Last weekend, I finally got to see Alien: Covenant. Normally, I would do a full film review but I honestly couldn’t decide if I enjoyed it and couldn’t give it a rating. This is a film that has been left in film review limbo. It had a lot of great scenes but also had some absolutely ridiculous ones too! Instead, I started reminiscing about some of my favourite Alien movies. I am a massive fan of Sci-Fi films and couldn’t narrow this list down to just 10 so here’s 20 of them!
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20 | THE MIST
The Mist, doesn’t really explain if they are Aliens or not but there are a lot of creatures that get out and use the Mist as a cover to take people roaming the streets. A small town takes cover in a supermarket and suddenly gets very religious as people start to panic. It’s now even been made into a TV Series!
“The end of times has come. Not in flames, but in mist.” Mrs. Carmody
19 | MARS ATTACKS
This film is hilarious! It’s a piss-take on Alien films and it’s glorious! It has me laughing from beginning to end and has a great cast! Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox and even Tom Jones!
“We come in peace! We come in peace!” Martian Ambassador
18 | TRANSFORMERS
Transformers is an alien movie. They might not be slimy or biological but they are still from another planet. Yes, some of the more recent Transformers films are a bit of hit and miss but I did enjoy the first movie and it had a hell of an opening scene. I am looking froward to the next movie but it has dinosaurs in the trailer…dinosaurs?
“Humans don’t deserve to live!” Megatron
17 | BATTLE: LOS ANGELES
This is a cheesy, guilty pleasure which wouldn’t sit right for other film reviewers but I love it. I love the opening to this movie, straight into the action and I have a soft spot for army films which this ties in so well for sci-fi movie. Aliens declare war on Earth and it’s down to the US army to win back LA after it gets taken over. Great army, sci-fi film!
“Shit, I’d rather be in Afghanistan!” Corpsman Jibril Adukwu
16 | STARSHIP TROOPERS
What a film! Such a cheesy, comedy but also a sci fi horror at the same time! It’s a great but silly story which is just so entertaining and can make me laugh every time. The film is based on the cadets journey up the ranks more than the alien “bugs” and had a soppy romantic story line but it’s all about the action and adventure for this movie.
“I need a corporal. You’re it, until you’re dead or I find someone better.” Jean Rasczak
15 | CLOVERFIELD
Cloverfield is one of my go to Sci-fi movies. Why? One, I love the love story between Rob and Beth as cheesy as that sounds. Secondly, the creature destroying New York City is Godzilla to another level of terror. Thirdly, I love hand-held camera movies. Definitely a guilty pleasure but I couldn’t not but this in my list of favourite alien movies….but is it an alien??? We still don’t know!
“Nobody ever listens to me, then when they do… we’re gonna die…!” Hud
14 | WAR OF THE WORLDS
I might get some stick from my fellow movie critics but the first half of this film I found generally scary. The second half and the ending, I was massive annoyed and felt like it ruined the whole thing. No consistency! Robbie is also really annoying but still the beginning was great and the sound of the machines was truly haunting.
“Robbie, you want to go in that direction? There is nothing *living* in that direction!” Ray
13 | ET
It’s a childhood classic! You can’t forget this film when it comes to Alien movies and Drew Barrymore’s first big movie and she was only a child! This is a heartwarming story for all ages that the whole family can enjoy.
“E.T. phone home!” E.T.
12 | PITCH BLACK
When I think of Vin Diesel, I think about him in this film with those glazed eyes. This is a great sci-fi horror film about a group of people crash landing on an alien planet. The aliens only come out int he dark which is basically every nightmares coming to life as a child.
“You know I am? You don’t know anything about me. I will leave you here.” Riddick
11 | DISTRICT 9
Shockingly, I have only just seen this movie this year and I can’t believe it took me this long. What a film! It’s got some great political aspects to what would happen if an alien ship crash landed on Earth. Basically, standing thousands of aliens on Earth like refugees.
“What is “eviction”?” Prawn
10 | FIFTH ELEMENT
Set very far in the future this film is visually amazing. The costume, make-up and hair styles alone make this film completely stand out. Bruce Willis bring great action to a sci-fi movie and some great humour along with it.
“Multi-pass!” Leeloo
9 | SIGNS
I love films by M.Night Shyamalan. His films are so gripping and thrilling. This take on an alien invasion movie is so different to others I’ve seen before. Set in a quiet farmers town with a priest’s faith being tested. It’s so simple and effective!
