Ridley Scott's 1979 film Alien has surged back into VOD top 10 charts in several countries, despite having no streaming home, as fans rent or buy the sci-fi classic on Prime Video and Apple TV. The renewed interest comes as Scott, who directed the film nearly 50 years ago, prepares to return to the sci-fi genre after a decade away with his upcoming movie The Dog Stars.

The Dog Stars, starring Josh Brolin, Jacob Elordi and Margaret Qualley, is due in cinemas on 28 August. Scott has spent recent years focused on historical epics, including Gladiator II and the poorly received Napoleon, which later found a streaming audience after underperforming at the box office on its $200 million budget. Alien remains hugely influential, having spawned an ongoing franchise on which Scott continues to serve as producer, though it currently cannot be streamed via subscription and must be rented or purchased digitally.