Throughout the years, many filmmakers have undertaken the challenge of cinematic alien portrayals, and have proved to be immensely successful. While the concept that humans are not alone in the universe is inherently terrifying, not all alien movies set out to scare. For example, films like Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival focus on more conceptual themes, while movies such as Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial offer lighthearted depictions of unearthly visitors.
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The release of Ridley Scott’s famous 1979 blockbuster Alien represented a groundbreaking moment for these types of films and effectively revolutionized the extra-terrestrial sci-fi horror genre. The most recent addition to the beloved franchise came with the 2024 release of Alien: Romulus, which is set 20 years after the original story. The legendary director’s run is certainly not ending there, considering Ridley Scott is developing a new Alien movie. Although the Alien franchise includes several amazing films, many other movies focus on otherworldly occurrences and deliver truly bone-chilling stories.
10 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Directed By Dan Trachtenberg
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10 Cloverfield Lane PG-13DramaHorrorMysterySci-FiThriller
From Dan Trachtenberg, 10 Cloverfield Lane follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a young woman who awakens after a car crash in a bunker alongside two strangers. Howard (John Goodman) tells her that it’s not safe to leave, and that he saved her life, but Michelle becomes increasingly suspicious of Howard’s motives and his past and begins to plan a daring escape to see what exactly has happened to the outside world.
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*Availability in US Director Dan Trachtenberg Release Date March 10, 2016 Cast John Goodman , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , John Gallagher Jr. , Douglas M. Griffin , Suzanne Cryer , Bradley Cooper Runtime 103 Minutes Studio(s) Bad Robot Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Josh Campbell , Matthew Stuecken , Damien Chazelle Main Genre Thriller Expand
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10 Cloverfield Lane represents an interesting case in the context of the genre. Aliens themselves aren’t the focus of the plot by any means. Rather, it is the idea of their existence that makes the film unsettling. After Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) gets in a car accident, she wakes up in a bunker with an unknown man named Howard (John Goodman) and Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).
Her first thought is that she was abducted, but Howard claims that the ground above is uninhabitable due to an attack, whether it be from another country — or another world. The movie is similar to a psychological drama in the sense that the legitimacy of the circumstances is never clear. Certain developments suggest Walter is telling the truth, while others imply that he has a malicious nature. 10 Cloverfield Lane’s ending ultimately reveals the reality about the world above, and it makes the film all the more terrifying.
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9 Signs (2002)
Directed By M. Night Shyamalan
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8.5/10 Signs PG-13MysteryThrillerDrama Sci-Fi
Signs is a sci-fi horror film by director M. Night Shyamalan. It follows devout priest Graham Hess and his family as they find themselves in the middle of a mysterious event where crop circles appear in the middle of their farmland. Then, seeing the entire world begin to experience similar phenomena, the family starts to worry about their safety and the end of days as they ponder what may be coming.
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*Availability in US Director M. Night Shyamalan Release Date August 2, 2002 Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Mel Gibson , Cherry Jones , Rory Culkin , Abigail Breslin Runtime 106 minutes Studio(s) Disney Distributor(s) Disney Writers M. Night Shyamalan Expand
Signs marked director M. Night Shyamalan’s 5th project, and he delivered a true classic. The film doesn’t rely on over-the-top gore or visually striking monsters to instill fear. Rather, Shyamalan depicts the revelation of what an alien encounter might look like, and it’s truly frightening. In the movie, Graham Hess’ (Mel Gibson) life is turned upside down when he comes across other-worldly patterns cut into his crop field.
It isn’t about the actions of the aliens, but rather the psychological torment they bring upon the characters.
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Signs utilizes its tense atmosphere to create a sense of unease. It isn’t the fact that the aliens are attacking that makes it scary, but rather the idea that they are present and lurking about. There is so much buildup throughout the plot that the brief appearances of aliens are all the more terrifying. The movie is so simple in its structure, but it plays into the narrative perfectly. It isn’t about the actions of the aliens, but rather the psychological torment they bring upon the characters.
8 Nope (2022)
Directed By Jordan Peele
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7.8/10 Nope rHorror Sci-Fi
Written and directed by Jordan Peele, Nope follows the owners of a family-run Hollywood horse ranch whose lives are changed by extraterrestrial phenomena. Siblings Otis (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) scramble to understand events that seem to defy all explanation, even as their neighbor (Steven Yeun) tries to turn the strange occurrences into a alien tourist attraction.
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*Availability in US Director Jordan Peele Release Date July 22, 2022 Cast Steven Yeun , Michael Wincott , Daniel Kaluuya , Brandon Perea , Keke Palmer , Barbie Ferreira Runtime 131 minutes Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Jordan Peele Expand
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Nope was fabled horror director Jordan Peele’s first attempt at portraying an alien story. Although it didn’t receive the same degree of positive critical reception as his previous works, it turned out to be an incredibly intriguing and unsettling film. The plot follows OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Emerald (Keke Palmer), who attempt to gain evidence of extra-terrestrial life after encountering a UFO.
