Alien 3

Did You Know?

• The film's composer, Elliot Goldenthal, spent a year composing the score, which was recorded during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
• A novelization by Alan Dean Foster included scenes cut from the final film, but Foster was required not to alter the storyline, leading him to turn down the novelization of Alien Resurrection.
• In 2003, an extended version called the Assembly Cut was released without Fincher's involvement and received a warmer reception.

Plot

After escaping LV-426, the Colonial Marine spaceship Sulaco travels to Earth with Ellen Ripley, Newt, Hicks, and the android Bishop in cryonic stasis. An alien egg hatches, releasing a facehugger that attacks the crew. A fire starts, and the ship ejects an escape pod with the crew still in stasis. The pod crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a maximum-security correctional facility inhabited by male inmates.

The inmates recover the pod. The facehugger approaches inmate Thomas Murphy's dog, Spike. Ripley awakens and learns she is the sole survivor. She insists on an autopsy of Newt and that the bodies be burned, fearing an alien embryo, but none is found.

A quadrupedal alien bursts from Spike. Ripley finds the damaged Bishop, who confirms a facehugger came with them under Weyland-Yutani's knowledge. The alien kills several inmates. Ripley suggests hunting the creature, but the facility lacks weapons; their only hope is a rescue ship sent by Weyland-Yutani.

Cast

Sigourney Weaver reprises her role as Ellen Ripley, who crash-lands on Fiorina 161 and must destroy another alien. Weaver approved of David Twohy's script and signed on, demanding a larger salary of $4–5 million plus co-producing credit, and requested the action not rely on guns. Charles S. Dutton plays Leonard Dillon, an inmate who serves as spiritual leader. Charles Dance plays Jonathan Clemens, the facility's doctor who bonds with Ripley before being killed; Fincher initially offered the role to Richard E. Grant. Brian Glover plays warden Harold Andrews, who rejects Ripley's claims and is killed by the alien. Ralph Brown plays assistant Francis Aaron, nicknamed '85' by prisoners. Paul McGann plays Walter Golic, a mass-murderer who becomes obsessed with the alien. Danny Webb plays Robert Morse, the only survivor from Fiorina 161.

Production

After Aliens, 20th Century Fox approached Brandywine Productions for sequels. Brandywine wanted new directions, exploring Weyland-Yutani's duplicity. They settled on a two-part story with Corporal Hicks as protagonist and Ripley in a cameo. Fox asked that Ridley Scott direct, but his schedule prevented it. In 1987, cyberpunk author William Gibson was hired to write the script, drawing from the treatment's 'Marxist space empire' element. Finnish director Renny Harlin was approached but wanted different directions. The film faced numerous problems, including shooting without a script and the attachment of various screenwriters and directors. Fincher was eventually brought in after a proposed version with Vincent Ward as director was canceled during pre-production.

Reception

Alien 3 debuted at number two at the US box office with a Memorial Day weekend gross of $23.1 million. It grossed $55.5 million domestically and $104.3 million internationally, totaling $159.8 million. Fox later claimed a worldwide gross of $175 million, and Variety reported $180 million. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 43% approval rating, with the consensus that it takes risks but few pay off. Metacritic gives a score of 59 out of 100. CinemaScore audiences gave it a 'C'. Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert gave two thumbs down, criticizing drawn-out chase scenes and lack of suspense, though praising art direction and Weaver's performance. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and several Saturn Awards.