What if Ridley Scott's Alien was a flop?

In OTL, Ridley Scott's 1979 movie, Alien, was a biggest hit of 1979, and spawned a franchise. What if the film had production troubles and flopped at the box office in its opening weekend? What would science fiction and horror genres be like?

 

Better? That's my only thought. While it definitely had an impact, too many films tried to darken it up and craft space horror. Also, more annoyingly, searching anything regarding "Aliens" immediately pulls up that franchise. It's one of those things that went too far, in my opinion.

 

"Alien", the 1979 Ridley Scott's film, not "Aliens".

 

We'd definitely be lacking in (at least) two classic horror/action movies. I always rewatch Alien and Aliens once a year because both are pretty much perfection in horror/action respectively. A lot of people wouldn't miss Alien 3, Resurrection, Prometheus and Covenant, but I enjoy them as well (not so much Resurrection). You'd also be missing iconic characters such as Bishop, Hicks, Hudson, David on top of not witnessing Ellen Ripley becoming more of a badass than she was at the end of the first film.

On the other hand, we'd be missing AvP: Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem... and I can't see any downsides to that

 

I run in to it with either title.

 

I see Aliens as the absolute peak of the franchise.

I actually prefer Resurrection and the AvP movies to Alien 3 and the recent Ridley Scott drivel, but your mileage may vary...

 

I still feel that Alien3 and Resurrection are better than most people feel, because they compare it to different era's of movie making and different directors/styles of movie making. Alien3 is very much a British movie, in tones and settings. It also comes from a time of movie making where that sort of gritty, industrial vibe was pretty big, I feel. Resurrection.... I feel you can tell it's really a European production. Very different director as well.
Yes, they are still not AS good as Alien and Aliens, but I feel they added something to the franchise. And yes, I am one of those few weirdo's that actually really enjoyed both Prometheus and Covenant, but I won't go there.

As for the AvP movies..... If I'm bored as hell on a saturdaynight, I'll pop on in the blurayplayer, grab a few beers and some chips and just zone out.

 

I've developed an appreciation of Alien 3. A lot of it due to the workprint and later improved version from one of the DVD and later the Blu-Ray release of the four films. It has this feeling of hopelessness, which is appropriate when facing a creature like the alien. If you're stuck with one, you're probably going to die.

 

And we never would have gotten the equally classic scene in "Spaceballs."
"Check, please!"

 

And Sigourney Weaver might not have become a star, which would be huge loss.

 

Also, there wouldn't have been the cultural impact of Ellen Ripley as an action hero in the second movie.

 

What would James Cameron be like?

 

He'd still have Terminator to make him famous.

 

What would the summer of '86 be like?

 

H.R. Giger would possibly not be the "household name" he became. Oh, he was already "established" as an artist, but I think he might have remained something of a "niche" interest, at least in the U.S., a "curiosity" among genre fans. And as a result, there would have been far fewer "imitations" of his unique style.

 

According to Wikipedia, May - September of '86 also had:
Top Gun
Short Circuit
Ferris Bueller's Day off
Back to School
The Karate Kid Part II
Labyrinth
Big Trouble in Little China
The Great Mouse Detective
Flight of the Navigator
The Fly
Blue Velvet
Stand By Me
Crocadile Dundee
So I really don't think the loss of Aliens would have had that much of an impact.

 

Ruthless People and Ferris Bueller's Day Off would be ranked slightly higher on 1986's top grossing films.

 

Good enough reason for me.

People would have watched different films, like Top Gun. Perhaps Flight of the Navigator would have done more.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge David Fincher fan and I love Alien 3. The feeling of hopelessness is definitely in full display in the movie and it features one of the scariest scenes (in my opinion) of the whole series. When Ripley is giving herself the x-ray and sees the Queen smiling at her Also, the inclusion of both Charles Dance and Pete Postlethwaite are an added bonus

 

Asking this question about Alien is kind of weird. What if Star Wars had been a flop?