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Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser ... see more see more... , Jenette Goldstein , Bill Paxton , William Hope , Colette Hiller , Daniel Kash , Al Matthews , Alibe Parsons , Alan Polonsky , Mark Rolston , Ricco Ross , Kiran Shah , Paul Maxwell , Tip Tipping , Barbara Coles , Valerie Colgan , Blain Fairman , Louise Head , John Lees , Trevor Steedman , Carl Toop , Cynthia Scott

Big-budget special effects, swiftly paced action, and a distinct feminist subtext from writer/director James Cameron turned what should have been a by-the-numbers sci-fi sequel into both a blockbuster... read more read more... and a seven-time Oscar nominee. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, the last surviving crew member of a corporate spaceship destroyed after an attack by a vicious, virtually unbeatable alien life form. Adrift in space for half a century, Ripley grapples with depression until she's informed by her company's representative, Carter Burke (Paul Reiser) that the planet where her crew discovered the alien has since been settled by colonists. Contact with the colony has suddenly been lost, and a detachment of colonial marines is being sent to investigate. Invited along as an advisor, Ripley predicts disaster, and sure enough, the aliens have infested the colony, leaving a sole survivor, the young girl Newt (Carrie Henn). With the soldiers picked off one by one, a final all-female showdown brews between the alien queen and Ripley, who's become a surrogate mother to Newt. Several future stars made early career appearances in Aliens (1986), including Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Reiser. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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50 critics

R, 2 hr. 18 min.

Directed by: James Cameron

Release Date: July 18, 1986

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 1999

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Stats: 26,201 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26,201)

  • garyX
    December 29, 2012
    garyX
    Ripley is awakened from stasis to find that she has been gone for 57 years and is being made a scapegoat for the loss of her ship. But then contact is lost with the colony on LV 426 and she is enlisted as an adviser to a combat unit sent to investigate. The vast majority of seque... read morels are of course just cynical attempts to cash in on the popularity of the original film and rarely have much in the way of cinematic merit in their own right. Aliens is one of the few that not only expanded on the idea of the original but took it in a whole new direction. The production design is superb and every sci-fi movie made since that features military hardware gets its cues from here, and it still looks brilliant. The ensemble cast are all excellent, especially Sigourney Weaver who is far from the usual gung ho bonehead with a gun you find in most action movies. She is a believable character traumatized by her experiences of the first film, unwillingly facing her fears. The soldiers are also three dimensional characters, especially Bill Paxton's smart alec who loses his nerve and their camaraderie and funny banter make you care what happens to them. Other well written characters include "artificial person" Lance Henriksen whose cold fascination for the creatures echoes Ash from the first film and Paul Reiser's obsequious company man, each of whom seem to have agenda of their own. The first half of the film is an atmospheric and cleverly written set up for the second half, which can best be described as a white knuckle rollercoaster ride of breathless suspense and excitement. Their first encounter with the aliens is one of the all time great action sequences and the later scene when they await the second onslaught huddled in a darkened room listening to the sound of the motion detector is utterly gripping. Not to mention Ripley's first sight of the alien queen and their subsequent classic showdown. For me, this is an all but perfect film, and the best sequel ever made.
  • edfilmreviews
    December 22, 2012
    edfilmreviews
    A film that expands off of the ideas presented in the original. "Aliens" is more of an action film but it still has developed characters and a story that is both intense and scary. It's an overall improvement over its predecessor and one of the greatest science-fiction films ever... read more made. Unfortunately the franchise went downhill after this installment, but the first two are definitely masterpieces in cinema.
