Alien 3 (1992)

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After her last encounter, Ellen Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a maximum security prison. When a series of strange and deadly events occur shortly after her arrival, Ripley realizes that she brought along an unwelcome visitor.

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Directed By: David Fincher

Written By: Walter Hill, Vincent Ward, Larry Ferguson, David Giler

Starring: Lance Henriksen, Charles Dance, Sigourney Weaver, Charles S. Dutton, Danny Webb, Pete Postlethwaite, Holt McCallany, Paul McGann, Ralph Brown, Philip Davis, Brian Glover, Christopher John Fields

Genres: Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller, Action, Horror

Franchise: Alien

AKA: Alien³

Country: USA

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Alien 3 belongs to 56 collections

1. Psychotronic Film and Video Guides (collaborative: moderated by Gregzilla - 40 stars)

2. Female protagonist (collaborative: moderated by djross - 25 stars)

3. Directorial debut (collaborative: moderated by djross - 16 stars)

4. Spacecraft setting (collaborative: moderated by djross - 15 stars)

5. Films available in HD (collaborative: moderated by kubricksucks - 13 stars)

6. Aliens (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 12 stars)

7. Rue Morgue Magazine's 200 Alternative Horror Films You Need to See (public: jimmyjazz - 12 stars)

8. Sequel (collaborative: moderated by td888 - 9 stars)

9. Alternate versions / cuts (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 9 stars)

10. Something's picking us off! (collaborative: moderated by TonythePony - 8 stars)

11. Horror Franchises (collaborative: moderated by mattburgess - 8 stars)

12. Body horror (collaborative: moderated by mattburgess - 8 stars)

13. Anamorphic Cinematography (collaborative: moderated by Bojangles - 7 stars)

14. Big-time Hollywood science fiction (public: djross - 7 stars)

15. Monster (collaborative: moderated by djross - 6 stars)

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17. Classic CHUD: 100 Movies That Deserve More Love (collaborative: moderated by tinysausage - 5 stars)

18. Top 3000 movies with the most votes on IMDb (public: fanfic - 5 stars)

19. Alien series (collaborative - 4 stars)

20. Female-led Action (collaborative: moderated by Roman_Herbom - 4 stars)

21. robots and A.I. (collaborative: moderated by livelove - 3 stars)

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23. Deep space horror (collaborative: moderated by mattburgess - 2 stars)

24. Hate it or love it (collaborative: moderated by comepelicula - 2 stars)

25. subterranean / subsurface / underground (collaborative: moderated by livelove - 2 stars)

26. Cinema Sins (collaborative: moderated by Phantom Nook - 2 stars)

27. /r/Cyberpunk/wiki/movies (collaborative - 2 stars)

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29. Better Sequels (collaborative: moderated by amazedemon - 1 star)

30. Availability: Disney+ and Star Canada (collaborative: moderated by geohawk - 1 star)

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36. Djross seen at the cinema (public: djross)

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50. Alien (franchise) (public: kendell)

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54. To See (public: Contreras)

55. Alien (public: TDH1878)

56. Alien & Predator (public: LibraLynx98)

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TCI | Percentile | Date Rated | # Stars (Reviews)

