---
title: "Alien: Romulus"
year: 2024
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/alien-romulus"
fi1m_id: "alien-romulus"
imdb_id: "tt18412256"
tmdb_id: 945961
wikidata_id: "Q115932544"
fi1m_score: 70
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 14
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:58.743282+00:00"
region: "ES"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alien: Romulus (2024)

Directed by Fede Álvarez · 1h 59m · ICAA 18 · Horror, Science Fiction

## Identity

Alien: Romulus

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/alien-romulus
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** alien-romulus
- **IMDb ID:** tt18412256
- **TMDB ID:** 945961
- **Wikidata ID:** Q115932544
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18412256/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/945961, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q115932544

**Fi1m score: 70** · Critics 72 from 14 reviews

*In a sentence:* A cover version played on the original instruments, and someone insists on shouting the famous lyric

> Fede Álvarez has made the most frightening *Alien* film in decades by rebuilding the first two, piece by piece. It is expertly done and we jumped often. We also spent much of it recognising things, which is not the same as being surprised.

## Synopsis

Fede Álvarez’s film sits between the events of *Alien* (1979) and *Aliens* (1986). Rain (Cailee Spaeny) is a young contract worker on a mining colony where the sun never rises, saving to buy her way out. Her adopted brother Andy (David Jonsson) is a second-hand Weyland-Yutani synthetic programmed to look after her. When the company extends her contract without asking, she joins Tyler (Archie Renaux), Kay (Isabela Merced), Bjorn (Spike Fearn) and Navarro (Aileen Wu) on a raid of a derelict research station in orbit, where they hope to find the cryo pods they need for a long journey somewhere with daylight. The station is not empty, and what is on board has been waiting.

## Review

Fede Álvarez has made two films about people shut in a building with something that wants them dead, *Evil Dead* (2013) and *Don’t Breathe* (2016), and he treats [*Alien*](https://film.one/film/alien) as the same job on a bigger set. *Alien: Romulus* sits between Ridley Scott’s 1979 film and James Cameron’s 1986 sequel and borrows from both without apology. Rain (Cailee Spaeny) mines for the company on a colony where the sun never rises; her adopted brother Andy (David Jonsson) is a second-hand Weyland-Yutani synthetic who tells bad jokes because her father asked him to. With four others they steal a ride to a derelict station in orbit, which holds the cryo pods they need for a long trip to daylight, and which is not empty. It frightened us properly more than once, and about a third of it we had seen before.

The station is the film’s best asset. Naaman Marshall builds it from the same parts as the ship in the first film: rubber keys, cathode-ray monitors, hoses that hiss, corridors slatted like a ribcage. Galo Olivares lights the colony in sodium orange through rain and the station in the sick greens and ambers of an old computer screen, so the dark in the corners is never quite black. Carlos Rosario puts the crew in jumpsuits gone thin at the knees. The creatures are mostly performers in suits and puppets on wires, Trevor Newlin among them, and Álvarez keeps them in shadow where they belong.

The set pieces work. There is a corridor full of dormant facehuggers and a temperature reading that will not stop climbing, and there is a stretch with the gravity off, a flock of the things loose, and acid blood hanging in the air in globes. We were frightened in the plain physical way: our shoulders were up for what felt like ten minutes and we only noticed when they came down. Jake Roberts cuts these sequences long enough for dread to gather and short enough that nobody stands about explaining. The middle hour is as tight as anything the series has managed since 1986.

Jonsson is the reason to see it. Andy is slow, courteous and apologetic, a machine built to be kind, and the story gives him a reason to change that we will leave vague. He plays the change in his shoulders and his diction, and the film’s one real question is which version of him deserves to get off the station. Spaeny is small, watchful and unfussy, and she does panic well, which counts for more here than heroics. Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu fill the rest of the crew as Tyler, Kay, Bjorn and Navarro. Each is given one trait and one job, and we had the running order worked out before the ship docked.

