Alien

Alien (1979)★ 8.5/10

R · GB,US · 117 min · May 24, 1979

  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Written by: Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett

The Nostromo crew investigates an SOS signal on a remote moon and unleashes a deadly alien into their ship, dooming their return trip.

Articles about this

See all (237) ›

Cast & crew

See all ›

Awards · 7 wins, 11 nominations

See all ›

Reviews

AAaaronOctober 29, 2025
All my homies loves practical effects
KK AugustJuly 13, 2025
Okay, I will try to fair and unbiased with my review...

'Alien' is the greatest science-fiction horror film ever made and puts all those sequels to shame. Yes, I like 'Aliens', but I do not consider it a real horror film. And James Cameron was wise enough to not even try to match what Ridley Scott achieved with his atmospheric piece of cosmic horror.

And why would he even try? This is what we call a perfect storm of a film: the casting, the set design, the monster, the script, the general mood of the piece and the other player in the film: our imagination. We are constantly wondering what is just around the corner when we learn that the there is a monster on board. And doesn't it seem as though the ship is more hospitable to the xenomorph than the humans?

Just a theory...

So, almost a perfect score. I withhold one star because I still think that the decision to leave a planet with an alien attached to someone's face, and then to have dinner with that person once it seems he has recovered, proves that they had the worse captain piloting the Nostromo home. Fortunately, we get the great love of my life, Sigourney Weaver, to point out the silliness of such decisions and she becomes the greatest "last female standing' in film history...all in her first starring role.

So, watch it again, and forget that you already know that scene and who lives to tell the tale (Jonesy and Siggy?). It deserves the special place on the mantel it holds to this day.
SSakuranyo ChanSeptember 29, 2024
A superior work of cinema with a pace that is like contemplation is an old-fashioned horror movie, set in an extremely realistic sci-fi future. This film is a masterpiece, it is beautiful, dark, tense, the suspense from beginning to end is overwhelming, it is an essential title of science fiction cinema of the last half century, welcome once again this masterpiece by Ridley Scott.
AAugust_McintoshJune 23, 2024
The film effectively unfolds its sparse plot developments through a deep underlying tension, and the stunning film score elevates the tension to a whole new level. Even today, all these elements still resonate perfectly, which is why "Alien" is such a timeless classic.
UUser-1117247827June 23, 2024
What's truly unique about "Alien" is its tense and enigmatic atmosphere. Before this film, we had never witnessed a horror monster presented on such a grand scale. And most importantly, the ambiance and suspense created in this movie differ entirely from the typical Hollywood-style action and intense confrontations. The creature's elusive nature adds to the sense of mystery and heightens the feeling of fear, while the blurred portrayal of its physical form makes this movie truly spine-chilling.
AAnnie_CunninghamJune 23, 2024
The set design and overall atmosphere in this movie are absolutely fantastic. The dilapidated spaceship, gritty outer space, and rough-around-the-edges crew completely defy people's expectations of a pristine universe. The design of the alien is a perfect blend of horror and beauty, with a postmodern sensibility. Although the alien is off-camera most of the time, Ridley Scott successfully creates a sense of horror through an atmosphere of repression, tension, and a myriad of sexual metaphors.
CCassidy_VasquezJune 12, 2024
The brilliance of "Alien" lies in its grand and mysterious world-building. Before this film, no horror film featuring monstrous creatures had ever been presented on such a grand scale. The atmosphere and suspense starkly contrast Hollywood's then action and intense direct confrontations. The mysterious, veiled depiction of the monster just elevates the terror to unprecedented heights.
IIsaac_HoodJune 12, 2024
This horror classic, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era, evokes a intense sense of claustrophobia through its outer space setting. The alien kills purely for survival, while the crew harbors ulterior motives, making human nature the true horror.
Rredjohn42January 23, 2024
A film that I still think about fondly. It's surreal how this movie is so influential even today. Ridley Scott and his crew made a masterpiece that will last forever in cinema's history, not just because of its art direction or cinematography, but how still shows how space can terrify us by its vast unknowability.
BBlingblingNovember 27, 2023
best sci-fi movie ever
BbesszechariahMarch 24, 2021

Taking advantage of limitations

With just one setting, the first movie of the "Alien" universe used its limitations to produce one of the most acclaimed movies from the eighties.
AavslaxMarch 24, 2021

Nobody can hear you scream in space

Although the creature seldom shows up in the movie, when it does it scares us to death. One of the most ambitious horror movies of its time.

Talk about this

In these picks