Alien
1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O'Bannon Website
Approval Rate: 75%
Reviews 44
by spike65
Fri Jul 18 2008The original and best of the Alien series. Dark, scary, and claustrophobic.
by scuta5
Tue Jun 24 2008In Chronological order: Alien Versus Predator, Aliens versus Predator: Requiem, Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection. I have all six films of the franchise on dvd. srry if it sounds like i'm bragging. The "Alien" and the plot of the series fascinates me to liking the movies. It doesn't scare me, well the thought of that kind of an Alien loose, scares me. Alien versus Predator. i give 3 stars. and also it's sequel 3 stars out of five. If only AVP 2 wasn't so hard to see, i would like it more. all in all, i give the franchise, 5 stars.
by lmorovan
Thu Apr 17 2008Excellent suspense and horror sci fi movie, superb photography (gave me the chills) good acting and decent special effects. Never in the first movie do we see how the alien actually looks like (there is never a shot of an alien standing still). A masterpiece.
by thwrmth
Thu Mar 13 2008One of the scariest movies of all time, period. No one movie has mastered since or dug that deep into what we would think an 8 foot tall, flesh eating alien would look and act like. Awesome special effects, great scenario, and plus, Sigourney's a babe... Favortie sci-fi of all time.
by lion_in_winter
Sun Feb 04 2007Ridley Scott's 1979 film is a brilliant work. A Sci Fi horror film- that tingles and numbs and horrifies. One of the most influential films of all time- and a slimy end of the wacky 1970's. Great performances by all. Iconic and noteworthy.
by canadasucks
Thu Oct 05 2006A 'fantasy' movie? 1-star. Horror or sci-fi movie? 5-stars. . .
by jenkoaa5
Thu Oct 05 2006It is a toss up for me between the original Alien and Cameron's Aliens. Usually I don't go for shoot-em-up movies like Cameron's Aliens really does have the right combination of action, horror and humour. Ridley Scott's Alien however is obviously so much more overtly stylish and downright creepy! What is cool about the whole series however is the way in which Ripley, the female heroine, is so believable as an ET's ass-kicking, alien stomping badass. It is not amazing because women can't do that but simply because, at the time, it was so unusual. And it was all down to the charisma and talent of Sig Weaver. Wow, I love those first two films.
by jeremy00081
Wed Sep 13 2006Creepy, atmospheric horror in space. One of the best sci fi/horror films ever made.
by silver_eagle_252
Sun Apr 02 2006Not a big horror movie fan, but a big sci-fi fan, this movie really got my attention when it first came out. You missed out if you didn't get to see it on a theater screen. Alien made me realize how difficult it is to create the perfect sets, the perfect script and the perfect cast, and has let me appreciate the truly amazing results when everything comes together in rare perfection. This is one killer movie. Couldn't sleep for days after seeing it.
by genghisthehun
Sun Jan 08 2006This was a good throw back to the sci fi horror flicks from the good old days. A space ship crew lands on a derelict planet and falls in with a bad lot of really bad creatures.
by blueorchid
Wed Dec 14 2005It didn't scare me at all...probably because I made out during it.
by dwainb2c
Fri Nov 04 2005One of the scariest flicks ever made. I guess it was the blotter that I dropped befor going to the flick in 79!
by rater1006
Wed Mar 30 2005Not as good as Aliens, but still great. This is the first of the decent alien movies. I think these would eat E.T up for breakfast. Go Alien. Shame it never explains where they cam from in any of the films.
by jontheman
Mon Dec 13 2004Too many horror movies focus endlessly on the monster and show said being frequently to make good on their investment. This movie focuses on creating an unsettling atmosphere, establishing space as a cold, dark and isolated domain and conveying the fear and paranoia of the characters. As such the main antagonist appears relatively infrequently in the film but the suspense created is terrific. A brilliantly unnerving film.
by keybored
Sun Dec 12 2004This film is fantastic. Ridley Scott at his best. Its protagonist, Ellen Ripley, defies the stereotypes put on strong women characters. She's no Elle Woods! Did anyone besides me notice the windchime theme, throughout the movie? They were everywhere! Anyhow, it's a timeless classic.
by dirty_harry
Sat May 22 2004Super! I've seen dozens of times & it still grabs me. The writing is superb, the acting terrific & the tension really builds as the Alien slowly picks off one at a time. The best scene is where Ripley (after everyone else is killed) almost runs into the creature on her way into the shuttle. It's creepy as it sneaks around the corner. Also horrifying is where the alien comes upon Parker & Lambert while they're collecting up the coolant. If you're a horror/sci-fi fan, you must have this in your collection!
