Ten reasons Ripley rules

The script for the first ‘Alien’ didn’t specify genders for any of the characters – and it was a bold move on the part of director Ridley Scott to cast a woman (and a newcomer) in the role.

Call her kind or call her crazy, but for all her spikiness Ripley does risk her life to save the ship’s cat, Jones. Not that he ever seems particularly grateful…

In the first film Ripley is the voice of reason, quoting company protocols that could have saved everyone on board from being chewed to bits. If only they’d listened to her.

Not content with blowing up a multi-million dollar spacecraft in the first film, in ‘Aliens’ Ripley goes one better and nukes an entire planetary settlement. Well, it’s the only way to be sure.

From telling Harry Dean Stanton to ‘just fuck off’ in the first movie to suggesting robotic Winona Ryder was ‘programmed to be an asshole’ in ‘Alien Resurrection’. Ripley is never a woman to mince words.

There’s a reason Ripley survives four alien encounters while her co-stars get knocked off left, right and centre: she always keeps a head on her shoulders.

Whether it’s operating a flamethrower, rocking a pneumatic load-lifter or getting Corporal Hicks to school her in the ways of a pulse rifle, Ripley is always looking for new ways to defend herself (and kill aliens).

With ‘Aliens’, James Cameron redefined Ripley’s character. We learn she had a daughter who died of old age while Ripley was drifting in space, then watch her play fierce surrogate to lost orphan Newt.

‘Alien 3’ finds Ripley stranded on a planet populated by bald, grimy prisoner monks – and if you can’t beat 'em, join em. The skinhead look remains iconic (as spotted on Charlize Theron in last year’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’).

The final film, ‘Alien Resurrection’, may be the weakest of the bunch, but Ripley is still thunderously cool. There’s no CGI in this shot – Sigourney Weaver actually sinks the basketball without looking.