Summary
- Alien vs. Predator
revived both franchises by introducing a new generation of fans to the iconic sci-fi monsters. - The PG-13 rating for
Alien vs. Predator
made it accessible to younger viewers, expanding the audience and attracting new fans. - Despite mixed reviews,
Alien vs. Predator
set in motion the continued success of both the
Alien
and
Predator
franchises with several sequels.
As a lifelong fan of science fiction and horror movies, I have always held a soft spot for the iconic creatures of the Alien and Predator franchises. The release of “Aliens vs. Predator” in 2004 was a pivotal moment for me, as it brought together two of my favorite monsters on the silver screen. Despite receiving mixed reviews, its impact on the longevity of both franchises is undeniable.
2024 marked a significant milestone for me as a cinephile when “Alien: Romulus,” the newest addition to the venerable “Alien” franchise, graced our screens. Coincidentally, this was exactly 20 years after “Alien vs. Predator” premiered on the ominous date of August 13th, 2004. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, “Alien vs. Predator,” or AVP as it became known, promised an epic collision between the “Alien” and “Predator” universes. The film was a modest box office success, but the critical response to the movie was far from warm, with only its 2007 sequel, “Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem,” preventing it from being the most panned entry in either series.
Initially met with mixed reactions, the movie “Alien vs. Predator” ultimately left a significant and beneficial impact on both the Alien and Predator film series. The film wasn’t just famous for its iconic tagline “whoever wins…we lose,” but it also played a crucial role in revitalizing these franchises for the 21st century. By introducing the alien species and the broader films to a new audience, “Alien vs. Predator” paved the way for future movies like “Predators,” “Prometheus,” “Prey,” and the latest “Alien: Romulus.” Despite any initial criticisms of its quality, the film’s importance in the sci-fi horror genre has been undeniably solidified as it stands 20 years later.
Alien vs. Predator Marked Both Franchises Return to the Big Screen
In the early 2000s, it’s worth mentioning that the sci-fi horror franchises Alien and Predator, which are beloved classics from the 1980s with films like ‘Alien’ (1979), ‘Aliens’ (1986), and ‘Predator’ (1987), experienced a decline in popularity. The 1990s saw less successful installments such as ‘Predator 2’ (1990), ‘Alien 3’ (1992), and ‘Alien: Resurrection’ (1997). These films, though reevaluated by some fans, had a negative impact on the perception of both franchises due to their lower quality.
2004 marked the return of the Predator character to the big screen after a 14-year absence since “Predator 2” in 1990, which hinted at the idea of an “Alien vs. Predator” movie. The production of “Predator 3” had been stalled for years and didn’t come to fruition until after the release of “AVP”. On the other hand, it had been seven years since the premiere of “Alien: Resurrection”, and the gap between its release and “Alien: Covenant” and “Alien: Romulus” was similar. Iconic films like Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and James Cameron’s “Aliens” were long past, with their most recent installments failing to meet critical and financial expectations.
As a devoted movie enthusiast, I recall how both Ridley Scott and James Cameron harbored concerns that Alien vs. Predator might tarnish the integrity of the Alien franchise. However, Cameron eventually reconsidered his stance upon watching the film. This epic production served as a spectacular comeback for both Alien and Predator on the silver screen, captivating fans who missed earlier installments or were born after their initial releases. Alien vs. Predator transcended being just another sequel; it was an unparalleled event that stirred curiosity among spectators eager to witness these cinematic titans clash. For the first time in years, Alien and Predator regained their status as pop culture icons.
The PG-13 Rating Was a Blessing Disguised as a Curse
In the 21st century’s cultural surge of geekdom, Alien vs. Predator was produced – a movie that encapsulated the fusion of two iconic franchises. The concept of merging Alien and Predator, creating an extraordinary crossover, appeared to be a film tailored exclusively for franchise enthusiasts. Thus, when 20th Century Fox decided to release it with a PG-13 rating, fans were baffled and upset since both franchises had always been rated R. The mature audience was disgruntled. They questioned the reasoning behind diluting the intended fan service and attempting to attract younger viewers who might not have been familiar with the previous films.
It seems that making Alien vs. Predator suitable for a PG-13 rating indeed broadened its appeal, particularly to younger viewers. This age group is the ideal target since the idea of these monsters clashing is quite reminiscent of playground fantasies among kids. Given the childlike charm of a monster fight, it’s logical to market such a film to this audience. The older fanbase will still watch it due to their existing fondness for the franchise. However, Alien vs. Predator aimed to attract a larger audience by appealing to people who may not have seen the original films because they were either too young or weren’t born when the originals were released.
Embracing the concept of appealing to fresh franchise enthusiasts is crucial for a series’ longevity and progression, rather than being rooted in the past. In today’s cinematic landscape, regrettably, many film franchises, such as Ghostbusters, Star Wars, and Star Trek, have found themselves entrenched in an attempt to please the original fans, often neglecting the creation of films that are welcoming and engaging for new audiences who could potentially become loyal followers. Despite older fans’ potential discontent with a PG-13 rating, the younger audience who watched it likely appreciated it more due to its inclusivity, as it didn’t alienate them but rather extended an invitation for them to become part of the story.
