50+ Best Alien Movies: Journeying Through the Best Sci-Fi Films Featuring Extraterrestrial Life

There’s something truly unique about alien pictures. When written and directed by the right people, these genre movies can be great places to show pictures of people, evolution, and morals.

Sometimes they look like love dreams about finding your true worth. Sometimes they’re vivid epics where people are fighting for their lives against attackers from other worlds, stories about good-hearted people making friends with strangers, or mind-boggling visual feasts where dense metaphors are the main course.

To sum up, there isn’t just one kind of alien movie, but there are a lot of themes that run through these science fiction stories.Here is a list of the best alien movies ever made, spanning many decades and a huge range of styles.ย ย 

The Best Alien Movies

1. Arrival (2016)

Arrival Trailer (2016) - Paramount Pictures

Aย interpreterย worksย forย theย militaryย toย talkย toย aliensย afterย twelveย strangeย spaceshipsย showย upย allย overย theย world.

2. Alien (1979)

Alien Trailer HD (Original 1979 Ridley Scott Film) Sigourney Weaver

The crew of a commercial spaceship comes across a dangerous living thing while looking into a strange signal whose source they don’t know.ย  ย 

3. The Thing (1982)

The Thing (1982) Trailer

Aย groupย ofย researchersย inย Antarcticaย areย beingย chasedย byย anย alienย thatย canย changeย itsย appearanceย andย lookย likeย itsย victims.

4. Aliens (1986)

Aliens (1986) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Years after escaping the Nostromo incident, Ellen Ripley is sent to get in touch with a colony that is changing the planet’s surface, but she ends up fighting the Alien Queen and her children.

5. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

ET The Extra Terrestrial (1982) Official 20th Anniversary Trailer Movie HD

Aย childย whoย isย havingย aย hardย timeย findsย theย strengthย toย helpย aย niceย alienย getย awayย fromย Earthย andย goย backย toย hisย homeย planet.

6. District 9 (2009)

District 9 - Official Trailer (HD)

When an alien race that has to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a fellow human being in a government spy who has been exposed to their biotechnology, violence breaks out.ย  ย ย 

7. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow - Official Trailer 1 [HD]

Aย soldierย facingย aliensย livesย throughย theย sameย dayย overย andย overย again.ย Eachย timeย heย dies,ย theย dayย startsย over.

8.ย Predatorย (1987)

Predator | #TBT Trailer | 20th Century FOX

Aย groupย ofย commandosย onย aย missionย inย theย junglesย ofย Centralย Americaย areย chasedย byย aย fighterย fromย anotherย world.

9. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

Trailer - The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951)

An alien comes to Earth and tells the people there that they must live in peace or be destroyed because they are a threat to other worlds.ย ย 

10. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1956) - Trailer

Aย doctorย inย aย smallย townย findsย outย thatย theย peopleย livingย thereย areย beingย replacedย byย heartlessย alienย copies.

11. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND - Official Trailer

Roy Neary, an electric lineman from Indiana, has a close experience with a UFO that turns his quiet and normal daily life upside down. This leads him on a crazy cross-country search for answers as a big event approaches.ย  ย 

12. Contact (1997)

Contact (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Afterย yearsย ofย looking,ย Dr.ย Ellieย Arrowayย finallyย receivesย radioย signalsย thatย clearlyย showย aliensย areย sendingย plansย forย aย strangeย machine.

13. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

10 Cloverfield Lane Trailer (2016) - Paramount Pictures

Manย locksย aย youngย womanย inย anย undergroundย bunkerย andย saysย thatย theย surfaceย ofย theย Earthย isย unsafeย toย liveย onย becauseย ofย anย attack.

14. Men in Black (1997)

MEN IN BLACK [1997] - Official Trailer (HD)

Anย agentย fromย aย secretย governmentย agencyย thatย keepsย anย eyeย onย alienย lifeย onย Earthย hiresย James,ย aย policeย officerย inย Newย Yorkย City. Theyย haveย toย workย togetherย toย getย backย somethingย thatย anย intergalacticย badย guyย stole

15. The Mist (2007)

The Mist (2007) - HD Trailer

A freak storm brings a species of bloodthirsty animals to a small town. People in the town hide in a supermarket and fight for their lives.ย ย 

16. Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 (2011) Theatrical Trailer

Inย theย summerย ofย 1979,ย aย groupย ofย friendsย seesย aย trainย crashย andย thenย looksย intoย strangeย thingsย thatย haveย beenย happeningย inย theirย smallย town.

