Best Alien Movies (September 2025)

Enjoying Alien: Earth and want to revisit the Alien universe without rewatching *all* the movies? We understand – some haven’t aged well! We’ve carefully selected the strongest films in the series, focusing on those with the best stories and scariest sci-fi horror.

What are the best Alien movies as of 2025?

As a huge Alien fan, I’ve always found it fascinating how differently people rank the movies. You ask around, or spend some time online, and everyone has their favorites! Some of us love the really creepy, suspenseful ones that focus on horror, while others prefer the big, explosive space battles. But even with all those different tastes, there’s a general agreement that a few of the films – including the Alien vs. Predator crossovers – just stand out as being better made than the rest. That’s how I ended up with my list of the top five.

Alien (1979)

Alien isn’t just a horror film; it’s a true masterpiece. Every aspect of the movie – from its stunning production design by Michael Seymour to the haunting soundtrack, strong performances, smart script, and incredible visuals – works together perfectly. Directed by Ridley Scott, Alien was a landmark achievement in both science fiction and horror, and notably, one of the first horror films to explore feminist themes. While women were often relegated to supporting or victimized roles in the genre, Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of Ripley broke the mold and redefined the possibilities for female leads in both horror and sci-fi. The film’s cinematography, helmed by the legendary Derek Vanlint, is also exceptional. I suggest seeking out an interview with Vanlint in the American Society of Cinematographers magazine for deeper insight.

Beyond its technical brilliance, the film can also be seen as an allegory for sexual assault. The story mirrors this theme through Kane’s experience with the facehugger, which leads to a terrifying and fatal birth of the Alien. Screenwriter Dan O’Bannon intentionally aimed to evoke feelings of sexual anxiety and fear in male viewers – a relatively unexplored area in horror at the time. This approach also flips the script on traditional horror tropes, where women are often the primary victims of monstrous attacks. Considering both its artistic quality and its thematic depth, *Alien* undeniably stands as a major achievement in filmmaking.

Aliens (1986)

Many fans consider the 1986 sequel, *Aliens*, even better than the original *Alien*. Though the studio didn’t ask Ridley Scott to direct, James Cameron stepped in and created a follow-up that honors the first film while adding his own distinctive style. While the original *Alien*’s visual design is legendary, *Aliens* ramps up the excitement with thrilling action sequences, making it a more rewatchable experience. Sigourney Weaver gives a fantastic performance, and her Academy Award nomination is notable for a science fiction/horror film.

You might worry that switching from a slow, creepy horror to a fast-paced action thriller would change what makes this franchise special. And with a different director, that could have happened. We’ve all seen sequels that mess up a good thing. But James Cameron pulls it off perfectly. *Aliens* builds on the original story, introduces a terrifying alien hive and queen, and creates a richer, more detailed world without sacrificing any of the suspense. It’s easily one of the best sequels ever made, alongside classics like *The Dark Knight*, *The Godfather Part II*, and *The Empire Strikes Back*.

Prometheus (2012)

Ridley Scott returns with a new film set in the late 21st century, a prequel to the original series. While Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley isn’t in this one, the movie boasts a fantastic cast including Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron, and Noomi Rapace. The story, penned by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, features an android that proves to be a truly terrifying villain – perhaps even more so than the aliens themselves. The film is generally well-made, though the first half is much stronger. Unfortunately, the second half loses momentum due to a series of questionable choices made by the characters.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Ridley Scott’s follow-up to *Prometheus* takes place a decade later and centers on a spaceship crew responding to strange signals from a remote planet. Initially, the planet seems ideal for settlement, but the crew quickly encounters David (Michael Fassbender), the sole survivor of the previous mission – and he’s not quite the friend he seems. Though the story sometimes feels convoluted, impressive visual effects bring the terrifying creatures to life, delivering genuinely scary moments and a spectacularly violent climax, ultimately making this a worthwhile addition to the franchise.

The film isn’t just non-stop action; it also includes thoughtful discussions about deeper ideas, elevating it beyond a typical sci-fi adventure.

Aliens: Romulus (2024)

Fede Álvarez directed the newest installment in the Alien series, Romulus. The story is set in 2142, fitting between the first two Alien films, and centers on a group of young colonists who discover an abandoned spaceship. While exploring it, they realize they aren’t alone. Romulus features some truly terrifying visuals, and though it uses plenty of action and jump scares, the most disturbing element is the grotesque design of the human-xenomorph hybrid. If you’re sensitive to trypophobia (fear of holes), you might want to look away from their backs!

How we picked the best Alien movies

To determine the best *Alien* films, we looked at factors like quality, story, characters, artistic vision, visuals, and overall impact. While many dedicated fans consider *Alien 3* to be a standout movie, it ultimately falls short due to problems largely caused by disagreements between the director and the studio. Though David Fincher is now a highly respected director, *Alien 3* was his first film, and the studio clearly didn’t fully trust his vision. Despite its potential, the movie feels disappointing and doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

2025-09-15 23:00