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Alien: Romulus

Alien: Romulus is a 2024 American science fiction horror film directed by Fede Álvarez and set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alien: Romulus is a 2024 American science fiction horror film directed by Fede Álvarez and set between the events of Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). It follows a group of young space colonists who encounter hostile lifeforms while scavenging a derelict space station. The film is part of the Alien franchise and was released theatrically by 20th Century Studios in August 2024.

Premise

Alien: Romulus follows a group of young workers or colonists who board what they believe is an abandoned station or ship in search of cryostasis pods and a route away from their lives. They discover it is tied to Weyland-Yutani and contains lethal alien threats.

Production

The film was directed by Fede Álvarez from a screenplay he wrote with Rodo Sayagues. It was produced by Ridley Scott, Michael A. Pruss, and Walter Hill through Brandywine Productions and Scott Free Productions.

Release

Alien: Romulus received a theatrical release in the United States on August 16, 2024, through 20th Century Studios. Rotten Tomatoes also lists a streaming release date of October 15, 2024.

Setting in the franchise

The film is positioned between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986), making it a bridge entry within the franchise timeline. Sources describe it as returning the series to a more direct survival-horror style.

Key facts

  • Alien: Romulus is a standalone installment set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).
  • The film stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
  • The plot centres on young space colonists who scavenge a derelict space station and encounter hostile creatures.
  • Fede Álvarez directed the film and co-wrote it with Rodo Sayagues.
  • 20th Century Studios released the film theatrically on August 16, 2024.
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Canadian context

The film is part of a major Hollywood franchise with a broad Canadian audience, and it was distributed in Canada by 20th Century Studios as part of its North American theatrical rollout.

Frequently asked questions

What is Alien: Romulus?
Alien: Romulus is a 2024 science fiction horror film in the Alien franchise, directed by Fede Álvarez.
Is Alien: Romulus connected to the other Alien films?
Yes. It is set between Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986).
Who stars in Alien: Romulus?
The main cast includes Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.
Who directed Alien: Romulus?
Fede Álvarez directed the film and co-wrote it with Rodo Sayagues.
When was Alien: Romulus released?
It was released theatrically in the United States on August 16, 2024.
What is the film about?
It follows young space colonists who explore a derelict space station and encounter hostile alien creatures.

References

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien:_Romulus
    Supports: Cast and broad premise of the film.
  2. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alien_romulus
    Supports: Director, writers, producers, release date, runtime, rating, genre, production companies, and distributor.
  3. RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/alien-romulus-film-review-2024
    Supports: Concise description of the plot and survival-horror setup.
  4. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt18412256/
    Supports: Alternate plot synopsis and general premise.
  5. Wikipedia (Spanish)https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien:_Romulus
    Supports: Release date, director, writers, cast, setting between Alien and Aliens, and production timing.
  6. Space.comhttps://www.space.com/everything-we-know-about-alien-romulus
    Supports: Franchise placement, cast, theatrical release, and series context.