“Swing away Merrill. Merrill… swing away!” Graham Hess
8 | STAR TREK
My dad got my into Star Trek years ago. However, I wouldn’t consider myself a hardcore Trekkie like him. I also really enjoy the new Star Trek films which are directed by JJ. Abrams. Chris Pine makes them easy to watch too. These films have great space adventures. The hair and make up team even got nominated for an Oscar for their amazing work on the aliens in these movies.
“Space: the final frontier!” Spock
7 | ARRIVAL
This was one of my favourite films of 2016! Amy Adams was robbed of an Oscar last year for her other film Nocturnal Animals but this film still swooped up 1 Oscar for the haunting sound in this amazing movie. If you haven’t seen this film yet, I urge you to watch it asap. It’s not your average Alien film. No, not at all. It’s more about how we would attempt to communicate with them if they arrived.
“Non-zero sum game.” Dr. Louise Banks
6 | MIB
Something completely out the box, which has been a stand out film for years! I even had to watch this film during an RE lesson in school. This film is not only hilarious but has a great story about Aliens living amongst us in secret. It’s a great film that I can watch over and over again.
“You know what the difference is between you and me? I make this look GOOD.” Jay
5 | AVATAR
This film is just BEAUTIFUL! This was the first film I ever saw in 3D too. It’s such a breathtaking adventure movie unlike any other and I can’t wait for the new films to come to our cinema screens.
“I see you!” Neytiri
4 | STAR WARS
The Star Wars films are pretty legendary so they had to make an appearance in the top of this chart. Even though these films are more about the story than an Alien encounter they are still great films which show a unique take of alien life being equal to humans. These films are filled with action and adventure but a more political aspect of aliens living amongst us.
“Somebody has to save our skins!” Leia Organa
3 | INDEPENDENCE DAY
There’s no way I couldn’t stick this movie close to the top. What a cast! What a story! What a movie! This film has everything to make an exciting film and is thrilling from beginning to end. Also, Will Smith is just a legend!
“Welcome to Earth!” Capt. Steven Hiller
2 | ALIENS
There’s just one word I can use for this film. BAD ASS! The characters are all really likeable and Riley is just an awesome lead character in this sequel. It’s very rare when a sequel can match up to the hype of an original movie but this is does exactly that and more!
“Get away from her you bitch!” Ellen Ripley
1 | ALIEN
Obviously, Alien has to be number 1! This movie was such an original concept and just horrendously scary back when it was released and still makes me jump now! Riley was one of the first female action movie characters and does us all proud!
“This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.” Ellen Ripley
Don’t forget to check out the new Alien: Covenant movie and let me know what you think of it?!
Dan Bullock says
Hah, your opening comments are exactly what I thought of Alien: Covenant and I was really excited but, yeah, I kinda felt he just smashed up all his favourite bits and threw it in there. But I think I’ll like it more after another viewing or two – bit confused by the HUGE acclaim when it’s good, but it’s not stunning.
Love your choices here as well, Cloverfield is still a favourite – have you seen Super 8 yet? It’s JJ and it kinda went under the radar but that’s a massive favourite of mine.
The Tom Cruise WOFW is great as well, that opening blows me away every time – no pun intended as you know what happens – and I think it’s a little underrated. Arrival also, unexpectedly, crushed me at the end. I didn’t see the twist event, I felt like I knew something was coming but didn’t see that and I (annoyingly) usually work things out these days.
Alien is sublime, still with every view. It doesn’t get much better but how about Close Encounters of the Third Kind? Maaan….such an absolute classic.
Natasha Atlas says
Yeah I’ve seen super 8 but wasn’t really a fan! Felt completely let down but the story line and didn’t really like the characters! I’ve actually never seen close encounters! I know! I’ll need to sit down and watch it one day! Arrival was one of my absolute favs!!! What an ending! Didn’t see it coming!!
Dan Bullock says
Whaaa, awh, I love it. Maybe it’s nostalgia in that E.T. fashion, but you’ll never change my mind on that one. 😉
Close Encounters is an absolute must, still looks stunning as well, you’ll see! It deserves a proper Sunday afternoon viewing really.
And oh yeah, that ending, woooah. I actually need to watch it again now it’s out to own and all that. Wonderful stuff.