45 Best Alien Movies Ever

Most reasonable people would acknowledge that life exists beyond our planet, but things get iffier when you ask someone if they believe aliens have visited Earth. My own belief is that aliens with the advanced technology needed to even reach our planet would most likely know better than to do so. Other opinions vary, featuring all manner of alien life and first contact situations, and filmmakers have been imagining such scenarios for decades on the big screen.

Curating a list of the best alien movies means looking beyond the obvious and beyond Hollywood, but it also necessitates some clear parameters. They should be live-action feature films about aliens that visit the Earth and/or Earthlings who encounter alien life forms off-planet. The aliens should be tangible beings, not simple spores as in "The Andromeda Strain" or metaphysical conceits as in "Solaris," meaning we can see and hear them or their creations. And to spread the love, only one film per franchise is eligible with the same rule applying to remakes and reboots. Finally, since the list is open to all genres, we're keeping things simple by leaving our picks unranked.

Keep reading for the 45 best alien movies!

An underwater mission uncovers the unexpected when an alien craft is discovered on the ocean floor. With a storm crashing above and pressures building below, a small crew finds the fate of the world resting on their very wet shoulders. Many of the best genre films have a powerful human story at their heart, and this beautiful and thrilling epic is a great example of that. The still-simmering love between a divorced couple holds the key to humankind's future, and James Cameron embraces that emotion amid the trappings of an action sci-fi film. Suspense, heart, and awe follow in a film that pushed its cast and crew to their limits.

• Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn
• Director: James Cameron
• Year: 1989
• Runtime: 139 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

A biologist whose husband has gone missing is drawn into a secret mission that might be connected to his disappearance. No spoilers, but it involves aliens, Florida, and some very ornery animals. Alex Garland's wonderfully trippy and atmospheric tale finds time for the expected thrills, but it has more thought-provoking ideas on its agenda. Grief and emotion are at the forefront here in a story that refuses to spoon-feed viewers a pat, closed-ended film and instead goes looking for more challenging destinations.

• Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac
• Director: Alex Garland
• Year: 2018
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

Alien creatures land in South London, expecting to make an easy meal of the populace, but some local youths have a different idea. Epic alien invasion movies have their place, but there's something to be said for pitting the intergalactic threat against a scrappy band of teenagers more used to breaking the law than disrupting alien plans. This is the kind of film for young audiences that Amblin used to make — think "Gremlins" or "Small Soldiers" — that allows kids to see themselves as the heroes in a crazy adventure. It's a good time for all ages.

• Starring: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Nick Frost
• Director: Joe Cornish
• Year: 2011
• Runtime: 88 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Three aliens arrive on Earth in preparation for a full-scale invasion, and they take over human bodies. They're here to study us before the war begins, but they discover some truths about people they didn't expect. The aliens at the center of the film are capable of "taking" an emotion from those around them, and this conceit makes for some engaging and intriguing story turns as humankind nears a possible annihilation. Philosophical ideas run throughout, but the film also features entertaining sci-fi beats and some truly spectacular action sequences. 

• Starring: Masami Nagasawa, Ryûhei Matsuda, Hiroki Hasegawa
• Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
• Year: 2017
• Runtime: 129 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

A mute alien tries to fit in on Earth while avoiding intergalactic bounty hunters, but the assimilation process for newcomers isn't always as welcoming as the Statue of Liberty might suggest. Science fiction has always been a home to allegory and metaphor, and this warmly funny comedy goes full tilt on the idea of an "illegal alien" trying to fit in with Americans. The alien's inability to speak mirrors the challenge of learning new languages, and Joe Morton's performance makes the most of it by focusing on expression and intent.

• Starring: Joe Morton, Steve James, David Strathairn
• Director: John Sayles
• Year: 1984
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

A scientist searching for alien communications is surprised to receive one detailing instructions for building an enormous machine. Things only grow more fantastical once the creation is activated. Carl Sagan's novel gets a smartly thrilling adaptation from Robert Zemeckis, and while the expectedly cool visual effects are present, it's the humanity at the film's core that makes it great. Faith is the central concept here, whether it be in a diety, yourself, or the things you believe to be true, and it makes a warmly interconnected pairing with a story about first contact between humans and an alien civilization.

• Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt
• Director: Robert Zemeckis
• Year: 1997
• Runtime: 150 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%

An alien craft lands in Washington, D.C., and its occupant is immediately shot. He reveals his purpose is to help Earthlings by guiding them towards peace, and unsurprisingly, he is later shot again. There's nothing subtle about this still relevant cautionary tale. The visitor tries to understand humankind while promoting peace, and the response is as expected as it is depressing. As cynical as it is about humanity, there's an appealing lack of derision towards the alien's powerful robot friend, something that would change in the decades that followed as we became more distrustful of the machines we built.

• Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe
• Director: Robert Wise
• Year: 1951
• Runtime: 92 minutes
• Rating: G
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%

Alien refugees who arrived on Earth in 1982 have been kept in what amounts to government slums in the years since, but one extraterrestrial is planning an escape back home. A film that's both specific to South Africa's history of apartheid and equally applicable to xenophobic attitudes the world over, "District 9" brings its subtext to the forefront while delivering action and fantastic visual effects. Racism and classism are layered onto its tale of humankind's inherent fear of "the other," resulting in a movie that entertains even as it condemns a history we too frequently feel doomed to repeat.

• Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
• Director: Neill Blomkamp
• Year: 2009
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

The world is at war with alien invaders called "mimics," and it's not looking good for humankind. One man trying to avoid the fight is instead drawn into it when he finds himself reliving a pivotal day of battle over and over. We've seen lots of "Groundhog Day" riffs over the years, but few have gone as big as "Edge of Tomorrow." Tom Cruise takes the lead but avoids the expected heroics with some early cowardice, which instead lets a light shine on the film's true bad-ass, played by Emily Blunt. Highly entertaining set-pieces, surprising laughs, and sharp visual effects make "Edge of Tomorrow" one of the last decade's best blockbusters.

• Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
• Director: Doug Liman
• Year: 2014
• Runtime: 113 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

The cast of a "Star Trek" knock-off find themselves called into action when aliens who've seen their adventures and think they're real recruit them in a fight against a menacing intergalactic threat. There's no denying that this is a silly comedy, but it's arguably one of the smartest silly comedies you're likely to see. The film riffs on our pop culture awareness of "Star Trek" in big and small ways through its characters, story beats, and expectations. Although the laughs are big and frequent, the film still offers up exciting action sequences and sci-fi shenanigans.

• Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman
• Director: Dean Parisot
• Year: 1999
• Runtime: 104 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

An L.A. detective partners with an odd F.B.I. agent in trying to solve a strange string of violent crimes. So far, so normal, but the agent is hiding a secret. Jack Sholder's fun, fast-moving buddy cop movie introduces viewers to an alien slug that loves drugs, flashy cars, and heavy metal music, and things only get weirder from there. The film does a great job balancing those genre oddities while also telling an engaging tale of begrudging friendship. Add it to the B-movie half of this list, and play it loud.

• Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian
• Director: Jack Sholder
• Year: 1987
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%

Space seeds grow into pods with tendrils, and soon alien replicas of unfortunate humans crawl out from within. A small group of friends catches on to the unfolding invasion, but their numbers soon dwindle as the newcomers grow. Jack Finney's classic novel has reached the screen numerous times (both officially and unofficially), but Philip Kaufman's late '70s version remains the best by a wide margin. Unsettling visual effects, a strong cast, and a terrifically crafted take on paranoia and conspiracy make it an all-timer. The ending alone takes your breath away, and you owe it to yourself to double feature it with John Carpenter's "The Thing."

• Starring: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Veronica Cartwright
• Director: Philip Kaufman
• Year: 1978
• Runtime: 115 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

Astronauts discover three humanoid figures inside a derelict spacecraft and make the mistake of bringing them back to Earth. Uh oh! They're space vampires, and soon the trio has kicked off an apocalyptic plague. Give Tobe Hooper a real budget, and the result is the glorious B-movie thrills of "Lifeforce." While many people think of it simply as the movie with the constantly naked lady vampire, there's a lot more fun to be had here, starting with a game cast, some gnarly practical effects, and a wonderfully chaotic third act that sees London descend into a panic-filled hell.

• Starring: Steve Railsback, Mathilda May, Patrick Stewart
• Director: Tobe Hooper
• Year: 1985
• Runtime: 100 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%

A secret organization exists whose sole purpose is to protect Earth from alien threats, whether they be marauding monsters or miniature beings at war with bugs. A cop is the group's latest recruit, and he and his grizzled partner are the only hope humankind has left. This blockbuster kicked off a franchise with its combination of big laughs, wild alien creations, and thrilling action sequences, and it succeeds at utilizing both sharp CG visuals and fantastic practical creations from the mind of Rick Baker. All that and a hit title song from Will Smith make "Men in Black" a terrifically entertaining ride.

• Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Fiorentino
• Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
• Year: 1997
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%

A rescue mission in Central America hits a snag when an alien on the hunt comes looking for human trophies. Civilians and soldiers alike are no match for the skilled predator, but it's never met prey like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Director John McTiernan kicked off an epic three-film run (which includes "Die Hard" and "The Hunt for Red October") with this exhilarating action sci-fi effort, and none of its five "sequels" have come close to capturing its magic. Eye-catching special effects, a brilliantly designed alien (courtesy of Stan Winston), and Schwarzenegger in his prime make for a fantastic action film with set-pieces that still thrill.

• Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura
• Director: John McTiernan
• Year: 1987
• Runtime: 107 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%

A disturbed young man unleashes a torrent of violence based on a single belief: Aliens are here and planning to conquer the Earth. He kidnaps an executive and tortures him in pursuit of what he believes to be true, but what if he's wrong? "Save the Green Planet" is the blackest of comedies, as its laughs come with a side of grim cruelty and grisly violence, but it's also devastatingly affecting. Our protagonist's life has been filled with violence, and a picture soon forms of a man in distress shaped by the whims of others. Has that made him the hero or the villain?

• Starring: Shin Ha-kyun, Baek Yun-shik, Hwang Jung-min
• Director: Jang Joon-hwan
• Year: 2003
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Rating: n/a
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

A meteor crashes with an alien egg aboard, and its parasitic contents are soon transferred to a local man named Grant Grant (Michael Rooker). It's not long before his slug-like spawn are slithering around town infecting more people. We can never have enough creature features utilizing practical effects, and James Gunn helps fill that need with this terrifically funny and wonderfully gooey genre mashup. The cast is perfect, ensuring stellar comedic delivery and a sincere approach to the monstrous mayhem unfolding around them.

• Starring: Nathan Fillion, Michael Rooker, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: James Gunn
• Year: 2006
• Runtime: 96 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%

An alien probe threatens the Federation's safety as it awaits communication from a particular species on Earth that has gone extinct. What's to be done aside from sending the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise back in time to the mid-1980s to retrieve a pair of humpback whales? All of the "Star Trek" films feature Earthlings interacting with aliens. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) alone counts on that front. But this fantastic franchise entry takes a more interesting tack. The Vulcan is a true alien in 1986, and the film finds both entertainment and conflict in introducing him to present-day humans.

• Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley
• Director: Leonard Nimoy
• Year: 1986
• Runtime: 118 minutes
• Rating: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%

Giant, marauding bugs are the prime threat to the survival of the human species, and the only hope we have rests with Earth's military — no matter how many poor grunts get slaughtered along the way. Ten years after Paul Verhoeven gave the world "Robocop," he returned with another masterclass in satirical sci-fi action filmmaking. Using Robert Heinlein's bestselling novel as a starting point, the film tells an epic tale about war, fascism, and how you can't have one without the other. It's a gory, ridiculous, and over-the-top delight.

• Starring: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards
• Director: Paul Verhoeven
• Year: 1997
• Runtime: 129 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 66%

A research team working at an isolated outpost in Antarctica discovers an alien craft frozen in the ice. Unfortunately for them, one of its occupants thawed out first. You knew John Carpenter's horror sci-fi masterpiece was going to make the list, and if it were ranked instead of alphabetical, it might even have landed the top spot. Suspense is the name of the game here as the alien takes human form, but Carpenter doesn't neglect the visceral, as he and makeup fx master Rob Bottin unleash practical effects oozing with creativity and slime en route to one of the genre's great endings.

• Starring: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley
• Director: John Carpenter
• Year: 1982
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

An alien being takes the form of a human female and begins luring men to an inky doom, but her time among us leads to an unexpected awakening. While most of the films here follow humans who cross paths with an alien, this adaptation of Michel Faber's novel instead puts viewers in the alien's shoes. We watch the being lead men to their deaths, but we also see "her" learning and becoming curious. It's an incredibly haunting journey, leading to an intense and ambiguous finale that captures a nihilistically honest view of the human condition.

• Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Adam Pearson
• Director: Jonathan Glazer
• Year: 2013
• Runtime: 108 minutes
• Rating: R
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%

A working-class father of two sees his weekend with the kids cut short when an alien invasion strikes Earth. H.G. Wells' 1898 novel has been adapted for the screen numerous times, but Steven Spielberg tells the story through the POV of the family at its heart while delivering one thrilling set-piece after the next. Large-scale spectacle and harrowing sequences of suspense share the screen with an average Joe's unwavering efforts to protect his children. Add in a not-so-subtle commentary on America's response to 9/11, and you have a film that manages more than mere blockbuster beats.

• Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Year: 2005
• Runtime: 116 minutes
• Rating: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 75%