Ridley Scott’s Alien movie gets a second chance on streaming, after grossing just $240 million in its theatrical run. Scott launched a future franchise with his 1979 sci-fi classic about a spaceship crew’s terrifying encounter with a previously-unknown alien species.
Others would take up the task of truly establishing that franchise, including James Cameron, whose 1986 action-horror film Aliens became as much of a classic as the original. Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection followed, and then came a pair of Alien vs. Predator spinoff films.
Though Scott maintained a producing credit on the Alien movies, he did not direct another one until 2012’s Prometheus, a divisive effort that nevertheless was able to gross $403 million worldwide ($573 million adjusted for inflation). Scott returned to direct the next entry in the franchise, but the movie proved a disappointment at the box office.
Scott’s Alien: Covenant Has Been Resurrected On Streaming
Eight years after making just $240 million ($303 million adjusted for inflation), Scott’s Alien: Covenant has resurfaced as a streaming hit. The eighth film in the Alien franchise, it was followed by 2024’s Alien: Romulus, with Scott taking a pᴀss on directing again.
Scott’s likely final Alien franchise entry as a director, Alien: Covenant is enjoying a streaming resurgence, landing at #3 on HBO Max’s Top 10 movies chart. The 2017 release ranks behind a pair of 2025 movies, Final Destination Bloodlines and Death of a Unicorn, and ahead of the acclaimed 2025 release Sinners.
Our Take On Alien: Covenant Becoming A Streaming Hit
The box office for Alien: Covenant seemed to indicate that interest in the long-running sci-fi franchise was waning. 2024’s Alien: Romulus provided some hope, however, when it grossed $350 million on a relatively sensible budget of $80 million.
A tenth theatrical film entry in the Alien franchise is always a possibility, but for now, the scene is shifting to the small screen with Alien: Earth, Noah Hawley’s Hulu series in which the Xenomorph finally makes its way to the human home-world.
Anticipation for Alien: Earth may be sending streaming subscribers looking for other franchise entries to revisit or see for the first time, boosting the numbers for Alien: Covenant. Scott’s 2017 film is a natural one to watch ahead of the show’s release, as the events it depicts directly precede those of the new series in the overall Alien timeline.
It’s yet to be seen how Alien: Earth may connect to the movie series, and specifically Alien: Covenant. It is entirely possible that, from a preparation standpoint, there’s no point in watching Covenant, or any other Alien movie, ahead of Hulu’s new series.
Revisiting Alien: Covenant may still be a worthwhile venture, however, as despite its low box office returns and lukewarm critical ᴀssessment (65% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), it does provide some old-school Alien thrills, and does feature a memorable performance by Michael Fᴀssbender as the android David, while somewhat following up on the mysteries introduced in Prometheus.