Stars	User	Rating
10	Alex Watkins	3 _38th
This was way better than I expected it to be, at least as a stand-alone film. Okay, so it pisses all over Aliens and invalidates the ending, which is enough to make it a poor sequel. But a poor movie? Nah. Perhaps lowered expectations contributed but I had a lot of fun with this. It's got some great visuals, it's a dark, tense film that returns to the more suspenseful style of the first film instead of relying on balls-out action, and it wraps things up nicely. Maybe I'm a fanboy but I like it.
7	MJVmovieMan	49 _18th
'Alien 3' may contain the most intriguing plot device of all the films: the characters are trapped on a prison planet with no weaponry and a single monster. Fox Studios sliced and diced the film David Fincher apparently sought out to make and he left the project before editing began--it shows. The movie feels flat, looks tacky (the CGI in this film is awful), and fails to flow from all the cut-and-paste editing. Sadly, this film could've been the most interesting, if not the most suspenseful.
7	BillyShears	70 _53rd
A really ballsy sequel to Aliens, DO NOT watch it right after Aliens though you will hate it with a passion for doing what it does. Needed more British accents.
6	Mentaculus	70 _53rd
The Alien franchise holds an enduring fascination for me - it's like a musical fugue and a fugue state rolled into one. Alien3 is quite literally the Dark Horse - bleak and damp and tense, it looks like shit and the characters are shitty and everyone's covered in shit and it's so depressing it makes you feel like shit. But in the best possible way that shit could allow.
6	Paxton	57 _31st
I actually enjoy it less than Resurrection despite the higher rating which makes about as much sense as killing off Newt and replacing Ripley's motherly instinct with a passion position with prison physician. I don't hold a lot of hope for this Fincher guy, or is this not how you do revisionist history?
5	CHIMP	14 _1st
Hello I am a jobbing Royal Shakespeare Company veteran this is my sole scene of character development OH GOD AN ALIEN HAS INTERRUPTED IT BY MURDERING ME (repeat x5)
5	saucyjack	73 _54th
The assembly cut is where it's at here, a much better film than the theatrical version.
5	Jeb	70 _51st
Terribly overlooked and underrated.
5	Okkervil	78 _79th
One of the most underrated films around in my opinion. Fincher does a great job directing "Alien 3" and I have never understood the dislike aimed at this film. It's fair to say it's not quite up their with the first two movies, and there is a few moments of dodgy visuals and a wooden script, but Fincher creates a claustrophobic and dark thriller, with another great Weaver performance and a solid support cast. A worthy addition to the Alien franchise.
4	doctor7	72 _55th
The alien series attempts to get back to it's roots of a future setting with people who are not properly equipped for combat fight an alien. Visually it's got some impressive bits but Alien and Aliens is far better. It's a good film with some decent scares but it's nothing really new. While the director's cut does vastly improve the film ultimately studio interference ruined it.
4	Nathan S	3 _45th
An underrated return to form, with a plot founded on a solid and unique premise. It is incredibly dark and grotesque, almost nauseating. The visual design is grimy and industrialized, bordering near steampunk but remaining consistent with the established art direction of the previous films. Unfortunately, it does fall apart somewhat during the final act, which features an elaborate and geographically confusing action set piece, some cheesy Xenomorph-POV camerawork, and bad CGI.
4	FrederikA	70 _67th
BD SPECIAL EDITION: Finally the movie gets redeemed as extra scenes are inserted to great effect both story- and mood-wise. Though A3 doesn't reach the heights of the previous two masterpieces, Fincher's movie is both bold and aesthetically interesting and serves as a pleasing end chapter to the trilogy. Oh... yeah... they made a forth one... well...
3	AFlickering	5 _75th
i can't imagine how or why such a fan-unfriendly sequel was conceived, let alone greenlit, but the brutality with which it criticises and devalues its undeniably dumb predecessor is magnificently ballsy. it's bewilderingly committed to this bizarro mixture of unhinged mania and apocalyptic, despairing solemnity, and for all its faults the experience, anchored by arguably weaver's best performance of the franchise and an inexplicably moving turn from charles dance, is personal and unforgettable.
3	Luna6ix	70 _34th
While the "Alien" series has never suffered a lack of talent in departments of directing or acting, this one is clearly the weakest link--even in comparison to the following installment. The first two had some killer practical effects, and while the CG here is astounding through the lense of time, it's been thirty years and by now it's downright offensively bad. For completionists only.
3	INDYATMN	73 _33rd
Cinematography & prod design make appropriately grungy visuals, so its unfortunate the efx are so bad. Most of the time the creature's clearly superimposed over the actors & it often looks more like it's humping victims rather than attacking. The pacing is also too slow & though the premise (Ripley surrounded by males) could be interesting the only themes are the usual liberal tropes: corporations can't be good; criminals can (the irredeemable are all white); women are badass & blacks are noble
3	inhmn	99 _92nd
i adore this movie. The cyberpunk madonna with the new born in her hug fall into the fire abyss ....aaargh - i live for movies like that !
