The Alien franchise has been going strong since 1979, when Ridley Scott's masterpiece of science fiction horror was released. Since then, the series has gone in numerous different directions, like the action movie extravaganza of Aliens and the dark, character-driven drama of Alien 3.
Most people will agree on a few things, including the fact that the first two films are "masterpieces." However, just like with any form of media, there will be dissenters. Fans of the Alien franchise in particular harbor some truly unpopular opinions, and those are nowhere more prevalent than they are on Reddit.
Aliens Ruined A Lot Of Interesting Stuff
Movie lovers are typically torn on the qualities of Alien and Aliens, and the debate continues to rage regarding which is the better Alien movie. Regardless, most people will agree that Aliens nicely added to the series' lore.
However, Reddit user u/cybercat5555 believes that, "Aliens killed a lot of the stuff that was established in Alien... and is the reason why all follow ups are subpar." It's quite rare for someone to essentially claim that Aliens killed the entire franchise.
The Alien Design Got Worse
Typically movies get better looking over time, not worse. A movie made in 1979 should have more convincing monsters than a movie made in the 2000s, but that's not really the case with the Alien franchise. At least not according to u/bipolar_sky_fairy.
They claim, "I hate, hate, hate the Alien designs from Resurrection onward... They're ugly, bucktoothed, generic, boring, overly slimy, fog breathing, gurgling stupidities." It's just another case of the original being the best.
The Aliens In Aliens Are Crap
The design and function of the titular aliens grew increasingly contentious as the series wore on. Aliens was a massive stylistic departure from the original, offering far more aliens who were in turn easily disposed of by the marines. It's all part of the James Cameron experience.
Reddit user u/I_Raptus writes, "The aliens in Aliens were crap and morphing into an egg is better than having a Queen." It makes a certain kind of sense, considering the first alien caused immense destruction with limited screen time, whereas the aliens of Aliens were vast in number and handedly defeated.
Alien 3 Is Better Than Aliens
Most everyone will agree that Aliens is a far superior movie to Alien 3. Aliens has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and Alien 3 earned a 45%. Therefore, it's quite surprising to hear that someone likes Alien 3 more than Aliens.
Reddit user u/Ripley7sHairyArmpit is one of a few, succinctly stating, "I like the 3rd film more than the second." Unfortunately, they refuse to elaborate, and the comment received no responses.
Only Alien & Aliens Are Canon
Alien 3 proved so destructive to the series that some people refuse to even accept its existence. One of these people is Reddit user u/Halaku, who states, "The only movies are Alien & Aliens. Everything else is Bishop's hypersleep nightmares caused from the damage the Queen did to him."
It's a very interesting fan theory, and it nicely pushes aside the controversial story developments that Alien 3 introduced to the series (like the off-screen deaths of Newt and Hicks).
Prometheus Is The Smartest & Most Inventive Film
Much has been written regarding the disappointment of Prometheus. While undoubtedly a well-made film on a technical level, most of the blame falls on the screenwriting of Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof.
That said, the film certainly has its defenders, including Reddit user u/Imperivm97, who claims that it is "The most inventive and smart film of the series when it comes to the franchise's iconic tropes." Many disagree, including u/shmouver, who has the top comment with, "Inventive yes, but smart? No lol. It has many dumb and tropy scenes."
Alien Resurrection Is Better Than Alien 3
Even though Alien 3 wasn't hotly received, it's still considered a better film than Alien Resurrection. In fact, Resurrection is often touted as the worst film in the entire franchise, complete with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 54% from critics and a horrible 39% from general audiences.
Reddit user u/ZeroEffsGiven (a suitable name for the controversial opinion) sums up their thoughts with a creatively-written, "Yes, I know, Alien Resurrection is a ridiculous, stupid mess. But it's a fun ridiculous, stupid mess. Alien 3 is a boring stupid mess."
"Get Away From Her You Bitch" Is Cringe
Aliens is a classic film, and it comes equipped with one of the most famous quotes in movie history. At one point, a door opens, revealing Ripley standing inside a mech suit. She moves the suit forward, her face stops mere inches from the camera, and she screams at the Queen, "Get away from her, you bitch!"
If nothing else, this single line is what Aliens is remembered for. And yet, u/GreatGreenGobbo hates it. As they write, "The iconic line of 'Get away from her you bitch' feels incredibly cringe."
Vasquez Was Boring
Aliens is filled with memorable supporting characters, and Vasquez is undoubtedly one of them. She is tough as nails and proves a capable fighter, and she ends up being far braver than the collapsing Hudson.
However, some people dislike the character, including u/bobthefish225, who writes, "I really disliked her character, it just seemed so over the top." They also give a handy TLDR, stating, "She’s a boringly written caricature suffering from a lack of any character depth."
Painfully Bad Child Acting
Newt is one of the most memorable characters of the entire franchise. She helps provide Aliens with its distinct theme of motherhood, she gives depth to the character of Ripley, and while her high-pitched screaming can definitely grow a little irritating, she proves to be an adorable and tragic figure that viewers root for.
That is, for everyone except u/The_Avant-Gardener. They claim that the film was "marred by painfully bad child acting" and that they "only wish [Newt] had died within the first few minutes of her appearance."