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Alien

Alien

1979
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 57m
After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as distress call, its landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious life-form, and they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.
Your probable score
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Alien

1979
Sci-fi, Suspense/Thriller
1h 57m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 73.74% from 17720 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(17720)
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Rated 06 Jan 2007
95
98th
Ridley Scott turns a B-movie script, with an admittedly impressive gimmick of alien gestation within a human host, into an absolutely terrifying and visually stunning film. Also great alien design by H.R. Giger.
Rated 02 Feb 2009
100
99th
The tone of this film is immaculate. It is dirty, grimy, industrial-looking, but, most importantly, it is lonely. The alien is terrifying enough, but Scott, oh so subtly, gives the notion that these people are completely alone and nowhere near any help. The echos and shadows make the ship like nothing I have seen before in film. A true leader in the genre.
Rated 25 Jan 2012
95
99th
Horror at it's finest. If I could forget any movie and see it on the big screen with a fresh mind, this would be it. Genius.
Rated 07 Dec 2006
99
99th
I've seen this 5 or 6 times (or more) and it's still tense enough to get me biting my nails. I love the atmosphere created by the Giger designs and the dark, dripping, techno-industrial sets. I think it's a wonderfully constructed plot with perfect casting. First rate sci-fi/horror.
Rated 21 Jan 2010
96
98th
A Lovecraftian nightmare in space, Alien is the ultimate monster movie, H.R. Giger's design aesthetic lending itself well to the sublimation of psychosexual horror wrapped up tidily in a slasher film with dystopian post-Star Wars sci-fi trappings. Everything about it is iconic.
Rated 14 Jun 2008
6
98th
Film's greatest exploration of the twin existential terrors of mortality and loneliness. Perfect set design, pristine cinematography, one of the greatest casts ever assembled, Jerry Goldsmith's legendarily unnerving score, the first (and best) feminist icon of genre film, one of the most damning indictments of corporatism in all cinema. Oh, and maybe the most primal and memorable villain ever created for film. Not bad for a B-monster movie in space.
Rated 19 Jul 2008
100
98th
A terrifying flick that changed history. A great plot, and amazing sci-fi action! It's really suspenseful and intense! One of the most bone chilling films ever!
Rated 06 May 2021
80
65th
This picture gets kudos as a breakthrough sci-fi horror or feminist film. But what's really great is how it reimagines being on a spaceship. It isn't militarized sci-fi, boldly exploring, or fighting an Evil Empire. It's an oil rig job with workplace hazards, a greedy corporation, and a robotic middle manager who wants results. C'mon, our heroes even argue about their pay before they fight the bad guy! It's a cool monster in the house story, made better for anyone who ever had a horrible boss.
Rated 09 Jul 2007
5
96th
A haunted house in space, which is a brilliant idea. Rather than characters stupidly running upstairs in order to keep the action going, Scott gives them no choice but to stay put since they are floating in an enormous vacuum. Deeply unsettling and one of the better horror films I've ever been treated to. Strong female characters are an added bonus.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
91
98th
Wonderfully tense, atmospheric and imaginative. On the face of it, this could have been little more than an ordinary slasher-in-space outing. However, the incredible production design, coupled with the alert direction and thoughtful casting elevate this to a genre classic.
Rated 11 May 2017
94
97th
Ridley Scott's classic sci-fi/horror film is one of the greatest ever. Revolutionary to the genres as well as in special effects the movie has been unsuccessfully copied for decades now. The film is masterfully paced, building not only tension, but also a connection to the lived in world of the "Nostromo" alongside the crew of characters as they face the horrifying evolution of some alien life form. The H.R. Giger "Alien" creature design is iconic, and lives on as one of the top movie monsters.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
94th
A near perfect science fiction horror film. Visually beautiful despite how dark and claustrophobic everything looks.
Rated 25 Aug 2007
100
90th
Even though parts of it are utterly predictable and you've got the usual horror movie logic (people tend to think it's a good idea to wander around alone when it so clearly is not), it's still a very good example of a horror film done right. Some parts of it you never see coming and, quite frankly, the alien is just about one of the most terrifying monsters put on screen. Also got a brilliant cast and thus, better acting than most horror films. Overall one of the best horror films out there.
