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Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, Harry Dean Stanton ... see more see more... , John Hurt , Ian Holm , Bolaji Badejo , Helen Horton

"In space, no one can hear you scream." A close encounter of the third kind becomes a Jaws-style nightmare when an alien invades a spacecraft in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic. On the way home f... read more read more...rom a mission for the Company, the Nostromo's crew is woken up from hibernation by the ship's Mother computer to answer a distress signal from a nearby planet. Capt. Dallas's (Tom Skerritt) rescue team discovers a bizarre pod field, but things get even stranger when a face-hugging creature bursts out of a pod and attaches itself to Kane (John Hurt). Over the objections of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), science officer Ash (Ian Holm) lets Kane back on the ship. The acid-blooded incubus detaches itself from an apparently recovered Kane, but an alien erupts from Kane's stomach and escapes. The alien starts stalking the humans, pitting Dallas and his crew (and cat) against a malevolent killing machine that also has a protector in the nefarious Company. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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85 critics

R, 1 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Release Date: January 1, 1979

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DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004

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Flixster Reviews (25,713)

  • fb100000145236770
    May 24, 2012
    fb100000145236770
    With the release of "Prometheus" coming out next month(it's an "Alien" Prequel"), I figured I would go back and rewatch the "Alien"series. I honestly don't remember anything from the series except that Sigourney Weaver was the star and she battled big black aliens. The version ... read moreI watched of "Alien" was the director's cut released in 2003, and honestly I don't know if there is any significant difference from the original. On the way home from a mission for the Company, a spaceship called Nostromo's gets a distress signal from a nearby planet. The ship sends a rescue team to the planet where they come in contact with an Alien. Sigourney Weaver is the star as Ripley, who turns out to be the smartest and biggest badass on the ship. Over 30 years old, this movie holds up incredibly well. The suspense is absolutely still there, and there is a real claustrophobic feeling on being on the ship. The acting is good, and the effects, while dated, are still very well done. I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi movies, but this is terrific. If your a fan of horror movies, then this is right up your alley, as I'd say this is more horror than sci-fi. After watching this, I'm actually excited to watch the rest, and even more pumped for "Prometheus". If you haven't watched this in a long time, then you should go back and revisit, you won't be disappointed.
  • phubbs1
    May 6, 2012
    phubbs1
    Not as cool as the second in my opinion but chillingly goosebump inducing with a case of mild to feverish nail biting. So well made, the look is so realistic you can almost smell the sweat and fear, its Ridley at his perfectionist best, every tiny detail is accurate.
    Awesome han... read moreds on effects and probably the greatest creature ever created for the silver screen!!, just the ultimate monster film along with 'Predator'. Perfect cast that show gritty blue collar 'grunts' at their best, I just prefer the second because of the action, but this is still amazing, Ridley is the king.
  • paulkoh110
    April 29, 2012
    paulkoh110
    Well that was just amazing. Probably one of the best sci-fi films I have ever seen and proves that Ridley Scott has true potential as a director and story teller. Genius Film.
  • samoriley
    April 9, 2012
    samoriley
    Alien is a true masterpiece that belongs along with some of the greatest films of all time. It successfully blends sci-fi, horror and psychology to create a really horrific, original and gritty film. This film also contains superb acting,highly iconic scenes and unique yet creepy... read more work from H.R Giger. Alien has even spawned 'Aliens' a highly recognised sequel which matches, maybe surpass this films standards of sci-fi/horror.

    If you've heard about Ridley Scott's latest film 'Prometheus', make sure you watch this to understand its hype.

