People know and love the idea of extraterrestrial entities. If they didn't, there wouldn't be such a vast library of alien-related media to pull from. Movies that revolve around alien invasions or friendlier alien visits are often equally praised for their innovative and imaginative storytelling. There are no limits to an abstract concept that allows an audience's imagination to run wild.
Movie extraterrestrials have been around for decades and fans love these alien films for their visuals, concepts, and themes. Whether the movie focuses on a character's abduction, humans on a comedic adventure, or a viciously carnivorous beast, there are several beloved alien films available to watch.
Updated on September 20, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: Humanity has been fascinated with stories of otherworldly beings for thousands of years, but the extraterrestrial cinema concept originated less than a century ago. That said, there have been thousands of alien-themed films released since, many of which have a permanent place in the annals of pop culture. As such, we've updated this list with a few more iconic movies about aliens.
15 The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a zany dark comedy where humans are unquestionably inferior to extraterrestrial beings. When Arthur Dent goes to a pub with his friend, Ford Prefect, the latter tells Arthur that he's not human, and that a species of aliens called Vogons will destroy the earth. The two friends leave the planet and board a ship that's stolen by a strange crew of individuals. The crew adventure through the cosmos, looking for the meaning of life and going through various alien encounters. That said, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books are considered superior to the adaptation.
14 Avatar
With Avatar, James Cameron's arduous task of bringing nine-foot blue aliens to the screen came to fruition. The film has been criticized for its obvious characterization, but this alien film has received worldwide acclaim and no one can deny the impressive cinematography. Jake Sully's trek into Pandora's glowing jungle was only the start of several breathtaking visuals in the film. The motion capture technology used on the actors provided the CG aliens with expressions that had never been seen before. Avatar is currently the highest-grossing film of all time, with its sequel Avatar: The Way of Water coming in at third-highest.
13 Signs
M. Night Shyamalan's Signs has always been met with mixed reviews, but the simplicity of an alien invasion on Earth remains its most remarkable aspect. When the Hess family discovers crop circles in their cornfield, they initially dismiss them. Soon enough, however, similar signs begin to appear all over the world. Graham Hess and his brother Merrill attempt to catch a glimpse of the being that stalks their home, but their attempts prove fruitless. When Merrill, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, views online footage, it results in one of the most chilling scenes in an alien film.
12 E.T.
Steven Spielberg does the family-in-a-crisis story with both style and substance. In his beloved 1982 film E.T., Elliot and his family unintentionally encounter a friendly alien they call E.T. After the siblings take in E.T., they attempt to maintain his cover while trying to help him find a way home. When government officials discover E.T., they step in and try to study the little alien. This alien film is a heartwarming nostalgic feature that will leave a lasting impression on viewers of any age. E.T. earned numerous awards and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
11 Men In Black
Men in Black is a movie about aliens that verges on surreal comedy. The film follows two agents who work for a secret organization that keeps extraterrestrial beings on Earth in line. Men in Black plays off the common UFO conspiracy theories that say the men in black are real people who have been monitoring the existence of intergalactic aliens and wiping witnesses' memories. In the film, Agents K and J must investigate a case involving a murderous alien and arrest him before he causes further chaos. Men in Black successfully balances the darker elements of extraterrestrial beings and the unknown with humor.
10 Galaxy Quest
Galaxy Quest is a blatant parody of science fiction movies, notably Star Trek, as well as fandom culture, but it's also a love letter to these films. Galaxy Quest follows the former cast of a fictional television series who attend a convention. However, the actors initially seem frustrated and resentful of their current situation. After an episode of the in-universe TV series is received by an existing extraterrestrial species, the aliens think the actors are a real space crew. Galaxy Quest concludes with the actors sharing their appreciation for their jobs, lives, and fans. This delightful alien film pays homage to the sci-fi genre and its fans.
9 Annihilation
Alex Garland's Annihilation is a movie about aliens where the latter aren't even seen. It chronicles an all-female crew of experts going into "The Shimmer," an area exposed to extraterrestrial fallout from a meteor landing. The group goes through various trials to locate missing people and investigate what's happening in the zone. From hallucinogenic disorientation to mutated animals, The Shimmer causes the crew to lose their grip on reality and their lives. Only one member of the crew survives, but she emerges completely changed. The film is a suspenseful journey filled with questions and disturbing, terrifying visuals that are sure to keep fans engaged.
