The perfect organism,the Xenomorph has terrified audiences since its debut in 1979. Much like its extraterrestrial brother the Predator, the Xenomorph stars in an action/horror mega-franchise. Except, theAlienmovieshave gone on even longer, with four sequels, two non-canonical spin-offs, and two prequels.
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That's not even counting the endless amount of comics and videogames that expand the universe. With each new movie, a new breed of Xenomorph is typically introduced. This has led to iconic variations on the alien monster as well as some pretty bad duds.Note: there are literally hundreds of Xenomorphs across the series so this is going to focus or generalize on the aliens that stand out.
The Newborn: Alien: Resurrection
Alien: Resurrectionis one of those so bad that it's hilarious movies. Nearly everything went wrong with it, but in the best way possible... if that makes sense. Not only is it awful, butResurrectionis also a bizarre movie, and, in the case of its surprise new xenomorph, it's not funny.
The Newborn is a part human/part Xeno hybrid that views the Ripley clone like a mother. This concept might have sounded interesting on paper, but the execution just leaves viewers questioning what Joss Whedon was thinking.
The Deacon: Prometheus
Both prequels are divisive films, but Prometheus was by far the most infamous. For some, it was a fascinating sci-fi epic, while others viewed it as a drawn-out, plot-hole filled slap in the face. One reason for this is that, despite advertising it asthe moviethat would explain everything,it didn't.
It raised more questions, especially with its last-second tease.The Deacon is a creature that could possibly be related to the Xenomorphs. It bursts out of the Engineer's body and roars only to never be seen again.
Neomorph: Alien: Covenant
Those that hatedPrometheusfoundCovenantto be better, while those that adorePrometheushatedCovenant. InCovenant,the creepy-yet-fascinating android Davidhas been using the Engineer Pathogen for his experiments.
One of the more imperfect creations that stalked the mysterious planet was the Neomorphs. Smaller, faster, more sloppy creatures with bleach-white skin. Other than providing some much-needed gore back to the series, the Neomorphs were nothing special, which is sort of the point of them, to begin with.
The Abomination (Predalien): Alien VS. Predator: Requiem
The idea of a Xenomorph/Yautja (Predator) hybrid had existed in the comics and games for years. So, fans were excited to see the Predalien brought to life inAlien VS. Predator: Requiem. In the movie version, the Abomination acts like a queen of its own horde.
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It uses its mandibles and tongue to impregnate a host with a batch of xenomorphs rather than just one. It also stands toe-to-toe with an elite hunter with ease. It is definitely one of the highlights of a terrible movie... when the lighting actually allows viewers to see it.
The Protomorph: Alien: Covenant
Alien: Covenantfinally gave the Xenomorph an origin story...sort of. According to the filmmakers, the Xenomorph seen in the final act of Covenant is imperfect. It's not quite the Xenomorph fans know and love yet, hence the nickname of "Protomorph."
It does indeed feature minuscule differences from the classic Xeno. Very dodgy CGI aside, it was very refreshing to see the Xenomorph get its start and wreak havoc. Hopefully, a sequel finally answersthe rest of the fans' questions.
Warrior Drones: Various Movies
When a classic Xenomorph ages: the smooth dome-like head and body evolve. This results in a hard carapace exoskeleton similar to bugs. One Xenomorph is bad, but imagine a legion of evolved Xenos swarming the area. Terrifying.
The Warrior Drones were first introduced inJames Cameron'sAliensand have been the main staple in most Alien projects since. It's easy to see why since Aliens is often referred to as the best of the series. They're fast, scary, and, most importantly, they're coming out of the walls!
Grid
As a result of taking on two Yautja youngbloods, a xenomorph drone ends up with a green and grid-like scar across its dome. This warrants the nickname of Grid, and he acts like a leader on the frontlines. Other xenomorphs acting on his and the Queen's orders alike.
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Fans can say what they want aboutAlien VS. Predator,but it was genuinely impressive to make a single drone unique. Grid even kills the two Youngbloods and helps the Queen escape from the pyramid.
The Runner: Alien 3
Alien 3 was the first to showcase what happens when a Xenomorph is born from an animal. The host of the Runner varies on the cut of the movie—the Assembly Cut being the superior one—but, either way, it results in a very different monster.
The Runner is the fastest of the breeds. With Alien 3 returning to horror, the Runner does a good job providing asense of dread. The Runner shines the most in the climax via its point of view sequences in the corridors.
The Matriarch (Queen): Aliens, Alien Resurrection, Alien VS. Predator
Who or what lays the eggs which facehuggers come from? Well, that's where the Queen comes in. After rescuing Newt from the hive, Ripley discovers the Matriarch: a massive Xenomorph. She stands at around fifteen to twenty feet tall, has a massive carapace, and is a deadly threat, even without her warriors.
Even Yautja hunters have a hard time killing her. The Queen has become an iconic villain due to her prowess and fantastic visual effects work: both practical and CGI. One of the many things thatmadeAlienssuch an astonishing sequel.
The Xenomorph
A low-budget, a newbie director, anda rather phallic creature design. These are all elements that should have led to a disaster sci-fi horror movie, but Ridley Scott and company redefined sci-fi horror. Still to this day, the Xenomorph in the firstAlienis still terrifying.
Without this particular alien, there would be no franchise. The classic design even made an epic return in 2014'sAlien: Isolation,and it made fans curl up in fear. It is the monster that popularized the phrase "in space, no one can hear you scream."
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