If you're a fan of Ridley Scott's sci-fi work, you know the conversation usually starts with Blade Runner or the original Alien. But there's a middle chapter in his prequel series that often gets overlooked—Alien: Covenant—and it's about to vanish from HBO Max. As of July 31, the 2017 film will no longer be available on the streaming service, so you've got just a few days to catch it there or hunt it down elsewhere.
A Bridge Between Two Worlds
After Scott returned to the Alien universe with 2012's Prometheus, a philosophical prequel that divided audiences, he aimed to split the difference with Alien: Covenant. Set in 2104—about two decades before the events of the original 1979 film—the movie follows a new crew of colonists who stumble upon a dangerous planet while investigating a mysterious signal. It's more directly a horror movie than Prometheus, leaning into the slasher-like tension and gory creature features that made the franchise famous.
The film also brings back Michael Fassbender as the android David, a standout from Prometheus, and adds a second android role for him: Walter, a more obedient model. Watching Fassbender act opposite himself is one of the movie's weirdest and most compelling pleasures, especially in a scene that layers in some unsettling sexual innuendo. The movie doesn't hold back—there's a shower sequence that feels ripped from a B-grade slasher, but with A-grade production design and visual effects.
Why It's Better Than You Remember
Critics and fans were harsh on Alien: Covenant upon release, calling it a messy compromise between Prometheus's big ideas and the straightforward scares of the original series. But time has been kind to it. The film provides closure to Prometheus's dangling threads, explaining what happened to the Engineers and how David's experiments led to the creation of the xenomorph. It's a speed-run of that lore, sure, but it's also one of the most visually striking entries in the franchise.
Looking at Scott's recent output—All the Money in the World, The Last Duel, House of Gucci, Napoleon, and Gladiator II—only The Last Duel arguably tops Alien: Covenant in quality. That's not a hot take; it's a testament to how underrated this sci-fi sequel really is. Scott, now 88, has directed nearly 30 films, and his consistency is spotty, but Alien: Covenant is a solid entry in his later career. For more on Scott's recent streaming success, check out how Napoleon conquered Apple TV+.
Where to Watch After July 31
Once Alien: Covenant leaves HBO Max, you'll need to rent or buy it digitally on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, or Vudu. Physical media is also an option for collectors. If you're a completist, you might also want to revisit Prometheus and the original Alien to see how the trilogy connects—though Scott's planned third prequel never materialized, replaced instead by Alien: Romulus in 2024.
For fans of Scott's other underrated work, Matchstick Men is now streaming free on Tubi—another gem worth your time. And if you're curious about Scott's historical epics, House of Gucci deserves a second look five years later.
Don't let Alien: Covenant slip away without giving it a fair shot. It's a messy, ambitious, and genuinely scary movie that deserves more love than it got.
