Alien, a science-fiction action horror franchise, tells the story of humanity's ongoing encounters with Aliens (xenomorphs): a hostile, endoparasitoid, extraterrestrial species. Set between the 21st and 24th centuries over several generations, the film series revolves around a character ensemble's struggle for survival against the Aliens and against the greedy, unscrupulous megacorporation Weyland-Yutani.
The original series consists of four films, Alien (1979), Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992) and Alien Resurrection (1997), and revolves around Ellen Ripley's fight against the xenomorphs (aliens) as well as that of her clone. Ripley is the sole survivor of a xenomorph rampage on the space freighter Nostromo, which leads her to a series of conflicts with the species and Weyland-Yutani. Ripley's struggle is the plot of the original series.
The prequel series, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), depicts humanity's genesis at the hands of an ancient extraterrestrial race known as the Engineers and the indirect creators of the xenomorphs. A deadly mutagen developed by the Engineers is discovered, which is weaponized by the android David 8, to recreate and perfect the previously long-extinct xenomorph strain. The evolution of the xenomorphs is the main plot of the prequel series.
Several novel series also continue the storylines of characters from the film series, including Alien: Out of the Shadows (2014), Aliens: Vasquez (2019), and Aliens: Bishop (2023). The video game Alien: Isolation (2014), the film Alien: Romulus (2024), and the television series Alien: Earth (2025) explore stand-alone storylines.
Overview
Character Films Web series Television series Alien: The Audible Original Dramas Alien Aliens Alien 3 Alien Resurrection Prometheus Alien:Covenant Alien:Romulus Alien:Isolation – The Digital Series Alien:Earth Alien:Out of the Shadows Alien:River of Pain Sea of Sorrows Alien 3 Main characters Ellen Ripley Sigourney Weaver colspan="2" Andrea Deck Laurel Lefkow Aliens Bolaji Badejo Carl Toop Tom Woodruff Jr. Andrew CrawfordGoran D. Kleut Trevor NewlinRobert Bobroczkyi colspan="6" Ash Ian Holm colspan="4" Ian Holm colspan="2" Rutger Hauer colspan="3" Bishop II Lance Henriksen colspan="9" Lance Henriksen Rebecca "Newt" Jorden Carrie Henn Danielle Edmond colspan="6" Mairead Doherty Mairead Doherty Dwayne Hicks Michael Biehn colspan="9" Michael Biehn Anne Jorden Holly De Jong colspan="8" Anna Friel colspan="2" Amanda "Amy" Ripley-McClaren Elizabeth Inglis colspan="5" Andrea Deck colspan="5" Ripley 8 colspan="3" Sigourney Weaver colspan="7" Laurel Lefkow Elizabeth M. Shaw colspan="4" Noomi RapaceLucy Hutchinson colspan="7" David8 colspan="4" Michael Fassbender colspan="7" Peter Weyland colspan="4" Guy Pearce colspan="3" Guy Pearce colspan="3" Charlie Holloway colspan="4" Logan Marshall-Green colspan="7" Introduced in Alien (1979) Arthur Dallas Tom Skerritt colspan="4" rowspan="5" colspan="9" Joan Lambert Veronica Cartwright colspan="4" colspan="9" Samuel Brett Harry Dean Stanton colspan="4" colspan="9" Gilbert Kane John Hurt colspan="4" colspan="9" Dennis Parker Yaphet Kotto colspan="4" colspan="9" MU / TH / UR 6000"" Helen Horton colspan="2" Steven Gilborn Lorelei King Annemarie Griggs ( MU/TH/UR 9000 ) Robin August Tom Alexander Lorelei King Jones Various animal performers colspan="6" Various animal performers colspan="3" Engineers colspan="3" Ian WhyteJohn LebarDaniel James colspan="2" colspan="6" Introduced in Aliens (1986) Lieutenant Scott Gorman William Hope colspan="7" William Hope colspan="3" Al Simpson Mac McDonald colspan="7" Mac McDonald colspan="3" Jernigan Stuart Milligan colspan="7" Stuart Milligan colspan="3" Russ Jorden Jay Benedict colspan="7" Marc Warren colspan="3" Timmy Jorden Christopher Henn colspan="7" Matt Keith Rauch colspan="3" Hicks Michael Biehn colspan="11" Hudson Bill