Sigourney Weaver Shares Her Thoughts on Critics’ Views of Sci-Fi Films

Sigourney Weaver at New York Comic Con on Oct. 10, 2025; Weaver in ‘Alien’ (1979).
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Weaver Critiques Science-Fiction Film Reception

At a panel during New York Comic Con on October 10, 2025, Sigourney Weaver expressed her concerns about how critics perceive science-fiction films. The 76-year-old actress specifically addressed the reception of her 2015 dystopian movie Chappie, stating that critics often misinterpret the genre.

“I had done a film with Neill Blomkamp, Chappie, which I think the critics totally misunderstood,” she said, responding to a question from moderator Josh Horowitz about filmmakers she enjoyed working with. Weaver noted that critics frequently evaluate science-fiction films primarily on their special effects rather than their narrative depth.

"They were still, and maybe they still are, evaluating science-fiction films based on their special effects, and Chappie’s just a real story about a robot who wants to be a real boy like Pinocchio. And so they completely misunderstood it and, I think, underestimated it,” she added.

The film, which follows an artificial intelligence law enforcement robot kidnapped by a gang, received mixed reviews and currently holds a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Weaver, best known for her portrayal of Ellen Ripley in the Alien franchise, also revealed that Blomkamp had pitched a new idea for the series, which included reviving character Newt. “Neil had pitched me his Alien film, which brought Newt back to life, and I was very excited about his designs and script,” she shared. “I won’t go into why it was stopped, but it was sort of about control."

Joining Weaver in Chappie were actors Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel, and Hugh Jackman.

Sigourney Weaver at New York Comic Con on Oct. 10, 2025.

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Weaver’s comments also hinted at her contemplation of returning to the Alien franchise, where she first captivated audiences in the 1979 original. The franchise has evolved, introducing new cast members in films like Prometheus, Alien: Covenant, and the upcoming Alien: Romulus set to release in 2024.

She mentioned having read a potential script from series producer Walter Hill, stating, “You know, Walter Hill is a very good friend of mine and he wrote 50 pages of where Ripley would be now and they are quite extraordinary.”

While she has previously expressed reservations about reprising the role, saying, “I have never felt the need [to reprise the role]. I was always like, ‘Let her rest, let her recover,’” she noted that Hill’s writing resonated with her, portraying a character that society might see as a problem despite her efforts to help humanity.

“It’s very much about the society that would incarcerate someone who has tried to help mankind, but she’s a problem to them, so she’s sort of tucked away,” Weaver remarked, leaving the door open for her potential return to the franchise.

Sigourney Weaver in ‘Chappie’ (2015).

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