Alien: Romulus is hands down the best movie I've seen this year. In fact, it's in my top 5 of all time—and no, I'm not exaggerating. Seeing it in theaters was absolutely insane. But since that thrilling opening weekend, I've felt a void, like something is missing… probably the thrill of anticipation for this masterpiece. If you're feeling that same void, it might be time to delve into some movies that evoke a similar mood.
The story of Alien: Romulus centers on a group of young space colonists who enter an abandoned space station to retrieve highly regulated equipment, only to find themselves confronted by a terrifying Xenomorph. The film brilliantly returns to the horror roots of the franchise, with an emphasis on claustrophobic tension and intense survival horror. With these elements in mind, I’ve selected a few films that might just fill that void for you.
Without further ado, here are the best movies like “Alien: Romulus” to watch on some of the best streaming services right now.
'Alien' (1979)
Watch on
Of course, the most obvious choice is the film that launched the classic sci-fi franchise. “Alien” follows the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo as they respond to a distress signal from an uncharted planet. Upon investigation, they discover an abandoned alien spacecraft and encounter a mysterious egg-like object. When one of the eggs hatches, a deadly parasitic creature called the Facehugger attaches itself to one of the crew members.
The film focuses on the crew's struggle to survive as the creature, later known as the Xenomorph, transforms into a nearly invincible predator, hunting them one by one within the claustrophobic confines of the ship. The protagonist, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), emerges as a strong and resourceful leader who eventually confronts the alien in a desperate fight for survival.
Watch on Hulu
“The Thing” (1982)
Alien: Romulus continues the classic pattern of characters being killed off one by one by a deadly creature, and that's exactly what The Thing does. This sci-fi horror classic has become a cult classic over the years. The story takes place at a remote Antarctic research station where a group of American scientists encounter a mysterious alien life form that can mimic any living thing it comes into contact with.
The film begins when the team, led by helicopter pilot RJ MacReady (Kurt Russell), rescues a dog being chased by a Norwegian helicopter. They soon discover that the dog is not what it seems: it is actually an alien creature in disguise. As the creature begins to assimilate the team members, paranoia and distrust spread among the survivors as they realize that any one of them could be the alien.
Rent/Buy on Amazon Or Apple
“Prospect” (2018)
Watch on
“Prospect,” like “Alien: Romulus,” has exciting elements of adventure and survival (and of course, the aspect of being in an unfamiliar environment with hostile forces). The film is set on a distant, toxic alien moon where a teenage girl named Cee (Sophie Thatcher) and her father Damon (Jay Duplass) land on a prospecting mission to harvest a rare and valuable mineral known as “Aurelac.”
Their mission goes awry when they encounter other prospectors, including a dangerous and enigmatic man named Ezra (Pedro Pascal). After a violent confrontation, Cee finds herself stranded and forced to travel alone in this dangerous environment. With limited resources and dangers all around, she must decide whether to trust Ezra as they form a fragile alliance to survive and complete the mission.
Watch on Peacock
“Evil Dead” (2013)
Another obvious choice would be to include an incredibly gory and tense film directed by Fede Álvarez, who also took over “Alien: Romulus.” The 2013 remake of “Evil Dead” stays true to the intense and gruesome nature of the original while introducing new elements to the story.
The film follows a group of five friends who retreat to a remote cabin in the woods, hoping to help Mia (Jane Levy) kick her drug addiction. Along with her brother David (Shiloh Fernandez) and three others, they plan to help Mia during her detox in isolation. However, their plans take a dark turn when they discover the Necronomicon, an ancient book of the dead, in the basement. Despite the warnings scribbled in the book, one of the friends reads an incantation aloud, inadvertently triggering a malevolent force. As the demonic presence takes hold, the group is subjected to horrific and bloody events, with Mia becoming the primary target of the evil entity.
Watch on Max
“10 Cloverfield Street” (2016)
Watch on
If you like movies that deal specifically with the unknown (like the Xenomorph, for example), you'll probably enjoy “10 Cloverfield Lane.” This psychological thriller centers on Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), who wakes up in an underground bunker after being in a car accident. Two men reside in the bunker: Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).
Howard, the bunker's owner, tells Michelle that he saved her and that the outside world has been devastated by a widespread chemical attack, rendering it uninhabitable. Michelle is initially skeptical of Howard's story, especially given his authoritarian and erratic behavior. As the story progresses, Michelle and the audience are led to question the truth of Howard's statements, as well as the state of the outside world.
Watch on Paramount Plus (with Showtime)