Prometheuswas one of the most divisive movies in theAlienfranchise, but the film’s biggest issues are helped by watchingtheAlienseries in chronological order. 33 years after kicking the story off with the brilliant 1979 original movie,Ridley Scott returned to theAlienfranchisewith 2012’sPrometheus. Serving as a prequel, it followed the story of explorers venturing out into deep space in search of the creators of humanity but finding something darker, which leads to the creation of the xenomorphs.
The excitement about Scott returning was somewhat tempered by the mixed reaction toPrometheus.Those expecting a return to theAlienfranchise were given something quite different in themes and tone. However, thetimeline of theAlienfranchiseis one that can be experienced in different ways. WhilePrometheusmight feel like an awkward entry when viewed as it was released, a new way of looking at the movies as a whole makes for quite an improvement.
Prometheus Is A Much Better Movie When Watching The Alien Movies In Timeline Order
Prometheus' Faults Become More Interesting In Chronological Order
Within theAlienfranchise as it exists now,Prometheustakes place before every other movie. When viewed this way, the more difficult aspects of the film suddenly become more understandable in the context of the larger story, feeling like it is a more natural fit. In fact,while the tonal shift and the subversion of certain expectations were viewed by many as weaknesses upon its release, they become strengths ifPrometheusis seen as the start of it all.
It is true that theAlienfranchise has gone through some alarming tonal shifts in the past. The firstAlienwas a claustrophobic horror movie, only for James Cameron to boldly and effectively turn it into an action movie inAliens. Alien 3returned with a bleak tone, only forAlien: Resurrectionto include a lot more humor. However,many fans weren’t expecting the philosophical musings ofPrometheus. A story about the search for humanity’s creators felt like an oddly epic idea to explore in anAlienmovie.
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However, ifPrometheusis the first movie, that big scope works for establishing this world.The tonal shift is less jarring if the film goes from these big ideas to dealing with the consequences of exploring the truth behind these ideas. In that way, it also deals with another issue fans had withPrometheus, which was the lack of xenomorphs. Ridley Scott seemed uninterested in revisiting the monsters, but fans were still waiting for them.Prometheusbecomes much more interesting if it ends with the hint of the creation of these monsters that will rule the rest of the franchise.
If it is viewed as a jumping-off point for the rest of the story, those apparent flaws are much less noticeable, and it actually feels more interesting.
In terms of the mythology of theAlienfranchise and the feeling of the story,Prometheusdoes feel slightly out of place, thrown in so many years after the original. However, if it is viewed as a jumping-off point for the rest of the story, those apparent flaws are much less noticeable, and it actually feels more interesting.
Which Order Is Best For Watching Alien? Release Or Timeline
The Release Schedule Is Ideal For First-Time Viewers
When it comes to long-running franchises likeAliensthat sometimes have complicated timelines, there are always discussions about what the best watch order would be. The release schedule of how the movies were actually presented to audiences originally is one option, while watching them chronologically can offer a new perspective. When choosing what order towatch theAlienfranchise,it really comes down to how familiar the viewer is with the franchise.
For new viewers of theAlienfranchise, the release order is the right choice, as it was how the filmmakers intended the story to unfold. Watching it chronologically, starting withPrometheus, is a fun way to see things differently, but it only works for those who have already watched all the movies. For example, there arereferences and callbacks inAlien: Romulusthat wouldn’t make sense for fans who never watchedAliens, which takes place later in the timeline. The release order shows us how the story unfolds, and the chronological order can be used to enrich that story afterward.
