Alien: Romulus marks a return to the roots of the legendary sci-fi horror franchise, drawing from the chilling atmosphere and intense suspense that made the original films iconic. Directed by Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), this ninth installment in the Alien series sets out to offer something fresh to longtime fans and newcomers alike. (Even fans of the video games will enjoy a nod, too.) The movie hits theaters on August 16, and so far, critical responses are mixed.
Set between the events of Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) and James Cameron’s Aliens (1986), the story unfolds as a group of young space colonizers stumbles upon a derelict space station, only to encounter the terrifying xenomorph–which still endures as one of the most fearsome creatures in cinematic history.
The film features an ensemble cast including Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu. With Álvarez at the helm and Scott returning as producer, Alien: Romulus is crafted to blend the original’s claustrophobic horror with a fresh perspective. The screenplay, co-written by Álvarez and his frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues, aims to explore new depths within the Alien universe while staying true to the franchise’s eerie and suspenseful legacy.
However, so far, critical responses are mixed. As of this writing, the film has an 82% score on Rotten Tomatoes (based on 141 reviews) and a Metacritic score of 64 (based on 42 reviews). Here at GameSpot, we gave it a 6/10, noting it as a “louder, jump scare-riddled take” that doesn’t quite recapture the franchise’s original magic. Other reviews range from criticisms of its derivative nature to praise for its intense scares and action–so your mileage may vary.
Alien: Romulus
- Directed by: Fede Álvarez
- Written by: Fede Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues
- Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
- Premiere Date: August 16
- Rating: R
- Runtime: 1 hour, 59 minutes
GameSpot — 6/10
“A louder, jump scare-riddled take on the Alien formula doesn’t prove to be a better one as Alien: Romulus desperately tries to recall what made the franchise’s first two movies great.” — Phil Hornshaw [Full review]
Chicago Reader — No score
“Alien: Romulus feels made by and for people who are familiar with the component parts of an Alien movie but haven’t ever seen one.” — Kyle Logan [Full review]
Austin Chronicle — 2.5/5
“When James Cameron walked into that studio meeting and pitched a monster-hunting action flick as a sequel to the original’s survival horror, he kicked the story’s doors open. Alvarez has just made a patchwork quilt, and the stitching doesn’t always hold.” — Richard Whittaker [Full review]
Vanity Fair — No score
“If it hadn’t had someone of Álvarez’s care and attention at the helm, Romulus could certainly have been a lot worse.” — Richard Lawson [Full review]
Looper — 8/10
“While Romulus is a bit overstuffed, it’s also never boring, and at its best it’s one of the scariest rides you can take at the movies this summer.” — Matthew Jackson [Full review]
ScreenRant — 3.5/5
“Somewhere between Alien & Aliens–fitting given its place in the timeline–Romulus serves up blockbuster-level action & visceral horror all in one.” — Graeme Guttmann [Full review]
Observer — 3/4
“It’s a shallower product than either of its inspirations, but it also has its own, distinct energy. It doesn’t totally jettison the franchise’s 45 years of baggage, but when it does, what’s left is a damn good monster movie.” — Dylan Roth [Full review]
