Alien [1979 film] (1979)

by Ridley Scott (Director), Dan O'Bannon (Screenwriter, Visual Design Consultant), Ronald Shusett (Screenwriter)

Other authors: Bolaji Badejo (Actor), Gordon Carroll (Producer), Veronica Cartwright (Actress), Ron Cobb (Concept Artist), H. R. Giger (Art Department) — 13 more, David Giler (Producer), Jean Giraud (Art Department), Jerry Goldsmith (Composer), Walter Hill (Producer), Ian Holm (Actor), Helen Horton (Actor), John Hurt (Actor), Yaphet Kotto (Actor), Eddie Powell (Actor), Tom Skerritt (Actor), Harry Dean Stanton (Actor), Derek Vanlint (Cinematographer), Sigourney Weaver (Actress)

Series: Alien Films (1)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
521	9	49,788	(4.41)	10
Terror begins when the crew of a spaceship investigates a transmission from a desolate planet and discover a life form that is perfectly evolved to annihilate mankind. Each crew member is slain until only Ripley is left.

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20
Dark Star [1974 film] by John Carpenter (acenturyofsleep)
20
Invasion of the Body Snatchers [1956 film] by Don Siegel (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Inspired certain elements for Dan O'Bannons original screenplay.
20
The Thing [1982 film] by John Carpenter (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Similar key plot idea of a deadly, extraterrestrial creature slowly picking off members of an isolated group of people. Plus, both 'The Thing' and 'Alien' were inspired by 'The Thing from Another World'.
20
Village of the Damned [1960 film] by Wolf Rilla (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Somewhat similar idea of extraterrestrial, almost eldritch forces using humans to create horrifying "offspring".
20
Jaws [1975 film] by Steven Spielberg (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Similar thriller/horror premise of the "Ultimate Predator" causing chaos.
10
Giger's Alien by H. R. Giger (Alex_Maybe)
10
Alien Vault: The Definitive Story of the Making of the Film by Ian Nathan (Alex_Maybe)
10
Alien: The Archive-The Ultimate Guide to the Classic Movies by Titan Books (Alex_Maybe)
10
The Book of Alien by Paul Scanlon (Alex_Maybe)
10
The Thing on the Doorstep and Other Weird Stories by H. P. Lovecraft (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Dan O'Bannon acknowledged that the works of Lovecraft--in particular the short story 'At the Mountains of Madness'--influenced elements of his original screenplay for 'Alien'.
10
The Voyage of the Space Beagle by A. E. van Vogt (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: A. E. Van Vogt alleged that 'Alien' plagiarized key elements of 'The Voyage of the Space Beagle'; e.g. a dangerous alien organism using humans as hosts.
10
It! The Terror From Beyond Space [1958 film] by Edward L. Cahn (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Supposedly inspired elements for Dan O'Bannons original screenplay.
10
Forbidden Planet [1956 film] by Fred M. Wilcox (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Inspired certain elements for Dan O'Bannons original screenplay.
10
The Haunting [1963 film] by Robert Wise (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: The ultimate, touchstone film that encapuslates the "haunted house" genre. A thematic precursor to the "haunted house in space" feel of 'Alien'.
10
Species [1995 film] by Roger Donaldson (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Features alien organism based off designs by H. R. Giger.
10
Quatermass and the Pit [1967 film] by Roy Ward Baker (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Similar plot point of an ancient alien starship containing a destructive horror.
10
Shivers [1975 Film] by David Cronenberg (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Sci-fi horror involving parasitical organisms infesting humans.
10
The Terminator [1984 film] by James Cameron (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Both films feature seemingly unstoppable, remorseless, predatory beings that doggedly hunt down ill prepared people.
10
Marco Polo Blindpassasjer (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Norwegian television miniseries that aired in 3-parts from 26 October 1978-9 November 1978 that has a similar sci-fi thriller plot involving a small crew on a spaceship.
00
The Thing from Another World [1951 film] by Christian Nyby (Alex_Maybe)
Alex_Maybe: Inspired certain elements for Dan O'Bannons original screenplay.

(see all 23 recommendations)

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English (7) Portuguese (Brazil) (2) All languages (9)

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Showing 1-5 of 7 (next | show all)

A spacefaring starship stumbles across a derelict world and unknowingly picks up a deadly alien creature. Once the alien breaks free onboard their ship, the beleaguered crew must give their all to fight back against the alien and escape with their lives.

Alien very much feels like the answer that someone came up with when posed with the task of making a Star Wars horror movie -- and that is a compliment in the greatest way possible. With special effects that looks stellar for being from 1979, this movie has that same lived-in yet crisp aesthetic that Star Wars has, feeling quite modern for the time it was made in. The xenomorph itself is also a marvel to behold. The music is terrific, and Ridley Scott's masterful direction has you on the edge of your seat throughout. The diverse cast also brings a good mix of characterization to their roles as well, from the iconic heroine Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) to the valiant captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt) and the unnervingly calm science officer Ash (Ian Holm). It truly is a marvelous piece in both the science fiction and horror genres, and it has become a classic for good reason.

