Written by Jon Espinoza
The Alien films have always held a special place in my heart—though perhaps "chest" is more fitting, given the franchise's most iconic creature. I honestly can't remember a time when these movies weren't part of my life; they've simply always been there. As the years pass and new installments release, my appreciation only deepens. Which brings us to what may be the finest Alien figure ever produced: the Alien Romulus Xenomorph MMS784 from Hot Toys.
OUR REVIEW
Standing at 17.32 inches (44cm) and shipping at 6.55 lbs, this is a beast of a figure in every sense. Hot Toys has engineered over 20 points of articulation using a redesigned joint system that enables genuinely menacing poses. The glossy paint application captures exactly how a Xenomorph should look—sleek, wet, almost biomechanical—and absolutely shines under proper display lighting. The surface textures are exquisite.
The figure includes two swappable domes, one pristine and smooth for that classic look and another featuring the cracked, sparking damage that turned heads throughout Romulus. You also get two interchangeable jaws and a magnetic rod for extending the inner chompers. Eight interchangeable hands allow for endless posing possibilities, while the long, bendable tail provides both balance and dramatic flair.
The illuminated display base replicates the space station's grated flooring, complete with that infamous resinous hive material. A facehugger accessory joins the package as well, featuring its own bendy tail and articulated digits. The base includes a crotch support to maintain dynamic poses over time—while the figure can support its own weight, the joints would eventually show strain without this thoughtful addition.
Just plug in a USB cable to any power source and you're ready to display.
Now for the drawbacks.
Some collectors reported paint rub issues after unboxing, though all confirmed this stopped after the first few days of display. Mine hasn't shown this issue, thankfully. The more universal complaint—and I can confirm this—is the smell. It's intense, a harsh chemical odor common to certain plastics that hits immediately out of the box and lingers even after a week of airing out. If you're displaying it in a sealed glass case, that should contain the odor.
Finally, there are legitimate concerns about long-term durability with the rubberized plastic components, particularly the elbow sheaths that conceal the joints. I've avoided extreme poses to prevent possible premature degradation of these materials.
FINAL WORD
Despite these issues, the Alien Romulus Xenomorph MMS784, represents the absolute peak of Hot Toys engineering. The joint design, the glossy finish, the sculpting, the attention to detail, the accessories, the illuminated base—every element demonstrates that Hot Toys knows exactly what Alien fans want, and they didn't hold back returning to this universe. Even accounting for the concerns, this figure is, to borrow from Michael Fassbender in another film: “perfection.”
That said, let’s head back to the living room to revisit Alien followed by Romulus—sometimes you need to see the source material to truly appreciate a collectible.
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