Ridley Scott’s $403M Sci-Fi Epic Deserves Its Streaming Success

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Ridley Scott’s 2012 science fiction film, Prometheus, earned over $403 million globally (according to Box Office Mojo), making it a major box office success. However, despite its financial achievements, the film sparked a lot of discussion and received very mixed reactions from audiences and critics.

When Prometheus first came out, people were divided. Some thought it was a brave new take on the Alien story, while others found it disappointing and full of loose ends. This disagreement stuck with the film for a long time. But now, thanks to streaming, Prometheus is getting another chance, and many are finally seeing it in a more positive light.

After more than ten years, Prometheus is becoming popular again. Currently, it’s the second most-watched movie on Netflix worldwide (though in the United States, it’s still available on HBO Max, according to FlixPatrol). This shows that Ridley Scott created a science fiction story with lasting appeal, going beyond just being a prequel to Alien.

Prometheus Is One Of The Most Divisive Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time

A Visually Daring Epic That Split Audiences Down The Middle

The movie Prometheus starts with a simple, yet grand, science fiction idea: a team journeys through space to find the origins of humankind. Led by archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway, and financed by Peter Weyland, the crew lands on a remote moon hoping to uncover answers, but they find themselves with more mysteries than before.

The discoveries made in the film are both amazing and disturbing. This is where Prometheus stands out from typical sci-fi adventures. It uniquely combines deep philosophical questions with frightening imagery, cosmic puzzles, and elements familiar to fans of the franchise. Some viewers found this combination thrilling, while others found it frustrating.

The film Prometheus received a lot of well-deserved praise. It’s a visually impressive movie, with everything from the massive Engineer buildings to the clean, futuristic spacecraft interiors creating a sense of scale and atmosphere rarely seen in modern science fiction. Beyond the visuals, the film explores deep philosophical questions about the origins of humanity, giving it a thoughtfulness that goes beyond typical sci-fi monster movies.

Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of David is particularly impressive and deserves special attention. He creates an android that is both disturbing and fascinating, with a subtle sense of threat. Fassbender adds so much depth to the character that watching Prometheus multiple times reveals new layers of intrigue, making David one of the most captivating characters in the entire Alien series.

Despite its financial success, Prometheus also faced a lot of criticism. Viewers pointed out gaps in the plot, characters making illogical choices, and a confusing connection to the Alien franchise. While some fans wanted a straightforward prequel, the film offered a more complex and thought-provoking story. Nevertheless, Prometheus earned $403 million worldwide, showing strong public interest. And even years later, it continues to be popular on streaming services, suggesting that opinions have become more favorable over time.

Why Prometheus Continues To Be So Popular

Its Scale, Mystery, And Performances Make It Perfect For Streaming

Although it received mixed reviews when it came out in 2012, Prometheus consistently attracts viewers on streaming services. Its current ranking as the #2 movie globally on Netflix isn’t a one-time event; the film has repeatedly gained popularity with both new viewers and those revisiting it after its initial release.

One reason Prometheus has lasted is its impressive visual style. Even now, with so many CGI films, the movie’s images still stand out. Today’s high-definition screens make the alien landscapes and detailed sets feel incredibly real. Streaming now lets viewers experience these stunning visuals at home, with quality that rivals a movie theater.

Beyond its beautiful visuals, Prometheus is also genuinely scary to watch at home. Ridley Scott expertly builds suspense, creating a feeling of unease that slowly grows before erupting into moments of horror. The film’s atmosphere is immersive and carefully crafted, making it easy to get lost in for its entire runtime.

One of the most compelling things about the film is how mysterious it is. Prometheus doesn’t offer easy answers; it encourages viewers to draw their own conclusions. This ambiguity is what makes it so fascinating and worth watching again and again. People keep revisiting the film to analyze details, question the characters’ reasons, and try to understand what the Engineers are really up to.

The recent rise in popularity of Prometheus is likely due to the renewed interest in the Alien and Predator franchises. The success of films like Alien: Romulus, Alien: Earth, and Predator: Badlands – particularly Badlands’ focus on a Weyland-Yutani synthetic – has led fans to revisit Scott’s original prequel.

Ridley Scott Never Concluded His Alien Prequel Saga

The Story Prometheus Began Was Never Fully Finished

The biggest disappointment of Prometheus wasn’t that people had different opinions about it. It was that the story felt unfinished. Ridley Scott revisited this storyline with Alien: Covenant in 2017, further linking the character Shaw’s experiences to the familiar world of Alien.

Alien: Covenant took David’s story in a much darker direction and directly connected the prequel films to how the Xenomorph first appeared. The ending strongly suggested another movie was planned, and everything seemed ready for a final film that could complete the story.

Unfortunately, that planned continuation never happened. The Alien series took a different path, focusing on new ideas like the story we now know as Alien: Romulus, and Ridley Scott began working on other films such as Napoleon and Gladiator II. This left the original prequel storyline unfinished, with many key questions unanswered.

Despite previous statements, a return to the Alien franchise isn’t entirely off the table. In an interview with The Guardian, Ridley Scott explained he’s still open to finishing his planned trilogy.

“Another Alien prequel – yeah, if I get an idea, for sure.”

While it doesn’t guarantee a satisfying ending, there’s still reason to be optimistic. With Prometheus continuing to gain popularity through streaming and attracting new sci-fi fans, that hope is growing. The show’s continued success demonstrates there’s still strong interest, and Ridley Scott’s universe might eventually get the conclusion it deserves if a compelling idea comes along.

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2026-02-24 00:12