The "Alien" Series: 45 Years of Screams, Screeches, and Sequels – And 45 More to Go!

The Alien franchise is now 45 years old, which, in Xenomorph years, means 10567, according to this online alien calculator. But just like Ripley, it refuses to die. With sequels, crossovers and the brand new Alien: Romulus released, this spacefaring saga has more legs than a facehugger and shows no signs of slowing down.

So let’s take a trip down memory lane—and blast off into the future—with a review of all of the past and upcoming movies and Alien projects in development.

1. Alien (1979) - “In space, no one can hear you scream.”

Ridley Scott’s Alien introduced us to the galaxy’s worst stowaway—a monster with a face only “mu/th/ur” could love. (Hahaha - that's the ships system control name, for the noobs out there - zing! Come on, stay with me here).

Ripley and her crew learned the hard way that in space, no one can hear your complaints about workplace safety violations and overtime pay. With chest-bursting surprises and a terrifying game of cat-and-xenomorph, this film was a fresh and terrifying clash of sci-fi and horror.

2. Aliens (1986) - "Game over, man! Game over!”

James Cameron’s Aliens didn’t just dial the action up to eleven—it ripped the knob clean off and tossed it into a pit of snarling xenomorphs. With a hive full of acid-spewing nightmares, a squad of marines who probably should’ve read the fine print on their contracts, and enough firepower to make even the Terminator do a double take, this sequel didn’t just play the game—it invented new rules. Ripley’s back, not just in the saddle but in a freakin’ power loader, proving once and for all that when it comes to alien extermination, bigger isn’t just better—it’s a requirement. Game over? Pfft, we’ve barely touched the snack bar. This arcade of extraterrestrial carnage is just getting started, and we’ve got all the quarters in the galaxy. I'll never eat eggs again.

3. Alien3 (1992) - “You've been in my life so long, I can't remember anything else."

Alien 3 may have been a rough ride through production hell, but it still managed to drop Ripley into a penal colony with more bald heads than a convention of Shaolin monks who use the F-word a lot. Like 85+ times a lot. With xenomorphs lurking in the shadows and a religious cult that’s all about atoning for sins, this film taught us that even in a prison full of murderers and rapists, the real danger is the thing drooling acid in the corner. Also kind of funny that it's not just a sequel to Cameron's Aliens that uses the same vat-of-lava ending as T2: Judgement Day. “I'll be back”. And she was! (See #4 below)

4. Alien: Resurrection (1997) - “I'm the monster's mother”

Alien: Resurrection is what happens when you blend a genetic cocktail of space horror with the surreal, visually stunning flair (and most of the cast!) of The City of Lost Children. Ripley’s back from the dead, dribbling her way through space with newfound basketball skills while introducing the game of “Who’s the robot in this one?” (spoiler alert, it’s Winona Forever) as Ryder’s Call steps in with her android charms. Throw in Ron Perlman’s Hellboy vibes, and you’ve got a resurrection that’s anything but ordinary—proving Ripley’s got the moves to take on xenomorphs and win, every time.

5. Alien vs. Predator (2004) & Alien vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) - “Whoever wins… we lose.”

In the ultimate sci-fi smackdown, Alien vs. Predator pits the galaxy’s deadliest creatures against each other in a battle that turns Earth into the universe’s most dangerous playground. The first film throws a group of unsuspecting humans into an ancient pyramid, where xenomorphs and predators engage in a brutal game of “who can out-gore the other?”

By the time Requiem rolls around, the stakes are higher, the lighting is darker (like, waaaaaay darker), and the small-town setting is collateral damage as these extraterrestrial titans duke it out. Both films answer the age-old question of “Who would win?” with a resounding, “Who cares?”

