It's been nearly a decade since Ridley Scott last ventured into the cosmos on the big screen. The legendary director, who defined the sci-fi horror genre with the original Alien, is finally returning to space this August with The Dog Stars, starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. But before that, one of his most divisive sci-fi entries is making its exit from streaming.
Alien: Covenant, Scott's 2017 sequel to Prometheus, will be removed from HBO Max on August 1, 2026. The film, which served as a direct follow-up to the controversial prequel, earned a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes and was praised for its tense, claustrophobic horror—even if critics noted it didn't push the franchise in bold new directions.
Produced on a reported budget of $110 million, Alien: Covenant grossed around $240 million worldwide. While that's a respectable haul for many films, it was less than half of what Prometheus earned, signaling to the studio that audiences weren't fully on board with Scott's prequel vision. The film's underperformance led to a pause in the franchise, which was later revived with Fede Álvarez's Alien: Romulus in 2024. That film, made for $80 million, grossed $350 million globally and reinvigorated interest in the series.
Scott's sci-fi output in the 2010s was a mixed bag of massive hits and cult favorites. Prometheus divided fans but still crossed $400 million worldwide. The Martian earned a Best Picture nomination and became Scott's highest-grossing film ever. Then came Alien: Covenant, which closed out his sci-fi run for nearly a decade. Since then, Scott has focused on period dramas like The Last Duel, House of Gucci, and Napoleon, though recent box office returns have been uneven.
For fans of the Alien franchise, Covenant remains a fascinating, if flawed, chapter. It expands on the mythology introduced in Prometheus, exploring the origins of the Xenomorph and the tragic fate of the android David. The film also features standout performances from Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, and Danny McBride in a rare dramatic role.
If you haven't seen it yet—or want to revisit it before it vanishes—now's the time. Alien: Covenant streams on HBO Max until August 1. After that, you'll need to rent or buy it digitally. Meanwhile, Scott's next sci-fi outing, The Dog Stars, hits theaters later that month, marking his long-awaited return to the genre.
For more on the best sci-fi films streaming now, check out our list of 8 Alien Films That Outshine Disclosure Day. And if you're curious about how the Alien franchise compares to other horror series, read our analysis of Why the Evil Dead Franchise Is Horror's Most Consistent and Bloody Winning Streak.
