40 Alien Movies to Watch When You Need a Lil Space From Reality
Area 51 ain’t got nothing on these movies!
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To be 100% honest, I've always believed in aliens. Ever since I saw a flaming green ball flying across the sky on the way back from elementary school (true story!), I've never doubted that something else exists out there in the universe. IDK if it was a personal existential crisis at a young age or just growing up watching thriller movies like Signs and Independence Day, but whether you choose to think I'm absolutely bonkers or not, the alien movie genre slaps every. single. time!
I will never not enjoy the out-of-this-world escape that is watching a space movie. I mean, who doesn't love a full throttle through the cosmos and chilling extraterrestrial encounters from the comfort of their couch? Even if you don't identify as a sci-fi geek like me, the best alien movies may just change your mind...and may just get you to believe in life beyond this sphere we call Earth. (Or not. Whatever. Just keep an open mind, k?)
From comedies to action flicks to genuinely terrifying thrillers, alien movies run the gamut, as do the forms those aliens take ('cause they don't all look as cute as E.T., unfortunately). And while ghost movies and zombie movies have been known to mess with my head (and my REM cycle), movies about alien invasions are sometimes the freakiest ones of all. Ofc, you don't have to be a believer to enjoy a good alien movie, and I've rounded up some of the best new alien movies streaming rn—as well as a few irresistible classics.
No One Will Save You (2023)
Living alone and alienated (hehe, see what we did there?) from her community, a woman wakes up one night to discover an intruder. This intruder is far from human and with no one to hear her cries for help, she must face the creature alone.
Avatar (2009)
Unlike a majority of movies about aliens, Avatar shows that maybe the aliens aren't the ones to be feared. In the world of Pandora, the highly evolved Na'vi must defend their sacred land against a human invasion looking to strip away their natural resources.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Leave it up to the Marvel universe to have us rooting for a rag-tag team of intergalactic criminals.
Nope (2022)
Directed by Jordan Peele, Nope follows a man and his sister as they discover something sinister in the skies above their California ranch. At the same time, the owner of a nearby theme park tries to profit from the mysterious phenomenon.
Prey (2022)
A skilled warrior protects her tribe from a highly evolved alien predator that hunts humans for sport. Fighting against wilderness, dangerous colonizers, and this mysterious creature, she's determined to keep her community safe.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Cue all the "E.T. phone homeeee" impressions! A young boy named Elliott befriends a gentle alien stranded on Earth. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his home, Elliott introduces E.T. to his brother and sister, who decide to keep its existence a secret. However, E.T. soon falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and his new alien friend.
Independence Day (1996)
Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum, terror races through cities across the world when strange phenomena surface around the globe. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived, and they're planning to ruin everyone's Fourth of July holiday. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances.
The Fourth Kind (2009)
For over 40 years, people in and around Nome, Alaska, have mysteriously gone missing. Despite FBI investigations, their whereabouts remain a mystery. But Dr. Tyler, a psychologist, may be on the verge of blowing the unsolved cases wide open when she finds chilling evidence of alien abductions while treating her patients.
Space Jam (1996)
If you're a '90s kid, you already know the impact of this classic. An evil alien theme park owner is in search of a new attraction. When his gang heads to Earth to kidnap Bugs Bunny and the other Looney Tunes, Bugs challenges them to a game of basketball to determine their fate. When the aliens agree, they steal the powers of NBA players, causing Bugs to get some help from Michael Jordan.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
David Bowie stars as a humanoid alien who comes to Earth to retrieve water for his dying planet. Using his advanced knowledge of technology, he creates profitable inventions to afford to build a spacecraft back to his planet. The one thing he didn't anticipate: falling in love.
Men in Black: International (2019)
The Men in Black have expanded to cover the globe but so have the villains of the universe. That's where Agent H and determined rookie M join forces. Although an unlikely pair, they might just work. When aliens that can take form of any human arrive on Earth, H and M embark on a globe-trotting adventure to save the agency and the world.
Paul (2011)
For the past six decades, a wisecracking alien named Paul has resided in a top-secret military base. When he decides he's seen enough of Earth, he escapes the compound and hops on the first vehicle he can get on—a rented RV driven by two British sci-fi nerds. With the feds and the father of an accidental kidnap victim on their tail, the two hatch a crazy plan to help Paul return to space.
Transformers (2007)
The fate of humanity is at stake when two races of alien robots, the Autobots and Decepticons, bring their ongoing war to Earth. With the ability to change into any mechanical object as they seek the key to ultimate power, it's up to teen Sam Witwicky to help save the world from total destruction.
Alien (1979)
Starring Sigourney Weaver, the crew of a spacecraft encounter a deadly lifeform after investigating an unknown transmission.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
An Indiana electric lineman, Roy Neary, finds his quiet and ordinary life turned upside down after a close encounter with a UFO, spurring him into an obsessive quest for answers as a life-altering event approaches.
The Thing (1982)
In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years at a remote Antarctic research station. Once unfrozen, the shape-shifting alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them.
Mars Attacks! (1996)
When Jack Nicholson is the President of the United States and greeting invaders from outer space, what could go wrong? Science professor Donald Kessler assures everyone that the martian's mission is a friendly one, but when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, the military is called in for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
The Vast of Night (2019)
Set in 1950s New Mexico, The Vast of Night follows a radio DJ and a switchboard operator as they attempt to hunt down the source of a mysterious audio frequency, which mayyyy just be extraterrestrial in origin. (Spoiler alert: It is.)
Rim of the World (2019)
Expect to get major Stranger Things vibes from this one, which tells the story of four teenage misfits who find themselves entrusted with stopping an alien invasion taking over their summer camp...and the world.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
With an all-star cast that includes Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, and J. K. Simmons, this sci-fi thriller is set in the near future, following what happens when a group of soldiers and regular people are sent into the future to fight aliens.
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