Paxton colspan="11" Carter J. Burke Paul Reiser colspan="11" Frost Ricco Ross colspan="11" Sergeant Apone Al Matthews colspan="11" Vasquez Jenette Goldstein colspan="11" Drake Mark Rolston colspan="11" Private Spunkmeyer Daniel Kash colspan="11" Crowe Tip Tipping colspan="11" Wierzbowski Trevor Steedman colspan="11" Corporal Dietrich Cynthia Dale Scott colspan="11" Corporal Ferro Colette Hiller colspan="11" Van Leuwen Paul Maxwell colspan="11" Cocooned Colonist Barbara Coles colspan="11" Introduced in Alien 3 (1992) Leonard Dillon colspan="2" Charles S. Dutton colspan="10" Jonathan Clemens colspan="2" Charles Dance colspan="10" Harold Andrews colspan="2" Brian Glover colspan="10" Francis Aaron colspan="2" Ralph Brown colspan="10" Walter Golic colspan="2" Paul McGann colspan="10" Robert Morse colspan="2" Danny Webb colspan="10" David Postlethwaite colspan="2" Pete Postlethwaite colspan="10" Ted "Junior" Gillas colspan="2" Holt McCallany colspan="10" Peter Gregor colspan="2" Peter Guinness colspan="10" Thomas Murphy colspan="2" Christopher Fairbank colspan="10" Kevin Dodd colspan="2" Phil Davis colspan="10" Alan Jude colspan="2" Vincenzo Nicoli colspan="10" Edward Boggs colspan="2" Leon Herbert colspan="10" Daniel Rains colspan="2" Christopher John Fields colspan="10" Eric Buggy colspan="2" Niall Buggy colspan="10" Company Man colspan="2" Hi Ching colspan="10" Frank Elgyn colspan="2" Carl Chase colspan="10" Clive William colspan="2" Clive Mantle colspan="10" Arthur Walkingstick colspan="2" DeObia Oparei colspan="10" Yoshi Troy colspan="2" Paul Brennen colspan="10" Introduced in Alien Resurrection (1997) Ripley 8 colspan="3" Sigourney Weaver colspan="9" Annalee Call colspan="3" Winona Ryder colspan="9" Dom Vriess colspan="3" Dominique Pinon colspan="9" Ron Johner colspan="3" Ron Perlman colspan="9" Gary Christie colspan="3" Gary Dourdan colspan="9" Frank Elgyn colspan="3" Michael Wincott colspan="9" Sabra Hillard colspan="3" Kim Flowers colspan="9" General Martin Perez colspan="3" Dan Hedaya colspan="9" Dr. Mason Wren colspan="3" J. E. Freeman colspan="9" Dr. Jonathan Gediman colspan="3" Brad Dourif colspan="9" Vincent DiStephano colspan="3" Raymond Cruz colspan="9" Larry Purvis colspan="3" Leland Orser colspan="9" Anesthesiologist colspan="3" Carolyn Campbell colspan="9" Dr. Carlyn Williamson colspan="3" Marlene Bush colspan="9" Dr. Dan Sprague colspan="3" David St. James colspan="9" Father colspan="3" Steven Gilborn colspan="9" Introduced in Prometheus (2012) Meredith Vickers colspan="4" Charlize Theron colspan="8" Janek colspan="4" Idris Elba colspan="8" Fifield colspan="4" Sean Harris colspan="8" Millburn colspan="4" Rafe Spall colspan="8" Ford colspan="4" Kate Dickie colspan="8" Chance colspan="4" Emun Elliott colspan="8" Ravel colspan="4" Benedict Wong colspan="8" Mr. Shaw colspan="4" Patrick Wilson colspan="8" Introduced in Alien: Covenant (2017) Walter One colspan="5" Michael Fassbender colspan="7" Katherine "Danny" Daniels colspan="5" Katherine Waterston colspan="7" Christopher "Chris" Oram colspan="5" Billy Crudup colspan="7" Tennessee "Tee" Faris colspan="5" Danny McBride colspan="7" Dan Lope colspan="5" Demián Bichir colspan="7" Karine Oram colspan="5" Carmen Ejogo colspan="7" Ricks colspan="5" Jussie Smollett colspan="7" Upworth colspan="5" Callie Hernandez colspan="7" Maggie Faris colspan="5" Amy Seimetz colspan="7" Tom Hallett colspan="5" Nathaniel Dean colspan="7" Ankor colspan="5" Alexander England colspan="7" Ledward colspan="5" Benjamin Rigby colspan="7" Cole colspan="5" Uli Latukefu colspan="7" Sarah Rosenthal colspan="5" Tess Haubrich colspan="7" Captain Jacob Branson colspan="5" James Franco colspan="7" Introduced in Alien: Romulus (2024) Rain Carradine colspan="6" Cailee Spaeny colspan="6" Andy Carradine colspan="6" David Jonsson colspan="6" Tyler Harrison colspan="6" Archie Renaux colspan="6" Kay Harrison