Essential Reminders Before Diving into Alien: Romulus
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The Alien franchise? It's freakin' awesome, man! You know, one of the best sci-fi brands out there, no contest. We're talkin' about those kickass initial installments that blew our minds, and their influence on pop culture? Unreal. Whenever a new flick drops, we're all ears, and Alien: Romulus from director Fede Alvarez is exactly that - epic!
The flick unfolds between Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens, leaving plenty of space to explore (around six decades, if you're gripping the calendar). But let's get real - do you need to binge-watch all the other Alien films to make sense of everything? Hell no! Romulus stands alone as a killer movie with a simple story accessible to any viewer.
But here's the cool part - if you do catch any of the other Alien flicks, you'll enjoy it on a whole other level. Trust me, pal, the original Alien is the cinematic gold standard and is linked to Romulus. There are connections aplenty that we ain't spoiling here. So, if you're in a time crunch and can only watch one, make it that one. But if you've got the time and inclination, check out stuff like Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant. Sure, the connections are loose, but you'll notice the same flavors Alvarez blends into his story. For instance, after watching Alien Resurrection (yeah, I did), there were moments that had me fist-pumping like the Rick Dalton meme from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. And the same goes for most of the others - the 1979 original sets the foundation, and the rest adds color to Alvarez's masterpiece.
Now here's the cherry on top - any day is improved by re-watching Alien or Aliens. And let me tell ya, things are about to get way better as you catch Alien: Romulus in theaters starting Friday!
Craving more io9 treats? Dive into the release dates for the latest Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, the upcoming moves for the DC Universe on film and TV, and every cozy corner of the future Doctor Who universe!
Enrichment Data:
To get the most out of Alien: Romulus, it's best to watch the Alien franchise in chronological order. However, Romulus is a side story that can be approached in different ways:
Chronological Viewing Order (with AVP movies):
- Prometheus (2012)
- Explores the origins of humanity and the creation of the Xenomorphs, set in 2093.
- Alien: Covenant (2017)
- Takes place in 2104, and follows directly from Prometheus.
- Alien vs. Predator (2004)
- Not directly connected to the original story, but fits chronologically on Earth timelines.
- Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)
- The sequel to AVP.
- Alien (1979)
- The original film, set in 2122, where the crew of the Nostromo discovers the Xenomorph.
- Aliens (1986)
- Occurs in 2179, focusing on the colony on LV-426.
- Alien 3 (1992)
- Continues from Aliens, set in the same year, 2179.
- Alien: Resurrection (1997)
- Takes place 200 years after the events of Alien 3, in 2381.
- Alien: Romulus (2024)
For focusing solely on the main franchise:
- Prometheus
- Alien: Covenant
- Alien
- Aliens
- Alien 3
- Alien: Resurrection
- Alien: Romulus (This standalone film benefits from familiarity with the original films.)
Alien: Romulus stands independently from the prequels and Alien vs. Predator films, offering a unique Alien experience that doesn't rely heavily on prequel events for understanding.
- The upcoming movie, Alien: Romulus, is expected to deliver a thrilling experience, as it fits snugly in the Alien franchise timeline between Ridley Scott's Alien and James Cameron's Aliens.
- For those who wish to fully appreciate the connections and flavors in Alien: Romulus, it's advisable to rewatch key Alien franchise films, such as Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection.
- With Alien: Romulus releasing in 2024, io9 recommends that fans revisit the influential Alien movies from the past decades, as they may lead to an even more satisfying experience.
- In contrast, Alien: Romulus can still be enjoyed as a standalone film, even for viewers who haven't delved into the Alien franchise for decades, thanks to its simple and accessible storyline.