Story: A+
Acting: A
Design: A+
Music: A
Content: D-

Content Notes: Violence, while ever-present and intense, is actually not as bad as I was expecting; of course the infamous scene (I won't go into details just in case of spoilers) is a bit graphic, but beyond that, there isn't anything nearly as gruesome. Language can get quite foul, with a smattering of F-words and uses of God's name in vain along with milder profanity. (

)

DarthTindalus | Jul 7, 2024 |

Classic horror movie, basically a haunted house flick set on a spaceship--a creepy, slimey, don't-go-looking-for-the-cat spaceship. As with many great monster movies, you don't really get a good look at the beast...until it's too damned late. Best new monster in ages. (

)

unclebob53703 | Mar 6, 2016 |

Deadly alien on a spaceship.

Not nearly as intense or scary as the sequel, but it's a much better movie. Very pretty to look at (a good contender for Best Art Direction of All Time). Exceptionally geeky for a mainstream horror film and/or a post-Star Wars sci-fi film.

Concept: C
Story: B
Characters: C
Dialog: B
Pacing: A
Cinematography: A
Special effects/design: A
Acting: A
Music: C

Enjoyment: A plus

GPA: 3.3/4 (

)

comfypants | Jan 29, 2016 |

Includes the 1979 theatrical version and 2003 director’s cut

javirulillo2 | Apr 20, 2020 |

This is the first and most original and
not to be confused with the sequel Aliens by James Cameron. (

)

wdjoyner | May 16, 2010 |

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▾Published reviews

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thingScore 100

A Gothic horror move set in outer space, ALIEN proved that material derided as B-movie fodder could be handled with finesse and glossy production values, without diminishing the thrills or polishing over the hard-edged horror... In the end, it is fair to say that ALIEN is probably the most beautiful piece of filmmaking ever about a terrifying subject.

added by Lemeritus | editCinefantastique, Steve Biodrowski (Sep 20, 2008)

▾Other authors

» Add other authors (149 possible)

Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Scott, Ridley	Director	primary author	all editions	confirmed
O'Bannon, Dan	Screenwriter, Visual Design Consultant	main author	all editions	confirmed
Shusett, Ronald	Screenwriter	main author	all editions	confirmed
Badejo, Bolaji	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Carroll, Gordon	Producer	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Cartwright, Veronica	Actress	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Cobb, Ron	Concept Artist	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Giger, H. R.	Art Department	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Giler, David	Producer	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Giraud, Jean	Art Department	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Goldsmith, Jerry	Composer	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Hill, Walter	Producer	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Holm, Ian	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Horton, Helen	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Hurt, John	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Kotto, Yaphet	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Powell, Eddie	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Skerritt, Tom	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Stanton, Harry Dean	Actor	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Vanlint, Derek	Cinematographer	secondary author	all editions	confirmed
Weaver, Sigourney	Actress	secondary author	all editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Alien Films (1)

Belongs to Publisher Series

Süddeutsche Zeitung | Cinemathek (88)

Is contained in

Alien Quadrilogy [Alien / Aliens / Alien³ / Alien: Resurrection] by Ridley Scott

Alien / Aliens Double Feature by Ridley Scott

Alien Triple Pack (Alien / Aliens / Alien 3) by David Fincher

Alien Legacy by Ridley Scott

Double Feature: Alien [and] Species by Ridley Scott

Alien / Predator / Planet of the Apes / The Fly Quad Feature by Ridley Scott

(show 1 more)

Alien: 6-Film Collection | Alien / Aliens / Alien 3 / Alien Resurrection / Prometheus / Alien: Covenant by Ridley Scott

Has the adaptation

Alien by Alan Dean Foster

Alien: Movie Novel by Richard J. Anobile

Inspired

Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness [2015 film] by Paul McEvoy

Has as a reference guide/companion

Giger's Alien by H. R. Giger

The Book of Alien by Paul Scanlon

Alien: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith

The Alien Legacy [1999 documentary film] by Ridley Scott

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▾Common Knowledge

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Canonical title

Alien [1979 film]

Original title

Alien

Alternative titles

Information from the Finnish Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.

Alien – kahdeksas matkustaja

Original publication date

1979

People/Characters

Ellen Ripley

Ash (space traveler)

Brett (space traveler)

Dallas (space traveler)

Kane (space traveler)

(show all 7 items)

Important places

Nostromo (spaceship)

Outer Space

Important events

Related movies

Alien (1979 | IMDb)

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

This is the 1979 film Alien. Please do not combine with the screenplay, the novelization, or any other adaptation, abridgement, etc.

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

791.4372

Canonical LCC

PN1997

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▾Book descriptions

Terror begins when the crew of a spaceship investigates a transmission from a desolate planet and discover a life form that is perfectly evolved to annihilate mankind. Each crew member is slain until only Ripley is left.

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The commercial vessel Nostromo receives a distress call from an unexplored planet. After searching for survivors, the crew heads home only to realize that a deadly bioform has joined them. -IMDB

On their voyage home, the crew of the deepspace tug Nostromo investigate an alien distress signal, inadvertently picking up and bringing aboard an extraterrestrial life form with violent and lethal survival instincts. [retrieved from Amazon.com 11/30/2916]

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