Alien vs. Predator Is a Great Entry Point
In the film “Alien vs. Predator,” the creators aimed to appeal to a wide range of viewers, including those new to these sci-fi monsters. To ensure understanding, the movie needed to explain the fundamental traits of both creatures. It showcased the Xenomorph’s life cycle, their unique physical characteristics such as acidic blood and skin immune to it, and even introduced the Alien Queen. Simultaneously, it delved into the Predator’s signature weapons and upheld their honor code as warriors who spare unarmed or ill individuals. Despite being sometimes criticized as a “simple” movie, it conveyed much of the lore about Alien and Predator through visual storytelling. An interesting aspect was that the Predator and the human protagonist, Lex, communicated without a shared language. This contrasts with “The Predator” of 2018, which struggled with this concept, featuring subtitles for the Predators and even a translator at one point.
The film “Alien vs. Predator” caters to both old and new viewers by thoroughly explaining the fundamentals of both species without requiring prior knowledge. This well-crafted exposition likely sparked interest in the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises for a new generation, either before or after viewing the film. In 2003, 20th Century Fox capitalized on this by releasing the “Alien Quadrilogy” (a term they coined to market the box set as a four-film series, which is known as a tetralogy) on DVD, a year before the release of “Alien vs. Predator.”
Fans who watched “Alien vs. Predator” may not have initially realized it, but they were essentially being introduced to some classic films from the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises. Many viewers who first saw “Alien vs. Predator” likely went back to watch Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking “Alien,” James Cameron’s iconic “Aliens,” and John McTiernan’s action-packed “Predator.” These older films are considered some of the greatest in their respective genres. By reintroducing these franchises through a fun crossover like “Alien vs. Predator,” a new audience was able to discover these classic movies, much like how summer’s other monster mash-up film, “Van Helsing,” helped introduce audiences to the Universal Monsters. While “Alien vs. Predator” may have been criticized as being merely a big dumb crossover, it played a crucial role in preserving the legacy of these iconic films.
Alien vs. Predator Revived Both Franchises
The movie crossover between Alien and Predator, titled simply as “Alien vs. Predator,” raked in an impressive $38.2 million during its debut weekend. It eventually accumulated a domestic total of $80.3 million and a global revenue of $177.4 million, all on a production budget of $60 million. This outperformed the last film from either franchise, Alien: Resurrection, which managed $47 million domestically and $161 million worldwide. Alien vs. Predator, being the most successful installment in both series, sparked enthusiasm among fans for a sequel showcasing the Predator-Alien hybrid, known as the Predalien. Regrettably, this sequel, released in 2007 as Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, received unfavorable reviews and earned only $41 million domestically and $130 million worldwide.
The triumph of Alien vs. Predator brought renewed attention to both franchises among mainstream viewers, and after the letdown of Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, they moved faster than ever on sequels and spin-offs. After years in development, Robert Rodriguez’s Predator 3 (later titled Predators) was released in 2010, followed by a 2018 film with the same title, which received negative reviews. In contrast, Prey from 2022 was well-received. Currently, there are two Predator films underway, including a sequel to Prey and another titled Badlands featuring Elle Fanning as the main character. This effectively doubles the number of Predator movies since Alien vs. Predator.
In a twist of events, although Ridley Scott had expressed he wouldn’t return to the Alien franchise if 20th Century Fox produced Alien vs. Predator, he ended up directing a prequel, Prometheus, in 2012. In essence, Ridley Scott seems to have followed a path similar to The Rise of Skywalker, aiming to reverse the story developments from Alien vs. Predator regarding the Xenomorphs and reclaim creative control. Notably, both Prometheus and Alien vs. Predator share several scenes in common.
- A group of scientists gathered by the Weyland Corporation searching for an alien temple (a pyramid in AVP and a ship in Prometheus).
- Various cultures around the world, separated by time, feature similar patterns, which point to the Ancient Aliens’ theory that what mythology classifies as gods were early encounters with Alien lifeforms.
- An advanced race of aliens (Predators/Engineers) breeding the Xenomorphs for a specific purpose (training hunters in AVP/bioweapon in Prometheus).
- The expedition is motivated by a dying member of the Weyland family.
- Both movies feature a scene where characters debate the idea of bringing a gun on what is supposed to be a scientific trip.
The film titled Prometheus garnered a blend of praise and criticism from both fans and critics, yet anticipation for its release was intense, as it debuted with a record-breaking $51 million opening weekend for the franchise. It’s been eight years since the last installment in the series, AVP, so if you were 10 when you saw Prometheus, you would have turned 18 and be eligible to buy a ticket for the R-rated movie. The ambiguous reception of Prometheus led to the release of Alien: Covenant in 2017, followed by the latest installment, Alien: Romulus, in 2024, which topped the box office charts upon its debut.
Though some might argue that Alien vs. Predator isn’t the finest film in either series, it’s hard to dispute the impact it had on the longevity of the Alien and Predator franchises. Bringing back these iconic movie monsters for a new generation and turning their encounter into a major cinematic event. It sparked interest in younger audiences about these creatures, while also encouraging older viewers to revisit the original films after its premiere. And since then, both franchises have been continually expanding the limits of their on-screen universes.
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2024-08-22 01:32