10 Best Alien Conspiracy Movies To Watch After ‘Bugonia’

Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos have teamed up again for a new film, following their successful collaborations on movies like The Favourite and Poor Things. Their latest project, Bugonia, is a quirky and funny black comedy about an alien conspiracy. Starring Jesse Plemons and Alicia Silverstone, the movie is a reimagining of the 2003 South Korean sci-fi film Save the Green Planet! and is earning rave reviews, currently boasting a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In the quirky film Bugonia, Teddy Gatz (Jesse Plemons), a beekeeper obsessed with conspiracies, becomes convinced that Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone), the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, is actually an alien intent on destroying the planet. Determined to stop her, he kidnaps her with the help of his cousin, Don (Aidan Delbis), who has a different way of thinking, and even shaves her head to cut off her communication with her supposed alien home world. The film explores how far Teddy’s paranoia will take him.

You can see the movie in theaters now, and after you do, be sure to check out these other exciting films about alien conspiracies!

‘The Vast of Night’ (2019)

Okay, so I just saw this incredible movie, The Vast of Night, and I have to tell you about it. It’s set in the 1950s in New Mexico, and it follows Fay, a switchboard operator, and Everett, a radio DJ. They start noticing this weird, static-like frequency messing with calls and broadcasts. It’s super eerie, especially because people in town are already buzzing about UFOs! They team up to figure out what’s causing the interference, and it leads them to this deserted field outside of town where some seriously strange stuff starts happening. Honestly, the movie really makes you wonder… did aliens actually land?

Bad Signal or Something Bigger?

Inspired by real events like the Kecksburg UFO incident and the Foss Lake disappearances, The Vast of Night masterfully builds suspense, and that’s what makes it so compelling. Director Andrew Patterson, in his first feature film, carefully develops the two main characters, giving them depth and relatable struggles. Both characters are trying to understand a difficult situation, and their personal journeys highlight the challenges anyone faces when confronted with the unknown. Despite their individual problems, they’re united by a need to find answers.

‘Communion’ (1989)

Whitley Strieber, a horror author from New York, is convinced he’s had encounters with aliens and strongly defends his story. He detailed these experiences in a book, which was then turned into the movie Communion, directed by Philippe Mora. The film, starring Christopher Walken as Strieber, depicts his struggle with disturbing alien visions and the resulting difficulties in his personal life, particularly his marriage. Seeking help through therapy ultimately doesn’t improve things.

Sticking to His Story

Despite a strange storyline, Christopher Walken delivers a standout performance. While Whitley Strieber’s story is unusual, the movie is still entertaining. Even with typical family moments and emotional scenes, the film stays true to its main idea: aliens aren’t usually friendly, and even without causing physical harm, they can leave a lasting mental impact. Ultimately, it’s a character-driven story, which is what Strieber intended. He decided to produce it himself, fearing a big studio would focus on flashy effects and turn it into a typical horror movie.

‘Contact’ (1997)

After the huge success of Back to the Future, could director Robert Zemeckis create another classic? He took a shot with Contact, a film about Dr. Ellie Arroway (played by Jodie Foster), a scientist searching for life beyond Earth. She discovers compelling evidence and is chosen to attempt first contact. However, she faces challenges from government red tape and those who fear proof of alien life would undermine religious beliefs. The movie explores how these conflicts will ultimately unfold.

A Tougher Mission Than Assumed

While not a typical, action-packed alien film like many from the 1990s – or even other movies by Robert Zemeckis – Contact builds suspense beautifully in its first half and offers a truly thought-provoking ending. It also presents a smart and balanced exploration of the conflict between science and religion. Zemeckis was committed to accuracy, filming scenes at the Very Large Array radio astronomy observatory in New Mexico. He even added to the film’s realism by casting around 25 CNN news reporters in small roles.

‘The Forgotten’ (2004)

Driven by sorrow, uncertainty, and distrust, “The Forgotten” centers on Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore), a mother haunted by the death of her young son in a plane crash. When all traces of him—photos, videos, and official records—start disappearing, she joins forces with her neighbor, Ash Correll (Dominic West), who also lost his daughter in the crash, to find answers. The mystery deepens as they are pursued by NSA agents, and one of them is shockingly pulled into the sky after being captured and questioned.

Mental Breakdown Vs. Genuine Concerns

The conversations in The Forgotten are realistic, intelligent, and emotionally resonant. Julian Moore delivers another fantastic performance, and Dominic West skillfully portrays a character with hidden motivations, making you question his true allegiance. While overlooked by major awards shows, this poignant sci-fi thriller could be perfect if you’re a fan of films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and the series The X-Files. However, be prepared – it’s a deeply sad film. Director Joseph Ruben really emphasizes the characters’ pain, even including the difficult topic of miscarriage.

‘The Signal’ (2014)

As a movie fan, I recently checked out The Signal, and it’s a wild ride! It follows three college students – Nic, Jonah, and Haley – on a road trip. They’ve been getting messed with online by this hacker called NOMAD for weeks, and they finally decide to track him down. They think they’re going to confront him, but it leads them to this crazy high-tech facility in the Nevada desert that seems to be all about aliens. It’s a really tense and unsettling story!

