AceShowbiz - After nearly a decade away from theaters, the Alien franchise made a triumphant comeback in 2024 with Alien: Romulus. Directed by Fede Álvarez, known for Evil Dead and Don't Breathe, this seventh installment proved that the beloved sci-fi horror series still had plenty of life left in it.

The film was a massive commercial success, raking in $350.9 million against its $80 million production budget. This impressive performance helped revitalize a franchise that many believed had stalled out after previous disappointing entries. Now, nearly two years later, Alien: Romulus continues to find new audiences as a streaming favorite.

According to FlixPatrol, the movie is currently holding down fourth place on HBO Max's Top 10, demonstrating its lasting appeal with viewers. The film's streaming success also continues to bolster the ever-growing careers of stars Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson.

Prior to Alien: Romulus's arrival, the Alien movies largely centered on Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley, who constantly found herself battling the otherworldly and incredibly dangerous lifeforms known as Xenomorphs. The Avatar star finally departed the universe following her role in 1997's Alien: Resurrection.

The movies that followed largely built on the lore first established by Ridley Scott in the 1979 groundbreaking title that started it all. Unfortunately, the subsequent films Prometheus and Alien: Covenant both missed the mark with audiences and critics alike, leading many to wonder if the franchise had run out of creative juice.

Enter Álvarez, who not only poured his love of all things Alien into his installment, but also fully embraced his horror sensibilities for Romulus. The result garnered some of the best reviews in the entire franchise, proving that fresh blood was exactly what the series needed.

Starting over with newly imagined characters, Alien: Romulus follows a young woman named Rain Carradine, played by Spaeny. She teams up with her Weyland-Yutani android brother Andy, portrayed by Jonsson, along with a group of friends as they embark on a dangerous adventure to try to escape their circumstances.

The film's success on streaming platforms like HBO Max demonstrates that Alien: Romulus has found lasting appeal beyond its theatrical run, securing the franchise's future for years to come.