17. Transformers (2007)

Transformers (2007) Theatrical Trailer

A long-ago battle between the good Autobots and the bad Decepticons on Cybertron comes to Earth, along with a clue about a teenager’s ultimate power.ย ย 

18. Independence Day (1996)

Independence Day | Official Trailer #1  |1996

Aliens are on their way, and they want to take over and destroy Earth.ย  The will to live is the best weapon that people have against better technology.

19. Paul (2011)

NEW Official PAUL Trailer

Outsideย ofย Areaย 51,ย twoย Englishย comicย bookย fansย goingย acrossย theย U.S.ย meetย anย alien.

20. Signs (2002)

Signs (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Aย formerย ministerย whoย isย nowย widowedย andย livingย onย aย farmย inย Pennsylvaniaย withย hisย childrenย andย brotherย seesย strangeย cropย circlesย inย theirย fields.ย Thisย makesย themย thinkย thatย somethingย scarierย isย aboutย toย happen.

For those keen on acquiring more updates and insights about celebrities and entertainment, peruse our earlier posts where we’ve extensively discussed all the nuances.

21. Chronicle (2012)

Chronicle (2012) Movie Trailer HD

After making a huge find underground, three high school friends get superpowers. As they accept their darker sides, their lives quickly get out of hand, and their relationship is put to the test.

22. Mars Attacks! (1996)

Mars Attacks! (1996) Official Trailer #1 - Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan Sci-Fi Comedy

Martiansย withย deadlyย weaponsย andย aย meanย senseย ofย humorย haveย takenย overย Earth.

23. No One Will Save You (2023)

No One Will Save You | Official Trailer

Oneย night,ย aย womanย wakesย upย toย findย someoneย inย herย home.ย Sheย livesย aloneย andย feelsย cutย offย fromย herย neighborhood.ย This stranger is not human, and she hasย toย faceย itย byย herselfย sinceย noย oneย canย hearย herย criesย forย help.ย  ย ย 

24. Avatar (2009)

Avatar | Official Trailer (HD) | 20th Century FOX

Avatar is different from most movies about aliens because it shows that the aliens might not be the ones to be afraid of.ย ย In Pandora, the Na’vi, who are very advanced, have to protect their holy place from people who want to take their natural resources.ย  ย 

25. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Trailer 1 (OFFICIAL)

Funnyย howย theย Marvelย worldย makesย usย rootย forย aย groupย ofย misfitsย whoย areย badย guysย fromย otherย planets.ย 

26. Nope (2022)ย 

NOPE | Official Trailer

Nope is directed by Jordan Peele and is about a man and his sister who find something scary in the sky above their California land. At the same time, the owner of a nearby theme park tries to make money off of the strange event.ย  ย  ย 

27. Prey (2022)ย 

Prey | Official Trailer | Hulu

A skilled warrior keeps her group safe from an alien predator that has evolved a lot and hunts people for fun. She is determined to keep her community safe, even though it means fighting the wild, dangerous newcomers,ย andย thisย strangeย creature.ย 

28. The Fourth Kind (2009)ย 

The 4th Kind Official Trailer #1 - Will Patton Movie (2009) HD

Peopleย inย andย aroundย Nome,ย Alaska,ย haveย beenย lostย forย moreย than 40 years. Even though the FBI is looking into it, no one knows where they are. But Dr. Tyler, a psychologist, might be about to blow the unsolved cases wide open when she finds scary proof of alien abductions while she is helping her patients.ย 

29. Space Jam (1996)ย 

Space Jam (1996) Official Trailer - Michael Jordan, Bill Murray Movie HD

If you grew up in the 1990s, you already know how important this song was. An evil alien who owns a theme park wants to add a new ride. When his gang comes to Earth to take Bugs Bunny and the other Looney Tunes, Bugs invites them to a basketball game to see who will win. As soon as the aliens agree, they take NBA players’ skills, which makes Michael Jordan help Bugs.

30. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)ย 

The Man Who Fell To Earth 1976 Trailer | David Bowie

David Bowie plays an alien who looks like a person and comes to Earth to get water for his world, which is dying. Because he knows so much about technology, he comes up with successful ideas that help him pay for building a spaceship to return to his planet. One thing he wasn’t ready for was to fall in love.ย 

31. Men in Black: International (2019)ย 

MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL - Official Trailer

Bothย the Men in Black and the bad guys in the universe have grown to cover the whole world. That’s where Agent H and the sharp newcomer M team up. They don’t seem to go together, but they might work. When aliens that can look like any person show up on Earth,ย H,ย andย Mย goย onย aย tripย aroundย theย worldย toย saveย theย agencyย andย theย world.

32. Paul (2011)

NEW Official PAUL Trailer

ย Aย funnyย alienย namedย Paulย hasย livedย inย aย top-secretย militaryย baseย forย theย past sixty years.ย Whenย he’sย hadย enoughย ofย Earth,ย heย breaks out ofย  the compound and gets on the first car he can find: a rental RV driven by two British sci-fi fans. Feds and the father of a kidnapped person are after them, so they come up with a crazy plan to help Paul get back to space.

33. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND - Official Trailer

Royย Nearyย isย anย electricย linemanย inย Indiana.ย Heย hasย aย closeย experienceย withย aย UFOย thatย turnsย hisย quietย andย normalย lifeย upsideย down.ย Thisย makesย himย obsessedย withย findingย answersย asย aย life-changingย eventย approaches.ย 

34. The Vast of Night (2019)

The Vast Of Night โ€“ Official Trailer | Prime Video

Inย Theย Vastย ofย Night,ย whichย takesย placeย inย Newย Mexicoย inย theย 1950s,ย aย radioย DJย andย aย switchboardย operatorย tryย toย findย theย sourceย ofย aย strangeย soundย frequencyย thatย mayย haveย comeย fromย space. Thereย youย go,ย aย spoiler:ย itย is.ย 

35. Rim of the World (2019)

Rim of the World | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Thisย bookย willย makeย youย thinkย ofย Strangerย Things.ย It’sย aboutย fourย teensย whoย don’tย fitย inย andย areย askedย toย stopย anย alienย attackย thatย isย takingย overย theirย summerย campย andย theย world.ย 

36. The Tomorrow War (2021)

THE TOMORROW WAR | Official Trailer | Prime Video

In this sci-fi thriller set shortly, stars like Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, and J. K. Simmons playย  important roles. The story is about what happens whenย aย groupย ofย soldiersย andย normalย peopleย areย sentย intoย theย futureย toย fightย aliens.ย 

37. Extinction (2018)

Extinction | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Inย thisย actionย movie,ย anย engineerย whoย keepsย havingย nightmaresย aboutย beingย invadedย byย aliensย goesย toย seeย aย therapistย forย helpย andย meetsย anotherย patientย whoย hasย beenย havingย theย sameย dreams. Theyย bothย hadย theย sameย vision,ย whichย turnedย outย toย beย aย warningย (!).ย 

38. Spectral (2016)

Spectral | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

ย What will happen if the US military finds out that creepy ghostly aliens are killing US troops in Moldova? Of course, they kill the aliens to keep the city from being destroyed.ย 

39. A Quiet Place (2018)

A Quiet Place (2018) - Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures

Yes,ย Aย Quietย Placeย is anย alienย movie,ย andย Iย thinkย theย Deathย Angelsย areย someย ofย theย craziestย aliensย everย seenย inย aย movie. Don’t forget to read A Quiet Place Part II after this one.

40. Captive State (2019)

CAPTIVE STATE | Official Trailer | Focus Features

Inย thisย funย thriller,ย peopleย inย aย Chicagoย neighborhoodย decideย ifย theyย wantย toย overthrowย theย alienย takeoverย afterย livingย underย alienย ruleย forย 10ย years. Oh,ย andย didย Iย sayย thatย thisย movieย hasย a greatย cast?ย 

41. Under the Skin (2014)

Under The Skin | Official Trailer

Inย thisย movie,ย Scarlettย Johanssonย playsย anย alienย whoย triesย toย trickย guysย intoย gettingย intoย herย vanย byย dressingย upย asย aย beautifulย woman. Really,ย whoย couldย blameย them?ย 

