Alien Movies

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

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) is the second installment of the Star Wars saga, directed by Irvin Kershner. The story follows the Rebel Alliance as they fight against the Galactic Empire. After the Rebels are driven from their base on the ice planet Hoth, Luke Skywalker ventures to the swamp planet Dagobah to receive training in the Force from the Jedi Master Yoda. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Princess Leia, pursued by Imperial forces, flee to Cloud City. There, they are confronted by the villainous Darth Vader, who reveals to Luke that he is his father. Luke fights Vader but is eventually seduced to the dark side of the Force. After a climactic confrontation between Vader and a redeemed Luke, the Rebellion is nearly crushed. But with the help of the Force, Luke and his allies regroup to fight another day. The Empire Strikes Back is widely considered to be one of the greatest sequels ever made and is often ranked among the best films of all time.

From George Lucas, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Rated PG

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope is a 1977 science fiction epic film written and directed by George Lucas. The film follows the journey of a small group of rebels, led by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), as they attempt to destroy the Death Star, a massive space station, and save their galaxy from the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. Along the way, they enlist the help of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), a smuggler, and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), a leader in the Rebellion. With the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), an aged Jedi Knight, and R2-D2 and C-3PO, two droids, they fight their way through the Empire's forces, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Death Star. The film also introduces themes of heroism, faith, and redemption, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film follows the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo, who encounter a mysterious alien life form that proves to be far more intelligent and deadly than they could have ever imagined. After a violent encounter with the alien, the crew is forced to fight for their lives as they try to make it back home. Along the way they make horrifying discoveries about the creature and its deadly intentions, leading to a thrilling and suspenseful climax.

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

Aliens is a science fiction action horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1986. The movie follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) as she returns to the planet LV-426 in order to investigate the disappearance of the colony established there before the events of the first movie, Alien. Once in LV-426, Ripley and a team of marines soon find out that the planet has become overrun by aliens. They must now fight their way through wave after wave of aliens in order to survive and find out the truth behind the disappearance of the colony. Along the way, Ripley discovers a connection between the aliens and the powerful Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Aliens is widely praised as one of the best science fiction movies of all time. It is noted for its groundbreaking special effects, intense action sequences, and strong female lead. The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won two, earning James Cameron a Best Director nomination.

From Andrew Stanton, starring Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard
Rated G

WALL·E is a 2008 animated science fiction film directed by Andrew Stanton. The movie follows an automated trash compactor robot, WALL·E, who is left behind on Earth to clean up the waste while the human race has evacuated the planet. WALL·E falls in love with an advanced human-like robot named EVE, who is sent to scan the planet for signs of life. When WALL·E follows her into space, he discovers a new world and joins the humans on a space cruise. Along the way, he learns the importance of friendship and the value of living a simple life. With the help of his newfound friends, he helps the humans regain their humanity and restore their planet.

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

In "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi," Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and their allies face a final confrontation with Darth Vader and the Empire. They must rescue Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt and then launch a daring attack on the heavily armored second Death Star in order to destroy it and the Empire. Along the way, Luke must confront his father, Darth Vader, in a climactic lightsaber duel. Meanwhile, a rebellion rises on the distant forest moon of Endor, where the Ewoks join forces with the Rebel Alliance to defeat the might of the Empire. In the end, good triumphs over evil as the Rebels celebrate their victory.

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

The Thing is a 1982 American science-fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter and written by Bill Lancaster. Set in the remote Antarctic, the movie follows a group of researchers from a U.S. outpost who discover a shape-shifting alien organism that can assume the appearance of any living thing. As the creature terrorizes the outpost, paranoia and fear set in amongst the researchers, leading to mistrust and suspicion as they struggle to survive against an increasingly clever enemy. With an all-star cast including Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, and Keith David, The Thing is a classic of horror cinema and a prime example of Carpenter's style of filmmaking.

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

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg, and starring Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote and Drew Barrymore. The film follows the story of a lost alien, "E.T.", who is stranded on Earth and befriends a young boy, Elliot (Thomas). With the help of his siblings and the local scientist, Keys (Coyote), Elliot must protect E.T. from the government agents who want to exploit him for his advanced technology. As Elliot and E.T. form a bond, they must find a way for E.T. to escape and return home. Along the way, Elliot and his family forge a strong bond that will last a lifetime.

From Neill Blomkamp, starring Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Rated R

District 9 is a science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in 2009. Set in Johannesburg, South Africa, the film follows a forced integration of aliens who have been living in refugee camps for twenty years. The main character, Wikus Van De Merwe, is an MNU official tasked with relocating the aliens. However, when Wikus becomes exposed to a mysterious fluid, he slowly starts to mutate and finds himself hunted by his own government. As he attempts to fight back and find a cure, he begins to develop an unlikely and powerful alliance with the aliens. With heart-pounding action and an exploration of themes such as racism, xenophobia, and oppression, District 9 is a powerful and thrilling film.

