A sci-fi film “masterpiece” directed by Ridley Scott, which is hailed by one fan as the “best movie ever”, is streaming now in the UK. Prometheus (2012) is the fifth film in the Alien franchise, and tells the story of scientists in 2093 who discover shocking clues that humanity may have been created by an ancient alien race, known as the Engineers.

They travel to a distant world to investigate, but as they seek to unravel the mystery of why they were created, the team make a horrifying discovery that could end the human race. The film, the fifth in the main franchise, is set about 30 years before the events of the first movie, Alien (1979), which was also directed by Scott. Prometheus features an all-star ensemble cast, including Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron.

Fans have taken to Rotten Tomatoes to praise the psychological thriller, with one calling it a “masterpiece”. “This movie expands the Alien world and lore,” they added. “The acting is top-notch. The sci-fi horror element is incredible. Very existential. Watch it with commentary.”

Another described simply as the “Best movie of all time”, with a third, who watched it before seeing another of the other films in the series wrote: “I was so locked in on this incredibly compelling story that I was surprised when the ending came so quickly. Overall, fantastic movie.

“Great introduction to someone who has never seen any other movie in this franchise, and made me excited to see more.”

Not everyone was blown away, with one writing that while it “looks phenomenal” the film’s “strong visuals cannot hide weak writing”.

They added that the dialogue feels “stiff and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters”.

Another wrote: “It’s frustrating how amazing this film could’ve been. Solid cast, beautifully shot, original story. Scott should’ve either made a film about our creators or an Alien prequel; instead, the two elements get too muddled together, and neither gets full service.”

However, others felt it lived up to standard fans of the series expect, with one writing: “This was a perfectly cast movie. It gave excellent insight into the origins of the Alien lore.

“Excellently tied in with the existing movies. Not too many Aliens ripping people apart, but plenty of action. Truly a great movie.”

Another dismissed criticism of the film, insisting it’s that the prequel is “gripping, thought-provoking, visually stunning and entertaining from start to finish”.

A third called it an “incredible and impactful film that deserves to be seen multiple times”.

The movie has a 15 certificate and contains strong violence, gore, as well as threats and horror, so viewer discretion is advised.

Prometheus was added to Netflix in the UK in February. It’s also available to stream on Disney+, and to rent or buy on various platforms, including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Store