  • FrizzDrop
    November 12, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    The impossibly superior and a loving ode to the original Alien film, Aliens is much more intense, violent, horrifying, and impossibly fast. In relation to the original film James Cameron obviously did main character and protagonist Ellen Ripley justice. The original (directed by ... read moreRidley Scott) was certainly relegated to the horror genre, seamlessly frightening you in a jump scare or watching the realization dawning on a victim's face before their evident extermination. Aliens is much more of an action-adventure film that crosses the boundaries of sci-fi and horror as well. From what we learn at the end of the last Alien film, Ripley is frozen in sleep awaiting rescue in the deep recesses of space. We start this film fifty-seven years later, Ripley having slept through all of it, and then convicted of destroying company property while nobody believes her story of the destruction of her crew and the beginnings of this new alien race. Cameron has been reported to have based the manner of the film on the Vietnam War, having a group of people with superior weaponry go into unknown territory and find an enemy that knows the terrain much better. The bleakness, the obvious horror of human life being bitten away a chunk at a time, makes for a queasy watch, the over confident Colonial Marines wading into the nest of the xenomorphs and finding themselves gravelly under qualified for the task at hand. Ripley is such a strong character in the original, but here she is also conflicted about a variety of things: the murders of her former crew mates, the death of her daughter, and the lack of belief from anyone. Her grief manifests itself in a relationship with the last survivor of a colony that had made camp at the site of the barren planet in the first Alien film. The girl is certainly different from past child characters, which are usually pesky, annoying, and are often caught by the foe all the while screaming for help. Newt, as she's called, is a fighter, and a prescient muse to the crew members, who are cocky chauvinists and show offs. The effects in this film are still pretty amazing, especially the dark look of the sets, the shots of space, and the interiors of the ship, which were apparently made with a lowly budget of $18 million dollars and the help of some ingenious visual effects crewmembers. The aliens and their queen look much better than in the first film and are twice as terrifying. Besides that the plot keeps contorting itself into complexity with ever arising problems for the Marines, including their pilots getting eaten, a fire ball dismantling the holdout where they are camped, and the deaths of many of them at the hands of the xenomorphs. The best aspect of the film though is the rash of characters. None of them is a throwaway, and when even one of them perishes you fill a bile like empathy for them. The android, played by Lance Henriken, has an eerie creepiness and a pointed face that sends chills down your spine, while villain Burke (Paul Reiser) is the best example of someone with a motive that doesn't stem from himself but money and greed. He is simply the best written villain I have seen in a long while, and yet he again and again is shown as a slimy dirtball who weasels himself out of trouble. In turn Henriken's character goes through his own android racism thanks to Ripley's prejudice from the first film where actor Ian Holm's character went off the rails, killing several crew members. This development makes for an interesting watch, as you wonder at the motives of the rogue robot. (Though he is apparently bound by Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics) Though it's a 2 and a half hour watch altogether, it flies by quite fast. There isn't any filler, the characters are well developed, the look and feel of the film is perfect for the tone director Cameron was going for, and overall, it was a much better film than the original, which I personally didn't find as intriguing. There will never be another film like this, and it is the best in the four films. Truly, a sci-fi, horror, and action classic, and now one of my favorite films.
  • CloudStrife84
    November 8, 2012
    CloudStrife84
    James Cameron's thrill-a-minute action spectacle is an impeccably executed masterpiece, that not only honors the original, but improves upon it. I have nothing but love for the first film, but in terms of sheer adrenaline, Aliens takes home the trophy on any given day.