Then there is the borrowing. Álvarez and his co-writer Rodo Sayagues have laid the plot along the first film’s beats, in the first film’s order, with a late swerve into Cameron’s, and they seem to have decided this will comfort us. Often it did. A face from the 1979 film is rebuilt by computer and its mouth does not quite keep time with its words, which unsettled us more than any creature did. Later a character says the most quoted line in the series, word for word, in a situation where nobody would, and we winced, then laughed, and the film lost us for five minutes. Benjamin Wallfisch’s score has the same habit, its own low pulse giving way again and again to Jerry Goldsmith’s strings from 1979.

The last twenty minutes take a turn we will not describe. It is the one stretch where the film stops quoting and tries something of its own, and it arrives after the point where the film seemed to be finished. We admired the nerve and looked at our watch.

*Prometheus* (2012) and *Alien: Covenant* (2017) asked large questions and could not answer them. *Romulus* asks none and is the happier for it. It is also the first film in the series with nothing to add to the others, and it has decided that a good scare is enough. See it in a cinema if you can, with the sound up so the hisses count. At home it is still a good scare and a rather better quiz. It runs 119 minutes and carries a 15.

*Fi1m score 70, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics agree that Alien: Romulus is a competent, frightening return to the franchise’s horror roots, and most also agree that it leans too hard on the two films it is imitating. The praise clusters around the same things: the practical effects and creature work, a zero-gravity set piece several reviews pick out, and the cast, with Cailee Spaeny’s lead and David Jonsson’s android Andy named again and again as the reasons the young crew hold attention.

The reservations cluster just as tightly. Review after review uses some version of “greatest hits” to describe the callbacks, and a few find the third act overcooked or the middle muddled by nostalgia. The spread is wide. NME stands alone at the top with full marks, arguing the film expands the mythology. At the other end, the Financial Times finds it stuck in the past and The Guardian sees no reason for it to exist, while Vulture, weighing in months later, calls it forgettable.

## Straight answers

**Is Alien: Romulus worth watching?**

*Alien: Romulus* is worth watching for anyone who wants a properly frightening [*Alien*](https://film.one/film/alien) film and does not mind recognising most of its parts, and we scored it 70. The set pieces and David Jonsson's synthetic Andy are the reasons to see it; the plot follows the 1979 film's beats in the 1979 film's order. Best seen in a cinema with the sound up.

**How long is Alien: Romulus, and what is it rated?**

*Alien: Romulus* runs 1h 59m and is rated 18 by the ICAA in Spain. It is a horror and science fiction film.

**Where can I watch Alien: Romulus in Spain?**

*Alien: Romulus* is streaming on Disney+ in Spain, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from €3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Alien: Romulus, and is it suitable for children?**

*Alien: Romulus* is a 15 in the UK and an R in the US, and it earns them: it is a horror film built around sustained dread, creature attacks and acid blood, and it frightened us in a plain physical way more than once. It is not for children. Teenagers old enough for the certificate and adults who can take a hard scare are its audience; the squeamish should think twice.

**How does Alien: Romulus compare to Alien?**

*Alien: Romulus* borrows its plot, its production design and even its music from [*Alien*](https://film.one/film/alien), so the two are close in kind, and the original is the better film. Scott's builds fear slowly out of confinement and one creature; Álvarez's is faster, busier and more openly a horror ride, with tighter set pieces but thinner supporting characters. See *Alien* first if you have not; *Romulus* rewards knowing it.