by alpepper
Fri Apr 16 2004I have to put it down as the movie that made me close my eyes the most of any movie I've seen. In space, no one can hear you scream, the ads said back in '79, but there was sure a lot of screaming in the theater that day. That damn cat Jonesy was as scary as the freakin' Alien. Horrorific aside, there was sexiness to the movie. Both girls on the Nostramo were dolls. The sight of Sigourney Weaver in bikini panties nearly getting her rump patted by the Alien was raw sexiness followed by sheer terror. It was a great movie.
by classictvfan47
Sat Jan 31 2004Overrated as a sci-fi film. Basically a B-horror movie in outer space. Star Trek is an infintely better sci-fi franchise.
by irishgit
Thu Dec 18 2003Competent remake of It Came From Beyond the Sun, this is certainly the other side of E.T.
by byrdiohead
Mon Dec 08 2003Rightly one of the scariest movies of all time. No other film instills fear and lonliness in the viewer like this picture. I nearly soiled myself when the Alien's hand shot out of the wall or when it pops out of that guys chest.
by hippiebill
Sun Nov 30 2003Probably THE scariest movie ever made. Suspenseful from beginning to end. Not a rip-off of an earlier movie as someone else had suggested. As the tag line says: In space-no one can hear you scream.
by kirara
Mon Nov 17 2003I am a BIG sci-fi lover so Alien immediately drew me in. With an awesome cast and a VERY memorable main character (the alien that is) this movie a veritable thrill ride. The action seldom takes a stop as Ripley, the main human character, is forced to save herself, her crew, and her cat. The wonderfully done alien in the movie is undoubtedly the most notable feature in this picture, as it tries to kill off each of the crewmembers. The thing I probable like the most about this movie is what I like about most movies like JAWS and Predator. That would be the fact that you dont see much of the monster till near the end. To me, constantly seeing the thing your running from just makes the sense of wonder leave the movie entirely. I have always loved the Alien saga, and the fist of the bunch is most defiantly a great one. I highly recommend this movie to all sci-fi lovers.
by tvtator
Sat Nov 15 2003One of the greatest horror movies ever made. This movie will send chills up your spine for what it does and does not show. Best of all the hero was a woman.
by virilevagabond
Sat Nov 15 2003Alien (released in 1979, two years after Star Wars) is a science fiction movie which addresses the contemporary human condition. Director Ridley Scott creates a dark and futuristic, yet eerily organic world which hints at the problems of today but with the additional veneer of whizbang technology and inhuman corporate omnipresence. (Scott returned to these undertones in Blade Runner.) The viewer is able to relate to the human characters as they are thrust into increasingly impossible challenges, forced to make decisions that place emotion and logic in conflict (eg Ripley refusing to allow Dallas and Kane back into the ship), and faced with primordial fears of that deadly creature lurking in the damp shadows (as the presence of the alien is felt rather than seen). The original Alien is much better than any of the sequels as the film doesn't overly rely on action and the dialogue is well done, working even when understated. (Ripley also becomes too hard core in the sequels which ero... Read more
by mikeholly93
Thu Aug 21 2003Even almost 25 years, stil the most scariest space movie ever. the creature bursting out of that man's chest is still the best scene. The music is also very scary. A lot scarier than many modern science fiction and thriller movies. Some scary scenes-the alien derelict ship with the alien pilot skeleton and the egg room, the chest burster scene, the alien killing Brett in the dark cargo hold room, the alien stalking Dallas in the air vent, the alien being on Ripley's shuttle, Ash attacking Ripley, and a deleted scene in which Ripley finds Brett and Dallas cocooned in the cargo room.
by resisobilus
Fri Apr 04 2003Loses a point for the annoying light show and for not showing Paul Reiser being eaten.
by forgotten_hero
Wed Mar 19 2003Completly unoriginal. Contains you're basic components for a scary movie. Ripoff of an even older sci-fi movie.
by reenyf4b
Wed Mar 19 2003A very scary movie. This is one of the only movies that truly scares me. You have these people trapped out in space, out in the middle of nowhere, with this alien who's menacing and frightening look is only matched by its killer instinct.
by oreo_man
Wed Jan 22 2003very good. The alien was very cool and the scene were the alien pops out of the guys chest was great.
by lukskywlkr
Thu Nov 28 2002Excellent movie, with some good effects. The series really didn't get going good until the second one, but this one ranks right up there too.
by rewinder
Mon Sep 16 2002In my top 10 of greatest all time movies, and now one of the best-produced DVDs out there. One of the great ensemble casts of all time. Excellent, original set designs, from the cramped, lived-in Nostromo ship sets to the gloomy alien caverns, bio-ship interiors, and dark planetscapes. The Alien itself is the best designed Alien creature in SF ever, complete with a biological history from egg to adult. Better than Aliens. Alien3 is the worst of the series, but still not that bad. And Alien (4): Resurrection is a good companion piece to Aliens. But this first one is truly the best, complete with a healthy dose of anti-government, anti-corporate paranoia which was expanded on in the sequels. Jones is the best -- and most troublesome-- cat in space. And Jerry Goldsmith's beautiful score is his best. The DVD has TWO isolated scores so you can hear all of his music -- the way he meant to have it in the movie. If you like the movie at all, you'll love the DVD, packed with lots of extras.
