April 26 marks the 45th anniversary of a cinematic milestone. Followers of the saga Alien gather around the world, both physically and virtually, to celebrate the Alien Day, a date that honors the franchise. This year, the celebrations coincide with the anticipation for the upcoming release of a new installment that expands the universe of the saga known as Romulus. “Alien Day” has been commemorated every April 26 since 2016, in reference to an important detail in the plot of the film directed by Ridley Scott. In the story, the crew led by Lieutenant Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) arrives at the planet Acheron, known as LV-426, home of the feared Xenomorphs. Therefore, April 26 refers to the number 426, according to the date format used in the United States.
Here we have nine more alien films to accompany Alien in this listing:
10. THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH
(1976)
Dir. Nicolas Roeg
This is a masterpiece of science fiction cinema following an alien played by David Bowie, who comes to Earth in search of water to save his dying planet. As he attempts to adapt to human life, he faces the alienation, loneliness, and corruption of the terrestrial world. Roeg uses non-linear narrative and visually stunning aesthetics to explore themes such as identity, alienation, and the search for meaning in an unknown world. Bowie’s performance is memorable and the film remains relevant and powerful to this day (there is an interesting sequel in television series format starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and a magnificent companion piece known as Under The Skin).
9. MARS ATTACKS!
(nineteen ninety six)
Dir. Tim Burton
A whimsical parody of 1950s alien invasion movies (complete with theremin music), inspired by grotesque trading cards (similar to Garbage Pail Kids) and features an all-star cast that includes Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Pierce Brosnan, and many more. With its distinctive visual style and absurd humor, Martians to attack offers a hilarious satire of American culture and the clichés of the genre. The film is a visual feast with wonderful special effects, aliens that are hard to forget (ak ak ak ak) and a ridiculously entertaining plot that guarantees laughs and lots of entertainment.
8. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
(1951)
Dir. Robert Wise
A classic of science fiction cinema directed by the editor of the Citizen Kane and the director of The Sound of Music as well as the first film for cinema trip to the stars. The film presents a shocking story about an alien named Klaatu who arrives with his giant robot named Gort to Earth with a warning message to humanity about the danger of his destructive behavior. With its tense atmosphere and timeless themes of war, peace and human responsibility, The day the Earth stood still is a masterpiece of the genre that has left an indelible mark on popular culture. Its impact endures through the decades, serving as a provocative reflection on the fate of humanity in an increasingly threatening world (there is a 2008 adaptation starring Keanu Reeves that is best forgotten).
7. PREDATOR
(1987)
Dir. John McTiernan
A group of elite soldiers led by Arnold Schwarzenegger face an invisible and deadly enemy in the jungle of Central America. With its combination of intense action, suspense and innovative special effects for the time, Predator It has become an emblematic film of the genre. Its impact endures thanks to its constant intrigue, its impressive action scenes and the memorable creation of the alien in question, a fearsome and lethal hunter. (It had one decent sequel, two terrible crossovers with Alien, two mediocre reboots and a wonderful prequel known as Prey).
6. THE THING
(1982)
Dir. John Carpenter
The adaptation of The Thing From Another World by the director of Halloween, surpasses the original film by introducing us to a group of scientists at a research station in Antarctica led by Kurt Russell, who face a parasitic alien life form capable of imitating any organism. With its claustrophobic atmosphere, stunning handcrafted special effects and palpable sense of suspense, Enigma from another world is today a classic, despite the fact that it was a commercial failure the year it was released (in the same way as blade runner). Carpenter’s film offers a disturbing exploration of paranoia, mistrust and survival in an isolated and hostile environment and its influence endures in horror and science fiction cinema, making it an intensely memorable cinematic experience (it had a prequel in 2011 that almost became manages to save).
5. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
(1956)
Dir. Don Siegel
A disturbing premise in which the inhabitants of a small town are replaced by emotionless alien duplicates. With its atmosphere of growing paranoia, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers It offers a terrifying reflection on the loss of identity, social conformity and is a reflection on the paranoia and fanaticism resulting from the Cold War. The film is an emblematic example of science fiction cinema and its influence endures in numerous adaptations and subsequent works of the genre (it had two wonderful remakes by Philip Kaufman and Abel Ferrara, respectively, and a third, not so memorable one, known as The Invasion).
4. ARRIVAL
(2016)
Dir. Denis Villeneuve
A fascinating science fiction thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve before consecrating with Dune and its magnificent sequel blade runner, which follows a linguist played by Amy Adams, who is recruited by the government to communicate with mysterious spaceships that have arrived on Earth. With her intelligent script, solid performances and masterful direction, the arrival offers a deep exploration of communication, time, and human perception. The film stands out for its thoughtful approach and its ability to captivate the viewer with its intriguing premise and surprising twists.
3. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
(1977)
Dir. Steven Spielberg
An ordinary man, played by Richard Dreyfuss, becomes haunted by visions of extraterrestrial encounters after witnessing a UFO sighting. With its humanistic approach, innovative visual effects and an iconic soundtrack by John Williams, Close Encounters of the Third Kind It is a cinematic experience that transcends the science fiction genre. The film explores curiosity, communication and human connection with a sense of wonder and awe, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and cementing its place as one of cinema’s great classics.
A timeless film classic also directed by Steven Spielberg, which tells the emotional story of friendship between a boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas) and an adorable alien who is stranded on Earth. With its irresistible charm, moving performances and captivating narrative, E.T. captured the imagination and hearts of viewers of all ages (Stanley Kubrick considered it one of his favorite films). The film is a testament to the power of cinema to evoke genuine emotions and convey universal messages about friendship, empathy and belonging (it never had a sequel, but it did have a gruesome McDonald’s-sponsored imitation known as My friend Mac).
1. ALIEN
(1979)
Dir. Ridley Scott
A milestone in science fiction and horror cinema that follows the crew of the Nostromo spaceship, which faces a terrifying and lethal extraterrestrial organism after responding to a distress signal on an unknown planet. With its claustrophobic atmosphere, innovative production design and an iconic creature designed by the great HR Giger, Alien: The Eighth Passenger is a visual feast and a thrilling journey into the unknown terror of outer space. The film redefines the science fiction genre and sets a high standard for space horror films, leaving a lasting legacy in cinema and popular culture (it had three spectacular sequels, two disgusting crossovers with Predator, two mediocre prequels (Prometheus, Covenant) and we are waiting for a new installment that, truth be told, promises a lot).
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