Alien 3 did not kill the franchise but just ruined it and take franchsie to the wrong direction.
Alien 3 is OK as a standalone film. But as a sequel to Aliens? It's terrible! Both theatrical cut and special edition.
It's retrospective destroy Aliens too.
Some Alien 3 fan (that trying too hard to be edgy) say they can't handle the good ending of Aliens. Because Alien universe is cold and dark blah blah blah , So don't expected anything positive about the fate of the characters.
Well f**k that! I tell you what , Alien 3 is the first film in the franchise that have a bad ending. While both Alien and Aliens have a good ending.
Many Alien fan who defend Alien 3 are actually hate it. They lie to themself by saying they like it just to suppress their dissapointment and hatred of the film.