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The film doesn’t exactly follow the traditional formula of an alien movie, but it doesn’t take away from the terror. It isn’t about the malicious nature of the visitors, but rather what their existence represents. From a horror standpoint, Nope is bolstered by its dark-natured cinematography and anxiety-building scenes. It’s not only a spine-chilling movie, but it offers many insightful underlying concepts. OJ and Emerald’s relentless efforts to catch the aliens on camera speak to Hollywood’s fascination with capturing a spectacle. Nope’s unique ending similarly proposes many questions about the film’s message.
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7 Alien (1979)
Directed By Ridley Scott
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10/10 Alien RSci-FiHorror
Alien, directed by Ridley Scott, is a science fiction horror film that follows the crew of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo. Upon investigating a distress signal on a distant moon, they discover a deadly extraterrestrial lifeform. The film stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and became a seminal work in both the sci-fi and horror genres, known for its atmospheric tension and groundbreaking visual effects.
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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date June 22, 1979 Cast Sigourney Weaver , Tom Skerritt , John Hurt , Veronica Cartwright , Harry Dean Stanton , Ian Holm , Yaphet Kotto , Bolaji Badejo Runtime 117 Minutes Writers Dan O’Bannon , Ronald Shusett Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
The classic and beloved Alien created a formula for the genre that worked incredibly well. The well-written narrative, excellent performances, and gripping action were just a few reasons the film became so famous. As Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her fellow crew-mates are stuck with a malevolent life form on the USCSS Nostromo, there is a true sense of helplessness.
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Ridley Scott’s decision to rely on practical effects rather than overbearing CGI created a tangible and horrifying atmosphere. The depiction of the Xenomorph was truly one of a kind, and arguably the best design for an alien to date. The film is so immersive and offers such a unique suspension of disbelief. On top of its distinct premise, Alien is packed with harsh gore that’s oftentimes hard to watch. All of these factors combined to create a blood-curdling, iconic story that unsurprisingly inspired an entire franchise.
6 A Quiet Place (2018)
Directed By John Krasinski
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10/10 A Quiet Place PG-13HorrorDocumentaryFamilySci-FiThriller
A Quiet Place takes place in a world ravaged by predatory alien beings with ultra-sensitive hearing. With humanity on the brink of extinction, the Abbott family has managed to carve out a delicate survival by living in total silence, but with a baby on the way, their tentative peace seems more fragile than ever. A Quiet Place stars John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe and is directed by Krasinski.
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*Availability in US Director John Krasinski Release Date April 3, 2018 Cast Emily Blunt , John Krasinski , Millie Simmonds , Noah Jupe , Cade Woodward , Leon Russom Runtime 90 Minutes Studio(s) Platinum Dunes , Sunday Night Productions Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Bryan Woods , Scott Beck , John Krasinski Expand
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A Quiet Place was a box office smash when it was released, and understandably so. It was shortly followed up by a sequel, and a recent origin story dubbed A Quiet Place: Day One. The premise is very original and plays into the core characteristics that qualify a film as horror. The hyper-violent aliens have super strength and hearing but a complete absence of vision. These monsters effectively hunt using sound, and it’s utterly nerve-racking. Jump scares are one of the most effective methods of instilling fear in horror movies, and A Quiet Place implements them so well.
The movie only has 90 lines of spoken dialogue, while average films have thousands.
Because of the circumstances of the story, the audio is usually limited to the sounds of nature or complete silence. Consequently, when the grotesque aliens attack, it’s all the more horrifying and chaotic. It makes it even scarier that the daughter, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), is deaf and cannot sense how much noise she is making. The film utilizes her unique perspective to its advantage in several gripping scenes. It’s interesting to have a horror film devoid of sound, but it only serves to benefit the atmosphere.
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5 Annihilation (2018)
Directed By Alex Garland
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11 8.2/10 Annihilation RSci-FiMysteryHorror
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*Availability in US Director Alex Garland Release Date February 23, 2018 Cast Sonoya Mizuno , Kola Bokinni , Jennifer Jason Leigh , Gina Rodriguez , Cosmo Jarvis , Oscar Isaac , Tessa Thompson , Tuva Novotny , Natalie Portman , David Gyasi Runtime 115 Minutes Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Netflix Writers Alex Garland , Jeff VanderMeer Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
Loosely based on the novel of the same name, Annihilation is a visually stunning sci-fi that is packed full of absolutely wild scenes. The story follows biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) as she ventures into an inexplicable, ethereal bubble referred to as “The Shimmer” that formed on the coastline. Inside the mysterious landscape, the laws of nature work in strange ways, as plants and aliens mutate due to the alien presence. The film is wildly different from the schematic of the traditional alien genre but is executed perfectly.
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Annihilation is terrifying for several reasons. The world inside the shimmer is masterfully crafted to present a reality that seems devoid of all logic. Things behave differently than they should, and it slowly drives the characters into madness that seems to extend past the screen. While the challenges Lena encounters are scary, the film doesn’t instill fear in an expected way. Rather, it inflicts a sense of psychological trauma. Given the complicated nature of the film, there are several explanations behind Annihilation’s meaning.
