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“Are we alone in the universe?” The question has fascinated humankind for millennia. The night sky is spattered with more stars than we can count, and the universe that holds them is more massive than we can ever truly comprehend. To think that our Earthbound humans are the only intelligent lifeforms in the cosmos seems arrogant and statistically improbable. But despite our curiosity and wonder, we’ve never gotten our hands on ironclad evidence of aliens living amongst us.
However, there are promising signs that might change soon. Last week, the House Congressional Oversight Committee held a hearing with three military officials to get their groundbreaking UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) testimonies on the record. Among the witnesses was David Grusch, a former Air Force intelligence officer, who claimed the US government is in possession of multiple spacecraft of non-human origin. Grusch went so far as to testify that we’ve even recovered some of the aliens who pilot these crafts.
Unfortunately, much of what Grusch alluded to in his testimony comes from highly classified government documents, which means the public won’t be seeing it for some time – if at all. Still, this is a landmark breakthrough, and humankind has never been closer to getting answers on these matters than we are today. To commemorate this milestone, we thought it’d be fun to make a list of the best alien movies ever made. Without further adieu, let’s hop into the rankings.
10. Paul (2011)
Most alien movies tend to depict extraterrestrials as a threat to humanity, but Paul takes a decidedly different approach. Instead of being a terrifying predator hellbent on the destruction of the human race, the titular alien character in this film is largely indistinguishable from the average friendly stoner bro that frequents your neighborhood bar. As with almost all of Pegg and Frost’s work, Paul is a raunchy, laid-back comedy with a surprising amount of heart. If you haven’t seen this one, it’s certainly worth a watch for sci-fi fans with a thirst for a unique take on the alien subgenre.
9. Signs (2002)
It’s easy to forget there was a time not so long ago when M. Night Shyamalon was considered one of the most respected and popular filmmakers working in the horror/sci-fi genre. Shyamalon’s 2002 film Signs is perhaps the high-water mark of his career. With some of the most unforgettable and horrifying imagery in the alien genre, Signs is a masterclass in suspenseful science fiction filmmaking done right. It might be difficult for some viewers to get past the glaring plot hole involving a super-intelligent alien species with a fatal water allergy coming to a planet mostly comprised of water, but that notwithstanding, you should certainly have a good time with this one.
8. Moment of Contact (2022)
James Fox’s 2022 documentary Moment of Contact is the kind of alien story that can turn hard-nosed skeptics into true believers. This exceptionally well-researched and riveting documentary tells the tale of one of history’s most convincing and widely corroborated alien/UFO encounters. In 1996, dozens of civilians, medical personnel, and military officials witnessed a UFO crash on the outskirts of Varginha, Brazil. In Moment of Contact, filmmaker and UFO researcher James Fox returns to the crash site decades later to interview the witnesses and uncover the mystery surrounding the incident. We won’t spoil the details here but don’t be surprised if you start believing the truth is out there after a first viewing.
7. Under the Skin (2013)
Right after Scarlett Johansson hung up her Black Widow garb for 2012’s global box office smash The Avengers, she decided to opt for something a little more otherworldly and esoteric in her next role. Some might find Under the Skin slightly impenetrable and unorthodox, but it rewards patience in dividends. It’s a subversive film that utilizes its atmospheric, haunting tone to allow viewers to observe Earth and humanity from the perspective of an extraterrestrial being. Under the Skin won’t hold your hand throughout its amorphous narrative, but if you stick with it, it’ll leave you with more than a few big ideas to chew on.
6. Annihilation (2018)
Alex Garland’s Annihilation is one of the most unconventional alien films ever made. It’s utterly devoid of flying saucers, little green men, and shadowy government officials, but this lack of stereotypical genre trappings is precisely what makes it such a standout selection. In place of a giant blue laser beam shooting down onto the White House, Annihilation gives us “The Shimmer,” a cancerous extraterrestrial entity that alters the DNA of all that go near it. It’s horrifying, thought-provoking, superbly directed, and an absolutely unforgettable viewing experience.
5. Arrival (2016)
Arrival takes a highly clinical and methodical approach to the idea of Earth’s first alien visitation. Military officials, scientists, and famed linguists all converge at the site of the downed spacecraft in an attempt to translate the bewildering messages the aliens want to share with humanity. It’s a surprisingly realistic interpretation of the likeliest sequence of events that might follow such a paradigm-shifting occurrence. Unlike your standard popcorn alien invasion flick, Arrival traffics in some heavy themes about time, communication, and the weight of human choices.
4. Nope (2022)
Expertly paced and exquisitely directed, Nope proved that Jordan Peele’s wheelhouse extends much further past the reaches of traditional horror film fare. Nope’s insatiable kite-like alien entity was the centerpiece of some of last year’s most riveting cinematic sequences. The film respectfully pays homage to the classics without ever skimping on novelty. What more can you ask for from an alien movie than that?
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3. E.T. (1982)
What can you say about Steven Spielberg’s E.T. that hasn’t been said a million times already? Not only is it one of the most touching alien films ever made, but it’s also one of the most influential. If you don’t believe us, watch literally any scene in Stranger Things. E.T. solidified Spielberg’s irrevocable position in sci-fi’s Mount Rushmore and provided us with some of the most evergreen quotes and iconic movie moments of the last few decades.
2. Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott’s Alien changed the sci-fi game forever. Thanks to jaw-dropping visual effects and heart-pounding action sequences, Alien became an instant horror/sci-fi classic. Sigourney Weaver and Tom Skerrit delivered some of the best performances in their storied careers, while Scott managed to secure himself a top placement on the shortlist of best science fiction directors in Hollywood. Not to mention, the movie was able to kickstart one of the longest-running movie franchises in cinematic history.
1. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
There has yet to be another alien movie that effortlessly captures the wonder and ethereality of extraterrestrial occurrences as well as Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As vast in scope as it is in heart, Close Encounters of the Third Kind treats its celestial subject matter with respect and awe, offering a markedly optimistic alternative to the apocalyptic tones that have become so commonplace in this genre. As he did in E.T., Spielberg subverts our expectations of aliens as fearsome, warlike creatures, instead depicting them as benevolent mystical beings who want to share, teach, and learn from us. It’s the kind of movie that makes you look up at the night sky in appreciation instead of fear and uncertainty.
Alien’s groundbreaking visual effects, intense action, memorable performances, and Ridley Scott’s directorial prowess contributed to its status as a sci-fi classic and its lasting impact on the genre.