Rated 05 May 2008
95
87th
So very creepy. When I was a kid, I refused to see this movie because I thought it would be scary in a "HOLY HELL CHESTBURSTER" way, having seen that specific part once. Watching it today, I realize that it's much more than that, scary in an "Is it the goddamn cat again?" way, and well-acted to boot.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
97
99th
More proof that Scott has done sci-fi better than anything else in his career. This movie is lesson in how to build suspense and tension, and in how to portray an enemy on camera as truly shocking and frightening. You only see a little bit of Alien in this film, but that's all you need. Scott creates a monster without barely showing you its teeth! His use of light and sound in this film is also totally brilliant. On top of that, Weaver is excellent and Holm is almost as scary as Alien. Awesome.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
96
99th
That goddamn cat.
Rated 20 Jan 2010
95
98th
The directing, atmosphere, and inspired creature design by H.R. Giger was all far ahead of its time. Ridley Scott moved away from the cliche pristine looking spaceship interiors and futuristic space suits in popular sci-fi/fantasy movies like Star Wars and chose a more realistic dystopian future with corporate interests overriding personal worth. The horror element was also never played tongue in cheek and the acting is fantastic. A must see for any film fan.
Rated 01 Jun 2010
95
96th
B-horror elevated to art by Ridley Scott's visionary visual flair, coupled with H. R. Giger's amazing creation and one hell of a cast! Weaver! Skerritt! Hurt! Holm! Stanton! And that bloke from 'The Running Man'! Some film critics cite this as a "meditation over the subject of male rape". I wouldn't exactly use this film to meditate over anything. On the contrary: There's a good chance that, if you analyse the nightmares of kids from my generation, 'Alien' is somewhere at the core of them.
Rated 24 Feb 2007
90
95th
The atmosphere created here with the great editing and production values is hard to top. And eventhough we only see the Alien a few times through the film, you can feel it always there. Weaver is the ultimate female action hero for sure.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
97th
The definitive version of a science fiction/horror classic. The alien is still just as impressive and terrifying as it was in 1979. The entire cast is great, and play their characters very naturally. A refreshing change to see smart characters in a monster movie.
Rated 27 Apr 2009
99
99th
Ridley Scott's finest hour. This is one of the best filmed science-fiction and horror films ever made, this is the bar to reach in both those genres. The flawlessness combining both genres into one fantastic, tension-ridden special effects amazement. The acting, camerawork, direction, set pieces, make-up and especially creature design are all top notch. This is a near flawless film and as such deserves this high rating.
Rated 13 Oct 2009
100
99th
As a child, Alien always had a special almost hypnotic appeal that forced me to sit through and rewatch it even though it terrified me like no other film. To this day it holds some strange spell over me, that, if not terrifies anymore, still recreates some of the unease I had as a child. For me, this is the most important movie ever made...
Rated 31 Jan 2007
95
94th
I'm not a big fan of the "OH NO THE ALIEN IS RIGHT BEHIND YOU" scenes, but other than that, Alien is virtually flawless. Ian Holm is one of my favorite actors, and this is quite possibly his best performance. Sigourney Weaver is perfect too.
Rated 01 Sep 2008
95
96th
Alien has a thicker, creepier atmosphere than any film released before it. Even if you've had some of the iconic scenes spoiled for you, it's still a terrifying and claustrophobic thriller that is best enjoyed in the dark with surround sound. The art direction, scene design, character models and camera work are unforgettable - essentially every Sci-Fi (or survival horror) movie since has been inspired by the way this classic looks, sounds and feels. Also, Sigourney is a badass who loves cats!
Rated 11 Nov 2009
9
98th
Alien redefined the horror genre by emphasizing atmosphere over cheap scares. It's a haunted house movie, but it's made all the more frightening because the house has been relocated to the cold recesses of outer space, where there's nowhere to run and no one to run to. Alien is part of a long line of horror films that prove that less is indeed more, and that what you don't see will always be infinitely more terrifying than anything you can. ...But the look of that fucking thing. Fuuuuucckkkk.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
97
99th
A brilliant horror film set on a spaceship. One of my all time favorites. It features the greatest heroine ever, one of the best casts in a horror or sci film and one of the best creature effects ever.