8 The Fifth Element
In The Fifth Element, Bruce Willis portrays a hero named Korben who saves Earth in a futuristic New York City by expressing his love for an ancient being. The Fifth Element contains an eclectic cast of characters, from strange aliens to equally quixotic celestial beings. The film is full of interesting themes, but the idea that Leeloo is the fifth element — life itself — and can overpower the dark forces of evil is a significant concept. The Fifth Element's plot is mildly hokey, but its stylistic approach to the story, from the production design to the characters, makes this alien film worth the watch.
7 Alien
Alien and its franchise are highly regarded as some of the greatest science fiction films of all time. The sci-fi horror film introduced audiences to terrifying aliens that shocked viewers and cast members alike. Onboard the Nostromo, Ellen Ripley and her crew wake up ahead of schedule to investigate a distress call on an alien moon. However, they are consequently attacked and hunted by the hostile species that live there. Alien follows the usual horror formula, only deviating when the movie focuses on the horrifying Xenomorphs. Nevertheless, the film is a must-watch for its incredible visual effects, which it won the Academy Award for.
6 Nope
Jordan Peele's Nope was the director's highly anticipated movie about aliens, and many fans had theorized the title as an acronym for "Not of Planet Earth." Despite the fandom's mistaken assumptions, Nope did eventually subvert their expectations. The story brought up the possibility that perhaps UFOs (now commonly known as UAPs) are not simply extraterrestrial spacecraft but could be aliens themselves. Nope focuses on the hilarious dynamic between the brother and sister duo, OJ and Em, as well as their confrontations with the grotesque creature. Nope successfully shows how the alien affects people and animals, building narrative suspense to breaking point.
5 Predator
One of the most iconic movies about aliens, Predator is an extremely unnerving experience — tension and suspense are the two pillars that carry the story. This alien film proves that even the most advanced and experienced human soldiers and weapons specialists pale in comparison with a singular Yautja, as this extraterrestrial species is now known. Predator is filled with quotable lines, thrilling action, and a series of hide-and-seek moments that get increasingly riskier for the protagonist. There have been several related films in this franchise, but the only movie worth calling Predator's successor is 2022's Prey.
4 Under The Skin
Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin is an alien film like no other. In fact, the extraterrestrial entity isn't even revealed until the climactic moments. The story follows an unnamed being with Scarlett Johansson's appearance, who turns out to be an alien living in disguise. This particular individual receives assistance from a mysterious bike rider, but is otherwise left to figure things out by "herself." The alien spends her time scouring the city of Glasgow for young men, who each follow her to a different location. What happens to these men is anybody's guess, but Under the Skin doesn't make for easy digestion.
3 Edge Of Tomorrow
The time travel and alien film subgenres have met on occasion, but none of their products have had the same cinematic impact as Edge of Tomorrow. With outstanding performances from Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise, this movie takes viewers on a journey through a mental rollercoaster from start to finish. And although the aliens are effectively a plot device, their unique designs are certainly intriguing. Further, Edge of Tomorrow compresses tons of character development into its 113-minute runtime, which is more than can be said for similar sci-fi action movies.
2 Arrival
Denis Villeneuve's Arrival is loosely adapted from Story of Your Life, a novella by Ted Chiang that won the prestigious Nebula Award in 2000. This alien film follows the novella's storyline almost exactly, buoyed by exceptional performances from Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. Arrival features a group of visiting aliens who mean no harm, but they're unable to communicate with humans due to staggering linguistic differences. Without giving too much away, the story is centered around reframing the perception of time through language.
1 Evolution
Evolution is an alien film as well as a hilarious satire of capitalism, a combination that somehow works in its favor. Starring powerhouses like Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, and Orlando Jones, this extraterrestrial extravaganza offers as much fun as it does critical thinking. The fact that the whole plot comes down to Head & Shoulders shampoo makes no sense to anyone who hasn't watched Evolution, and that is also precisely why this film should not be missed. This is one of those movies about aliens whose low Rotten Tomatoes score shouldn't hinder potential viewers.