    This is ESSENTIAL for all film fans, mainly Sci-Fi and Horror.
  • fb619846742
    March 23, 2012
    fb619846742
    By far one of the best films ever crafted concerning a space-shift which makes a detour to an alien planet to investigate possible life forms, where an alien comes on board through one of the astronauts, and as a result the mission of returning home and more importantly, survival... read more of all those on board, are put at risk. This is without question one of the most influential movies of all-time, and one of my favorite films. The suspense director Ridley Scott develops over time here is masterful, creating a monster so vicious and rarely seen that it ranks amongst the best in terms of villains. Sigourney Weaver's debut is solid and workmanlike, and a talented supporting cast of Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt gives us reason to care for the characters and root for their survival. The mysteriousness and haunting dimension that Scott gives to his film makes it all the more terrifying. The last forty minutes of the film are downright arresting, with a sick twist conclusion that will leave you breathless when the credits roll.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 27, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    Sci-fi films and horror films that came out of the 1970's were generally adventure films or slasher films, respectively. Nothing wrong with either of those things, but when you look at the work that came out of that era and compare this film to all of that, you quickly realize th... read moreat there is no comparison. Alien is almost a genre unto itself, and that is the mark of a masterwork. To say the least, this is very close to being my favorite film ever. It was also the first film that taught me the most about the power of atmosphere, art direction and cinematography. The story itself is very B-Movie, but the execution is just so damned brilliant that it's easy to see why a lot of filmmakers hold it up as an early influence, and why space was longer a safe place after it's initial release. The cast is superb, the look is timeless and the film still terrifies audiences to this day. With a mix of It! The Terror From Beyond Space, a bit of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, a few drops of 2001: A Space Odyssey (and Star Wars, of course), Ridley Scott and company achieved something quite stunning. Other than Blade Runner, this is Ridley's finest work and a masterpiece.
  • garyX
    February 11, 2012
    garyX
    The crew of commercial towing vehicle Nostromo investigate a signal from an unexplored planet and unleash a hostile organism. Once again, Ridley Scott creates a totally believable future environment and another classic of modern cinema. Scott uses suspense and atmosphere to gain ... read morethe desired effect, and it is an object lesson to gore-obsessed horror directors everywhere; less is definitely more. Considering the "alien" is essentially a stunt man in a rubber suit, Scott's use of lighting and sparse screen time for the creature makes it far more terrifying than a hundred CG monsters. Giger's designs are more akin to sculpted works of art than mere special effects, and the crew feel like real people having real conversations, who just happen to also be on a spaceship; even the obviously now antiquated technology has a functionality about it so it still does not look out of place. Scott also employs an element of sexuality to the attacks on the crew, creating a sense of anxiety on many levels; the victims are not only attacked, but violated in various ways. Sigourney Weaver's Ripley is also one of the first "action heroines", always ready to take charge and deal with the situations she finds herself in rather than running around screaming, and Scott also pioneers the now familiar "first person" viewpoint making the film a real groundbreaker. The DVD also features some interesting deleted scenes, particularly the cocoon scene that is expanded upon so effectively by James Cameron in the sequel Aliens. Yet another reason why Scott is one of the most respected director's working today.
  • c0up
    January 1, 2012
    c0up
    'Alien'. Wow. I am in complete awe of Ridley Scott's visionary, sci-fi horror masterpiece.

    Some of the computer graphics may be a little dated, but the set design and imagery of the alien planet, the alien ship with its pilot, the spaceship where most of the action takes place, ... read morethe alien itself, and Ash; simply amazing.

    It's a movie that's slow paced, but sucks you in perfectly, with many memorable, tension-filled sequences shot brilliantly by Scott, and led by a fantastic Sigourney Weaver. Ripley is a total bad-ass!

    And then there's *that* chestbuster sequence... ?_?
  • aquateen2
    December 29, 2011
    aquateen2
    The tenseful atmosphere created by the mystery of this alien is well done and the effects for its time are really good but ultimately I think Alien is a sci-fi reincactment of Jaws. Bits of Alien are good and its most certainly not a bad film but it stretches longer than neccesar... read morey and overall, It's something that has already been done before better.
  • fb1710827246
    November 2, 2011
    fb1710827246
    Atmospheric and scintillating to the bone, this is an archetype of the science fiction horror blockbuster. The pacing is well played, the story twisted and horrifying and the visuals, simply macabre in that acute Kubrick style, it is one hell of a film by Ridley Scott, who has te... read morerrific vision, is one film to terrify for the ages.

