When discussing remarkable Ridley Scott sci-fi films, it’s challenging to overlook Blade Runner, yet you can if you’re not considering the series it initiated. There’s also Alien, which is equally iconic among classic science fiction films, but it represents a different kind of sci-fi, as Blade Runner leans more towards dystopian thriller. The universe of Alien is undeniably dark as well, but the original film centers around a small group of individuals fighting for survival in space. Its sequels, not helmed by Ridley Scott, scratched a similar itch while exploring new territory, but Scott returned to the franchise in 2012.
The 2012 film was Prometheus, a prequel to Alien that felt quite distinct from previous entries in the Alien franchise… mostly positively, despite what some critics might suggest. Scott later created a third film that attempted to balance being a sequel to Prometheus and another prequel to Alien, yet it felt notably more like an Alien movie. This film was Alien: Covenant, which has sparked divisive opinions, but it certainly has its highlights and delivers impressive horror sequences while showcasing technical excellence as a sci-fi film. It’s being removed from HBO Max at the end of July, so at the time of writing, you have just under a week to view it there, or explore other options to revisit a film that likely deserves another look.
What Happens in ‘Alien: Covenant’
Image via 20th Century Studios
To provide some context about Prometheus, before discussing Alien: Covenant, this 2012 film is not chronologically the first in the series if you include Alien vs. Predator and its sequel. However, it’s understandable if you choose not to count those two, making Prometheus the first “true” Alien movie in chronological order. It occurs near the end of the 21st century, while Alien: Covenant is set at the very beginning of the 22nd century, and then the original Alien (from 1979) takes place in 2122, approximately two decades after the events of Alien: Covenant.
An android from Prometheus, David 8 (Michael Fassbender), appears in Alien: Covenant, but otherwise features a different cast of characters who become involved in some horrific events.
This explains why Alien: Covenant serves as a bridge between Prometheus and Alien, although it feels like there should have ideally been a third Ridley Scott-directed Alien film released after Alien: Covenant, which did not happen. Instead, there was Alien: Romulus, which was still intriguing. In any case, Prometheus revolves around the quest for humanity’s origins, leading explorers to encounter some vaguely familiar elements from the Alien series. David 8 (Michael Fassbender, who also plays the android Walter One in Alien: Covenant) appears in this film, but there’s a different ensemble of characters who become embroiled in horror scenarios involving a xenomorph, with only a brief glimpse of one at the end of Prometheus. Thus, it is clear that Alien: Covenant is indeed more aligned with being an actual Alien movie than its predecessor.
The Ways ‘Alien: Covenant’ Adds to the ‘Alien’ Series
Alien: Covenant does provide some closure for Prometheus, albeit somewhat hastily. It remains one of the film’s standout moments, illustrating how David’s actions led to the downfall of the Engineers (a significant aspect of Prometheus). This flashback also helps explain why David behaves differently in Alien: Covenant, compared to his demeanor in Prometheus. He was already a highlight character-wise in that film but, he takes center stage even more prominently in Alien: Covenant.
The dynamic between Fassbender acting alongside himself is fascinating, especially considering (or perhaps due to) one notable scene featuring strange sexual innuendo. The film fully embraces its horror elements and doesn’t shy away from them. There’s even a shower scene reminiscent of schlocky slasher films, which stands out as one of the most memorable sequences in the movie—whether positively or negatively. Overall, Alien: Covenant‘s commitment to horror gives it an almost B-grade feel while maintaining A-grade production quality.
How ‘Alien: Covenant’ Compares to Other Recent Ridley Scott Movies
Image via 20th Century Studios
If you consider directors like Quentin Tarantino , he seems quite reluctant to produce numerous films, emphasizing his plans to retire after his tenth feature film. In contrast, Ridley Scott continues directing relentlessly, even as he approaches age 89 by late 2026, having accumulated nearly 30 directorial credits thus far. Many of these have been recent releases since 2017’s Alien: Covenant including All the Money in the World (2017), The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2021), Napoleon (2023), and Gladiator II (2024).
This may sound like an extreme opinion, but among these films, only The Last Duel surpasses Alien: Covenant. This truly stands out as one of Ridley Scott’s better works over the past decade or so—considering he has released numerous films during this period—making this assertion significant (and he has another movie scheduled for release in 2026: The Dog Stars). While he may not be consistently great as a director, Alien: Covenant is better than many perceive it to be. If you need to seek it out beyond HBO Max after July 31st, 2026, it will likely be worth your time.
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