Welcome to Area 51

William Eubank’s thrilling and cleverly plotted film stands out with its sharp dialogue, unpredictable twists, and unsettling atmosphere. Despite featuring a small cast, the movie delivers strong performances, particularly from Laurence Fishburne, who plays a scientist who is both enigmatic and frustratingly evasive. He’s reliably excellent, and perfectly captures the character’s stern and unlikeable nature. The Signal is packed with intricate details, demanding your full attention – so it’s best to put your phone away while watching.

‘Fire in the Sky’ (1993)

The movie Fire in the Sky is based on the true story of Travis Walton, a logger who claimed he was abducted by aliens. The film follows Travis (played by D.B. Sweeney) and his crew in Arizona when they witness a UFO. After Travis investigates, he’s pulled inside and disappears. His coworkers become the prime suspects, damaging their lives. Five days later, Travis reappears with a bizarre account of what happened, but no one believes his story.

What Do They Want from Timberman?

Beyond the lead actors, Fire in the Sky benefits from strong performances by Kathleen Wilhoite and James Garner, who is both unsettling and likable as a skeptical, armed law officer. The story itself is quite unbelievable – even the director, Robert Lieberman, admitted it was exaggerated. However, he deserves credit for creating a compelling film that earned four Saturn Award nominations. Writer Tracy Tormé revealed that studio executives found Walton’s original story dull and encouraged Lieberman to take more creative risks.

‘Annihilation’ (2018)

Inspired by Jeff VanderMeer’s novel and H.P. Lovecraft’s story “The Colour Out of Space,” the movie Annihilation centers around a strange, shimmering area where the rules of nature don’t apply – all after a meteor crashes. Biologist Lena (Natalie Portman) leads a team of women into this mysterious zone to find out what happened. And things quickly become dangerous!

An Ecological Nightmare

Alex Garland’s sci-fi horror film is brutally realistic and doesn’t hold back in its portrayal of opposing sides – some rational, others doubtful – engaged in a dangerous conflict that could lead to their collective downfall. Natalie Portman plays the protagonist with a compelling mix of determination and self-sabotage, making her a sympathetic character, though not quite as iconic as Ellen Ripley. She remains impressively composed even during the film’s most disturbing moments.

‘They Live’ (1988)

While wandering around Los Angeles in the film They Live, the main character, Nada (played by Roddy Piper), meets a group of people convinced that aliens are secretly controlling the government, but their attempts to expose this are ignored. Intrigued, Nada starts investigating and discovers a disturbing truth about society. He stumbles upon a pair of special sunglasses that reveal the aliens’ true, monstrous appearance, hidden beneath human disguises. Now that he knows the truth, the question is: what will he do?

Something’s Up with the Leaders

If you’re hungry for a classic alien flick that’s more about kicking butt than shadowy government plots, look no further than John Carpenter’s They Live. Honestly, it’s a seriously thrilling watch. There’s this incredible five-and-a-half minute fight scene – all over a pair of sunglasses, no less! – that completely blew me away. Keith David is fantastic as the main character’s partner; I heard Carpenter actually wrote the part with him in mind. But beyond the action, it’s just a beautifully raw and stylish film. Carpenter’s a master, and his use of sound, lighting, and those unique camera angles really make this one stand out.

‘The X-Files: Fight the Future’ (1998)

Taking place between episodes of The X-Files: Fight the Future, the film follows agents Mulder and Scully as they investigate a bomb threat and the deliberate destruction of criminal evidence. What starts as a potential terrorism case quickly expands into something much larger: a possible government cover-up surrounding the truth about an alien plan to colonize Earth.

As Impressive as the Series, But Grander in Scale

I was completely captivated by this movie! The title really fits, because a sense of impending doom hangs over everything – even the stunning visuals and sound design. It starts a little slowly, but soon you’re introduced to these really compelling, flawed characters and thrown into the most bizarre situations. Throughout the two hours, it’s packed with suspense, unexpected twists, and genuinely moving moments. What’s amazing is you don’t need to have watched the original series to get completely lost in the story. It really stands on its own as a fantastic movie spin-off.

‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ (1977)

The movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind begins with several strange occurrences that hint at the possibility of alien life. A scientist who’s been missing for a while suddenly reappears, and two airplanes narrowly avoid colliding with an unidentified flying object. Things become even more concerning when Roy Neary, an electrical worker played by Richard Dreyfuss, witnesses a UFO abducting three individuals while he’s working on power lines. This raises the central questions of the film: are these encounters truly caused by aliens, and if so, what are their intentions?

Speilberg’s Greatest Movie?

Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters, which won an Academy Award for its stunning visuals, remains one of the most visually beautiful films ever made. The 2017 4K remaster makes it even more breathtaking. Richard Dreyfuss delivers a solid performance as the lead, but the entire supporting cast is also excellent. Keep an eye out for Carl Weathers in a small role as a military officer.

2025-10-30 02:07