Early reviews suggest a strong return for two legacy franchises hitting screens in early August. FX’s “Alien: Earth,” created by Fargo show-runner Noah Hawley, debuts on Hulu and FX on Aug. 12 and currently holds an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 26 critic notices. Reviewers from outlets including Gizmodo, CBR and IGN praise the eight-episode prequel’s large-scale production design, new creature concepts and a breakout performance from Sydney Chandler as a human-synthetic hybrid set three years before Ridley Scott’s 1979 film. Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther and Essie Davis co-star, while critics highlight Hawley’s blend of corporate intrigue and franchise-faithful horror. Disney’s theatrical sequel “Freakier Friday,” opening Aug. 8, is also drawing favorable notices, registering between 86% and 88% on Rotten Tomatoes from 29 published reviews. Critics commend the reunion of Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, noting their chemistry two decades after the 2003 body-swap comedy. Opinions are mixed on the film’s expanded plot and heavy nostalgia, but assessments from publications such as Gizmodo and The Independent agree that the leads’ performances power a broadly entertaining, family-friendly follow-up.