Aliens are among us! But only in fiction, as far as we know. We may one day definitively learn that there is life on other planets or that we have been visited by UFOs. But for now, cinema is our only true window into what it might be like to interact with aliens. It might be our inherent fear that frequently casts aliens as invaders, as opposed to people or races who have their own desires and right to exist. There are stories that explore both extremes, but we feel that the following choices are the best alien movies of all time.
Not into aliens specifically? How about the best space movies of all time? Or maybe the best Mars movies?
Nope (2022)
130m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun
Directed by
Jordan Peele
For his third feature film as a director, Jordan Peele offered a unique take on the sci-fi experience of aliens. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer co-headline Nope as siblings Otis “OJ” Haywood Jr. and Emerald “Em” Haywood, a pair of struggling ranch owners who stumble upon the revelation that a UFO is continuously hanging around their property. To rescue themselves from their dismal financial fortunes, they recruit Angel Torres (Brandon Perea) to help them get video proof of extraterrestrial life. Unfortunately for the Haywoods, their actions only seem to anger the UFOs, and their lives quickly become even more complicated.
Prey (2022)
100m
Genre
Thriller, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush
Directed by
Dan Trachtenberg
Direct-to-streaming films rarely hold up well against their theatrical counterparts, but Hulu’s Prey is the best Predator movie since 1987. Amber Midthunder has a star-making turn as Naru, a Comanche woman living in 1719. Naru desperately wants to prove herself as a warrior, even though the rest of her tribe dismisses her ambitions. But when a Predator (Dane DiLiegro) begins taking out her tribe’s male warriors, it falls to Naru to find a way to defeat this invader from beyond the stars. And she has to do it with only the primitive weapons she has at hand.
Avatar (2009)
162m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Stars
Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Directed by
James Cameron
After over a decade, Avatar will finally get a sequel later this year with The Way of Water. But James Cameron’s original movie remains a wonder to behold, especially in 3D. Sam Worthington headlines the film as Jake Sully, a crippled Marine who gets a second chance to serve as part of the Avatar program on the planet Pandora. In his new remote-controlled body, Jake is sent to earn the trust of the native Na’vi people. But through his relationship with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), Jake comes to the sobering revelation that he has been on the wrong side the entire time. And it may be too late to save Pandora from his superior officer, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).
Galaxy Quest (1999)
101m
Genre
Comedy, Science Fiction, Adventure
Stars
Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
Directed by
Dean Parisot
Galaxy Quest is not Star Trek, and yet it may be one of the best Star Trek movies ever made. It’s a very loving tribute to the Trek franchise, with Tim Allen as the very William Shatner-esque Jason Nesmith, an actor who never escaped his leading role on the sci-fi series Galaxy Quest. Jason’s despair over his lot in life is lifted when he is hired by the alien Thermians to captain a recreation of his ship from the show. Jason even ropes in his former co-stars, including Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver) and Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman), for his new gig before they realize that the alien threat to the Thermians is all too real. Somehow, the Galaxy Quest crew will have to become the heroes they always pretended to be.
District 9 (2009) new
112m
Genre
Science Fiction
Stars
Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Directed by
Neill Blomkamp
In his feature film debut, Neill Blomkamp crafted one of the most enduring alien movies of the 21st century. The film imagines a world where an alien spaceship hovered over Johannesburg during the late stages of South Africa’s era of apartheid, presenting issues such as segregation and xenophobia. Blomkamp’s film approached the subject matter through the lens of found footage, and this may be the best use of the technique ever. It puts viewers on the ground, allowing us to experience the best and worst of humanity without being able to withdraw from the moment. Many of the best alien films come from the 20th century — this might be the best one from the 21st.
Super 8 (2011) new
112m
Genre
Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery
Stars
Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Riley Griffiths
Directed by
J.J. Abrams
The title of Super 8 refers to a camera, but the movie feels like a love letter to film history, particularly drawing on the history of E.T. The film depicts a group of teenagers harmlessly filming their own zombie film in 1979 Ohio when a train derailment changes everything. The aliens in this movie aren’t quite as friendly as the one in Steven Spielberg’s 1980s classic, but they do have some of the same heart as the titular one from that movie, as well as a desire to simply return home. While the film’s nostalgia pull feels overwrought, its sequences call to mind some of the alien blockbusters of the past.
