PRAGUE (AP) — Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, the divisive first prequel to his 1979 classic Alien, has rocketed to the top of Netflix’s worldwide movie chart 14 years after its theatrical debut. FlixPatrol data shows the film dominating streaming views in international markets, marking a dramatic turnaround for a movie that split critics and audiences upon release.

The surge comes amid a broader revival of the Alien franchise. Scott’s return to the universe he helped create generated massive buzz in summer 2012. Prometheus earned a solid 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Yet fans debated its philosophical tangents on human origins and creation, alongside plot choices that veered from the original’s horror roots. Box office returns hit $403 million worldwide, a respectable haul but short of blockbuster expectations.

Time appears to have softened those edges. Viewers today praise the film’s stunning visuals and existential themes, often overlooking earlier gripes. Availability on Netflix has fueled this reappraisal, especially as newer Alien entries draw eyes back to the prequels. Prometheus now streams ahead of competitors, with its score more than 100 points clear of second place.

The Alien brand itself thrives. Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus pulled in $350.8 million globally this year, earning strong reviews for recapturing the franchise’s terror. FX’s Alien: Earth series, released last year, scored critical acclaim and a quick Season 2 renewal. A Romulus sequel sits in development at 20th Century Studios. Rumors persist of Sigourney Weaver reprising her iconic Ellen Ripley role in a future project.

Prometheus set up a trilogy arc that Scott envisioned, probing the Engineers — the alien race behind humanity’s creators in the Alien lore. Its 2017 follow-up, Alien: Covenant, doubled down on those ideas but bombed harder with audiences and at the box office, grossing just $240.9 million. That flop derailed Scott’s plans for a third installment.

Scott, now 86, has spoken little about returning to Alien lately. His focus shifts to projects like the upcoming Gladiator II, set for November release. Still, the Netflix bump for Prometheus highlights enduring demand for his sci-fi epics. Industry observers watch if this streaming success sways 20th Century Studios to revisit the prequel storyline.

FlixPatrol tracks daily popularity across platforms using views, completion rates and other metrics. Prometheus’s lead position held firm as of Tuesday, spanning regions from Europe to Latin America. Netflix does not publicly release exact viewership figures, but third-party tools like FlixPatrol provide reliable snapshots of global trends.

For Scott loyalists, the film’s climb validates its ambition. Prometheus dared to expand Alien’s mythology with big questions about life, faith and extinction. Detractors once called it pretentious; now, a new generation discovers its icy visuals and Michael Fassbender’s chilling android performance. Noomi Rapace stars as the archaeologist at the story’s heart, leading a crew to a distant world with catastrophic results.

As Alien: Romulus proves the property’s box office pull, Prometheus’s streaming reign highlights streaming’s power to rewrite film legacies. Scott’s early hits — Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator — cemented his status. Lesser-known works like this one gain fresh legs online, pulling in viewers who missed them first time around.