“Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, 1977
Director: Steven Spielberg
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this science fiction classic tells the story of ordinary people who encounter UFOs and are drawn to a remote area where they hope to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors.
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, J. Patrick McNamara, Warren J. Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Philip Dodds, Cary Guffey;
Production year: 1977;
Genre: science fiction, adventure, drama, comedy;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 138 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” on the website imdb.com
“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, 1982
Director: Steven Spielberg
Another Spielberg masterpiece, this heartwarming film follows a young boy named Elliott who befriends an alien left stranded on Earth and helps him return to his home planet, all while keeping him hidden from government forces.
Starring: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace-Stone, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, K.C. Martel, Sean Frye, C. Thomas Howell, Erika Eleniak, David M. O'Dell;
Production year: 1982;
Genre: science fiction, family, drama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” on the website imdb.com
“Alien”, 1979
Director: Ridley Scott
Directed by Ridley Scott, this film combines elements of science fiction with horror as the crew of the commercial space tug Nostromo encounters a deadly and aggressive extraterrestrial creature. It's known for its tense atmosphere and iconic scenes.
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm, John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, Bolaji Badejo, Helen Horton, Eddie Powell;
Production year: 1979;
Genre: horror, science fiction, thriller;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,5;
More information about the film “Alien” on the website imdb.com
“Independence Day”, 1996
Director: Roland Emmerich
A blockbuster hit, directed by Roland Emmerich, featuring a large-scale alien invasion on Earth. The film follows a group of survivors who band together to launch a counterattack on the Fourth of July.
Starring: Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Robert Loggia, Randy Quaid, Margaret Colin, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein;
Production year: 1996;
Genre: science fiction, action, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 145 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Independence Day” on the website imdb.com
“District 9”, 2009
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Directed by Neill Blomkamp, this science fiction film uses a mockumentary format to tell the story of extraterrestrials forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth, exploring themes of xenophobia and social segregation.
Starring: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt, Sylvaine Strike, Elizabeth Mkandawie, John Sumner, William Allen Young, Greg Melvill-Smith, Nick Blake, Morena Busa Sesatsa, David James, Vanessa Haywood, Mandla Gaduka, Kenneth Nkosi, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, Louis Minnaar;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: science fiction, thriller, action, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
More information about the film “District 9” on the website imdb.com
“Arrival”, 2016
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, this thought-provoking film focuses on a linguist played by Amy Adams who is recruited by the military to communicate with extraterrestrials who have landed on Earth, exploring themes of communication and time.
Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mark O'Brien, Ma Tzi, Abigail Pniowsky, Julia Scarlett Dan, Jadyn Malone, Frank Schorpion;
Production year: 2016;
Genre: science fiction, drama, detective;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 116 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,9;
“The Fifth Element”, 1997
Director: Luc Besson
Directed by Luc Besson, this science fiction action film is set in the 23rd century and follows a cab driver inadvertently caught in the search for a cosmic weapon to save the world from destruction by a malevolent cosmic entity.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker, Luke Perry, Brion James, Tom Lister Jr., Lee Evans, Charlie Creed-Miles;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: science fiction, action, comedy, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 126 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “The Fifth Element” on the website imdb.com
“Men in Black”, 1997
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, this action-comedy film stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as agents of a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth, blending humor with sci-fi elements.
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Mike Nussbaum, Jon Gries, Sergio Calderón;
Production year: 1997;
Genre: science fiction, action, comedy, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 98 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,3;
“The War of the Worlds”, 1953
Director: Byron Haskin
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film is an adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel and depicts an alien invasion through the eyes of one family fighting for survival.
Starring: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Robert Cornthwaite, Sandro Giglio, Lewis Martin, Houseley Stevenson Jr., Paul Frees, William Phipps, Vernon Rich;
Production year: 1953;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 85 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “The War of the Worlds” on the website imdb.com
“Starman”, 1984
Director: John Carpenter
Directed by John Carpenter, the film tells the story of an alien who takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him to Arizona, promising that he will bring her husband back to life in return.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen, Tony Edwards, John Walter Davis, Ted White, Dirk Blocker, M.C. Gainey;
Production year: 1984;
Genre: science fiction, melodrama;
MPAA rating: pg;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Starman” on the website imdb.com
These films showcase the varied ways in which cinema has explored the concept of alien life, from menacing invaders to benevolent visitors, reflecting humanity's enduring fascination with what lies beyond our world.
In the vast panorama of cinema, films about aliens provide a unique and enduring lens through which we explore the unknown, question our place in the universe, and confront our deepest fears and greatest hopes. From the chilling corridors of “Alien” to the heartwarming streets of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” these stories stretch the canvas of our imagination, challenging filmmakers and audiences alike to rethink the boundaries of life and the possibilities of coexistence. Whether through the awe-inspiring spectacles of interstellar conflict or the quiet, introspective moments of cross-species friendship, alien films continue to captivate and provoke, offering a mirror to our collective consciousness and a window to a universe teeming with possibilities. As we stand on the cusp of new cinematic endeavors and space exploration realities, the genre's potential for storytelling and reflection only expands, ensuring that films about aliens will remain a cornerstone of the cinematic experience, inviting us to look to the stars and dream of what lies beyond.
