Alien and Aliens return to streaming on Netflix
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Alien and Aliens, two of the most influential films in sci-fi horror history, have returned to Netflix after both landed on the platform at the start of September 2026 following a period of absence from streaming. Their arrival comes at a mixed moment for director Ridley Scott, whose latest release, The Dog Stars, has struggled at the box office with only $20 million taken so far, putting it on course to be one of his lowest-grossing films, while he prepares to begin filming a Treasure Island remake starring Hugh Jackman later this year.
Scott directed the original 1979 Alien, and James Cameron directed its 1986 sequel Aliens; both remain widely regarded as genre landmarks. Neither film carries a "last day to watch" tag on Netflix, suggesting they should stay available at least until the end of October. The wider franchise continues to expand: Disney confirmed production has begun on the second season of Alien: Earth, expected before the end of 2027, a sequel to 2024's Alien: Romulus has been confirmed without a director or release date, and Scott has said he intends to return to the franchise with a new film centred on Michael Fassbender's android character David, though this remains in early development.
- Alien and Aliens now streaming on Netflix from September 2026
- Ridley Scott's new film The Dog Stars underperforming at the box office
- Alien: Earth season two and an Alien: Romulus sequel are in the works
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Alien and Aliens are two landmark science fiction horror films from the late 1970s and 1980s, following the crew of a spaceship, and later a group of marines, as they battle a deadly extraterrestrial creature. The first film, released in 1979, was directed by Ridley Scott, while the 1986 sequel was made by James Cameron; both are widely regarded as among the most influential films in the genre and helped establish a franchise that has continued for decades.
Ridley Scott remains closely tied to the franchise he began, and has continued directing other projects in the years since, including science fiction films and other genres. The Alien series has since expanded into further films, a television series, and other spin-offs, with new instalments continuing to be developed by various studios and directors.
The films' route onto a major streaming service reflects how older, influential titles periodically move between different platforms as licensing deals change, affecting where audiences can watch them and for how long.
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Originally published by Collider as “Ridley Scott’s Most Popular Sci-Fi Franchise Officially Hits Netflix”.