Rated 19 May 2011
100
98th
Perfect cast, unsurpassed setting, a young, hungry director working at the top of his game and a well-wrought, suspenseful screenplay that takes a few of the best tricks from the grand grimoire of exploitation and makes them its own. Inventive, intense, majestic and skullfuckingly awesome. If you do not appreciate this film, everything you post on this site is suspect and should under no circumstance be taken seriously.
Rated 13 Mar 2012
97
95th
Not only an alien and horror sci/fi classic at it's finest, but also just extremely well-made film-wise. It feels like a technological achievement, even after all these years. The make-up and (mostly) practical effects are all stellar, as is the score, and I would say all of the acting is good as well. Obviously Scott gets some well-deserved praise for this. If you haven't seen this already, you most certainly should.
Rated 20 May 2017
10
99th
Truly a masterpiece of cinema, Alien does what many films can't, and creates a atmosphere full of mystery in such a small and condense setting. Scott created tension in what is a considerably slow movie and excutes it with the coolest design for any monster today, along with this, creating such creepy and terrifying sounds from the alien really makes this a true horror movie, making the alien so iconic along with movie hero (Ripley). Truly one of the best movies ever, and in my opinion the best
Rated 19 Mar 2007
94
99th
Excellent sci-fi horror which creates a fantastic atmosphere early on. Just about the only film to get the horror of being contained within a claustrophoblic spaceship dead on. Just to think that Ridley Scott directed the classic Hovis adverts before going on to this.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
94th
Ancient biomechanical penis weapon stalks a futuristic trucking crew and seems fascinated with the females. Creature is the best of its type - constantly switching between slow and ponderous seeming, and utterly violent. Starkly contrasting, almost jarring, visual enviroments contribute to a convincingly created layered universe.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
97th
Definitely the most cerebral of all of the Alien movies. Whereas James Cameron used a ton of action in the sequel, this movie uses mystery to it's advantage. In the movies following, you knew what was coming. But if you were in a theatre in 1979 watching this gem, you were probably terrified.
Rated 17 May 2008
89
96th
Took the sci-fi genre in a different direction making it ok to include horror elements as well and expertly done.
Rated 14 Sep 2008
96
99th
Great piece of horror and Sci-Fi!
Rated 16 Dec 2009
95
98th
Superior to Aliens. The pacing and suspense were next level stuff, and I prefer the singular villain. Best horror sci-fi ever.
Rated 19 Jan 2010
95
96th
A genuinely tense, gripping film that always manages to send shivers down my spine. With some great effects and a fantasticly chilling score, this film really manages to set a dark, eerie mood. But what manages to lift this from good horror to a great film is its characters. They're normal, everyday people doing what to them is a normal, everyday job. It just happens to be set in the future. No major emphasis is placed on that, and due to the strength of its cast, it's very believable.
Rated 01 Jun 2010
85
94th
I prefer Cameron's sequel which is, of course, quite a different beast (yes, pun intended). Here, there isn't much action; it's all about atmosphere and anticipation. In that regard I would argue that it has been surpassed by Carpenter's 'The Thing', a similar sci-fi/horror-breed owing quite a lot to Scott's original. Like you would expect, his world is beautifully realized and as for the effects, some of them are naturally dodgy by today's standards, and they're wisely kept to a minimum.
Rated 28 Jun 2019
91
90th
Despite the pretentious Freudian symbolism, this was great. Arguably the most relatable victims in a horror movie ever. (Except for going back for the cat), NOBODY does anything dumb. In fact, everyone's forced to investigate b/c of the corporate bottom line! It may be sacrilege to question a classic, but wouldn't it have been even more chilling if the mission hadn't been on purpose & Company fine print dictated bringing back ANY alien life form - whatever it is -b/c there might be profit in it?
