Aliens (1986)
Average Rating: 8.9/10
Reviews Counted: 58
Fresh: 57 | Rotten: 1
While Alien was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension, Aliens packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.
Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 14
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 1
While Alien was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension, Aliens packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.
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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 418,541
Movie Info
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 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
Jul 18, 1986 Wide
Jun 1, 1999
20th Century Fox Film Corporat
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Cast
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Sigourney Weaver
Ellen Ripley -
Carrie Henn
Newt -
Michael Biehn
Cpl. Dwayne Hicks -
Lance Henriksen
Bishop -
Paul Reiser
Carter Burke -
Jenette Goldstein
Pvt. Vasquez -
Bill Paxton
Pvt. Hudson -
William Hope
Lt. Gorman -
Colette Hiller
Cpl. Ferro -
Daniel Kash
Pvt. Spunkmeyer -
Al Matthews
Sgt. Apone -
Alibe Parsons
Med Tech -
Alan Polonsky
Insurance Man -
Mark Rolston
Pvt. Drake -
Ricco Ross
Pvt. Frost -
Kiran Shah
Double for Newt -
Paul Maxwell
Van Leuwen -
Tip Tipping
Pvt. Crowe -
Barbara Coles
Cocooned Woman -
Valerie Colgan
ECA Rep -
Blain Fairman
Doctor -
Louise Head
Double for Newt -
John Lees
Power Loader Operato... -
Trevor Steedman
Pvt. Wierzbowski -
Carl Toop
Alien Warrior -
Cynthia Scott
Cpl. Dietrich
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Aliens Trailer & Photos
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (57) | Rotten (1) | DVD (37)
[Aliens] is a spectacular example of state-of-the-art science fiction simply because it never tries to be overtly spectacular.
Top CriticIt's blaster action, not Gothic future-horror. Fortunately, director-screenwriter James Cameron has shaped his film around the defiant intelligence and sensual athleticism of Weaver, and that's where Aliens works best.
The idea behind Aliens remains the scariest, dirtiest, most perversely funny one for a monster film, and the Rambo action further gooses us.
This film is also the best monster movie of the year and the best picture of any kind to open so far this summer. Put it another way: Aliens is the Jaws of the '80s.
Action thrillers assail but rarely test us; this is the tautest, most provoking, and altogether most draining example ever made.
Count me out of the fan club for this one.
The result is a film that not only answers many questions raised by the original story, but also expands production values, amplifies special effects and weaves a new plot that is even more exciting than the first.
Surpassing its predecessor in terms of sheer spectacle, this sequel to Ridley Scott's outer-space nightmare from director James Cameron is an outstanding science-fiction thriller.
So much for the theory that sequels never equal the original.
On the short list of sequels that not only matched the quality of its predecessor, but arguably surpassed it to become one of the greatest films of its genre.
Another defining picture in the sci-fi genre. A stellar achievement that's almost as good as the original.
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.
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.
Alien sequel is bigger, faster, scarier.
It's interesting that the film, a sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 atmospheric horror-film-in-space, is generally regarded as an action movie. Go through it, and you'll realize the character and dialogue scenes far outweigh the kablooey stuff.
Proved that James Cameron has a mind for directing action movies considerably more nuanced and plot-driven than just "find ways to blow things up".
If you were to only see one movie in your entire lifetime it would have to be ALIENS. James Cameron has delivered a masterpiece that will never in a million years be topped...
Some critics consider this chapter to be better than the first, but the two movies are vastly different: Ridley Scott's is a scary horror film, whereas James Cameron's is a high-tech actioner with superlative set-pieces.
Cameron's strength lies in solid storytelling in the muscular fashion that he stages the action, creating exciting thrills and intense suspense without ever descending into the mere mechanical.
Audience Reviews for Aliens
Super Reviewer
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Movies Like Aliens
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- Ellen Ripley: Show me everything.
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- Carter Burke: I made a bad call.
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- Newt: Ripley, she doesn't have bad dreams because she's a doll.
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- Cpl. Dwayne Hicks: It doesn't mean we're engaged or anything.
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- Sgt. Apone: Somebody wake up Hicks!
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- Pvt. Hudson: Hey Vasquez have you ever been mistaken for a man?
- Pvt. Vasquez: No. Have you?
Discussion Forum
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Foreign Titles
- Aliens - Die Rückkehr (DE)
- Aliens, el regreso (ES)
