Alien Movies 1980s

From Irvin Kershner, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Rated PG

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back is the fifth episode in the Star Wars saga, directed by Irvin Kershner. The film follows the continuation of the Rebel Alliance's battle with the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbaca, and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 struggle to evade Darth Vader and his forces as they travel to the hidden Rebel base on the ice planet Hoth. Along the way, Luke receives a Jedi training from Master Yoda and confronts Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel. Ultimately, the Rebels are forced to flee the Empire, while Vader and the Empire search for the new Rebel base. The film culminates in an epic climax that leaves the fate of the galaxy in the balance.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Rated PG

Back to the Future is a 1985 American science fiction adventure comedy film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale. It stars Michael J. Fox as teenager Marty McFly, who accidentally travels back in time from 1985 to 1955, where he meets his future parents and becomes his mother's romantic interest. Christopher Lloyd portrays the eccentric scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, inventor of the time-traveling DeLorean, who helps Marty repair history and return to 1985. The film follows Marty as he attempts to return to his own time while also preventing his parents-to-be from falling in love and altering the future. Along the way, Marty experiences various mishaps and meets the younger version of his future parents, George and Lorraine, as well as his future nemesis Biff Tannen. The film also features Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson in supporting roles. Back to the Future was released on July 3, 1985, to critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1985 and receiving near-universal acclaim from critics. It won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation and was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Original

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and released in 1986.Set 57 years after the events of the original Alien (1979), the film follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) as she returns to the planetoid LV-426 with a group of Colonial Marines to investigate the disappearance of the colony established there. Upon arrival, they find the colony deserted and in ruins, but they soon discover they are not alone. The marines are immediately attacked by a hostile, powerful alien species known as the Xenomorphs, forcing them to fight for their lives. With the help of the colony's android Bishop (Lance Henriksen), Ripley must battle the aliens and their queen in order to save the remaining survivors and prevent the species from spreading throughout the universe.

From Richard Marquand, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams
Rated PG

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi is the 1983 installment of the Star Wars franchise, directed by Richard Marquand. The film follows Luke Skywalker and his allies as they attempt to free Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. In the meanwhile, the Rebel Alliance must face off against the evil Empire as they plan to destroy the second Death Star. As the Rebels take the fight to the Empire, Luke learns of his own destiny and the nature of the Force, and must confront his father Darth Vader in a climactic lightsaber duel. In the end, good triumphs over evil as the Rebel Alliance destroys the Death Star and Darth Vader is redeemed, allowing the Force to be balanced and peace to return to the galaxy.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing is a 1982 science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. The film follows a group of American researchers in Antarctica as they are confronted by a parasitic extraterrestrial lifeform that assimilates, then imitates other organisms. The researchers soon realize that the alien has infiltrated their isolated outpost, and is assumed by them to have been the cause of a series of gruesome deaths. As the members of the group become increasingly paranoid of one another, their numbers dwindle as they are picked off one-by-one by the alien force. The Thing is a tense and suspenseful thriller that has become a cult classic since its release.

From Ridley Scott, starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos
Rated R

Blade Runner is a classic science fiction film set in the dystopian future of Los Angeles, 2019. It follows Rick Deckard, a burnt-out cop tasked with tracking down a group of rogue replicants (synthetic humans) who have escaped to Earth from an off-world colony. As the replicants search for the secrets of their origin and a way to extend their life spans, Deckard finds himself drawn into a complex, thrilling and thought-provoking story of identity, morality and human nature. Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer and Sean Young, Blade Runner is a stunning visual experience that stands the test of time.

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield
Rated R

The Terminator is a 1984 sci-fi action film directed by James Cameron. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as a cyborg, the "Terminator", sent back in time from a post-apocalyptic future to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), a woman whose unborn son will become the leader of the human resistance against machines. Sarah must be protected from the Terminator at all costs, so a soldier from the future, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), is sent back in time to protect her. The Terminator and Kyle engage in a series of battles, culminating in a final confrontation. In the end, Sarah and Kyle emerge victorious and the Terminator is destroyed.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Rated PG

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a science fiction fantasy film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg, released by Universal Pictures in 1982. The story follows the adventures of a young boy named Elliott, who befriends an alien stranded on Earth, and the two go on a wild and exciting journey to get E.T. home. Along the way, Elliott, his siblings, and their new alien friend battle government agents, face daunting obstacles, and experience the power of friendship and loyalty. The film was an instant classic, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time and earning critical acclaim for its performances, its special effects, and its message of friendship and hope.