Rated 06 Jul 2009
0
0th
oh you know what.. the fucking warst films ever created. its so bad that i didn't like it when i wath it, so i dont pay a homage of it in my films.
Rated 22 Mar 2013
90
92nd
I don't care at all about this alien, I want to know everything about that giant space jockey. I can't wait for Ridley Scott to waste my time later on those!
Rated 15 Jul 2014
86
89th
"Hey man, there's a problem with the Nostromo. We kind of forgot to build any steam vents. The crew may or may not be living in an Industrial Revolution coal factory for a few years."
Rated 18 May 2017
9
92nd
Only a few instances of distractingly dated SFX (see the puppet-like movement of the worm; big explosion) mar this claustrophobic and intimate sci-fi thriller: Natural dialogue and pacing, along with an excellent use of long tracking shots, shaky handheld movement, and facial close-ups capture perfectly the unsettling dread, shocking horror, and relatable characters trying to cope in a uniquely nightmarish plot (the initial terror from the gross alien is boosted by the robot twist later on).
Rated 11 Jul 2019
65
42nd
The sets are phenomenal—organic, kinetic, and believable—and the concept is duly iconic, but (perhaps especially in the director's cut?) the film does not so much draw out tension as, pummeling it, stretch it—at least until the final quarter, where there is actual anticipatory fear. The first three quarters of the film are immersive, but boring—and I don't mean slow or patient. Generally speaking, it's clunky and uninteresting until the final act.
Rated 01 Oct 2020
75
69th
Damn Good Movie
Rated 21 May 2007
92
94th
A grudge match between Halloween and this film for the most beautiful horror film of all time. Film acts as a slow burn that gets more and more tense until the explosive finale with probably the greatest creature design in the history of cinema provided by H.R. Giger.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
92
92nd
One of the handful of films that I consider really frightening. Brilliant Alien design by Giger and Scott's Gothic directing turn this banal story into an unforgettable experience.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
97th
Is it the grim visions of Giger? Or the monocolored, flickering screens of the Nostromo? Maybe the chestburster? Nope, it's Jonesy that makes this thriller the best Sci-fi horror ever. Kittycat :3
Rated 14 Aug 2007
98
99th
Ushered in a new age of sci-fi and horror...though most sci-fi and horror movies of the 80s still managed to be far worse than this masterpiece.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
9
98th
Dripping with tension and dread. The creature design is nothing short of brilliant, the chest bursting death is still scary today, Ellen Ripley is the greatest action heroine ever, and it has a kitty!
Rated 20 Aug 2007
10
96th
Alien is *the* SF horror movie. If you haven't seen it, it should be first on your list. I first saw this in a theater in Florida, and I literally tore the leather covering off the armrest of my seat at one point in surprise and shock.
Rated 20 Jun 2008
94
97th
A modern horror masterpiece. Scott takes Hitchcock's less is more and puts it in a sci-fi setting with the scariest monster ever conceived. Brilliantly paced and executed.
Rated 02 Sep 2008
68
48th
Each time I see Alien it becomes all the more tedious; a slasher film hiding behind (pretty, mind you) sci-fi trappings. Seminal, influential, but starting to wear with age.
Rated 07 Nov 2008
88
86th
The original, made back when Giger's alien design was truly horrific and terrifying, and before pop culture kidnapped it and turned it into a mass-produced product. Masterfully directed by Scott, who manages to convince you you're watching straight sci-fi without even realising you're actually seeing a horror movie until after the final credits roll and you notice that you're scared witless.
Rated 13 Nov 2008
95
92nd
One of the most awesome sci-fi/horror flicks ever made.
Rated 26 Dec 2008
10
97th
(2nd viewing) Even better than I'd remembered. What I love is the rising tension, making the film both atmospheric and eerie, but maybe not as scary as most people make it out to be (seriously, watch [Rec] if you want to be sh*tscared). "Alien" is an unforgettable and excellent sci-fi, a real classic and I know it has been said before, but that alien design is freakin' awesome !!!
