The first thing we want to establish is that this is not alien invasion cinema. We looked closely at similar films and the main tropes of the Alien franchise to develop this list. We all know the feeling. You go to the movie theater, buy your ticket and popcorn, take your seat in the dark, and WAIT…for what seems like an eternity for the movie to start. Then, finally, the lights dim, and the trailers begin. But after watching a few mundane or unimaginative films, you can’t help but feel underwhelmed by Hollywood’s current offerings. So if you’re looking for a good scare or want to see something out of this world, check out some movies like Alien that are sure to entertain. Of course, one of the most popular elements of this franchise is the sci fi horror elements.
Scary Sci Fi Horror
The key ingredient in scary alien fiction is that it must include sci fi horror and usually a giant monster. Like Alien, our two horror examples feature stories about body snatchers. The scariest science fiction aliens often capture our imagination because they force us to confront our deepest fears. One of the most famous examples is the titular creature in Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise. This extraterrestrial stalks and kills its human prey with such cruelty and precision that it has become the stuff of nightmares for generations of moviegoers.
Not all similar films have to be horror scary. So we also compared other elements of the Alein series to include those tropes in our list. In Denis Villeneuve’s 2016 film Arrival, for example, we are introduced to a race of gentle giants whose arrival on Earth causes widespread panic and confusion. But as we get to know them better, we realize that they may be the key to helping us save our planet from destruction.
Then there are the simply funny aliens, like the lovable blue creatures in James Cameron’s Avatar. These aliens may not be able to scare us, but they can certainly make us laugh.
So whether you’re looking for a good scare or a good laugh, be sure to check out one of these movies like Alien the next time you’re in the mood for something out of this world.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
This is one of the first movies that comes to mind when thinking of aliens. In this 1978 remake of the 1956 original, a race of extraterrestrials arrives on Earth and starts taking over the bodies of humans. As the aliens start to look and act more like their human hosts, it becomes increasingly difficult to tell who is an alien and who isn’t.
The film’s claustrophobic atmosphere and slow-burning tension make it a truly unnerving experience, and its themes of paranoia and loss of identity are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s The Thing is another classic story about aliens that will keep you up at night. In this film, a group of American scientists in Antarctica discovers a crashed UFO and thaws out one of its occupants. But as they try to study the creature, it starts to change shape and assimilate the other members of the team. This concept could work just as well in outer space, on the international space station. Extraterrestrial life that can replicate mammals and look like exact replicas is implemented masterfully by John Carpenter.
The Thing is a masterclass in suspense, with some genuinely shocking and gruesome moments that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. If you’re looking for a movie that will make your skin crawl, this is it.
Suspense
While some movies like Alien are scary, others are more suspenseful and mysterious. The alien franchise uses suspense as a key story element to create fear. It has been said that the Alien movies lean more toward horror than science fiction. Excluding the Prometheus film, these are aliens in the house stories, one of the horror genre’s most suspenseful film types.
Predator (1987)
If you’re in the mood for something a little more action-packed, then be sure to check out Predator. In this film, an elite team of soldiers is sent into the jungle on a rescue mission. But they soon discover that they are being hunted by an extraterrestrial creature that is invisible to the naked eye.
Predator is a thrilling ride from start to finish, and it features some of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most iconic one-liners. If you’re looking for a fun and exciting movie about aliens, this is it.
Tenant
In Christopher Nolan’s 2020 film Tenent, we follow a group of people who are brought together by a shared vision of the future. In this future, an alien race has invaded Earth and is using humans as hosts for their young. As the team tries to stop the aliens from taking over the world, they must also grapple with the knowledge that they may not be able to change the future after all.
Tenet is a mind-bending thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. If you’re looking for a movie that will leave you with more questions than answers, this is it.
Future Travel In Outer Space
One of the elements of Alien that we love the most is when the story takes place in space. In films like The Martian and Interstellar, we are given a glimpse into what it might be like to travel through space to arrive on another planet. And while these movies may not be entirely accurate, they still give us something to dream about. Future fiction always includes great sci fi elements. Our favorite part of this trope is that it takes place in outer space.
So, if you’re looking for a movie that will take you on an out-of-this-world adventure, be sure to check out one of these alien films, you won’t be disappointed.
Sunshine (2007)
In Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, a crew of astronauts in outer space are sent to the sun in an attempt to reignite it with a nuclear bomb. The premise is that a rescue mission to outer space can save humanity. But when they arrive, they find that the sun has become a hostile and alien place.
Sunshine is a visually stunning film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will take you on an unforgettable journey, this is it.
Passengers
Terrible movie poster but a great movie about being trapped in outer space. This story is Robinson Crusoe in space. In Passengers, we follow a group of people traveling to a new planet on a spaceship. But when they are awoken from their cryogenic sleep (AKA suspended animation) prematurely, they must find a way to survive on the ship until they reach their destination. Their ship feels like a traveling space station, even with the entire crew asleep.
Passenger is a gripping story of survival that will keep you entertained from beginning to end. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will leave you wanting more, this is it.
