The upcoming series Alien: Earth is set to premiere on FX on August 12, and it has quickly become the highest-rated entry in the Alien franchise on Rotten Tomatoes since James Cameron’s Aliens. Created by Noah Hawley, the show currently holds a 90% score, marking a notable achievement for this sci-fi universe’s first live-action episodic format.
Alien: Earth Achieves Critical Success Alongside Legendary Films
James Cameron’s Aliens, a sequel to Ridley Scott’s original Alien, still holds the top ranking in the franchise on Rotten Tomatoes with an almost perfect 94%. Alien: Earth is now positioned just behind Aliens, outperforming many later installments, including Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus, which scored 80%. Other franchise entries like Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, Alien Resurrection, and Alien 3 have received significantly lower ratings. This resurgence of acclaim reflects the fans’ and critics’ enthusiasm for the new series’ fresh approach.
Critics have praised Alien: Earth for expanding the narrative depth and horror elements that have defined the Alien universe. Ross Bonaime of Collider rated the series eight out of ten stars, emphasizing how the eight-episode format provides opportunities that a single film cannot offer. According to him, the show integrates key themes from across the franchise, including the terror of the original Alien films, the philosophical questions from later prequels, and even the critique of corporate greed that appeared in Aliens and Alien: Romulus.
“Alien: Earth gives said universe the space and time to expand on its ideas and concepts in a way that a movie simply can’t. Within just eight episodes, Hawley’s series gives us the horror of Alien, the deeper ideas of Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, the dissection of corporate greed in Aliens and Alien: Romulus, and even some of the more fun ridiculousness of this series’ most absurd moments. Hawley has captured everything that has made Alien “Alien” over the years, and proves that almost 50 years into this franchise, it’s just as essential as ever.” —Ross Bonaime, Collider
Diverse Ensemble Cast Brings New Energy to the Franchise
The cast of Alien: Earth features an impressive range of actors from varied backgrounds, contributing to the show’s promise to deliver a compelling and multifaceted experience. Leading the lineup are Sydney Chandler, known for Don’t Worry Darling, and Timothy Olyphant, recognized for Scream 2. The roster also includes Essie Davis from The Babadook, Alex Lawther of The End of the F***ing World, Adarsh Gourav who starred in My Name Is Khan, Samuel Blenkin from Peaky Blinders, Babou Ceesay of Into the Badlands, Kit Young from The School for Good and Evil, and David Rysdahl who appeared in Oppenheimer.
This varied cast is expected to enhance the show’s depth, appealing to a broad audience and honoring the franchise’s complex storytelling tradition.
What Alien: Earth Means for the Franchise’s Future
Alien: Earth represents a major shift by expanding the Alien universe into a serialized format, which allows for deeper exploration of its iconic themes and characters. This approach, combined with strong critical reception and a talented ensemble, suggests the series could revitalize interest in the franchise. Given the high Rotten Tomatoes score and positive reviews, Alien: Earth may set a new standard for science fiction television rooted in a beloved cinematic world.
As the series premieres, fans and newcomers alike will have the opportunity to experience the franchise with fresh storytelling techniques, potentially shaping the Alien saga’s direction for years to come.