    E... read morepically entertaining throughout, it's the perfect union between sci-fi, action and otherworldly horror. There's just so much awesomeness going on at the same time, that it's hard break down its success to any singular component. Much the same way that Ripley and the "grunts" combine their resources in battle, it's the team effort that gives this film its golden and hard-earned glow.

    Apart from a first-rate cast who act their heart out at every opportunity, we also have the marvellous set design, outstanding special effects and a script as well-written as to put most sci-fi actioners to shame. It also strikes a blow for female heroines in cinema, with three strong and fearless women (including one brave little girl with some seriously impressive survival skills), who displays more cojones in the face of danger, than all the men in the cast put together.

    So if you're under the impression that this is a guy movie, think again! It's so unbelievably good, that I seriously doubt they'll ever make a movie quite like it again. They may get close, but there won't be any cigars. For this is the mother of all action movies, that is yet to find its equal. A no-holds-barred pulse-pounder, that serves up an unparallelled buffé of scares, excitement, suspense and cool dialogue.

    Or as Corporal Ferro would say it: "In the pipe, five by five!"
  • allan913
    October 13, 2012
    allan913
    An instant classic that surpasses the original in every way possiable. One of the greatest sequels ever made. Director, James Cameron does a smashingly good job. A masterpiece in its own right. A perfect blend of terrifing horror, brilliant science fiction and explosive action. A... read more riveting, heart-pounding and spectacular action-packed edge of your seat thrill-machine that you have to see to believe. A pure knockout. A well-crafted and unforgettable piece of pure awesome epic force. A fast and furious entertainment ride.
  • YodaMasterJedi
    October 13, 2012
    YodaMasterJedi
    three stars
  • samoriley
    August 7, 2012
    samoriley
    An incredible sequel which almosts towers over the orginal masterpiece. This work of genius is directed by James Cameron and has Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ripley. Sci-Fi's greatest creature has returned with a vengeance. With plenty of action, terror and iconic phras... read morees, this is the possibly the greatest Science fiction film of all time.
  • fb1664868775
    July 22, 2012
    fb1664868775
    James Cameron's big-budget, action packed continuation of Ridley Scott's Alien is the ultimate popcorn flick. a great sequel and the definition of a summer blockbuster, you couldn't ask for a better time at the movies.
  • emilkakko
    June 24, 2012
    emilkakko
    Much better and more exciting than Ridley Scott's overrated Alien. Director James Cameron succeeds in creating a atmosphere so nightmarish and uneasy that viewer literally feels that the air is running out from the room.
    Aliens certainly would be a better film without all the ma... read morecho/marine stuff, but even with it's flaws it is one hell of a ride.
    With claustrophobic production design, masterful soundtrack and brilliantly stylish use of creature-effects it tops itself as one of the best films of 80's.
    One of the film's biggest strenghts is Sigourney Weaver with her powerful performance. She completely commands every scene she is in for over two hours. It is not a surprise that her character Ellen Ripley has gained a iconic status over the last three decades. She is definetly one of the most poweful created woman characters on screen and director Cameron knows how to make her even more complex.
    Aliens is easily James Cameron's best film to date. It is outstandind how good it looks and sounds still. It easily even make most of today's sci-fi look pale in comparision. This is a must see for all the sci-fi horror fans.
  • aquateen2
    June 24, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    There has only been a small handful of sequels in history that have bettered there predecessors, Aliens is naturally one of them. As much as I love movies that are slow, atmospheric and nail biting I pre... read morefer James Cameron's film because I was surprised the plot worked amazingly as an action sci-fi film. There hasn't been one in history that has been more inspirational to the horror genre than Alien and not one for sci-fi action than Aliens. It manages to duplicate the original films characters so that you actually care about them and aren't disregarded as another guy in the body count. It's just as claustrophobic as the original, it's got the groundbreaking performance of heroin Sigourney Weaver from the original, and unbelievably, it's improved on the technical set pieces of the original. Featuring, an awe inspiring and unexpected finale, it just barely tops Ridley Scott's intense psychological thriller.

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Critic Reviews

Gene Siskel
January 16, 2013
Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune

Count me out of the fan club for this one. Full Review

October 19, 2008
TIME Magazine

The trouble Ripley has found this time is exponentially bigger and scarier than anything she encountered in Ridley Scott's memorably minimalist, eerily elegant 1979 film. Full Review

Dave Kehr
September 24, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

One sequel that surpasses the original. Full Review

August 16, 2007
Time Out

There is always an interesting tension in Cameron's work between masculine and feminine qualities. When it finally hits the fan here, we're in for the mother of all battles. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out New York

This sequel dares to build slowly, allowing Weaver to develop a multi-dimensional character even as it ups the ante by fetishising the Marines' hi-tech hardware and spawning legions of aliens. Full Review

Walter Goodman
May 21, 2003
Walter Goodman, New York Times

A flaming, flashing, crashing, crackling blow-'em-up show that keeps you popping from your seat despite your better instincts and the basically conventional scare tactics.

February 13, 2001
Variety

Makes up for lack of surprise with sheer volume of thrills and chills. Full Review

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

"Absolutely smashing!"

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

When it comes to the logical marriage of action, adventure, and science fiction, few films are as effective or accomplished as Aliens. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The ads for Aliens claim that this movie will frighten you as few movies have, and, for once, the ads don't lie. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Ellen Ripley: Get away from her you bitch!
    • Ellen Ripley: These people are here to protect you. They're soldiers.
    • Newt: It won't make any difference.
    • Ellen Ripley: This is little girl survived long than that with no weapons and no training.
    • Newt: [salutes]
    • Pvt. Hudson: Why don't you put her in charge!
    • Pvt. Drake: Right on, Vaz
    • Newt: They mostly come at night... mostly
    • Ellen Ripley: Get away from her you bitch!
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  • His nickname was "Prince" because he could always charm his way out of trouble. He battled aliens wearing only black, saved a country on Independence Day and then became an Enemy of the State. Who is he?  Answer »
  • What Movie is NOT about Aliens?  Answer »
  • How did the humans beat the aliens in War Of The Worlds?  Answer »
  • i fight aliens, i fight evil robots, i help people that have no luck with women, i want you to nod your head. who am i?   Answer »
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