Alien: Romulus (2024)

Movie · 2024 · Horror, Science Fiction · 1h 59m · R · English

Curator score: 5.1/10 (1.5M ratings)

In space, no one can hear you.

Overview

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

Ratings

Director

Fede Álvarez

Production

20th Century Studios, Scott Free Productions, Brandywine Productions, TSG Entertainment

Cast

Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu, Rosie Ede, Soma Simon, Bence Okeke, Viktor Orizu, Robert Bobroczkyi, Trevor Newlin, Annemarie Griggs, Daniel Betts, Ian Holm

Where to watch

Hulu, fuboTV

Curator Review

Verdict

A tense, muscular sci-fi horror ride that largely succeeds on atmosphere, creature design, and set-piece execution. It leans hard into franchise nostalgia, but the craft is strong enough that the scares and momentum still land for most horror fans.

Best for

  • fans of claustrophobic creature horror
  • viewers who like legacy sequels and franchise callbacks
  • audiences who want practical-effects-forward suspense
  • people looking for a fast, mean space thriller

Skip if

  • you want a fresh, original sci-fi concept
  • you dislike fan service and continuity-heavy sequels
  • you prefer slow-burn horror over relentless set pieces
  • you are burned out on the Alien franchise

Overview

Alien: Romulus is built like a pressure chamber: narrow corridors, failing systems, and a young crew making worse and worse decisions as the walls close in. It understands the basic appeal of the franchise better than most modern entries, delivering clean, mean suspense and a handful of genuinely nasty visual ideas.

Worth noting

The movie’s biggest strength is momentum. When it is playing as a survival-horror machine, it is extremely effective, and the cast helps sell the panic and desperation. The film also knows how to stage a few memorable set pieces that feel engineered for audience gasps.

Bottom line

Its weakness is that it often feels more like an expertly assembled franchise exercise than a bold new chapter. The callbacks can be heavy-handed, and the story occasionally trades surprise for familiarity. Still, if you want a sleek, brutal space horror film that mostly delivers what it promises, this is an easy recommendation.

Top Letterboxd reviews

mariano (4★) · 25410 likes

every time they bullied andy i wanted to punch a hole thru the fucking screen

Louis Peitzman (4★) · 25163 likes

I'm starting to feel like the Weyland-Yutani Corporation does not have our best interests at heart.

Marianna Neal 🇺🇦 (4★) · 15803 likes

I can just feel the people who are getting ready to complain about "fan service", but I'm a fan and I was fucking SERVICED! EDIT: OK, since a bunch of people are really pressed by this reaction because god forbid someone enjoys something that's not a universally acclaimed masterpiece... Take the next step, listen to the actual review - that's what the link is for. Yes, I've seen "more movies". Yes, that "Get away from her, you bitch" line was… more

aurora 𖦹 (3.5★) · 15180 likes

things not to bring into space • pregnant women • british people

B E R T (4★) · 8964 likes

Priscilla Presley goes to space, only this time, the Xenomorphs are so much meaner than Elvis.

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Topics

sci-fi horror, creature feature, claustrophobic, space station, body horror, survival thriller, legacy sequel, practical effects, tense, cosmic dread

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