Aliens 3 (1992)

David Fincher's directorial debut, Aliens 3 (1992), murders beloved survivors in its opening minutes, trapping itself in a grim prison setting that stifles the franchise's momentum. Studio interference slashed the budget to $50 million from Aliens' $18 million, yet the film earned only $55 million domestically—a 45% drop from its predecessor. With a 44% Rotten Tomatoes score, it trails the original's 97% by 53 points, making it the most poorly received entry in the series. Fincher later disowned it, calling the experience a nightmare, cementing its reputation as a squandered opportunity.