Alien: Romulus is streaming now - that's why it's my favorite movie of 2024

The lead up to Alien: Romulus was painful for my family and close friends. Not because of the wait, but because they had to listen to me talk about it, constant. As a huge fan of the Alien series, I was anxiously counting down the days until this highly anticipated sequel hit the screens.

Experiencing Alien: Romulus for the first time was surreal. The second viewing completely blew me away and every subsequent viewing since then has only increased my obsession with the franchise. It was hard to resist a fifth run, but I knew it would be worth the wait to enjoy from the comfort of my own home. Now that it’s finally available on premium video-on-demand platforms, you can bet I was one of the first to download it.

However, there are many reasons why Alien: Romulus became my favorite film of 2024, and it’s not just because it’s part of the legendary sci-fi franchise. Here’s why I love this film so much and why you should (re)watch it now that it’s streaming…

“Alien: Romulus” represents the best parts of the series

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Minor spoilers for those who haven’t seen Alien: Romulus yet!

I have to admit that I was nervous about Alien: Romulus because I had hyped it so much, and those were my expectations too incredible high. I’ve done my best to avoid trailers (except for the first one, which is still the one). best trailer I’ve ever seen), just so I could experience it without any preconceived notions. But as the opening scene slowly unfolded in the haunting silence of space, I knew immediately that it was going to be a hit. From the dark, dissonant soundscape to the subtle hum of a computer booting up aboard a Weyland-Yutani spacecraft, every detail resonates perfectly.

The Alien series follows a familiar structure: a group of characters face the deadly xenomorph in a claustrophobic environment, with one final girl emerging to face the final terror. Some may think this is a repetitive formula, but it works damn well. In Romulus, Cailee Spaeny shines as Rain Carradine, a young woman striving for a better life alongside her dysfunctional android brother Andy (David Jonsson). Her performances are exceptional and Rain brings back memories of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) from the original Alien, which is one of the reasons I love this film. Their characters captivated me and made me really interested in the direction of the story.

Aside from the solid cast and sound design, I was truly amazed by the retro-futuristic visuals and stunning cinematography. The blues, reds and oranges permeate almost every frame, and I love that director Fede Álvarez chose a dark, dirty aesthetic imbued with a rainy atmosphere and a sense of cosmic dread. This is exactly what the “Alien” franchise was supposed to be. While “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant” were aesthetically pleasing, they felt too clean. “Romulus” truly went back to the roots of the franchise and drew heavy inspiration from the first two films.

Xenomorphs are at the heart of this horror

Xenomorph in

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

There was no way I could miss the real stars of the series: the Xenomorphs. They have to be among the five most famous movie creatures of all time. If they hadn’t delivered Alien: Romulus, it probably wouldn’t be my favorite movie of the year. These slimy, biomechanical predators have never looked better and are given a spooky horror treatment in this modern take. What’s even more impressive is that most of the effects are practical (except for one scene where they crawl on the wall), and I can’t imagine how scary they look.

Álvarez, a big fan of the series himself, largely retained these creatures. Its birth begins with the unfortunate but predictable death of Navarro (Aileen Wu) as she becomes the host of a Chestburster. This moment takes place in a chaotic transporter speeding through space, providing a scene that gives me goosebumps. Plus, the stunning quality is as immersive and realistic as it’s ever been.

Other standout moments include the introduction of a new life cycle phase: the cocoon, which (thanks to HR Giger’s designs) looks suspiciously like something else. Seeing the xenomorph emerge from this slimy, acidic mess takes “Romulus” to a whole new level. Then there’s the incredible acid blood sequence in zero gravity, which hasn’t been seen in any other Alien film. I’m so glad that Álvarez incorporated these fresh elements to highlight the creatures and add even more depth to an already established franchise.

Isabela Merced in the trailer for Alien: Romulus (2024)

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Facehuggers also deserve a special mention, apparently. Without them, there would be no Xenomorphs to wreak havoc on the abandoned spaceship. In previous films we have seen one or two appearances, mainly to show the life cycle. However, “Romulus” takes things a step further by unleashing hordes of facehuggers, scurrying on their spiky legs and dripping with slime, for maximum terror. One of these parasitic creatures is bad enough, but a group of them? Absolute carnage.

I could rave about this film for days – there are so many great things about it. Take for example the hybrid offspring at the end, although I won’t go into that further as it’s a bit controversial (I personally think the ending incredible scary and brilliant). Like my family and friends, I don’t want to let you get too caught up in my ramblings. I knew I would like Romulus because the franchise holds a special place in my heart, but seeing it thrive and explore new ideas made it my best film of the year.

Stream Alien: Romulus now.

Archie Renaux and Cailee Spaeny in

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

Now that it’s available on PVOD platforms like Amazon and Apple TV, I’m definitely gearing up for my fifth viewing to fully appreciate its masterpiece quality. “Alien: Romulus” is a really good franchise revival, and I hope that future films, including the TV show “Alien: Earth“, will follow this example.

Have you seen it too many times? Just take a look at this best films like “Alien: Romulus”? And if you’re not in the mood for the spooky season yet, you’ll find it here Top Halloween Movies to Stream on Netflix.

Buy or rent Alien: Romulus Amazon or AppleTV.

Alien: Romulus is streaming now – that’s why it’s my favorite movie of 2024

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