In the infinite vastness of the cosmos, the presence of extra-terrestrial life is not even a question. UFO spotting and alien encounters are frequently reported across the planet. Although such claims are rarely proven, the possibility of aliens existing in the universe is a huge possibility.
What we always wondered about is, whether there are aliens who are more intelligent than us. We wonder if someday powerful and dangerous aliens would invade the planet and may even take over it.
So, at LisPink, today we are counting down on 20 top alien movies, extra-terrestrial invasion, and encounter films ever made. Before we start the countdown, we have another list of 20 great space travel movies to feed your cosmic curiosity.
1. Alien | 1979 | 8.2 IMDB
In space, the crew of the merchant spaceship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress signal from a nearby planet.
The crew is unaware that the signal is emanating from a derelict alien spacecraft. Inside, they find the remains of an alien creature that appears to have died during the birth of a baby, which is now growing incredibly rapidly.
Available on: Hulu, Sling TV, Youtube | Watch Trailer
2. The Thing | 1982 | 8 IMDB
A parasitic extraterrestrial life-form that can imitate other organisms takes over a research team’s base camp. Also known as “John Carpenter’s The Thing,” this science-fiction horror flick is loosely based on the novella “Who Goes There?” by American writer John W. Campbell.
The film features stellar performances by the cast—Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, T.K. Carter, and David Clennon—and it received two Oscar nominations (Best Art Direction and Best Makeup).
Available on: Hulu, Sling TV, Youtube | Watch Trailer
3. E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial | 1982 | 7.9 IMDB
9-year-old Elliott (Henry Thomas) befriends a lost alien who he names E.T. (the extra-terrestrial). He and his siblings help the alien return to his home planet by hiding him from their mother and the government.
The movie tells the story of Elliott (Thomas), a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed “E.T.” (MacNaughton), who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. return to his home planet while attempting to keep E.T.’s existence hidden from their mother and the government.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers | 1978 | 8.2 IMDB
After a strange encounter with a UFO, Dr. Miles Bennell (Donald Sutherland) returns to his hometown of Santa Mira, California, and discovers that the town’s human residents are being replaced by emotionless alien doppelgangers.
Also known as “The Body Snatchers,” this adaptation of Jack Finney’s 1954 science-fiction novel is a classic that was remade in 1993 and 2007. The 1978 version received a Best Actress nomination for Brooke Adams and was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Horror Film.
Available on: Youtube | Watch Trailer
5. They Live | 1988 | 8.2 IMDB
A drifter discovers a pair of sunglasses that allow him to wake up to the fact that aliens have taken over the Earth. After donning the shades, he realizes that the human race has been enslaved and that subliminal messages on billboards and magazines are being used to keep the populace docile.
Directed by John Carpenter and starring a low-budget cast that includes Roddy Piper, Keith David, and Meg Foster, this campy sci-fi action flick received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Horror Film, and was ranked #77 on Bravo’s list of the “100 Scariest Movie Moments.”
Available on: Hulu, Vudu | Watch Trailer
6. Fantastic Planet | 1973 | 8.3 IMDB
In the distant future, an alien race of giant blue humanoids lives on giant floating planets. On one of these planets, a group of humanoid aliens is the slaves of the giant blue invaders. One of them, a young boy, decides to escape to the planet Earth, which the giant blue humanoids conquered a long time ago.
Available on: Hulu, Youtube | Watch Trailer
7. Annihilation | 2018 | 7.6 IMDB
A biologist and former soldier (Natalie Portman) joins a mission to uncover what happened to her husband inside Area X — a sinister and mysterious phenomenon that is expanding across the American coastline. Once inside, the expedition discovers a world of mutated landscape and creatures, as dangerous as it is beautiful, that threatens both their lives and their sanity.
Available on: Hulu | Watch Trailer
8. 10 Cloverfield Lane | 2016 | 7.6 IMDB
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, and John Gallagher Jr. star in the latest film from director Dan Trachtenberg in this post-apocalyptic thriller that follows a young woman who wakes up after a car accident and discovers that she’s been taken to a doomsday shelter and has to fight for her life.
Available on: Amazon Prime | Watch Trailer
9. War of the Worlds | 2005 | 7.8 IMDB
After a spacecraft crashes near Boston, a race of aliens emerges and quickly takes over the city. The invaders bear a striking resemblance to humans, except for their lack of emotion and their devotion to their chief, who is referred to as the “leader.” Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’ 1898 novel was nominated for three Academy Awards, and it grossed over $591 million worldwide.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
10. Star Trek | 2009 | 7.8 IMDB
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek is a 2009 science-fiction film based on the television series of the same name created by Gene Roddenberry. The film features a new cast, including Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, and Zoe Saldana as Uhura, and features the first time that a major motion picture has been shot and released in the IMAX format.
Leonard Nimoy reprises his role as Spock Prime, the original series’ Spock, who assists the members of the crew of the new Starship Enterprise.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
11. Edge Of Tomorrow | 2014 | 7.9 IMDB
In a war with an extraterrestrial race, Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is an officer who has never seen combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again and again.
Available on: Netflix | Watch Trailer
12. A Quiet Place | 2018 | 7.9 IMDB
Years after an invasion of aliens, a family is still living in silence, hiding from the almost indestructible creatures.
Battling both the alien invaders and their own personal demons, a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from monsters that hunt by sound.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
13. Prometheus | 2012 | 7.5 IMDB
Several years after the events of “Alien Resurrection,” a Weyland Corporation spaceship, the “Prometheus,” is on a voyage to discover the origins of mankind. The crew of the “Prometheus” finds a clue to the origins of man on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, the crew encounters a terrifying enemy and must fight for survival.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
14. AVP: Alien vs. Predator | 2004 | 6.7 IMDB
After a freak accident, a Predator ship crash lands on Earth carrying an Alien egg. A group of humans who are hunted by the Predators are forced to band together with the Aliens when both species are attacked by a mysterious third party.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
15. The Invasion | 2007 | 8.1 IMDB
When a highly contagious extraterrestrial virus infiltrates the United States, the CDC calls in Dr. Sanes (Nicole Kidman), a specialist in infectious disease. However, the government quarantines the infected and places them under armed guard to prevent the virus from spreading.
The film received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Horror Film and earned Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Kidman.
Available on: Amazone Prime | Watch Trailer
16. Alien 3 | 1992 | 6.5 IMDB
After escaping from the alien planet, Ripley crash-lands on Fiorina “Fury” 161, a foundry facility and prison planet. Soon, Ripley learns that the company that runs the facility had found the alien queen that had hatched from her chest, and that all the inhabitants of the planet are in danger.
Available on: Youtube | Watch Trailer
18. Star Trek: The Motion Picture | 1979 | 7.8 IMDB
When the Enterprise, after completing a five-year patrol of uncharted space, enters the orbit of Earth, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of his old ship. Shortly after, a massive energy cloud appears in space, putting Earth at risk. With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Kirk must save the planet from destruction.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
19. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan | 1982 | 8.1 IMDB
Admiral James T. Kirk has been suspended from Starfleet for his previous disregard of their orders. Kirk must once again prove his worth when a genetically engineered human/Klingon called Khan takes control of an experimental warship and threatens the Federation.
Available on: Google Play | Watch Trailer
20. Midnight Special | 2016 | 6.5 IMDB
A father goes on the run to protect his young son and uncover the truth behind the boy’s special powers in Midnight Special, a dramatic science-fiction thriller from visionary writer-director Jeff Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter).
So, these were our favorite 20 alien movies and alien encounter films of all time. What are your favorite watches? We would love to know in the comments below.
Available on: Hulu, Google Play | Watch Trailer