Alien: Rubicon, a knock-off sci-fi thriller based on the iconic franchise, has become a streaming hit in the UK despite scathing reviews – is it a case of ‘so bad it’s good’ or is it just terrible?
The 2024 film is from The Asylum, an independent company which specialises in producing and distributing low-budget, direct-to-video projects which are often inspired by tentpole features from major studios.
The sci-fi thriller, which pays homage to – or spoofs depending on your persuasion – to 20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus, depicts the panic that ensues after an alien spacecraft lands near New York.
As the ship makes its way towards Washington DC in preparation of an invasion, the nation bands together as it seeks to protect their world from the growing extra-terrestrial threat that looms.
Despite not being a big-budget feature, Alien: Rubicon has proved to be a hit in terms of viewership, with the sci-fi thriller currently sitting at #3 in Prime Video’s UK film chart behind only Marching Powder and The London Railway Murders (via FlixPatrol).
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It entered the chart on Saturday (20 September) as it went straight to #4, maintaining that position the following day. It dropped a position to #5 on Monday before climbing another two places today, so it seems the film has staying power.
Despite its success in terms of viewership, the film – much like other productions from The Asylum – has been derided in reviews, with IMDb currently reporting a measly average user rating of 2.4 out of 10 from 760 reviews.
“This doesn’t even deserve the title of [film], instead it should be called a hodgepodge of how not to act… All up a waste of money and time,” wrote one user as they dubbed it the “worst [film] I’ve seen this century”.
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“It doesn’t get any worse than this… If you haven’t yet wasted your time watching this trash please be advised you will definitely be disappointed that you did,” wrote another viewer as they called it an “embarrassment” to the franchise it’s based on.
Other projects from The Asylum, which have been amusingly dubbed ‘mockbusters’, include the Sharknado and Mega Shark series, Meth Gator (based on Cocaine Bear) and Monster Island, which is inspired by Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Alien: Rubicon is streaming on Prime Video now.
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