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Alien

R Released May 25, 1979 1h 57m Sci-Fi Horror TRAILER for Alien: 45th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer 1 List
93% Tomatometer 202 Reviews 94% Audience Score 250,000+ Ratings
In deep space, the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. The terror begins when the crew encounters a nest of eggs inside the alien ship. An organism from inside an egg leaps out and attaches itself to one of the crew, causing him to fall into a coma. Read More Read Less
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Alien

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A modern classic, Alien blends science fiction, horror and bleak poetry into a seamless whole.

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Critics Reviews

View All (202) Critics Reviews
Jack Kroll Newsweek Alien will scare the peanuts right out of your M&M's. It was about time someone made a science-fiction thriller that thrills... and just boils everything down to the pure, ravishingly vulgar essence of fright. Nov 16, 2023 Full Review Elston Brooks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com You can have Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 2001. I'll take Alien. Nov 16, 2023 Full Review Desmond Ryan Philadelphia Inquirer Miss Weaver, a New York actress making her film debut, makes the most of the opportunity without overdoing it. She suggests toughness and fear in equal measure. Nov 16, 2023 Full Review Germain Lussier io9.com Like so many great sci-fi films of the era, it leaves those to the imagination in favor of character and story. Jul 5, 2024 Full Review Sarah Vincent AwardsWatch Human beings mostly die in the order of how much they acquiesced to the company without complaint, and even the robot and alien are not immune. Only the rebel, Ripley, and Jonesy, a cat who is the embodiment of a being who is never subservient, survive. Jun 14, 2024 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast A masterpiece of sci-fi horror. Rated: 4.5/5 May 28, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Aaron Bacchus A Horror Classic. The beat in the series. A must watch for all !!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/24/24 Full Review Jesse M The one that started it all, a great dive into a dark and atmospheric universe. Great score, amazingly detailed practical sets. A relatable cast and one of the most beautifully terrifying creature designs ever conceived. A must watch for any horror sci-fi fan! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review Caio K the best movie I have ever seen Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/12/24 Full Review The Great John A Alien is a 1979 sci-fi horror about a crew of 7 returning back to earth, only to discover a bizarre nesting ground of eggs... and the rest is history. Alien has most certainly lived up to it's relevancy almost 50 years on with it's ambiguous and shocking scenes for the time that still makes a fright (more unexpectedly rather than gory, as more horrors are far more grotesque) now as it did back then. A stellar and unflinching performances from all involved, including debuting Sigourney Weaver as a household name and making her character as Ripley one of the most iconic characters in all of cinema, to a magnificent effect. Ash especially was a cold and broody character that really upheld a unusual quality to him until his eventual murder intent was activated by a shove. Also Parker is a undeniable and absolutely charming character and his death had the biggest impact for me. The rest: Dallas, (unforgettable) Kane, Lambert and Brett complete a roster of characters that sci-fi nowadays still find hard to replicate, which is absolutely impressive. Overall, Alien has cemented itself as arguably one of the most elaborate and chilling sci-fi put on screen, and it will most certainly continue this way for years to come. Grade: S Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Griffith J Respected for its genre impact & use of practical effects. A unique & creepy atmosphere with excellent lighting, set design, & some of the best creature designs of all time. But it’s simply very old. Slow burn intensity with a very slow pace. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/07/24 Full Review Bennett S I didn’t expect much but when I watched this I was met with thrills and action and the insane stuff that was more than enough to make up for the excessive language. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/02/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Alien

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Movie Info

Synopsis In deep space, the crew of the commercial starship Nostromo is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel. The terror begins when the crew encounters a nest of eggs inside the alien ship. An organism from inside an egg leaps out and attaches itself to one of the crew, causing him to fall into a coma.
Director
Ridley Scott
Producer
David Giler, Gordon Carroll, Walter Hill
Screenwriter
Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox, Brandywine Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Sci-Fi, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 25, 1979, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 2024
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 2, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$82.6M
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1), 70mm
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