Rated 17 Apr 2009
10
97th
The atmosphere this film sets is terrifyingly good. Weaver writes the book for the women bad ass. 'In space no one can hear you scream.' is also the best tag line ever.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
92
95th
Almost impossibly ahead of its time. You would think a movie tackling this type of plot made in the late 70s would show some of its inability to cope with the material effects-wise, etc., but none of that happens in this film. Still awesome after all these years.
Rated 17 Aug 2010
94
98th
Amazing experience. I was at the edge of my seat. The atmosphere is really intense. The effects are fantastic for that time too, and the acting, directing and plot are really good.
Rated 30 Mar 2012
100
99th
In 2012, 33 years after it's initial release it still surpasses most film made today in the same genre. A masterpiece!
Rated 25 May 2012
82
62nd
The set/costume designs still stand up as some of the most memorable work of their kind in history, and does a beautiful job of creating the perfect atmosphere that everyone will tell you about because it's hella true. The lack of any overdramatisation was really nice to see, and something I wish more of the films' successors understood. The plot and characters and music and cinematography were all pretty much flawless - but at the same time, I just didn't find myself in love with it.
Rated 24 Jul 2012
95
98th
A perfect blend of horror and that style of dystopian sci-fi the 70s did so well. One of those rare films where everything just comes together perfectly to make something unique.
Rated 24 Sep 2013
10
98th
Alien was a pioneering piece of filmmaking that was the first and is still the best of it's kind. Ridley Scott masterfully collaborates Sci/Fi & Horror to create the most atmospheric and claustrophobic film that I've ever experienced. The overall direction & design still looks, sounds & feels incredible. And Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt & Ian Holm make-up an impressive cast. It's just shameful that the majority of the sequels & spinoff's since have tarnished Ridley Scott's original masterpiece.
Rated 08 Mar 2014
90
83rd
Classic sci-fi/horror film is perhaps a little difficult to watch from outside of the shadow of its imitators, but it is hard to deny Scott's influence on reinventing and subverting hokey 50s sci-fi into a genuinely terrifying experience for the 80s. Foreboding atmosphere and a terrific cast (almost unwittingly lead by then newcomer Weaver) make the most of the claustrophobic and creepy settings, with the design of the Alien itself still clever and original.
Rated 16 Jan 2021
70
52nd
I have now seen this three times, and with each subsequent rewatch, I like it less. Maybe there is something wrong with my brain. The Giger-created sets are all nice to look at it. But, much like Scott's Blade Runner, I feel like looking at everything is better than the actual experience of watching the film. I will reiterate what I said in my last review, "space is spooky".
Rated 01 Dec 2006
84
90th
Gorgeously shot, vibrant with ideas, and utterly tense and suspenseful. Scott in his prime was a sci-fi visionary who produced some of the most profound images of terror and disillusionment.
Rated 18 Mar 2007
90
86th
Alien is a great example of how a horror film should be, especially when you combine it with science fiction. It's one of the most memorable movies ever created.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
95th
Claustrophobic and terrifying space horror. H.R. Giger's design work was just incredible, and countless subsequent space movies have shamelessly copied it.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
99th
A masterful exercise in suspense on a paltry budget, Ridley Scott's Alien is a deliberately violent and haunting film, with the prime aim throughout to shock the audience with as many cold scares as possible. Despite this, the film is only part thriller. A rivetting psychological subtext develops between the sprawling alien architecture and plastique interiors of the Nostromo, where the crew is ill at ease and the alien is in its element. Concept, narrative, execution. This film has it all.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
96th
An exhilirating action sci-fi film. The reality imagined in Alien works much better than that of most sci-fi movies, because it doesn't go over-the-top. Scott makes it very suspenseful, Weaver is wonderful, and the interactions between the characters are dramatically sound.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
89th
Alien is an incredible sci-fi thriller. It's as much about fear and survival as it is about being a science fiction film. Easily classified as a horror film, Alien is intense and entertaining. A terrific performance by Sigourney Weaver also enhances the depth of the film. Definitely a sci-fi classic. Awesome!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
97th
Alien is the best sci-fi film ever made.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
95th
Amazing. Sci-fi na dhorror classic at the same time! Fantastic visual, great ensemble, thrilling story... Claustrophobic at times, the tension in this film is thick, taking us thru an unforgettable journey with no happy ending. Come on, how could I not love this?
