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Alien

Play trailer 0:33 Poster for Alien R 1979 1h 56m Sci-Fi Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 211 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 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.
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Alien

Alien

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Marc Lee Daily Telegraph (UK) Jul 16, 2026
There is still much to enjoy and admire in Ridley Scott's film. Go to Full Review Jack Kroll Newsweek Nov 16, 2023
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. Go to Full Review Elston Brooks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Nov 16, 2023
You can have Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 2001. I'll take Alien. Go to Full Review Mike Pearson Denver Rocky Mountain News Apr 8, 2026
At its best, "Alien" remains an exercise in claustrophobic terror. Go to Full Review Richard Freedman Newark Star-Ledger Jan 6, 2026
Alien is no ordinary movie. While its gruesome effects require a strong stomach, its overall impact requires an even strong mind and imagination. Go to Full Review David Day Horror Movie Talk Sep 18, 2025
10/10
Alien is one of the most impressive pieces of cinema in history. It set the bar so high for horror and sci-fi that I think it’s still the apex of both. Every single aspect of this movie is carefully thought-out and crafted to the highest of standards. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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VictorHFerr Apr 8, 2025 AWESOME SCIFI/HORROR FILM BY DIRECTOR RIDLEY SCOTT!!! See more Jeremiah Sep 28, 2024 My all time favorite film. it needs no justification. watch and see the genius of true horror. See more Aaron Bacchus May 24, 2024 A Horror Classic. The beat in the series. A must watch for all !!! See more Dominic T @Dom2Chilly 16 hrs ago 8.1/10. Alien is an all time classic and great watch for any horror fan. Amazing visuals that stand the test of time and can be rewatched whenever. A beautiful suspension horror that keeps me engaged. See more Bob H @b33b1 Sep 3, 2026 One of my favorite movies ever See more Robert P @Superbad Sep 2, 2026 Not as good as the second movie, that one "Aliens" gets a *5* star review, but as I walking to my car in the parking lot, I felt scared! See more Read all reviews
Alien

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Cast & Crew

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Ridley Scott

Director

Tom Skerritt

Captain A.J. Dallas

Sigourney Weaver

Warrant Officer Lt. Ellen L. Ripley

John Hurt

Engineer G.W. Kane

Veronica Cartwright

Navigator J.M. Lambert

Harry Dean Stanton

Engineering Technician S.E. Brett

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Alien

Film Critics Break Down the Horror Films that Haunt Them Film Critics Break Down the Horror Films that Haunt Them 25:56 Now Playing Alien: 45th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer 1 Alien: 45th Anniversary Re-Release Trailer 1 0:33 Now Playing Alien: Trailer 1 Alien: Trailer 1 1:10 Now Playing View more videos
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Alien

A scene from the film "Alien." A scene from the film "Alien." A scene from the film "Alien." A scene from the film "Alien." A scene from the film "Alien." A scene from the film "Alien." View more photos

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 56m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1), 70mm
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