From Terry Gilliam, starring Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Robert De Niro, Katherine Helmond
Rated R

Brazil is a 1985 dystopian science fiction film written and directed by Terry Gilliam. The film follows Sam Lowry, a government worker, who is trying to fix a bureaucratic mistake that has led to the wrongful arrest and eventual death of an innocent man. As the movie progresses, Lowry's attempts to correct the mistake leads him down a dangerous path, uncovering a dark and surreal world of corruption, bureaucracy, and surveillance. Along the way, Lowry begins to question his own reality, morality, and identity. The movie features an avant-garde style of filmmaking, and is seen as a commentary on modern technology, bureaucracy, and totalitarian systems.

From Nicholas Meyer, starring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan
Rated PG

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer. It stars William Shatner as James T. Kirk, Leonard Nimoy as Spock, and Ricardo Montalbán as the villainous Khan Noonien Singh. The film centers around the return of Khan, a genetically-enhanced human from the late 20th century who was exiled on the planet Ceti Alpha V. Khan seeks revenge on Kirk for his role in his exile, and begins a mission of terror in an attempt to destroy Kirk and his crew. Khan eventually finds the USS Enterprise, and a battle ensues. With his superior knowledge of the technology, Khan nearly overwhelms the Enterprise crew. However, with the help of Spock and his sacrifice, Kirk is able to defeat Khan and his forces. In the end, Kirk is successful, but Spock dies in the process.

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox
Rated R

RoboCop is a 1987 science fiction action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. It stars Peter Weller as Officer Alex Murphy, a law enforcement officer who is fatally injured in the line of duty and then transformed into a powerful cyborg by a powerful corporation. The film follows Murphy as he struggles to adjust to his new robotic form while attempting to stop a violent crime wave that is taking over Detroit. Along the way, he discovers the truth behind the corporation and its sinister plans, and takes it upon himself to stop them. He is aided in his quest by a determined police partner and an old friend from his past. The film is an intense and violent exploration of corporate power, the nature of justice, and what it means to be human.

From George Miller, starring Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence, Michael Preston, Max Phipps
Rated R

The Road Warrior is a post-apocalyptic action film starring Mel Gibson and directed by George Miller. Set in a desolate future, civilization has collapsed and the world has become a dangerous wasteland. The film follows a lone drifter, known as “The Road Warrior”, who encounters a group of peaceful survivors being harassed by a group of marauders. The Road Warrior reluctantly agrees to help the survivors escape from their attackers, becoming their protector in a desperate journey across the hostile landscape. With the help of his trusty car and an array of weapons, The Road Warrior leads the survivors to an oasis, where they will be safe from the marauders. Along the way, The Road Warrior must battle the marauders and avoid obstacles, as he struggles to protect the survivors and complete their journey.

From James Cameron, starring Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester
Rated PG-13

The Abyss is a science fiction thriller directed by James Cameron and released in 1989. The film follows a team of deep sea oil-rig workers who, after their oil-rig is destroyed in a freak accident, are recruited to help an elite Navy SEAL team recover a lost nuclear submarine. During the mission, the team discovers a mysterious and dangerous underground world known as the "Abyss". As they explore the Abyss, they uncover secrets about the origin of life on Earth and the true nature of the universe. Along the way, they must also face off against a powerful enemy that seeks to destroy them. Through their journey, the team learns that no matter how powerful the military might be, the power of understanding and compassion will always be greater.

From John Carpenter, starring Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George 'Buck' Flower
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring James Woods, Debbie Harry, Sonja Smits, Peter Dvorsky
Rated R

From David Cronenberg, starring Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom
Rated R

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Lee Van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine, Donald Pleasence
Rated R

From Mel Brooks, starring Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman
Rated PG

From John Badham, starring Matthew Broderick, Ally Sheedy, John Wood, Dabney Coleman
Rated PG

From John Carpenter, starring Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel
Rated PG

From Martha Coolidge, starring Val Kilmer, Stacy Peralta, Daniel Ades, Andres Aybar
Rated PG

From Randal Kleiser, starring Joey Cramer, Paul Reubens, Cliff De Young, Veronica Cartwright
Rated PG

From Ken Russell, starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid
Rated R

From Wolfgang Petersen, starring Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett Jr., Brion James, Richard Marcus
Rated PG-13

From John Sayles, starring Joe Morton, Daryl Edwards, Rosanna Carter, Ray Ramirez
Rated R