The World's End (2013)
109m
Genre
Comedy, Action, Science Fiction
Stars
Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine
Directed by
Edgar Wright
Director Edgar Wright began his Cornetto Trilogy with a send-up of the zombie genre (Shaun of the Dead), continued it with an action parody (Hot Fuzz), and surprised everyone by finishing it off with The World’s End which, while certainly having a lot of fun with alien-invasion movies, doesn’t have quite as high a parody percentage as the earlier films. For a significant chunk of The World’s End, the film works as nothing more than a funny but poignant dramedy. Stuck in the “glory days” of his youth, Gary (Simon Pegg) recruits his four old friends to return to their hometown of Newton Haven in order to complete the Golden Mile — a visit to each of the town’s 12 pubs with at least one beer downed at each stop, concluding at The World’s End. All of Gary’s friends have moved on with their lives, especially Andy (Nick Frost), who went sober years before. Just as they’re all about to abandon Gary’s fool’s errand, a fight in a men’s room reveals almost all of Newton Haven’s residents have been replaced with aliens, and the movie turns into an entirely different animal. Just as brilliant and funny as Wright’s other films, The World’s End is mandatory viewing.
Men in Black (1997)
98m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction
Stars
Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
Directed by
Barry Sonnenfeld
The line that tells us exactly what’s at the heart of Men in Black is when Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) tells Jay (Will Smith), “Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe, 500 years ago everybody knew the Earth was flat, and 15 minutes ago, you knew people were alone on this planet. Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.” Men in Black was one of the most anticipated films of 1997, and with good reason. The movie turns the infamous villains of UFO conspiracy theories into heroes, plucked from the ranks of soldiers and cops who are not only good in combat but who know how to look at the world in unexpected ways. Jones and Smith have perfect chemistry, coupled with gorgeous special effects that still stand up today. Men in Black‘s growing number of follow-ups gave fans not quite as much quality, but the first chapter is pretty much perfect.
Alien (1979)
117m
Genre
Horror, Science Fiction
Stars
Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Directed by
Ridley Scott
“In space, no one can hear you scream.” This list just wouldn’t be complete without the original Alien movie. This was the film that launched a franchise, but the alien Xenomorphs have never been more terrifying than in their first appearance. The doomed crew of the starship Nostromo encounters an alien vessel and unknowingly brings a deadly lifeform back with them. After the smoke clears, Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley becomes a science fiction — and cinematic — icon.
Aliens (1986)
137m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn
Directed by
James Cameron
While Alien was a prerequisite for this list, there’s simply no excuse to exclude James Cameron’s excellent sequel, Aliens. This film amplified the action of the original flick by introducing numerous Xenomorphs, including the very intimidating Xenomorph Queen. Decades after the original film, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is awakened from stasis and recruited for a new mission in space. On the colony LV-426, Ripley and her new team find only a single human survivor: a young girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). Ripley’s desire to save Newt and avenge herself made Weaver into an action icon.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
116m
Genre
Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
Stars
Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum
Directed by
Philip Kaufman
The 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of the most unnerving alien invasion stories ever told. Instead of taking humanity out by force, the aliens strike while people are sleeping and replace them with seemingly perfect duplicates whose only defect is that they cannot fake human emotions. Matthew Bennell (Donald Sutherland) is among the few who realize the truth far too late to stop the aliens. Regardless, Matthew and his friends do their best to survive. The film’s ending is legendary for its final twist, and horrifying for its implications.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
137m
Genre
Science Fiction, Drama
Stars
Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
For its time, Close Encounters of the Third Kind had a groundbreaking approach to aliens. Steven Spielberg infused the story with realistic touches, while maintaining the otherworldly aspects of the visitors from another world. Richard Dreyfuss portrays Roy Neary, a man whose life is profoundly changed when he witnesses a UFO in the sky. Roy becomes so obsessed with learning more about them that he drives his family away. Regardless, Roy and others like him soon gather to meet the aliens, and get the chance for the experience of a lifetime.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
149m
Genre
Science Fiction, Mystery, Adventure
Stars
Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester
Directed by
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke’s masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey largely keeps its aliens off-screen. However, their influence is felt throughout the film, as the alien monoliths shape the course of human evolution in the past and the present. Dr. Dave Bowman’s (Keir Dullea) mind-bending experience upon reaching Jupiter and the story’s deliberately ambiguous ending still have fans sharing theories decades after 2001’s release.