Rated 14 Aug 2007
5
93rd
A simple concept mounted with extraordinary artistry. This bulky analog futurism has only become more striking, even cooler decades later. The grotesquerie of Giger's design ensures the Alien itself is among the most enduring movie monsters of all time, and the dwelling on repulsive biological details is akin to body horror. But this film's greatest revelation is Sigourney Weaver, whose breakthrough as the stern and nervy Ellen Ripley becomes an icon of action cinema and feminine representation.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
94th
With each passing year, its status as a classic becomes more secured. Absolutely essential viewing for anyone into science fiction/horror.
Rated 29 Aug 2007
100
97th
I can't say all I feel about this film in 500 characters. Visually stunning even now, tightly plotted, and superbly acted. Realistic characters fight for their lives against cinemas most iconic monster. Genuinely shocking moments, a 'look' achieved before the invention of CGI that still influences Sci-Fi to this day. I can't see any chance of a better sci-fi film being made in my lifetime, unless Ridley Scott can be persuaded to re-visit the genre.
Rated 05 Jan 2008
88
87th
Terrific atmosphere and one of the most suspenseful films in recent times. Scott did a terrific job with this film.
Rated 14 Mar 2008
96
99th
The perfect blend of science fiction and horror. Ridley Scott creates an intense atmosphere of claustrophobic dread that has yet to be matched. The characters feel real - we actually care about what happens to them. But what makes Alien so special is the creature itself, which reaffirmed the fact that aliens can actually be scary. This is a perfect sci-fi movie and a perfect horror movie.
Rated 21 Jun 2008
92
87th
A near masterpiece. All the things I like: does it's own job well, great look, a strond personal vision from the director, thematic depth.
Rated 22 Jul 2008
91
66th
Alien, still today is an unrivaled Sci-fi masterpiece; unsurpassed by any modern suspense horror film of its kind. Director Ridley Scott, forms an unsettling atmospheric mood in the depth of space, where the only screams you hear -- are of your own. A masterful work, highlighted by superb acting, imbecile pacing and camera work. Scott and his artistic team, in addition, created the most infamous extraterrestrial creature which is as haunting as thrilling without the reliance of CGI as today.
Rated 17 Apr 2009
80
89th
The best tagline in movie history.
Rated 13 Aug 2010
100
92nd
One of the greatest sci-fi horror films ever made. Wonderful low-key special effects and the ensemble cast is fantastic. Lots of suspense and thrills. Highly recommended.
Rated 05 Dec 2010
90
90th
Standard 70's slasher stuff turned into one of the best (an most claustrophobic) horror movies by good directing, great choice of setting and Giger's very unpleasant creature design.
Rated 28 Dec 2010
50
97th
I love when the set is just as much a character as anybody onscreen. The ship seems to breath. Deep, rattling breaths like that of a dying giant. It intensifies the fear of having a devil-like alien running around. The audience is constantly aware of the ship and it soon becomes claustrophobic. All in all, brilliant atmosphere from Scott, as expected.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
90
96th
Easily Ridley Scott's best movie, Alien offers one of the greatest horror stories in film history. The only thing preventing this movie from perfection is the unnecessary plot twist involving Ian Holm's character that removes blame from the real culprit of the movie - humanity and its lust for knowledge.
Rated 26 Dec 2011
79
77th
This movie takes along time to get going. But despite the slow start the second half of the movie is exceptional. Sigourney Weaver is great and nice supporting work from the rest of the cast.
Rated 18 Feb 2012
97
99th
You should watch the Director's Cut.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
95
85th
It's a great movie there's not much else to say, but my one and only complaint and this goes for the whole Alien film series. Why do I have to look at Sigourney Weaver's masculine physique in every damn movie? I mean it's understandable that there are going to be a few shots of her skimpily dressed, but the camera angles on some of those scenes I mean come on! For example at the end of this movie when she's getting undressed to go into the sleep chamber, I can tell she had a full bush.
