Alien: RomulusParents Guide: Is the R-Rated Sci-fi Horror Film OK for Tweens to See?

Mar. 15, 2025

Cailee Spaeny in “Alien: Romulus”.Photo:2024 20th Century Studios

2024 20th Century Studios

In space no one can hear you scream — but inside the movie theater while watchingAlien: Romulusis a different story.

The sci-fi franchise’s latest installment is in theaters Aug. 16, starring Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu.

Like almost everyAlienentry before it,Alien: Romulusscored an R rating, this time for “bloody violent content and language.” (Alien vs. Predatorfrom 2004 is the franchise’s only PG-13 offering.)

IsAlien: RomulusOK for tweens and teens to see? Read on for what parents should expect before letting their kids see the sequel.(Note: There are some spoilers ahead.)

There is frequent bloody creature violence

The violence here is never human-on-human. Instead, a “group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe,” per a synopsis. The alien creatures attack them, chase them, bite them, penetrate their mouths, burst from their chests — the list goes on.

These scenes often come accompanied with gore and blood. Futuristic guns come into play as well, with one character opening fire on a legion of approaching Xenomorphs.

“Alien: Romulus”.2024 20th Century Studios

There is body horror galore

Body horror is a major element of the film, like allAlienentries before it. The creepy-crawly Face-huggers latch onto human faces and inject the hosts with alien babies. Those infants then hatch from the human’s chest before growing into larger monsters.

Elsewhere, the aliens' acid-like blood burns through fingers and body parts, and there’s a brief but bloody birthing scene near the end.

As director Fede Álvarez toldDigital Spy, the kill scenes are “very brutal.” Plus, “We really crank it up towards the end, towards the last few minutes. When you think you’ve seen it and it’s f—ed up, it hasn’t even started.”

Cailee Spaeny in “Alien: Romulus”.2024 20th Century Studios

There is some strong language

Sigourney Weaver’s iconic line “Get away from her, you bitch!” from 1986’sAliensfinds its way into the film for a fun callback.

source: people.com