There’s something undeniably special about alien movies.

Sometimes, they take the form of romantic visions about discovering true worth.

It ultimately “hit upon even deeper mass-marketing-age fears,” which helped it stand the test of time.

Best Alien Movies

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At the center of these effective alien features is our fear of the Other.

It’s a sobering notion one that will linger in your living room long after the movie stops playing.

What is the messy relationship between human evolution and technological development?

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, Harry Lauter (left), Michael Rennie (in space suit), 1951, TM & Copyr

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What is the even messier connection between extraterrestrial life and what we think of as divine beings?

This film paved the way for numerous sequels that varied in quality.

Quite frankly, aliens have never been so terrifying.

THE BLOB

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Where to watchThe Thing: Peacock

E.T.

the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

InE.T.

Needless to say, none of this should work.

2001 - A Space Odyssey - 1968

MGM/Stanley Kubrick Productions/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock

But somehow, it does."

But he pulls it off, crafting an unexpectedly touching story anchored by powerful performances.

The film notably channels both the philosophical ideas and action tropes of the originalStar Trekseries.

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) (screen grab) David Bowie CR: British Lion Films

British Lion Films

Every scene where these foes clash is hypnotically exciting, leaving audiences hungry for more.

By far, though, the standout performance comes fromJohn Vernon, who plays a curmudgeonly cop.

Unsurprisingly, the work is a bit divisive.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Francois Truffaut

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But if that’s all it takes, then the various sequels wouldn’t be so disappointing.

But the tag also undersells how visceral this film is.

What if demons and aliens are one and the same?

Star Wars Ranking Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Lucasfilm Ltd.

This film exists to show you the answer.

a question that still plagues us decades later.

In classic horror fashion, the players arejustinteresting enough for you to remember them after they get killed.

SUPERMAN, Christopher Reeve, 1978. ©Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection

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Who hasn’t thought their teacher might be an alien from outer space?

And who hasn’t looked around the room idly wondering how they might dispatch an alien intruder?

But the creatures are just as memorable as the strange, nightmarish visuals surrounding them.

ALIEN, John Hurt, 1979, TM & Copyright (c) 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.

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In other words,Galaxy Questwalked soLower Deckscould run, and the former forever changed our ideas about fandom.

acid-trip video game joyride."

And we owe Cameron a lot of credit for making the otherwise overdone premise seem exciting and wondrous again.

‘The Thing’ (1982)

Universal/Everett

Whereas theStar Warssequels woefully misused the actor’s talents, this movie puts them center stage.

Where to watchNope: Amazon Prime Video

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E.T., (aka E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL), from left: Henry Thomas, E.T., 1982, © Universal/courtesy

Henry Thomas as Elliott in ‘E.T.'.Everett Collection

Best Alien Movies

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ENEMY MINE

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Lance Henriksen

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PREDATOR

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SPACEBALLS

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Best Alien Movies

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INDEPENDENCE DAY

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Best Alien Movies

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MEN IN BLACK, Will Smith, 1997

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Event Horizon

(Left to right) Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, and Jeremy Isaacs in Event Horizon.Paramount Pictures

CONTACT, Jodie Foster

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The Faculty

Dimension Films

DARK CITY, Kiefer Sutherland, 1998, (c)New Line Cinema/courtesy Everett Collection

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The Iron Giant and Hogarth Hughes in ‘The Iron Giant’

The Iron Giant and Hogarth Hughes in ‘The Iron Giant’.Everett Collection

GALAXY QUEST

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Best Alien Movies

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SIGNS, Joaquin Phoenix, Mel Gibson, 2002

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LILO & STITCH, Stitch, Nani, Lilo, 2002 (c) Walt Disney/courtesy Everett Collection.

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Slither (2006) (L to R) NATHAN FILLION, ELIZABETH BANKS and DON THOMPSON

Chris Helcermanas-Benge/Universal

DISTRICT 9

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Best Alien Movies

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The cast of ‘Attack the Block’

The cast of ‘Attack the Block’.Columbia Pictures

THE WORLD’S END

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Under The Skin (2014) Scarlett Johansson

A24

Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) Tom Cruise

David James/Warner Bros.

ArrivalAmy Adams

Paramount Pictures

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET as Paul Atreides in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “DUNE,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures

Daniel Kaluuya as OJ Haywood in Nope

Daniel Kaluuya in ‘Nope’.Universal Pictures