3	juntakinte99	66 _30th
ASSEMBLY CUT: This franchise rests on creating both a threatening monster & evil corporation. As with past installments on laborers & soldiers, this one examines the disposability of inmates in the prison-industrial complex. The failure isn't Fincher's fault as much as the infamous script problems. The opening act has the most compelling dramatic scenes of the entire series. But it's let down by the resolution's incomprehensible set piece. Marginal recommendation for fans of the previous films.
2	MartinTeller	73 _46th
Fincher does pretty much the exact opposite of Cameron, for better and for worse. There's not a single line of dialogue that made me wince like Cameron's shitty tough talk. It's not a thrill ride, but more of a dark, introspective nihilistic slow burn. But the effects are rather poor and more importantly, Fincher doesn't have Cameron's skill in putting together an action setpiece. The geography of the location is never clearly established, which makes most of the action a confusing clusterfuck.
2	eveelun	62 _25th
This is pretty dark and somewhat interesting visually, but it's hard not to be disappointed with the direction this movie takes after the excellent first two films.
2	Moribunny	60 _54th
Not great but underrated.
2	caiman	84 _75th
Not only is this film "not nearly as bad as people say," it's actually quite good. Especially the director's cut, which fleshes out the characters. This is not Aliens part 2 as many hoped it would be. This is Fincher's take on the Alien franchise, and he makes it his own. It's bleak, cynical, and quite suspenseful. I hate using the term, but I'd have to go so far as to call this one of the most underrated films ever.
2	martryn	66 _41st
Worst of the alien franchise. How do you start the film off killing the two most likable characters from the previous film?
2	tripper54	93 _90th
the brownest of the alien films - quite bleak, but rounds the trilogy off well.
2	billkerwin	68 _10th
There's good direction from first-timer Fincher (already adept at chiaroscuro), and two decent scenes: a burial into the void of space inter-cut with an alien emerging from a dog, and the fragments of crushed android Bishop reanimated and interrogated by Ripley. Weaver, Hendriksen, Dance and Postlewhaite are good as always, but finally this is just another dumb Walter Hill script almost saved by smart direction. (The usual smart director of dumb Hill scripts being--of course--Walter Hill.)
2	overrated	54 _54th
Granted, it does make the ending of Aliens somewhat hilarious.
2	Cinema_Asia	75 _71st
This is pretty underrated and is much better than it's usually criticized as being. The bleak tone and super depressing ending puts most people off who want another repeat of Alien and Aliens. It is however definitely the weakest out of the first 3 alien films simply because some of the plot points are a bit flimsy and hardly any of the characters (except for Ripley) are likable.
2	Ray	85 _86th
"Alien 3" manages to do what "Aliens" failed to: scare me. Thanks to both the prison itself, the inmates and the alien, this is a very tense and dark film. You find yourself getting lost in the location, feeling claustrophobic and nervous while watching it. Whilst it largely ignores the plot developments in Aliens, perhaps thankfully, it also manages to bring in new and interesting characters and weave an interesting tale of it's own. In my eyes, this is the definitive sequel to a classic.
2	woodoo	80 _44th
Unfairly maligned by cast, crew, director and fans. Interesting premise, a the very least. Feels very "blue collar" like Alien.
2	afx237vi	60 _52nd
I rank this higher than Aliens because I really like how utterly grim it is. The first two-thirds has this amazing atmosphere of doom-laden isolation and utter hopelessness that is not even matched by the first film. Unfortunately the final third pretty much sucks, with bad CGI, gimmicky camerawork and a mish-mash of boring chase scenes and people you don't care about getting killed. On that point, why did they kill off the most interesting character (Charles Dance) so early in the film?!
2	DesertPunk	68 _43rd
This review is based off the theatrical cut, not the Assembly Cut. Absurdity follows the Alien franchise wherever it goes, and it would be best if future handlers of the franchise learned to embrace this rather than fighting it. Fincher certainly embraces it, offering enough spectacle and dark comedy to make something fairly watchable in the wake of an absolutely terrible production process. I don't think anybody can deny that, despite the flaws, no Alien film is like another. That's rare.
2	TimeCapsule	78 _80th
The 3rd film in the "Alien" franchise is remembered as the disappointing sequel to two beloved films, but maybe most notorious for its troubled production. Director David Fincher has alluded heavily to there being a sort of "too-many-cooks" problem that is responsible for distorting what he was trying to make. The "Assembly Cut" version was an engaging character story despite the terrible special effects, and as an ending to the trilogy for the character "Ellen Ripley" a dark and somber tale.
1	fudgieb	86 _59th
A really well-made movie. Sigourney is absolutely wonderful in this role and I felt this film did justice to the first two, which, in my opinion, are all time classics.
1	TripleSH	60 _42nd
Nowhere near the punch of the first two. I was almost sad when I saw this after watching Alien and Aliens, which make this look like Plan 9 From Outer Space.
1	StarSiren	60 _24th
