franchise.
Prometheus
Cast
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
