Ridley Scott's Franchise-Killing Sci-Fi Sequel Surges on Streaming 9 Years Later

Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant is quietly rewriting its legacy nearly nine years after its theatrical release. The film is seeing an unexpected streaming success across HBO Max’s European charts. Once labeled a commercial disappointment despite its solid $241 million global box office, the film has surged into the platform’s Top 10 across Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands in late January 2026, as per FlixPatrol.

Alien: Covenant has been holding steady between the #6 and #8 spots over multiple days, indicating consistent audience attention rather than a one-day spike. The exact cause of the renewed momentum isn’t clear, but it likely reflects sustained franchise interest — viewers revisiting the series, longtime fans staying engaged, algorithms rewarding that organic push, and newer audiences drawn in.

Upon its release in 2017, Alien: Covenant split audiences by trying to balance brutal creature horror with heavier philosophical sci-fi ideas. And while Michael Fassbender’s dual performance as David and Walter stood out, the movie’s bleak tone and focus on existential themes frustrated viewers who wanted a more direct, suspense-driven Alien thriller. Ridley Scott’s emphasis on creation, faith, and human vulnerability has continued to shape the film’s legacy, leaving it viewed widely as a divisive entry rather than a clear continuation of the franchise’s roots, particularly in how it routinely retcons its equally divisive predecessor, Prometheus.

‘Alien: Romulus’ Is Also Currently Trending on HBO Max

At the same time, Alien: Romulus is experiencing a parallel surge of its own. The newer installment has climbed even higher on HBO Max’s regional rankings, placing between #2 and #5 across more than a dozen European markets, including Poland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. Unlike Covenant, Romulus does not carry Scott’s directorial imprint, and instead leans toward a more stripped-down, suspense-driven approach reminiscent of the franchise’s earlier entries.

Romulus, in addition to HBO Max, is also trending on iTunes and Google. The franchise has a total of nine installments, and unlike Covenant, which is a prequel to the original films, Romulus is a new mainline entry that takes place between Alien and Aliens, and serves as an accessible entry point into the franchise, even if you don’t want to watch them all. A sequel to Romulus is also confirmed to be in development.

Alien: Covenant is available to stream on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.