**What should I watch after Alien: Romulus?**

After *Alien: Romulus*, try [*Alien*](https://film.one/film/alien) (1979, Fi1m 92): The original: one ship, one creature, and every corridor Romulus is remembering. Then [*The Thing*](https://film.one/film/the-thing) (1982, Fi1m 88): Carpenter’s snowbound crew, practical creatures, and nobody sure who to trust; and [*The Descent*](https://film.one/film/the-descent) (2005, Fi1m 85): Six women, one cave, and a British horror film that keeps its lights off.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Evening Standard**, Nick Howells (85/100, inferred): The critic calls it a shudderingly effective knuckle-clencher that blasts the series back to gory life with relentless menace. It singles out the terrifying Xenomorph, practical effects, and Cailee Spaeny’s strong lead performance for praise while acknowledging minor plot improbabilities. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/alien-romulus-review-fede-alvarez-b1176451.html)
- **Empire**, John Nugent (80/100, inferred): The review finds the film a smart interquel that blends the best of the original Alien and Aliens with strong craft and tension. It praises the tactile world-building, practical effects, and creature work while noting some formulaic elements and fan-service nods. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/alien-romulus/)
- **Radio Times**, Patrick Cremona (4/5): The critic calls it the strongest Alien entry since Aliens, a well-directed and gnarly crowd-pleaser anchored by excellent performances. They single out the practical effects action sequences and a nightmarish final-act twist for delivering tense, engaging spectacle. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/alien-romulus-review/)
- **Time Out**, Phil de Semlyen (4/5): The critic hails the film as a fresh, ferocious and streamlined horror entry that strips the franchise back to basics effectively. They single out the inventive direction, zero-gravity sequences and the cast, especially Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson, for making the young crew compelling. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/alien-romulus-review-2024)
- **The i Paper**, Francesca Steele (75/100, inferred): The review deems it a far better return to horror roots than recent prequels, with excellent pacing, practical effects, and jump scares. It praises the claustrophobic atmosphere and central performances by Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson but notes some overcooked elements in the third act. [Read](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/alien-romulus-review-ridley-scott-outdone-3226638)
- **The AV Club** (C+): Fede Álvarez brings squirm-inducing scares and franchise knowledge but struggles to bring new life or meaning to the series. The film offers plenty of practical gore and tension but feels void of insight into its themes. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/alien-romulus-review)
- **Screen Daily** (60/100, inferred): The critic finds it an efficient but derivative addition that recaptures some franchise strengths without advancing the property meaningfully. They single out Cailee Spaeny's action-hero turn and Fede Álvarez's grimy nightmarishness for providing solid thrills, while noting it feels like a footnote overall. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/alien-romulus-review/5196168.article)
- **Vulture** (50/100, inferred): The movie is blunt and sporadically entertaining, engineered to provide basic genre thrills and keep the IP alive. It gets the job done with functional aliens and gnarly effects but feels instantly forgettable and like a miscalculation overall. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-alien-romulus-gets-the-job-done-but-at-what-cost.html)
- **Financial Times** (★★☆☆☆): The film suffers from jump scares, nightmares and an overdose of déjà vu that make it feel stuck in the past. While it attempts to blend elements of the early Alien films, the result is undermined by familiarity and lacks sufficient originality. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/64b378f9-f227-4870-a7eb-b47187c4b530)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh: The critic finds 'Alien: Romulus' a very enjoyable entry, like pizza that’s good even when not great, thanks to its thrilling tactility and appealingly plucky cast. She singles out Cailee Spaeny’s empathetic performance as the determined hero Rain and the rich cinematography for praise. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-08-14/alien-romulus-review-cailee-spaeny-fede-alvarez-sci-fi-horror)
- **Sight and Sound**: The critic praises the film as a back-to-basics return to the franchise's visceral horror roots under Fede Álvarez. They single out the strong performances, particularly David Jonsson as the android Andy, for adding depth amid the jump-scares and nostalgic callbacks. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/alien-romulus-terrifying-return-visceral-menace-original)
- **The Guardian**: Fede Álvarez’s effort is a technically competent but fundamentally unoriginal back-to-basics return to the franchise’s roots that fails to justify another Alien film. The young cast and grungy setting are noted but the overall lack of freshness and new ideas is the main complaint. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/14/alien-romulus-review-lack-originality-fede-alvarez-ridley-scott)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney: The film is a greatest-hits compilation of the Alien franchise that mostly works, delivering sustained tension and big frights through practical effects and callbacks to the originals. Cailee Spaeny is compelling as the lead survivor in this flawed but pulse-pounding homage set between the first two films. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/alien-romulus-review-cailee-spaeny-fede-alvarez-1235973756/)
- **The Times**: Alien: Romulus is a strong back-to-basics entry that successfully revives the horror of the original with effective zero-gravity action and a compelling new lead in Cailee Spaeny. It earns praise as one of the better recent instalments through its adaptive nods to the franchise’s past. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/hollywoodgate-review-the-taliban-break-into-hollywood-zggtmpwhk)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman: The critic calls it one of the best 'Alien' sequels for delivering slimy creep-out goods better than the last three films, but notes the primal shock and awe is gone. He praises it as a grandly efficient greatest-hits thrill ride that is confidently spooky and ingeniously shot. [Read](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/alien-romulus-review-cailee-spaeny-1236105617/)
- **NME**, James Mottram (5/5): This is a tense, taut thriller that captures what makes an Alien film work and expands the mythology effectively. It is singled out for the standout performance of David Jonsson as the android and the superb practical and visual effects. [Read](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/alien-romulus-review-3783797)
- **Deadline**, Damon Wise (80/100, inferred): The film is better than expected as a thoughtful reimagining that homages the originals while adding nasty surprises of its own. It excels as a visual, gory experience with strong atmosphere and inventive set pieces like a zero-gravity action sequence. [Read](https://deadline.com/2024/08/alien-romulus-review-nasty-surprises-fede-alvarez-faithful-but-inventively-tense-sequel-starring-cailee-spaeny-1236040313/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): It is a gloriously fun mashup of the first two Alien films that delivers visceral thrills and pulpy video-game-style action. The film forges some of its own identity in the end with a memorable twist, though it leans heavily on franchise nostalgia. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/alien-romulus-review/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (7/10): The critic finds the film promising at the beginning and end but muddled in the middle by excessive nostalgia for past installments in the Alien franchise. They praise the mixture of practical and CGI effects, suspenseful sequences, and especially David Jonsson's performance as the android Andy. [Read](https://collider.com/alien-romulus-review/)
- **Den of Geek**, Max Evry (3/5): The film succeeds in blending reverence for the franchise with some modern innovations and new lore elements while delivering graphic body horror. It stands out for the nuanced performance of David Jonsson as the android and strong technical execution in production design and cinematography. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/alien-romulus-review/)
- **/Film**, Chris Evangelista (5.5/10): The critic finds the film disappointing overall despite solid production design, practical effects, and some effective scares, as it plays too safe with excessive callbacks and greatest-hits moments that leave it lacking originality or a distinct identity. The android character Andy stands out positively amid otherwise forgettable leads. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1641960/alien-romulus-review/)
- **Film Stories**: The critic sees the film as a bloody, chaotic tribute to the franchise's strongest entries, with strong practical effects, a grimy retro feel, and effective horror jolts that evoke the originals. It falters by leaning too heavily on familiar callbacks and fan-service moments rather than forging a fully original path. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/alien-romulus-review-a-bloody-chaotic-tribute-to-the-series-best-films/)

