When Ridley Scott launched his sci-fi horror classic Alien in movie theatres 40 years ago, a theatrical release in China was unthinkable. Access to Chinese cinemas was generally denied to Hollywood productions, not to mention harder horror stuff like the Alien saga. It was not until 1994 that a US film, Harrison Ford's The Fugitive, was officially released for screening on the Chinese mainland.

In 2012, Prometheus was the prelude to Ridley Scott's prequel trilogy. In the meantime, the rules in China had been relaxed to such an extent that Prometheus, which sometimes features drastic images and has been given an R rating by the US ratings board MPA, was allowed to be shown in Chinese cinemas - but only with cuts. Since there is no age rating system in China, thearical films must always be trimmed down to a "family-friendly" level.

Ironically, the cuts made for cinemas are usually adopted in home cinema releases, as our comparisons for Chinese versions of films such as Logan or Django Unchained show. However, since the four original Alien films were never submitted to strict cinema censorship, the DVD and Blu-ray releases of these films, which have since been released, are completely uncut in China as well. The situation is similar to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, whose sequel was shown in cinemas and had to endure some censorship cuts while the original film is available on Blu-ray completely uncut, despite all the violent and nude scenes.

The uncut German Blu-ray (FSK 16 / R-Rated) was compared to the censored Chinese DVD (no age limit).

8 cuts = 91 sec

1:04:04
The alien worm bores itself into Millburn's suit in close-up and begins to wrap itself around his neck. Meanwhile, the acid-burned Fifield plunges into the mud, straightens up again and you can see in close-up how the acid eats through the helmet and his face. Afterwards you can see the worm entering Millburn's throat.
12 sec

1:22:57
Elizabeth's abdomen is cut open. The following shot has been shortened to omit her cry of pain.
2 sec

1:23:02
The Robodoc opens Elizabeth's abdomen with clamps, the close-up of her painfully distorted face has been shortened again.
7 sec

1:23:06
Elizabeth injects herself with a painkiller while the Robodoc's gripping arm pulls the alien fetus out of her stomach.
14.5 sec

1:23:09
Elizabeth briefly observes the embryo, it bursts open and a disgusting jellyfish appears. Elizabeth tears the umbilical cord from her belly, then the wound is closed with staples. Meanwhile the capsule opens slowly. The cut is set rather sloppily, since a frame from the last removed shot is still included.
32 sec
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1:50:12
Dr. Freud sends his regards: The vagina dentata symbolism of this monster was probably a little too intrusive for the censors.
2.5 sec

1:50:31
Ditto. Tentacles shoot out of the openings, which enclose the head of the engineer. Then the monster drills a laying spike into his throat.
8 sec

1:56:01
Some shots are missing in which the newly hatched alien is rolling around in the mortal remains of the engineer.
13 sec