5. Prometheus (2012) - “They created us. Then they tried to kill us. They changed their minds."

Okay, be honest - how long did it take you to realize that this was an Alien prequel? Did you honestly remember seeing the C-shaped ship in the original Alien? Did you recognize the Weyland Yutani company name? Or was it the final credit scene with some kind of Alien creature, where you finally clued in (like me)…

“Wait… a… minute…”

Prometheus asked the big questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And most importantly, who thought it was a good idea to trust an android named David? With grandiose ideas and visuals that are out of this world, Ridley Scott’s prequel set the stage for a philosophical showdown between humanity and its creators—or rather, between a bunch of scientists and some really bad decisions. Big things may have small beginnings, but in this case, they end with an alien parasite bursting out of your chest.

6. Alien: Covenant (2017) - “Do make yourselves at home as best you can in this dire necropolis."

Alien: Covenant returned to the franchise’s horror roots with a vengeance. When a colony ship stumbles upon the ruins of a failed expedition (thanks, Prometheus), they get more than they bargained for: angry xenomorphs, existential dread, and an android with a god complex. It’s a bloody good time that answers some of the questions from Prometheus while raising a few more—like why anyone in their right mind would keep touching things that look like eggs. The path to paradise might begin in hell, but this film proves that sometimes, the trip is worth it.

7. Alien: Romulus (2024) - “The solution for a claustrophobic astronaut is to give him more space.”

Alien: Romulus takes the franchise into full-on teen slasher territory—because if there’s one thing scarier than a xenomorph, it’s a xenomorph stalking pregnant teenagers in space. Directed by Fede Alvarez, the genius who gave us the Evil Dead remake, this film is basically the Alien version of “cabin in the woods,” where the cabin just happens to be a creepy spaceship and the woods are, well, infinite space. Naturally, the hapless teens get picked off one by one by the Deadites—oops, I mean Aliens and the only one who can save them is a cameo from Ash with a chainsaw for a hand.

Let’s not forget Andy, the robot-du-jour, who’s equipped with some of the punniest dad jokes ever delivered in the middle of a bloodbath, here to remind us that in space, no one can hear you groan at the terrible puns.

Okay, so that's the front 9… so what does the future hold for the Alien franchise?

Well, according to the recently leaked emails from 20th Century Fox, quite a lot. And now that we've seen clones, gods, monsters, monks, pirates and army brats, it's time to branch out in genre to attract some new audience demographics and really start making some ca-ching.

Here's a few of the upcoming Alien projects in development:

Alien: Pythagoras (In Development) - The Calculated Sci-Fi Thriller That Doesn't Add Up

“In space, math isn’t just tough—it’s terrifying.” When a team of genius mathematicians and codebreakers uncovers an equation scarier than your high school algebra teacher, they find out that the universe’s biggest secrets are hidden in multiplying DNA. With Beautiful Minds bigger than Aronofsky's Pi chart and paranoia straight out of The Imitation Game, these mathletes have to solve equations faster than you can say “hypotenuse” or risk being added to the list of cosmic casualties.

Featuring a holographic Stephen Hawking (spoiler alert - he’s the android in this one!), the only thing scarier than xenomorphs is a pun-loving AI with a PhD. It’s a race against time, numbers, and the dreaded derivative, proving that in space, no one can hear you scream, “Carry the one!”

Alien vs Avatar (To be released following Avatar 12 in 2075)

Two of James Cameron’s biggest franchises go head-to-head in Alien vs Avatar. When Pandora’s blue-skinned Na’vi face off against a xenomorph invasion using the same yellow mech-suits from both movies, all bets are off. Expect stunning 5D visuals, epic battles, and a subplot where Sigourney Weaver’s characters from both series meet up to gripe about their bad luck with extraterrestrials. It’s a clash of the titans that’ll have you rooting for the underdog—or just for someone to survive the 431min runtime.

Alien: Genesis - AKA It’s No Fun Being an Illegal Alien

Broadway, Bops, and Xenomorphs.

