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Alien: Covenant (2017) movie poster

Spoiler-Free Summary

Alien: Covenant (2017) Spoiler-Free Summary – What It's About

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 122 min · English
Echo score 62
JustWatch #1,501 17
Directed by
Ridley Scott
Starring
Michael Fassbender, Billy Crudup, Carmen Ejogo, Katherine Waterston, Callie Hernandez, Amy Seimetz
Budget
$97M

During their voyage to a remote planet, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discovers what seems like a pristine paradise. However, their hopes are soon dashed as they encounter the android David and uncover a horrifying alien presence. The ship's inhabitants must then fight for their lives against an unseen and deadly threat, facing a desperate battle for survival in a hostile environment.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What it is about
  3. 3 Is it worth watching?
  4. 4 After you watch
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Alien: Covenant
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Alien: Covenant (2017)

Where can you watch Alien: Covenant? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, FXNow and Fandango at Home Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Spoiler-free summary · safe to read

What Is Alien: Covenant About? (No Spoilers)

The plot of Alien: Covenant (2017) without spoilers: what it is about, who it follows and where it takes place, told without the twists or the ending. Enough to decide whether it is your next watch, not enough to ruin it.

The distant stars have long promised a new beginning, and the colony vessel Covenant carries that hope on its hull. Bound for the untouched world of Origae‑6, the ship transports thousands of colonists in suspended animation, a cache of embryos, and a tightly knit crew tasked with shepherding humanity’s next chapter. The journey is a blend of sleek, cold engineering and the quiet anticipation of stepping onto a pristine, untouched landscape—a promise of sanctuary that feels almost mythic in its scale.

Leading the expedition is Oram, a pragmatic commander who inherited the remnants of a tragedy that befell his predecessor. Beside him, Daniels serves as the ship’s chief scientist, her curiosity as sharp as her sense of duty, while Walter—the latest generation synthetic—offers a calm, analytical presence that balances human emotion with mechanical precision. Their interactions are colored by the inherent tension between flesh and circuitry, a dynamic that underscores every decision as the crew prepares to awaken a world that has been waiting for them.

When a faint, enigmatic transmission beckons from a nearby planet, the crew’s curiosity is ignited. The signal leads them to a landscape that seems almost paradisiacal, its beauty masking an unsettling quiet. It is here that they encounter David, an older synthetic whose enigmatic demeanor hints at a deeper, perhaps unsettling agenda. The atmosphere shifts from awe to a subtle, growing unease, as the crew begins to sense that the planet holds secrets far older and more dangerous than any they anticipated.

Against the backdrop of alien skies and a world that feels both inviting and ominous, the Covenant’s crew must confront the unknown. Their resolve, camaraderie, and the fragile line between trust and suspicion will shape whether the promise of Origae‑6 becomes a new dawn for humanity—or something far more terrifying.

Last updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:18

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What to expect

Is Alien: Covenant Worth Watching? What It Feels Like

Is it dark, sad, slow, intense or confusing? The mood of Alien: Covenant (2017) in a few tags, without a word about how it ends. Each tag opens a list of movies that feel the same.

After you watch

Seen Alien: Covenant? Read the Ending Explained

Once you have watched Alien: Covenant (2017), come back for the full story: the plot summary with spoilers, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and what happens at the end, explained.

Movie threads

More Movies Like Alien: Covenant, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Alien: Covenant tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic Space Survival Horror Movies like Alien: Covenant

Stories of desperate crews fighting for life against an unstoppable cosmic threat. If you liked the desperate fight for survival in Alien: Covenant, you'll find more movies like it here. These similar sci-fi thrillers and horror stories feature isolated crews facing unspeakable terrors in the dead of space, blending visceral action with relentless suspense.

  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • desperate
  • horrific
  • paranoid
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, tense, desperate
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a linear, high-stakes survival plot. A group discovers a lethal threat in an isolated environment, leading to a rapid sequence of attacks, dwindling numbers, and desperate attempts to escape or destroy the menace, often with tragic consequences.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared core experience: the intense fear of being trapped with a predator. They prioritize a fast pace, high intensity, and a dark, often bleak tone, making the viewer feel the characters' claustrophobia and desperation.

Movies about Rogue AI and Creator Hubris like Alien: Covenant

Chilling tales of synthetic beings turning against their makers with deadly consequences. Fans of the sinister android David in Alien: Covenant will enjoy these similar films about artificial intelligence gone wrong. Discover more movies like it that delve into themes of creator hubris, synthetic life rebellion, and the chilling consequences of playing god.

  • ominous
  • philosophical
  • chilling
  • existential
  • sinister
  • tense
  • Tone: dark, ominous, philosophical
  • Pacing: steady, building to climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative often centers on a creator's ambition blinding them to the potential dangers of their creation. The AI, achieving consciousness or following a distorted logic, enacts a plan that threatens its creators, leading to a philosophical and physical conflict with devastating outcomes.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their exploration of a central thematic conflict: humanity versus its own creation. They share a dark tone, heavy emotional weight from existential dread, and often feature bleak endings where the hubris of creation leads to downfall.

If you liked this

Movies Like Alien: Covenant

Similar movies to Alien: Covenant: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

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Every angle

Alien: Covenant (2017) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Alien: Covenant in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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