From J.J. Abrams, starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Leonard Nimoy
Rated PG-13

Star Trek (2009) is a science fiction adventure directed by J.J. Abrams. The film follows the journey of James T. Kirk, a rebellious young man who is recruited by the Federation and paired with Spock, a Vulcan with a logical mind, to take on a mysterious enemy that is threatening the galaxy. Along the way, Kirk must come to terms with his father's death, explore his place in the universe, and learn to work with his crewmates to save the day. With action, special effects and a strong cast, Star Trek is a thrilling and entertaining ride.

From John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo
Rated R

Predator is a science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, released in 1987. The film follows a team of special forces commandos, led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), as they take on a mission to rescue hostages in a Central American jungle. As they progress, they come under attack from a mysterious and invisible enemy: a deadly extraterrestrial hunter known as the Predator. The commandos must battle against the Predator's advanced weaponry and its ability to blend in with the jungle in order to survive. The film has become a classic of the action genre, and spawned two sequels and various spin-offs.

From James Cameron, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez
Rated PG-13

Avatar is a sci-fi action adventure film directed by James Cameron and released in 2009. The story follows Jake Sully, a former Marine confined to a wheelchair, who is selected to join a mission to Pandora, a distant moon inhabited by the Na'vi, a humanoid race. Jake is given an "avatar" form, which he uses to explore Pandora and learn about the natives, who have a deep connection to their land and the life that inhabits it. As Jake begins to identify with the Na'vi, the humans' mission to exploit Pandora's resources for human gain is challenged. In the end, Jake helps the Na'vi fight to protect their home from human forces and ultimately chooses to remain on Pandora as one of the Na'vi.

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

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a classic science-fiction movie directed by Nicholas Meyer. It is the second installment in the Star Trek film series. The movie follows the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise as they encounter the vengeful Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), a genetically-engineered former ruler of Earth. Khan seeks revenge against Captain Kirk (William Shatner) for his exile years ago. The crew of the Enterprise must battle against Khan's enhanced strength, cunning, and superior technology. As they fight to survive, the crew discover the secret of Genesis, a powerful terraforming device capable of destroying entire worlds. It is up to Kirk and his crew to save the galaxy and prevent Khan from using Genesis to exact his revenge. The movie is a thrilling, action-packed adventure that showcases the courage and loyalty of the Star Trek crew.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon
Rated PG

Close Encounters of the Third Kind follows two separate stories of people who have had close encounters with aliens. Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is an everyday working man who has a close encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO) while on the job. Meanwhile, a group of scientists, led by French scientist Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut), are searching for the origin of a strange sound they’ve detected coming from outer space. As Neary and Lacombe’s paths cross, they both become obsessed with trying to make contact with aliens. Neary is determined to find the source of the mysterious sound and Lacombe is determined to make contact with the aliens. As the two stories intertwine, they eventually come to a climactic end when the aliens arrive in their ship in the middle of the night and Neary, Lacombe and the other scientists are able to make contact.

From Luc Besson, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm
Rated PG-13

The Fifth Element is a 1997 science fiction action film directed by Luc Besson. It stars Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, and Ian Holm. The film is set in the twenty-third century, where a mysterious and powerful energy source called the Fifth Element is central to the plot. An alien discovers the element and is pursued by an evil force called Mr. Shadow. In order to save the world, a former special forces officer and a cab driver join forces with a mysterious priestess to stop Mr. Shadow and his minions. They must find the four elemental stones in order to unlock the power of the Fifth Element. Along the way, they uncover a secret plot to destroy the world and must battle a variety of alien creatures, robots, and genetically enhanced humans. With the help of the Fifth Element, they ultimately succeed in saving the planet.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Rated PG

Contact is a 1997 science fiction drama directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster as Dr. Ellie Arroway, a scientist who searches for extraterrestrial life. When a signal from an alien source is detected, she is chosen to lead a team to make contact with the aliens. Along her journey, she discovers a greater purpose and faces difficult ethical decisions. The film also stars Matthew McConaughey, James Woods, and Tom Skerritt and explores themes of religion, science, and the power of the unknown.

From Dean Parisot, starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub
Rated PG

From Jim Sharman, starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien
Rated R

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

From Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, starring Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, David Ogden Stiers
Rated PG

From Tom McGrath, starring Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey
Rated PG

From Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio
Rated PG-13

From Paul Verhoeven, starring Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey
Rated R

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

From Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Thompson, Martin Short, Roscoe Lee Browne
Rated PG