Phil Collins is back with a soundtrack that will get your chest bursting harder than Tarzan! This Broadway musical about an illegal alien (literally) trying to fit into human society includes hits like “Take Me Home (To My Hive)” and “In the Air Tonight (Oh no, it's an airborne virus!),” this is the feel-good musical of the year—if your idea of “feel-good” involves dancing aliens and acid-blooded showstoppers. It’s got more hooks than a xenomorph’s tail, and it’s sure to have you humming long after the final curtain falls.

Aliens: A Love Story - If I could turn back time… I'd wait for it on streaming"

Cher, Romance, and Singing Xenomorphs.

In this heartwarming tale of star-crossed lovers, Aliens: A Love Story takes us beyond Pandora to a water-covered exoplanet where a lonely xenomorph finds love in the fins of a singing alien mermaid played by Cher. With power ballads, underwater dance numbers, and a storyline that proves love knows no species, this film is the Little Mermaid meets Alien crossover you never knew you needed. Mostly romantic, mostly musical, and mostly insane.

Alien in Paris - “I may be synthetic, but I’m not stupid.”

In this rom-com with a deadly twist, Alien in Paris follows Emily from Emily in Paris as she gets a new job—marketing for a fashion house run by a xenomorph. With fashion shows that kill (literally), and a boss who’s out of this world (again, literally), this Netflix special blends horror with haute couture in a way that’ll leave you laughing, cringing, and wondering why you’re rooting for the alien to win the runway.

Jim Henson’s Alien Muppet Babies - “I’m the monster’s mother.”

Sigourney Weaver as Nanny? We’re In.

If you’ve ever wondered what a xenomorph would look like as a cuddly muppet, Jim Henson’s Alien Muppet Babies is the answer. With the aim to expand the age demographic, Sigourney Weaver reprises her role as Nanny, guiding a gaggle of adorable xenomorph babies as they learn about sharing, playing nice, and not facehugging their friends. It’s a mix of horror and childhood nostalgia that’ll have you screaming along to the theme song—whether you like it or not.

Weekend at Bernie’s with Aliens - “What kind of a host invites you to her planet for the weekend and dies on you?”

When the alien queen kicks the bucket, it’s up to not one, but two Michael Fassbender androids to keep up appearances in Weekend at Bernie’s with Alien. David and Walter must pretend the queen is alive for a weekend filled with zany antics, questionable decisions, sexual innuendo and more latex than a Halloween store. It’s the most ridiculous thing you’ll see all year, and possibly the funniest—if your sense of humor is as twisted as a xenomorph’s tail.

Facehugger Game - “Korean Reality TV Has Never Been This Deadly.”

Korea’s hottest new reality show pits contestants against each other in a series of deadly challenges in Facehugger Game. Whether it’s “Keep Them Off Me,” “Don’t Strangle Me, Oppa,” or “Whose Chest Will Burst Last?,” this show has everything you love about reality TV—backstabbing, alliances, and contestants making terrible choices for money. It’s a game of survival where only the strongest, or the sneakiest, will make it out alive. Or at least with their chest intact.

Alien and Butthead Do America - “Heh heh heh, fire! Fire!”

Beavis and Butthead hit the road again, but this time they’re joined by the Alien Queen, who just wants to find a quiet place to lay her eggs. Their journey across America is filled with hijinks, 90s alt-rock music videos, and unintelligible alien screeches that somehow pass as commentary. This time, instead of fire, Beavis just wants to see things get facehugged, while Butthead contemplates the deeper meaning of acid blood. Heh heh heh… huh huh huh… Sqeeeeeeeel.

So there you have it, folks. The Alien franchise isn’t just alive and kicking—it’s mutating into forms we never could have predicted. From Broadway to rom-coms, there’s something for everyone in this acid-blooded, chest-bursting series. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just here for the puns, one thing’s for sure: the future of Alien is as unpredictable as a xenomorph in a nursery.

This is the last surviving member of this article, signing off.