42. Annihilation (2018)

Annihilation (2018) - Official Trailer - Paramount Pictures

Natashaย Portmanย playsย aย biologistย andย formerย soldierย inย Annihilation.ย Sheย isย tryingย toย figureย outย whatย happenedย toย herย husbandย inย “Areaย X,”ย aย strangeย USย zoneย whereย natureย doesn’tย seemย toย applyย (becauseย aliens,ย ofย course).ย 

43. Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

BATTLE: LOS ANGELES - Trailer

Inย Battle:ย Losย Angeles,ย theย world’sย biggestย townsย areย destroyedย oneย byย oneย byย anย alienย invasionย thatย hasย beenย predicted for a long time. Only Los Angeles is left as the final battleground.ย  A Marine staff sergeant and his platoonย  areย thenย given charge of humanity. So, don’tย putย tooย muchย pressureย onย them!ย 

44. Attack the Block (2011)ย 

Attackย theย Blockย isย aย funnyย movieย aboutย aย teenageย gangย bossย inย Southย Londonย whoย hasย toย protectย hisย groupย fromย aliensย whoย are breaking into their housing complex.ย Johnย Boyegaย (Finnย fromย Starย Wars)ย playsย theย roleย ofย Finn.ย 

ATTACK THE BLOCK  - Official Restricted Trailer

45. Oblivion (2013)ย 

Oblivion Official Trailer #1 Tom Cruise Sci-Fi Movie HD

Anotherย movieย withย Tomย Cruiseย fightingย aliens,ย Oblivionย takesย placeย inย 2077ย inย aย worldย thatย hasย beenย destroyedย byย aliens.ย It’sย aboutย aย seniorย soldierย whoย hasย toย fightย aย newย alienย threatย andย saveย theย worldย beforeย heย canย escapeย toย aย farawayย colony.ย 

46. War of the Worlds (2005)

War of the Worlds (2005) Trailer #2 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

Okay,ย promise this is the last Tom Cruise alien movie!! In this one, a divorced dock worker tries to get his kids back with their mom after aliens attack Earth and start destroying big towns. If you need more proof, Tom Cruise and aliens always make for a good time.ย 

47. Life (2017)

LIFE - Official Trailer #2 (HD)

In this sci-fi horror movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds, a six-person space group finds the first signs of life on Mars, and to their surprise, the life is not friendly.ย 

48. Cloverfield (2008)ย 

Cloverfield (2008) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

This old but good found-footage movie is about six friends in New York City who try to getย awayย fromย theย huge alien monster thatย isย attackingย theirย city.ย  Also, Cloverfield Lane isย  great, and even though The Cloverfield Paradox isn’t, you should still watch it for the actors.ย 

49. Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 (2011) Theatrical Trailer

This sci-fi thriller takes place in Ohio in 1979 and is about a group of young kids, played by Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney, who try to make a home movie about zombies but end up fighting aliens. Surprise ending!

50. Pacific Rim (2013)

Pacific Rim - Official Main Trailer [HD]

Thisย epicย sci-fiย movieย hasย seaย monstersย fightingย robots.ย Theย ideaย soundsย crazy,ย butย theย movieย isย muchย betterย thanย you’dย think. Pac-Rim:ย Uprisingย isย aย greatย gameย toย playย afterย thisย one.

51. Ender’s Game (2013)

Ender's Game Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Harrison Ford Movie HD

Evenย thoughย itย didn’tย doย wellย atย theย boxย office,ย Iย willย alwaysย supportย theย movieย versionย ofย Ender’sย Game,ย whichย followsย aย smart teen to a military school in space to prepare for an inevitable alien invasion.ย  ย ย 

52. The Endless (2017)

The Endless (2017) Trailer

In this sci-fi movie, two brothers who supposedly escaped a UFO death cult ten years ago get a strange video message that makes them want to go back to Camp Arcadia for the first time in ten years. Bring on all the creepiness.ย 

53. Signs (2002)ย 

Signs (2002) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

You obviously can’t have a list of alien movies without including Signs, which is the only movie that makes me afraid of crop circles to this day.ย ย 

Utilize WikiListia.com to stay abreast of the latest in the entertainment industry.

Leave a Comment