## Details

- **Director:** Fede Álvarez
- **Director:** Fede Álvarez
- **Writer:** Fede Álvarez, Rodo Sayagues
- **Cinematography:** Galo Olivares
- **Editor:** Jake Roberts
- **Music:** Benjamin Wallfisch
- **Production design:** Naaman Marshall
- **Costume design:** Carlos Rosario
- **Producer:** Walter Hill, Michael Pruss, Ridley Scott
- **Cast:** Cailee Spaeny as Rain; David Jonsson as Andy; Archie Renaux as Tyler; Isabela Merced as Kay; Spike Fearn as Bjorn; Aileen Wu as Navarro; Rosie Ede as WY Officer; Soma Simon as 10-Year-Old Punk #1
- **Runtime:** 1h 59m
- **Certificate (ICAA):** 18
- **Release (Spain):** 15 August 2024
- **Genres:** Horror, Science Fiction
- **Budget:** $80 million
- **Box office:** $351 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XDEhP4MQs

## Where to watch in Spain

- Disney+: streaming, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent €3.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy €11.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, IE, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Alien* (1979), Fi1m 92: The original: one ship, one creature, and every corridor Romulus is remembering. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/alien.md)
- *The Thing* (1982), Fi1m 88: Carpenter’s snowbound crew, practical creatures, and nobody sure who to trust. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-thing.md)
- *Don't Breathe* (2016): Álvarez’s earlier locked-house thriller, ninety minutes of held breath and bad decisions.
- *The Descent* (2005), Fi1m 85: Six women, one cave, and a British horror film that keeps its lights off. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-descent.md)
- *Europa Report* (2013): A quieter crew-in-peril film, found-footage style, with a moon that will not cooperate.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/alien-romulus