Rated 21 Feb 2012
90
97th
Other than Ripley's hair, this film barely shows its age nearly 35 years after its release--a particularly impressive feat given the genre. It's a true masterpiece of atmospheric horror.
Rated 12 Jun 2012
100
94th
A break-out performance for Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and a fantastic character to follow. Once the Alien is on the ship, Ridley Scott keeps the tension building at an amazing pace without losing focus. The use of the Alien and how it's revealed each time it appears is masterful. And the camera work and visual effects are brilliantly executed as well. As far as either horror or sci-fi films go, this is one of the best.
Rated 05 Mar 2013
90
80th
The technique of this film, particularly the mesmerizing use of electric lights and the perfect directing of creeping music and eerie silence contribute in creating some of the finest suspense filmmaking I've seen. One of the most exemplary Hollywood films in combining strong entertainment value with depth and brilliant execution all around.
Rated 26 Jun 2013
71
26th
It's so stinking confusing. Who brings a cat - a furry little shedding cat- on a ship? And I thought this was supposed to be in the future, why are the space suits so BULKY? And why do the computers look like dinosaurs? And where are the aliens' mommy and daddy? That cat caused everything. It made the aliens get all upset and then it made all the people die and made the ship go looking for the aliens. And that idiot had to go back for the cat. Stupid cat.
Rated 19 Oct 2013
100
95th
An excellent film by Ridley Scott, shot much like a horror film and the feel of ever increasing tension and dread as the crew of the Nostromo respond to a distress call from a nearby planet but they find there(and bring on board) would put them all in great peril. Sigourney Weaver gives a great performance as Ripley. The film is a classic worth checking out if you're into science fiction,horror or suspense.
Rated 16 Mar 2014
65
37th
The concept itself is great, especially since we're lacking in good sci-fi horror. But Alien is paced very poorly. It takes over halfway through the movie before the conflict finally starts, and the other half moves too quickly to compensate. Suspense can't build as the crew drops one after the other, and there's no element of surprise as it's obvious when someone's about to get knocked off since they're isolated. Some sets look like plastic, and the thrills are flimsy and predictable.
Rated 11 May 2015
10
97th
The ultimate blend between the Horror and Science-Fiction genres; the key to "Alien's" success doesn't lie in its body count or in the insatiable alien's blood-lust, but in the meticulous set-up and in the equally expendable and likable cast of characters.
Rated 05 Oct 2015
95
96th
I admire it's purity. A survivor.
Rated 12 Jun 2016
95
96th
Perhaps one of the the most influential horror films of the modern era, Ridley Scott's Alien is a brutal, unforgiving nightmare expertly crafted from slow-building tension, deft direction, and science-fiction aesthetics.
Rated 23 Feb 2017
80
88th
Exquisitely shot by Ridley Scott, "Alien" is a template sci-fi/ horror diversion. It's very atmospheric from the get-go, has a good cast, a suitably eerie score and a great twist, can get pretty distressing, and, despite a slight dip in quality towards the end, goes out with a bang (lots of them in fact). Also worthy of mention is the design of the iconic titular creature by the one and only H.R. Giger, as well as its overall conception. "Alien" is a flawed classic, and definitely one of a kind.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
85
93rd
Love how atmospheric the movie is. Maybe a bit outdated (especially the scenes by the end of the movie), but still a solid watch and a good staple of horror genre.
Rated 27 May 2017
85
97th
(Viewed on 04/14): A triumph of suspense and mood, Scott's Alien is an intensely claustophobic slow burn thriller with incredible production design and an otherwordly atmosphere that it is as gripping and tightly wound as a slimy facehugger around your larynx.Giger's sets and sculptures are truly visionary: their disturbing biomechanical designs tap into primal instincts and fears while gleaming like genuine extraterristerial artifacts. Weaver makes a compellingly strong and vulnerable heroine.
Rated 02 Jun 2017
92
72nd
First time seeing this all the way through, despite already knowing all the in jokes with the chest bursting aliens thanks to movies like Spaceballs, I still found this movie very refreshing from the current scifi which has become far too busy. Very straightforward to the point sci fi with great suspense. really enjoyed it

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