With horror fans anticipating Jordan Peele's summer 2022 film Nope, which is about aliens, those who love scary movies are looking to watch more stories from this subgenre. An alien movie is always thrilling since it involves characters who are equally freaked out and intrigued by what's going on, and it's clear that there are going to be some huge surprises before the end credits roll.
The past few decades have seen some well-done and impressive horror movies about aliens, focusing on invasions that take place on Earth along with a classic film about a crew on a spaceship. Redditors are sharing their favorite movies about strange and fascinating creatures.
The Faculty (1998)
Stream on HBO Max
Redditor Hamkothegreat suggested "The Faculty" as a favorite horror movie about aliens and this one stands out from the crowd since it's about teenagers learning that their teachers have been taken over by another species. When Casey Connor sees something odd on the school's football field, he tells his science teacher and realizes that, to his terror, the teachers can't be trusted.
The Faculty is a great '90s horror movie and it's equally eerie and funny watching high schoolers learn about how scary their school is. The film also delves into subjects of popularity and rebellion, as the main characters don't fit in and band together to figure out what's going on.
The Fourth Kind (2009)
Rent on AppleTV
One Redditor recommended The Fourth Kind, writing that it "gave me nightmares for weeks when it was new. Saw it again a while ago, and it still creeped me out." The movie follows Dr. Abbey Tyler, a psychologist talking about aliens taking over Alaska, and since it's a pseudocumentary, audiences watch re-enactments of what really happened.
Abbey has a sad backstory, as her husband is killed and she realizes that her patients have most likely been taken over by aliens. Throughout this entire confusing and freaky situation, Abbey is raising her children on her own. The Fourth Kind shows some interesting interactions between aliens and humans and also has a memorable ending.
Alien (1979)
Stream on Hulu
Redditor choff22 said that the classic 1979 film Alien "really is the best alien horror film ever created" and praised the "pacing, atmosphere, special effects, creature design."
Ridley Scott's film is definitely the gold standard by which other alien stories are measured by, telling the story of the crew on the spaceship Nostromo, including Sigourney Weaver's famous character Ellen Ripley. Alien does an incredible job of creating a sense of terror and dread, making it impossible to look away, which is why this movie has such staying power.
Area 51 (2015)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor Ok-Hat9079 said that Area 51 is a "good found footage one" and it's fun watching characters discover other beings through this storytelling lens. After Ben, Darrin, and Reid attend a party and one of them disappears and then comes back but in a strange and unsettling way, the other two decide to look into whether aliens exist.
Area 51 is one of the best found footage horror movies as the three characters find an area that no one is supposed to go into. They see a spaceship there, which is fascinating, and they know that something important is happening or they wouldn't get into so much trouble trying to investigate.
Dark Skies (2013)
Stream on Netflix
For Redditor Ch33kiiiBoiii, when it comes to alien horror films, "Two of my favorites are Signs and Dark Skies." The 2013 movie Dark Skies sets up the story perfectly, with Daniel and Lacey Barrett having a tough time getting along as Daniel has been unemployed for a while and they're worried about money. When aliens start visiting their home and making their dangerous presence known, the family has to fight for safety and protect their sons.
With a twist ending that turns the whole movie on its head, Dark Skies is fun and smart, creating the sense of dread that is necessary for this kind of film but also letting audiences get to know the characters well.
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
Rent on AppleTV
Redditor DoomWithAView suggested the 2008 film Cloverfield and the 2016 sequel 10 Cloverfield Lane. The fan wrote of the second movie, "10 Cloverfield might be more of a psychological thriller, but John Goodman is terrifyingly good."
The main characters Michelle and Howard meet each other in strange circumstances, with Howard telling Michelle that it seems like creatures have taken over the world and he knows how to keep them both safe.
Annihilation (2018)
Stream on Paramount+
Redditor no_longer_LW_2020 recommended one of Natalie Portman's best movies, Annihilation, calling it an "Excellent horror movie." After Lena's husband Kane goes missing, she goes into an area called The Shimmer with some others, hoping that she can locate him and figure out more about this place.
The Shimmer is an unnerving place to say the least, and this movie is a good pick for fans looking for a distinct take on an alien movie. Annihilation doesn't leave a single detail untouched and creates a vibrant world with its own rules.
Fire In The Sky (1993)
Stream on Prime Video
In alien stories, there are the believers and the skeptics, with government officials and other experts often playing the role of the latter, For Redditor pulugulu, Fire In The Sky is a compelling film and it "has the most disturbing abduction scenes ever."
In Arizona in 1975, a group of characters working in the logging industry see what seems to be a UFO. While they believe that aliens have come to town, no one else thinks so and blames them instead.
V/H/S 2 (2013)
Stream on Fubo and rent on AppleTV
One Redditor shared that "The alien sequence in VHS 2 is pretty gnarly," making this another recommendation for interesting stories about creatures. The sequel is a creative found footage horror movie and features characters who are at home, at a house near the lake, in the woods, and in a doctor's office, all coming across creatures.
V/H/S 2 has a structure that is very different, and like the first movie V/HS, there are four stories and then a conclusion, with the characters coming across zombies and aliens.
Pitch Black (2000)
Stream on Peacock
In the popular movie Pitch Black, Riddick is on route to prison via a spaceship, and when there's an accident, he finds himself on a planet. One Redditor recommended Pitch Black and wrote, "Good mystery about the aliens and the humans for that matter. Vin Diesel at his best."
The pace of the movie never stops for a second, as Riddick comes across dangerous and terrifying aliens. It's a new take on this subgenre since the main character comes across other beings in a unique way and he stumbles upon their planet instead of aliens invading Earth.