Movies About Extraterrestrials

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg
Rated PG-13

Arrival is a 2016 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve. The film follows a linguist, Louise Banks (Amy Adams), as she is recruited by the U.S. military to make contact with extraterrestrial life that has recently arrived on Earth. She is joined by theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and together they strive to communicate with the aliens in order to discover their intentions. As she learns more about the aliens, Louise also discovers that her actions are likely to have a profound effect on the future of humanity. The film follows Louise and Ian's journey as they attempt to bridge the language barrier and decipher the mysterious message of the aliens. Ultimately, Louise discovers the true purpose of the aliens' visit and unlocks the potential of a new form of communication.

From Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson
Rated PG-13

Edge of Tomorrow is a 2014 science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman. The film follows Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), an officer who is killed in a doomed combat mission against an alien race. He finds himself caught in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. With each repetition, Cage teams up with Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) to refine his fighting skills and discover the key to defeating the aliens. As Cage and Rita fight their way through the war, they uncover a secret that could save the world. The film received positive reviews, praising its action sequences, visual effects, humour, and Cruise and Blunt's performances.

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

"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" is a science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and released in 1982. The story follows the friendship between a young boy named Elliott and an alien that he calls E.T. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. to find a way back to his home planet while avoiding the scientists and government agents that are trying to capture him. Along the way, Elliott and E.T. form a strong bond, and together they discover the power of friendship and courage. The film received critical acclaim and was a box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in 1983. E.T. has since become a pop culture icon and a beloved classic.

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

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg. The movie follows the story of everyday people who are drawn into a mysterious and awe-inspiring encounter with an unidentified flying object. Richard Dreyfuss plays Roy Neary, an ordinary man who experiences a close encounter with a UFO and is driven to the brink of madness to unravel the mystery. He is joined by Jillian Guiler, a single mother played by Melinda Dillon, who has a similar experience. The two join forces to seek out answers as they are thrust into an otherworldly journey. As they search, they are pursued by government agents and a team of scientists led by Claude Lacombe, played by François Truffaut. Through this journey, Roy, Jillian, and the scientists discover a startling encounter that could change their lives forever.

From Gregg Araki, starring Brady Corbet, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elisabeth Shue, Chase Ellison
Rated Unrated

Mysterious Skin is an independent drama film released in 2004 and directed by Gregg Araki. It follows the story of two teenage boys, Neil and Brian, who were both victims of child sexual abuse. The film follows their different paths in life as they come to terms with the trauma and try to make sense of the abuse they experienced. Neil, an openly gay teenage hustler, seeks solace in casual sexual encounters while Brian, a shy and introverted boy, obsessively searches for clues as to who his abuser may have been. The film follows their story of self-discovery and healing as they try to put the pieces of their broken lives back together.

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

Contact is a 1997 science fiction drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Jodie Foster as Dr. Eleanor Arroway, a SETI scientist searching for extraterrestrial life. After years of searching, she makes contact with a distant alien civilization and embarks on a thrilling and emotional journey that changes her life and the entire world. Along the way, she faces opposition from religious groups, the military, and even her own government, all while trying to uncover the truth behind the extraterrestrial contact. In the end, she discovers a mysterious and powerful message that could change the way humans view the universe and their place in it.

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

The Abyss is a science fiction action-adventure film directed by James Cameron. It follows a team of underwater deep-sea drillers and scientists as they are sent to stop a foreign submarine from launching a nuclear missile at the United States. The mission is complicated by a powerful, mysterious force beneath the ocean that could prove to be more powerful than anything they could imagine. As the team descends deeper into the abyss, they must come face to face with the unknown, and their own fears, to save the world. The film also explores themes of trust, loyalty, and the power of the human spirit.

From Iain Softley, starring Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Mary McCormack, Alfre Woodard
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor, Sam Robards
Rated PG-13

From Dan Trachtenberg, starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
Rated PG-13

From Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis
Rated R

From Roland Emmerich, starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell
Rated PG-13

From Matt Reeves, starring Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller
Rated PG-13

From J.J. Abrams, starring Elle Fanning, AJ Michalka, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney
Rated PG-13

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

From Mike Cahill, starring Brit Marling, William Mapother, Matthew-Lee Erlbach, DJ Flava
Rated PG-13

From M. Night Shyamalan, starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin
Rated PG-13

From Ron Howard, starring Don Ameche, Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn, Brian Dennehy
Rated PG-13

From Daniel Espinosa, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, Ryan Reynolds, Hiroyuki Sanada
Rated R

From Matthew Robbins, starring Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Frank McRae, Elizabeth Peña
Rated PG

From Robert Lieberman, starring D.B. Sweeney, Robert Patrick, Craig Sheffer, Peter Berg
Rated PG-13

From Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto
Rated PG-13

From Gareth Edwards, starring Scoot McNairy, Whitney Able, Mario Zuniga Benavides, Annalee Jefferies
Rated R

From Scott Stewart, starring Keri Russell, Jake Brennan, Josh Hamilton, Dakota Goyo
Rated PG-13

From Jonathan Glazer, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, Lynsey Taylor Mackay, Dougie McConnell
Rated R