Ridley Scott's "Alien: Covenant" is leaving HBO Max, marking another casualty in the streaming platform's ongoing content purge. The 2017 sci-fi sequel, which Scott directed as part of his prequel arc within the larger "Alien" franchise, will disappear from the service's catalog in the coming weeks.
"Alien: Covenant" arrived as a divisive middle chapter. Despite positive critical reception, the film underperformed at the global box office, earning $240 million against its $97 million budget. Scott had positioned it as a bridge between "Prometheus" (2012) and the original "Alien" (1979), exploring the mythology of the xenomorphs through the android David's twisted experiments. Michael Fassbender delivered a compelling dual performance as both David and Walter, grounding the film's philosophical pretensions about creation and destruction.
The removal reflects HBO Max's broader strategy of shedding expensive licensed content to cut costs and boost profitability. Warner Bros. Discovery has been aggressive about deleting films and shows from the platform, sometimes without warning, prioritizing its own theatrical releases and originals over library depth. This move particularly stings for "Alien: Covenant" fans who relied on the streamer for access to Scott's franchise expansion.
The "Alien" saga remains fragmented across platforms. Disney+ now controls most of the franchise through its Fox acquisition, including the original Ridley Scott film and James Cameron's "Aliens," though international availability varies. "Alien: Covenant" bouncing between services highlights the chaos of prestige sci-fi films caught between theatrical releases, streaming licensing deals, and corporate cost-cutting.
Scott himself moved on quickly after "Covenant," pivoting to historical epics like "Napoleon" (2023). His planned conclusion to the prequel trilogy never materialized, leaving David's