4 Dark Skies (2013)
Directed By Scott Stewart
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Dark Skies explores how the presence of aliens can disrupt all aspects of life, and turn reality into a living nightmare. At the center of the story lies the Barrett family, who live a relatively quiet life. However, things start to change when they start experiencing random occurrences, from birds flying into their window to spontaneous nosebleeds. Dark Skies is criminally underrated given how creepy the ambiance of the film is.
There never seems to be any hope for the victims of the other-worldly guests. Despite the family’s best efforts, the constant torment brought upon them seems inescapable. The design of the aliens, known as “The Greys,” is equally blood-curdling. They are tall, faceless, shadowy figures that have a Slenderman-like appearance. Even when they are not physically present, they are pulling the strings to make the characters feel like they’re going insane. Better yet, Dark Skies’ ending is unexpected, creative, and above all, frightening.
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3 No One Will Save You (2023)
Directed By Brian Duffield
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8/10 No One Will Save You PG-13Horror Sci-Fi
No One Will Save You is a sci-fi horror film by writer-director Brian Duffield created for Hulu. Kaitlyn Dever stars as Brynn, a young woman who struggles to connect with the world and spends her time at home honing her creative talents. However, Brynn’s peace is disrupted when her home is suddenly the stage of an alien invasion, forcing her to break out of her shell enough to fend off her would be extraterrestrial assailants.
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*Availability in US Director Brian Duffield Release Date September 22, 2023 Cast Kaitlyn Dever Runtime 93 Minutes Studio(s) 20th Century Studios , Star Thrower Entertainment Distributor(s) Hulu Writers Brian Duffield Expand
No One Will Save You had an unexpected amount of substance for a relatively subtle release. The plot follows Brynn Adams (Kaitlyn Dever), who lives alone and never socializes. She is shunned by her peers and keeps to herself, but one night, she is suddenly visited by unearthly guests. In a creative premise play on words, Brynn is effectively a sort of alien within her community, who gets terrorized by actual aliens. The film is so sinister, not merely due to the eerie extraterrestrials, but because of the circumstances of Brynn’s contact with them.
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She is alone, trapped in her house, with virtually no hope of escape. The horror is unsurprisingly ramped up by the depiction of the aliens. Much like the monsters in A Quiet Place, these humanoid figures are long, gangly, spider-like creatures that move quickly on their four legs. Although the plot has an odd pacing, the story is filled with massive amounts of suspense and petrifying portrayals of aliens who will stop at nothing to get to their victims.
2 The Fourth Kind (2009)
Directed By Olatunde Osunsanmi
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The Fourth Kind PG-13Horror Sci-FiMysteryThriller
The Fourth Kind is a science fiction thriller directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, set in Nome, Alaska. The film stars Milla Jovovich as Dr. Abigail Tyler, a psychologist investigating a series of mysterious disappearances. The narrative blends dramatizations with purportedly real archival footage to explore the phenomenon of alien abductions, offering a chilling perspective on a series of unexplained nocturnal events.
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*Availability in US Director Olatunde Osunsanmi Release Date November 6, 2009 Cast Milla Jovovich , Will Patton , Hakeem Kae-Kazim , Corey Johnson , Enzo Cilenti , Elias Koteas , Mia McKenna-Bruce Runtime 98 Minutes Writers Olatunde Osunsanmi Main Genre Sci-Fi Expand
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In consideration of the sub-genre of alien movies as a whole, there aren’t any other works quite like The Fourth Kind. The movie is shot in the style of a pseudo-documentary, serving as a reenactment of rumored extra-terrestrial occurrences that took place in Nome, Alaska. The movie certainly isn’t perfect. The plot is roughly strung together at times and doesn’t necessarily stick to its source material.
However, The Fourth Kind makes up for its narrative faults with intense scenes that are sure to thrill and terrify. In a similar style to the V/H/S horror franchise, the movie often utilizes distorted, shaky cam footage to create an uneasy ambiance. Although the meta film style is a bit hard to get used to, when the action ramps up, it’s bone-chilling. The horror of The Fourth Kind doesn’t stem from anything flashy, but is rather a product of short possession scenes that are elevated by the circumstances of the story.
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1 Fire in the Sky (1993)
Directed By Robert Lieberman
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Fire in The Sky is a quintessential alien film through and through. The story is essentially a blueprint of what one might expect an extra-terrestrial encounter to look like. A ship appears, someone gets beamed up and ultimately has to face the terrors of whatever awaits them. The film is horrifying already, but even more unsettling considering the plot is based on the account of a real person, Travis Walton. Walton claims he was abducted by a UFO in 1975 and woke up to three humanoid creatures looking down at him.
The real Travis Walton makes a cameo appearance in the film within the church crowd.
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Fire in the Sky’s depiction of his experience is significantly adjusted, but it results in a terrifying film. In one of the most famous scenes of the genre to date, three aliens operate on Walton (D.B. Sweeney) as he hopelessly struggles to break free. As his captors experiment with him, they wrap him in a membrane-like sheet and insert various metal prods into his body. It’s quite possibly the most nightmarish scenario anyone could imagine, and is one of many reasons that Fire in the Sky is among the creepiest of alien movies.