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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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90% liked it

374,363 ratings

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100% liked it

49 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: 25,189 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (25,189)

  • samoriley
    May 8, 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.
  • phubbs1
    May 6, 2012
    phubbs1
    Another Stan Winston creation with Cameron direction, genius.
    State of the badass art! this film rocks on every level, the only downer for me is the fact that you never really saw hords of aliens, some would say its more powerful that way but I think it would have been more tens... read moree and savage. Its still the perfect film with the perfect ensemble cast, amazing tension, fantastic hands on effects, realistic working sci-fi, dark, gritty...hell I don't even really need to go on about it, awesometastic sequel!
  • FilmFanatik
    February 29, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    If you're a fan of the Alien series and you talk to other fans, chances are that you're bound to run into someone who claims that Aliens is a better movie. While I totally disagree with that, I simply can't write the film off completely. Not only is it an absolutely perfect seque... read morel to the original masterpiece (in turn being a masterpiece in its own right), it's also very self-contained and one of the greatest action films ever made. Made at a time when James Cameron was fresh off of the success of The Terminator, this is the James Cameron I like. The one who was focused on making a film work using story and character dynamics, not just all cool images and viewing experiences. This was a filmmaker out to prove himself before he became a new-fangled George Lucas. Everyone gives great performances, the special effects are top notch and the story is very-well put together. Aliens isn't the best film of the series, but it's a very awesome second best.
  • garyX
    February 15, 2012
    garyX
    Ripley is awakened from stasis to find she has been gone for 57 years and being made a scapegoat for the loss of her ship. Until that is contact is lost with the colony on LV 426 when she is enlisted as an adviser to a combat unit sent to investigate. The vast majority of sequels... read more 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.
  • fb100002384654145
    November 4, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    Aliens is the definitive sequel, a film that offers a great follow-up to the original but also still stands on its own. Aliens offers a fresh take on the original's concepts. While Alien was a slow-burning suspense thriller, Aliens is a kinetic sci-fi action film. Sigourney We... read moreaver's performance is still as strong as ever. The marines in the film offer a memorable set of supporting characters. The visuals retain the originals gritty look, and the model building for the planet colony look fantastic. No CGI, all the visuals were done with practical effects. The pacing is fast and the action is tense. James Cameron turned what should have been a typical sequel into one of the greatest action movies of all time.
  • fb1341085175
    November 2, 2011
    fb1341085175
    The power of the big magic box. It really took me a screening on a big cinema screen (in 70mm with killer sound and introduced by Michael Biehn himself nonetheless) to really appreciate what I always thought to be a great, but still slightly inferior sequel to the classy original... read more. The usual James Cameron archetypes are still there, but he manages to inject such strength and tridimensionality into Ripley's character (which Sigourney Weaver made so iconic in a way which could be compared to Anthony Hopkins and Hannibal Lecter) that it becomes the rare sci-fi with a pulsating heart (and the spectator is sure bound to get palpitations among the exhilarating action sequences). I might still prefer the psychological pleasures of the original, but this is one hell of a great thrill ride which might as well be Cameron's masterpiece.
  • fb1664868775
    October 31, 2011
    fb1664868775
    James Cameron's big-budget, action packed continuation of Ridley Scott's Alien is certainly exciting but in the end, to me, it seems much less rewarding and memorable. The machismo soldiers and the non stop action dampens the horror aspect and there is none of the visual beauty o... read moref the first film. Still a great sequel and the definition of a summer blockbuster, Aliens seems to have traded in it's brains for action.
  • fb729949618
    September 22, 2011
    fb729949618
    Maybe i'm missing something, but I didn't think this movie was all that good. Definitely not a 100% perfect worthy. I liked it a tad better than the first, but I still found myself bored through many parts just like the first. The aliens don't really attack or chase, and when the... read morey do they move slow enough to where a turtle could lose them in a chase. Okay not really but you catch my drift. All in all it was okay, and I could live without ever watching it again. BUT just because it's a classic (I guess) and James Cameron directed it, i'll give it 4 stars........just barely.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    September 20, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    Big budget speical effects.....well maybe for the year it was made but very laughable nowadays such a difference from James Camerons special effects in this compared to Avatar!
    Its certainly better than the first one! Fair more action and better cast aswell with a little more hu... read moremour as well!
    Its entertaining and alot more Alien action but i still wouldnt say its fantastic, maybe i was just born in the wrong era!
  • spielberg00
    August 6, 2011
    spielberg00
    Even better than the original Alien film. Not considered a classic, and I don't really think it should somehow, but it's more intense and thrilling--in fact, you can't get more for 1986.

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Critic Reviews

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

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

Thomas Caldwell
September 22, 2011
Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy

Aliens contains a fascinating exploration of the way Western culture has traditionally aligned feminine characteristics onto nature while masculine characteristics have been aligned with civilisation. Full Review

R. L. Shaffer
October 30, 2010
R. L. Shaffer, IGN DVD

James Cameron's Aliens is easily one of the best sequels ever made, taking the original story and expanding upon it in ways most sequels are afraid to do. Full Review

Charles Cassady
September 9, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Alien sequel is bigger, faster, scarier. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Ellen Ripley: These people are here to protect you. They're soldiers.
    • Newt: It won't make any difference.
    • Cpl. Dwayne Hicks: Outstanding. Now all we need is a deck of cards.
    • Newt: We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.
    • Pvt. Frost: I guess she don't like the cornbread, either.
    • Pvt. Hudson: Hey top, what's the op?
    • Sgt. Apone: It's a rescue mission, you'll love it. There's some juicy colonists' daughters we have to rescue from their virginity. Heh!
    • Ellen Ripley: Get away from her you B*TCH!
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  • 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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