by teaseress
Sat May 18 2002Very, very good sci fi film. Its not a wham bam here's all the action at once. This film develops slowly and has hooks in it that make you jump out of your seat and keeps your eyes glued to the screen at the same time! The music is great, the SFX aren't particularly good, but it makes up for it with the acting, plot and the designs of HR Giger. The acting is great and I can watch this film over and over again.
by saurian
Sun Aug 05 2001This movie easily amazed me when I first saw it. The dark atmosphere it projected was beautiful, and the presentation of the alien was excellent. You never really saw the whole alien in a single scene, which gave for a mysterious feeling. At the alien was an original concept. The birth and life cycle or the creature seemed very original to me. And this movie had a good story. The reason I like this movie more than the others was because Sigourny Weaver wasn't the glorified heroine. She was just another equal member of the crew trying to survive.
by jbiscuit1
Sun Jun 10 2001Alien is the best space horror flick ever made. The special effects are exquisite, and eventhough the viewer can predict the deaths of some characters, Ridley Scott is still able to surprise the audience. The performances of Sigourney Weaver and John Hurt are brilliant, and the story has no equal. The tension of the characters is easily conveyed to the audience.
by thorne
Sun Apr 22 2001This has got to be my favorite sci-fi horror film ever made. This is Ridley Scott's master peice of horror. I would have to say this is the best of the Alien saga. I know alot of people would beg to differ and say Aliens beats Alien. I disagree. Which is harder? To create a movie with blood, guts, explosions and machine guns with alot of marines screaming f*ck me sh*t every other line or to create a movie with blood and guts but instead of gun fire use a plot line character development and a story that actually touches on many deep seated fears. Alien is a great meditation on isolation,lose of hope and dispair. There really is no good happy message to be taken from alien. Which is almost true with alot of real life situations. The real message is damn the man. The government is working against us! They don't care who dies as long as our nation has the best weapons. Very good performances from a talented ensemble cast. Fantastic directing from master Ridley Scott. And above all one of t... Read more
by callmetootie
Sat Apr 14 2001Alien is a movie starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, who has just gone abourd a ship where an alien is living. She was pretty good in it, but this movie itself is just another sci-fi gore-fest that will only appeal to those with a good stomach.
by sensei
Wed Apr 04 2001The tag 'first of a kind' may be a bit of a stretch, but I don't remember too many movies where Sci-fi, suspense & horror were so neatly put together before Alien. Another twist was that the Captain is the first major figure to go - surely that broke the rules and we have a action heroine as well! Great movie.
by hexcaliber
Thu Jan 18 2001What is to be said about a movie that frightened me back in 70s and still can do so today? I'll get straight to the point of why this movie worked so perfectly, whereas the sequels (the exception being Aliens) did not. You actually get to know, and to like the characters. Director Ridley Scott allows you to get acquainted with the 7 crewmembers. We get to see them carry on conversations and interact with each other for nearly 40 minutes. We see them awaken, eat, and work together. We see humor and tension as they socialize. Then we see them exterminated one by one by a barely-seen presence known as the Alien. We see the pain and hear the dying gasps of Kane who unwillingly became the alien host. We see Brett helplessly carried away into a ventilation shaft, and Dallas without a chance to react in a dark narrow airvent. We see Ash the robot betray the crew with their very lives on a heartless Company order. We see Parker beg Lambert to get away as he sacrifices himself. We he... Read more
by moosqwat
Wed Jan 10 2001Very good movie. I would recommend it to adults, it may be a bit harsh for young people.
by giga5262
Tue Jan 09 2001Good directing and storyline. Excellent costumes and design of aliens. Action packed and thrilling. The movie elicited excitement.
by bill_bradshaw
Thu Dec 14 2000the ultimate sci-fi horror movie
by grimdrifter
Mon Nov 13 2000Trully the best of the Alien saga, this is a classic Sci-fi with intrigue and probably the best crafted back story I have ever seen. This movie was left completely open for a great sequel and it is a pity it never happened. HR Giger was a genius with the Alien design. The greatest part was the questions the movie left the viewer asking. A little mystery is always good. Anyone who does not like this movie simply does not understand it. Tom Skerrit, Sigourteny Weaver, Yaffat Koto, and John Hurt were great. Definately a great movie for Ridley Scott. The music by Jerry Goldsmith was great. Everyone must see this movie.
by yodafff9
Sun Nov 05 2000A great movie with lots of surprizes
by mich2571om
Tue Dec 07 1999Alien is one of the worst movies ever made.