Not as good as the first two.
1	amberlita	70 _34th
marked the decline of the franchise, yet is still much better than people give it credit for. it has atmosphere that's for sure.
1	Chujo	90 _94th
Alien 3, the miserabilist conclusion to a series. The alien is back to being a singular personifacation of id vandalism. The religious allegory story also adds an element of punishment to the creatures actions. Ripley is defeated and infected, searching for a worthwhile conclusion. Her craddling her newborn is it.
1	Kavu	84 _83rd
Best of the original trilogy. Returns to the themes of the first one without fucking it all up in the end.
1	Kojiless	90 _92nd
I believe this would have been better received if it had come after the first than after the second. It's kind of hard to return to one alien in a cold metal factory after seeing a bajillion explode in a flash of flesh-burning resplendence. Still, it's creepy and moody, even if it was ruthlessly raped by the studios.
1	GravyMaximus	55 _39th
Was it just me, or did anyone else not give a damn what about what happened to ANY of the characters?
1	Ytadel	1 _5th
It has some exciting moments, and I like how the alien pops out a dog, but just thinking about the way that this movie hits the reset button on Aliens - one of the singular great sci-fi action movies - and kills off Newt in the opening makes me angry all over again.
1	ozymandius10	78 _69th
This one is my favorite of the series (even though I give the original higher marks), and it pains me to think what could have been as well.
1	Mathew	85 _91st
Underrated, the best one next to the original.
1	easydiff	55 _53rd
Flawed film that still has moments.
1	Derekstar	50 _27th
IT'S A LITTLE BABY. GET IT? This movie would have been better if not for the bad sets and the bad computer effects. Why the hell wouldn't they stick with puppet Aliens?
1	joseywales	70 _56th
Doesn't do sci-fi or horror as well as Alien and it doesn't do action as well as Aliens did, but it's still a damn good film and good entry into the Aliensphere.
1	Grit	67 _71st
At times it is up there with the first two films, but some downs between these action-filled highs keep the film feeling a little inconsistent. Still great though.
1	Stain	80 _68th
Well, well, well. I'm not the only person who likes this film after all. Another thing to like about this site
1	jwest	60 _34th
Could have been a good movie, but falls flat toward the end
1	nandorizzi	70 _61st
Although it is much below the first two, the third is a decent movie, in large part because of Sigourney Weaver and his Ripley, who are great in this third film. The downside of this, was the script.
1	muutanet	72 _68th
Back to the dark, one Alien terror.
1	TonythePony	57 _25th
Begins with a giant 'fuck you' to everything Ripley struggles to achieve in Aliens. For that alone I choose to ignore its existence.
1	Neonman	72 _43rd
Depending on who you talk to, this is underrated and far from being Fincher's worst film. I appreciate the ballsy opening that kills off some memorable characters from the second film, and it gets even more nasty as it goes on. Maybe this leaves a bad taste in some peoples' mouths, but I like the despair in this film and it differentiates this from the others in the series. The last third of the film is a tad generic, but still enjoyable and it ends very well.
1	begoniabol	69 _57th
Started off quite decent but as it progressed I thought it didn't have the same feel as the previous Alien(s)
1	letskillrobots	23 _66th
wow you guys are racists against aliens
1	synthono	76 _33rd
Better than it should be, given the legendarily chaotic production, but it still has major issues, mostly to do with how the script has little regard for building characters, killing everyone the moment you care about them, (if you already care, they're already dead). While it increases the shock value to have developed characters killed off suddenly, the end result is everyone left is indistinguishable cannon fodder rather than fully fleshed out human beings, killing the tension.
1	Hatman101	87 _68th
David Fincher's first movie, very dark and not at all like Aliens.
1	Frosty	70 _62nd
Good cast but the characters just aren't as immediately likeable as in the first two movies, which is pretty much essential if you're making a movie where everyone is just sitting around waiting to get bumped off. Compensates by making some interesting twists on the concept and having a really nice visual style and a uniquely bleak atmosphere.
1	antitype	82 _76th
Maybe I'm a fanboy -- I grew up on these movies, the comics, novels, action figures, etc. -- but even though this throws everything Ripley fought for in Aliens right out with trash, this only contributes to the hopeless, bleak as fuck atmosphere that defines this film and sets it apart from the others, and as such I actually like it quite a bit. It takes the theme of motherhood from the previous film and turns it on its head, returning to the psychosexual body-horror of the original.
1	Bunken	70 _71st
This could have been on par with the first film. It certainly has the setting and plot for it. Sadly the behind the scenes struggles shines through and ruins what really could have been a superb film in the franchise. Fincher came close to quitting the industry after his fist fight with 20th Century Fox - Thank god he didn't!
1	misterlizard	65 _66th
[Director's Cut] Great cast and director let down by the utterly shoddy script. Fincher throws every directorial trick in the book at this, trying to make it into a compelling cinema experience, but it falls flat. If this were a standalone movie from a first-time director - not connected to the Alien franchise at all - it would be a good film. As a follow-on to the first two, with all the expectations that implies, it falls severely short.
