Alien (1979)
Horror, Science Fiction
89Kernel Score — Universal Acclaim, 0 reviews
The Kernel take
A Metascore of 89 represents universal critical acclaim for a lean $11M production that's already grossed nearly $105M worldwide—a remarkable validation of Scott's vision on a modest budget.
Director track record: Ridley Scott
Alien sits well above Ridley Scott's own 61.2-point average across 23 scored films—a major outlier in his filmography, though it trails his best-reviewed work, Thelma & Louise (89).
Lead track record: Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt's 89 here vaults well above his own 54.9-point average across 15 scored films—a career-defining performance that becomes his best-reviewed film to date, surpassing Thieves Like Us (82).
Box office
Budget $11M · Box office $104.9M