colspan="6" Isabela Merced colspan="6" Bjorn colspan="6" Spike Fearn colspan="6" Navarro colspan="6" Aileen Wu colspan="6" Rook colspan="6" Ian HolmDaniel Betts colspan="6" Offspring colspan="6" Robert Bobroczkyi colspan="6" Introduced in Alien: Isolation (2019) Christopher Samuels colspan="7" Anthony Howell colspan="5" Nina Taylor colspan="7" Emerald O'Hanrahan colspan="5" Henry Marlow colspan="7" Sean Gilder colspan="5" Ricardo colspan="7" Richie Campbell colspan="5" Colonial Marshal Waits colspan="7" William Hope colspan="5" Diane Verlaine colspan="7" Jane Perry colspan="5" Axel colspan="7" George Anton colspan="5" Catherine Foster colspan="7" Melanie Gutteridge colspan="5" Introduced in Alien: Earth (2025) Wendy colspan="8" Sydney Chandler colspan="4" Joe Hermit colspan="8" Alex Lawther colspan="4" Boy Kavalier colspan="8" Samuel Blenkin colspan="4" Dame Sylvia colspan="8" Essie Davis colspan="4" Slightly colspan="8" Adarsh Gourav colspan="4" Tootles colspan="8" Kit Young colspan="4" Kirsh colspan="8" Timothy Olyphant colspan="4"
Introduced in Alien (1979)
Ellen Ripley
Ellen Louise Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is the primary protagonist of the main Alien series. The mother of Amanda Ripley and a warrant officer on the Nostromo, she and the cat Jones are the sole survivors of the expedition. After putting herself and the cat in cryosleep, she is rescued fifty-seven years later and relieved of duty by Weyland-Yutani for the destruction of the Nostromo and her outlandish claims about the Alien. After communication is lost with LV-426, Ripley is sent with a unit of colonial marines on the Sulaco to investigate; the entire expedition, except Ripley, Corporal Hicks, the orphan Newt and the android Bishop, is lost. In cryosleep on the Sulaco, Ripley is impregnated with a queen by a facehugger Alien morph; this triggers a fire, which causes the ship to crash on the prison planet Fiorina 161, killing all aboard, save for Ripley. As the sole human survivor of the crash, Ripley helps the prisoners incarcerated on the planet to defeat an Alien created from an animal impregnated by a second facehugger. Weyland-Yutani arrives to claim the queen incubating in Ripley, prompting her to sacrifice herself by diving into the furnace.
Like the rest of the original ensemble, Ripley was written as a male character in the first draft of the screenplay. Writer Dan O'Bannon noted that the genders of the characters were interchangeable, providing more casting options. When Ridley Scott was brought on to direct Alien, he requested that the character be female, in juxtaposition with the Alien and to make her survival surprising. Broadway actress Sigourney Weaver was considered for the role of Lambert when Scott encouraged her to play Ripley. With the 1986 release of Aliens, Ripley became one of the most critically praised and influential female characters in film. John Scalzi, president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, wrote in a 2011 AMC Networks column that he considered the dynamic and relatable Ripley the best science-fiction character of all time. In 2008, the American Film Institute recognized Ripley in "AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains" as the second-greatest female protagonist (behind Clarice Starling) and the eighth-greatest protagonist overall.
Arthur Dallas Arthur Koblenz Dallas (Tom Skerritt) is the captain of the Nostromo and the only human crew member with access to Mother, the onboard computer. When he receives a distress signal from the Derelict, an Engineer ship, Dallas steers the Nostromo off course to investigate the beacon. After the Alien hatches from Kane's chest and kills Brett, Dallas enters the ship's labyrinthine air duct network to lure it to the airlock and eject it into space. He is attacked by the Alien and disappears – presumed dead – leaving only his flamethrower.