1	hellboy76	68 _65th
I really enjoyed the return to the Alien type feel. The film is obviously flawed (partially due to all the confusion in production) but I do love the one smart alien rather than thousands of mindless ones (as much fun as Aliens was).
1	glumpy_99	87 _76th
The third entry in the Alien series (especially in the superior extended cut) is a quite original, novel take on the creature and characters established in the earlier films, even if its heart doesn't really seem to be in the action scenes which dominate the second half. Weaver brings remarkable style and presence to a potential walk-through, Dance is always a welcome presence in any film, and Glover is also gruff and terrific in support. Fincher's stylish direction also adds plenty of interest.
1	fuckchops	79 _81st
The pay off is its atmosphere of total dread. A brave follow up to the previous two films.
1	kylefilms	85 _80th
The Assembly Cut
1	schizotoast	55 _29th
An okay movie marred by a series of jackass decisions that would hurt the entire series if the first two weren't so got-dang awesome.
1	comepelicula	70 _71st
This movie is really underrated, sure the CGI looks outdated (thankfully wasn't overused), they had a lot of preproduction problems and it shows, but I like this come back to a more obscure future where you feel the isolation from the first movie where you have no scape and no weapons, also is a lot more believable than Aliens, a lot grimmer, has far more interesting story and characters and Ripley looks really badass, a true fighter scarred in battle from the last two encounters
1	Insti	78 _58th
Not as bad as I was expecting having a distant memory of watching the theatrical version. The Assembly Cut had some good elements although the alien was a bit incedental and the movie dragged a bit in the second half. After you've seen the film read the Wikipedia page about the film's production for some insight into how it turned out the way it did and what it might have been.
1	brandons	48 _24th
Flashy, flawed sequel that doesn't deliver the chills of the first or the thrills of the second.
1	sopachuco13	80 _62nd
I really like the setting of this movie. On top of the prison setting, there is the added tension of the convicts also being religious believers in a female free existence. Thus, Ripley landing on the their colony couldn't have been worse for these convicts. I definitely like the second movie the most. The story of this movie, while engaging, was also not as thought provoking as the second movie. The dangling plot point of how the alien came to be inside her was left to the imagination.
1	msdstc	65 _62nd
Underrated, but still not great.
1	VengefulKBM	60 _35th
The Assembly Cut actually isn't that bad. It's not great, but it certainly has its moments. I'm told the theatrical cut was an unmitigated, jumbled disaster, but I haven't seen it, and I'm also told it's not worth seeing.
1	LookJabba...	6 _41st
Alien 3 struggles to establish a tone and tries to blend the horror of the first film and the action of the second. Whereas Ridley Scott & James Cameron had creative control over their respective Alien films, sadly the same can't be said for David Fincher's miserable experience. This was a baptism of fire for his directorial career and too much studio influence tarnished what could and should of been a great Alien film. There are moments of brilliance and enjoyment, but it's wasted potential.
1	lisa-	3 _30th
the religiosity of authoritarian regimentation, with some random heavy-handed gender subtext, david fincher style. okay, so that held my interest for a half hour, then i got bored - the version i watched was 145 minutes for some reason, so that was lame. oh well. definitely better than its predecessor though, and that it pisses on everything that one 'achieved' is great.
1	amazedemon	66 _70th
I actually enjoyed Alien 3 [Assembly Cut] more than I did Aliens, even though it's not as good technically. The theme of motherhood is jettisoned out the airlock and the notion of exploring forsaken, to instead offer an enclosed game of cat-and-mouse with a cyberpunk aesthetic. The characters are much better this time round, and killed off at a better pace. Most of my problems with this film lie with the lacklustre (and chaotic) action sequences in the last act, though I liked the bold ending.
1	joel-w-m	7 _64th
The story and characters leave something to be desired (aside from Ripley only Clemons really gets developed and his arc is cut short), but the dark and brooding atmosphere is incredible, thanks to the sinister and suffocating prison setting, discomforting sound and camera work (see the brilliant autopsy/alien birth montage), and tense mix of religious and foul language dispersed throughout. A bold ending makes up for the confusing final action sequence, though it's marred by some bad CGI.
1	Hawkins	61 _27th
It's not alien three it's alien cubed so strap the fuck in
1	The_Herold	90 _86th
I feel that Alien 3 is a movie that splits the waters however I like it very much for its bleak and ominous atmosphere. It holds up in all areas execept for the cgi special effetcs. Luckily there aren't many of those. If you watched Alien 3 back in the day and didn't like it then consider sitting down and rewatch the "assembly cut".

Displaying 1 to 250 of 286 total ratings: Prev | Next

Average Percentile 41.48% from 7385 Ratings