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Critic Reviews

Frank Rich
October 22, 2010
Frank Rich, TIME Magazine

It is depressing to watch an expensive, crafty movie that never soars beyond its cold desire to score the big bucks. Full Review

Variety Staff
June 4, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

An old-fashioned scary movie set in a highly realistic sci-fi future, made all the more believable by expert technical craftmanship. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 4, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

An empty-headed horror movie with nothing to recommend it beyond the disco-inspired art direction and some handsome, if gimmicky, cinematography. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
July 21, 2005
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

A genuine fright classic. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

These things no longer surprise or tantalize us as they once did. In a very short time, science-fiction films have developed their own jargon that's now become a part of the grammar. Full Review

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
March 7, 2005
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Alien will upset your mind and upset your stomach. Full Review

Glenn Abel
February 5, 2004
Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter

Alien looks amazing, almost like a new film.

Peter Hartlaub
January 15, 2004
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Ridley Scott's new cut won't change the way people think about the movie, but it reinforces the film's strengths without alienating the series' biggest fans. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 15, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Ridley Scott's 1979 movie is a great original. Full Review

Glenn Lovell
November 29, 2003
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

It's a most satisfying return to one of the few sci-fi films that deserves to be called a masterpiece.

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Facts

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    • Parker: [to Kane] What's the matter? The food ain't that bad...
    • Ash: Ripley, for God's sake, this is the first time that we've encountered a species like this. It has to go back. All sorts of tests have to be made.
    • Ellen Ripley: Ash, are you kidding? This thing bled acid. Who knows what it's gonna do when it's dead?
    • Ash: I think it's safe to assume it isn't a zombie.
    • Dallas: [from editited footage] Kill... me! Ripely.
    • Ellen Ripley: Whenever he says *anything* you say 'right,' Brett, you know that?
    • Brett: Right.
    • Ellen Ripley: Parker, what do you think? Your staff just follows you around and says 'right'. Just like a regular parrot.
    • Parker: Yeah, shape up. What are you some kind of parrot?
    • Brett: Right.
    • Ellen Ripley: Ash can you hear me? Ash!?
    • Ash: [Eyes open] Yes I can hear you.
    • Ellen Ripley: What was your special order?
    • Ash: You read it, I thought it was clear.
    • Ellen Ripley: What was it?
    • Ash: Bring back life form, priority one, all other priorities are rescinded.
    • Parker: The damn Company. What about our lives you son of a bitch?
    • Ash: I repeat, all other priorities are rescinded.
    • Ellen Ripley: How do we kill it Ash, there's got to be a way of killing it, how, how do we do it?
    • Ash: You can't.
    • Parker: That's bullshit!
    • Ash: You still don't understand what you're dealing with do you? Perfect organism. It's structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.
    • Lambert: You admire it.
    • Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.
    • Parker: I've heard enough of this and i'm asking you to pull the plug.
    • Ash: Last word.
    • Ellen Ripley: What?
    • Ash: I can't lie to you about your chances, but, you have my sympathies. [Smiles]
    • Ellen Ripley: [Pulls the plug]
    • Ellen Ripley: Whenever he says *anything* you say 'right,' Brett, you know that?
    • Brett: Right.
    • Ellen Ripley: Parker, what do you think? Your staff just follows you around and says 'right'. Just like a regular parrot.
    • Parker: Yeah, shape up. What are you some kind of parrot?
    • Brett: Right.
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Alien Trivia

  • Which Alien film was winona ryder in?  Answer »
  • I first appeared with a friendly alien who wanted to go home, I've played cinderella, I've lost my memory, I liked riding in cars with boys. Who am I?  Answer »
  • in the movie alien ressurection why did the hybrid alien not kill Ripley(Sigourny Weaver)?  Answer »
  • I was an Boss Angel, an Addams, a Librarian/"The Pagemaster", an Alien, lived in a mental institution, and built a time machine. Who am I?  Answer »
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