Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Wētā FX deliver a new level of visual intensity to Alien: Romulus, expanding the franchise’s horror and sci-fi spectacle with a seamless blend of practical effects and digital artistry. Director Fede Álvarez’s vision demanded environments, creatures, and destruction sequences that felt visceral, immersive, and physically real. Every detail, from the weight of a ship landing, to the physics of an alien attack in zero gravity, was designed to heighten tension and ground the film’s world in a sense of realism and authenticity.

The planetary environments were built from the ground up, layering digital effects to create richly textured alien landscapes. Massive spacecraft travel through space with intricate mechanical details, rockets firing and landing gear engaging with precision. One of the most visually ambitious sequences features a the Romulus spaceship colliding with the outer rings of a planet, breaking apart piece by piece in a stunning display of destruction—and VFX mastery. Every fragment was meticulously simulated, making the scene feel as chaotic as it is cinematic.

Creature effects also play a major role in the film’s relentless horror. Swarms of smaller aliens create a new kind of on-screen terror, and the chest-burster scene pays homage to the original Alien, but with today’s VFX capabilities, it’s more visceral than ever. The zero-gravity battle sequence presented another technical challenge, forcing the viewer into an environment where movement is unpredictable, gunfire cuts through floating debris, and the lack of gravity amplifies the tension.

The Alien franchise was built on practical effects, but Alien: Romulus proves how modern VFX is urging the series forward. The work of ILM, Wētā FX, and others doesn’t just enhance the spectacle—it elevates the fear, the horror, and the world itself, making the terror feel closer to home.

Watch the full VFX breakdown:

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Bonus: The making of "Rook" Featurette —

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