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Event Horizon
In Event Horizon, we follow a group of astronauts who are investigating a lost spaceship. But when they board the ship, they find that it is haunted by the ghosts of the people who died on it. An event horizon is a boundary by a black hole that can not be observed.
Event Horizon is a suspenseful and scary film that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will give you nightmares, this is it.
Strong Female Characters
In recent years, there has been a trend of strong female characters in alien movies. Films like The Martian and Arrival have shown us that women can be just as brave and capable as men when it comes to dealing with extraterrestrial threats.
Annihilation (2018)
In Annihilation, we follow a group of women who are sent into an alien zone to find out what happened to the previous team that was sent there. But as they venture deeper into the zone, they find that it is a more dangerous place than they ever could have imagined. This film stars Natalie Portman, and while this movie is not on our list of favorite films, it does have a comparable actress to Sigourney Weaver.
Annihilation is a visually stunning film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that features strong female characters, this is it.
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Contact
In Contact, we follow a woman chosen to make first contact with aliens. But when she finally meets them, she discovers they are not what she expected.
Contact is a thought-provoking film that will make you question everything you know about aliens. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will leave you with more questions than answers, this is it.
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Gravity (2013)
In Gravity, we follow a woman who is stranded in space after her ship is destroyed. But as she tries to make her way back to Earth, she finds that the situation is direr than she ever could have imagined.
Gravity is a suspenseful and harrowing story that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will leave you breathless, this is it. While there are a lot of elements that might not be realistic, we felt its setting on Earth in the near future made it feel more possible than a lot of films on this list. The film stars George Clooney.
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Arrival (2016)
In The Arrival, we follow a woman who is recruited by the military to help translate an alien message. But as she decodes the message, she discovers that it is a warning about an impending invasion.
The Arrival is a suspenseful and action-packed film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will keep you guessing until the very end, this is it.
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Realistic Sci-Fi Movie
There has been a recent trend of movies that are more grounded in reality, and this is especially true for films about aliens. Films like The Martian and Arrival have shown us that aliens can be portrayed in a more realistic light and that they don’t always have to be the bad guys.
2001: A Space Odyssey
In 2001: A Space Odyssey, we follow a group of astronauts who are sent on a mission to investigate a strange monolith. The beginning space sequence above the international space station is iconic in Hollywood film history. But as they journey deeper into space, they find that the situation is direr than they ever could have imagined.
2001: A Space Odyssey is a timeless classic that is sure to leave you with more questions than answers. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will make you think, this is it. 2001 is a classic outer space story directed by Stanley Kubrick.
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The Martian (2015)
In The Martian, we follow an astronaut who is stranded on Mars after his ship is destroyed. But as he tries to find a way back to Earth, he discovers that the situation is direr than he ever could have imagined.
The Martian is a suspenseful and action-packed film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that feels like it could happen, this is it. This film is directed by Ridley Scott, who is a fan favorite when it comes to making outer space movies. This movie did $630 million at the box office.
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Interstellar (2014)
In Interstellar, we follow a group of astronauts who are sent on a mission to find a new home for humanity. But as they journey through space, they find that the situation is direr than they ever could have imagined.
Interstellar is a visually stunning film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will leave you breathless, this is it.
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First Man (2018)
In First Man, we follow the story of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the Moon. But as he prepares for the historic mission, he finds that the situation is direr than he ever could have imagined.
First Man is a suspenseful and action-packed film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that is based on a true story, this is it.
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Future Corporate Corruption
A common sci fi trope is that in the future, corporations have taken over the world and control everything. But when one man discovers the truth about the corrupt system, he must fight against it to save humanity.
This is a speculative film that explores the dark side of corporate corruption. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that is both thought-provoking and includes political drama, these films include more than just action and suspense.
The Terminator (1984)
In Terminator, we follow a group of humans who are fighting against artificial intelligence. The Terminator is a robot from the future that wants to exterminate the hero to make sure that robots can take over Earth in the future. But as they battle for survival, they find that the situation is direr than they ever could have imagined.
James Cameron created a low-budget cult classic that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that is both exciting and suspenseful, this is it.
Total Recall (1990)
In Total Recall, we follow a man who is implanted with memories of a life he never lived. But as he tries to figure out what is real and what is not, he finds that the situation is direr than he ever could have imagined.
Total Recall is a mind-bending film that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a movie about aliens that will leave you guessing until the very end, this is it.
Sci Fi Elements
We broke this list down into five basic elements. The alien life form is not the most important aspect, nor does the story have to be on a remote planet that leaves us with only two crew members. Our list of sci fi includes sci fi horror, sci fi suspense, takes place in the future, space travel, an element of realism, or strong female characters. We looked for these key elements but did not require them to all be included in a single movie.
This list of similar movies does not include a lot of classic science fiction movies because we left films off if it was about space vampires or an alien invasion. There are no films on this list by Steven Spielberg. We deliberately left Harrison Ford and his Blade Runner film off the list because we did not see any similarities.