Contact (1997)
150m
Genre
Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Stars
Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, James Woods
Directed by
Robert Zemeckis
Carl Sagan’s classic sci-fi novel, Contact, was adapted for the screen by director Robert Zemeckis. In the film, Jodie Foster plays Dr. Eleanor “Ellie” Ann Arroway, a woman whose lifelong quest to discover alien life apparently pays off when she detects a signal coming from outer space. After decoding complex instructions on how to build a personal transport to create a first contact experience, Ellie’s hopes are dashed by petty emotions and deadly zealotry. Thankfully, Ellie gets one last chance to achieve her dreams, but not in the way that she expects.
Arrival (2016)
116m
Genre
Drama, Science Fiction, Mystery
Stars
Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Directed by
Denis Villeneuve
Few movies depict interplanetary visitors as something truly alien. Arrival pulls this off with creatures whose language is so complex that linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) are called upon to help translate the message. The aliens’ presence sparks a worldwide emergency, as other nations aren’t quick to accept their stated intentions to help humanity. However, Banks is the first to realize that the aliens’ language is both a curse and a blessing, as well as the key to their shared future.
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
92m
Genre
Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray
Directed by
Robert Wise
The alien movies of the 1950s tended to be schlocky and repetitive invasion stories. However, The Day the Earth Stood Still offered a different take on the genre. The arrival of an alien, Klaatu (Michael Rennie), and his robot, Gort (Lock Martin), sends the world into a panic. So much so that no one seems to be willing to listen to Klaatu’s message of peace. While evading the authorities, Klaatu befriends a widow named Helen Benson (Patricia Neal), and her son, Bobby (Billy Gray). With Helen’s help, Klaatu ultimately shares his warning and his welcome for humanity.
Enemy Mine (1985)
108m
Genre
Drama, Science Fiction
Stars
Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr., Brion James
Directed by
Wolfgang Petersen
During an interstellar war between humanity and the alien Dracs, two pilots from each side come together in Enemy Mine. Willis E. Davidge (Dennis Quaid) and his Drac counterpart, Jeriba Shigan (Louis Gossett Jr.), are initially at each other’s throats while stranded on a desolate planet. But over time, a true bond of friendship is formed between them. So much so that Willis takes it upon himself to raise Jeriba’s son, Zammis (Bumper Robinson), even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
115m
Genre
Science Fiction, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
Stars
Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton
Directed by
Steven Spielberg
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most beloved films of all time and another winner from director Steven Spielberg. When an alien is accidentally left behind on Earth by his own people, he befriends a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) and his sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore). The children teach the alien enough language that he dubs himself E.T. and asks for their help so he can return home. However, E.T.’s empathic bond with Elliott complicates things when his body begins to shut down, and leaves both the child and the alien on the brink of death as government agents close in.
Independence Day (1996)
145m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Science Fiction
Stars
Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman
Directed by
Roland Emmerich
Alien invasion movies are pretty common, but few are as rousing as Independence Day. It’s simultaneously a disaster film and a sci-fi flick, as a ruthless wave of alien ships decimates the globe on July 3. But on July 4th, the remnants of humanity stage a desperate strike to take back their world and free themselves from the aliens. The speech given before the final battle by President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) still gives us chills. This was also the movie that helped make Will Smith a movie star.
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