If you’re a fan of science fiction and love movies about alien encounters, this list is for you. Here are 25 of the most popular science fiction alien movies that have captivated audiences worldwide. Each film features thrilling plots, spectacular special effects, and unforgettable performances. We’ve also included where you can stream or rent these films in the United States.
1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: This heartwarming story about a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth is a timeless classic. Spielberg’s direction and the film’s emotional depth make it a must-watch for all ages.
2. Alien (1979)
IMDb Rating: 8.5
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A suspenseful and terrifying film about the crew of a spaceship who encounter a deadly alien creature. Weaver’s performance as Ripley is iconic, and Scott’s direction creates an intense atmosphere of dread.
3. Independence Day (1996)
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), HBO Max
Review: This action-packed blockbuster about an alien invasion on Earth features stunning special effects and memorable performances from its ensemble cast. The film’s blend of action, humor, and drama makes it a crowd-pleaser.
4. The War of the Worlds (2005)
IMDb Rating: 6.5
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Paramount+
Review: A modern adaptation of H.G. Wells’ classic novel about an alien invasion. Spielberg’s direction and Cruise’s intense performance make it a thrilling and visually spectacular film.
5. District 9 (2009)
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Cast: Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Netflix
Review: This thought-provoking film explores themes of xenophobia and segregation through the story of extraterrestrial refugees living in South Africa. Blomkamp’s unique vision and Copley’s performance make it a standout in the genre.
6. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
IMDb Rating: 7.6
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), HBO Max
Review: A classic sci-fi film about a man who experiences a life-changing encounter with UFOs. Spielberg’s direction and the film’s awe-inspiring visuals make it a landmark in science fiction cinema.
7. Men in Black (1997)
IMDb Rating: 7.3
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Fiorentino
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: This fun and entertaining film follows two agents who monitor extraterrestrial activity on Earth. Smith and Jones’ chemistry, along with the film’s humor and imaginative world-building, make it a beloved sci-fi comedy.
8. The Matrix (1999)
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), HBO Max
Review: A groundbreaking sci-fi film about a dystopian future where humanity is trapped in a simulated reality created by intelligent machines. The film’s innovative special effects and philosophical themes make it a modern classic.
9. Arrival (2016)
IMDb Rating: 8.0
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A linguist is recruited to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors who have arrived on Earth. Villeneuve’s direction and Adams’ compelling performance make this film a thoughtful and emotionally resonant sci-fi drama.
10. Signs (2002)
IMDb Rating: 6.7
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A suspenseful film about a family who discovers crop circles on their farm, signaling an impending alien invasion. Shyamalan’s direction and the film’s tense atmosphere make it a gripping watch.
11. Predator (1987)
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A thrilling action film about a group of commandos who are hunted by a deadly alien predator in the jungle. Schwarzenegger’s iconic performance and the film’s intense action sequences make it a must-watch for sci-fi fans.
12. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
IMDb Rating: 7.9
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), HBO Max
Review: A soldier gains the ability to relive the same day repeatedly after being killed in combat with an alien race. The film’s innovative plot, impressive special effects, and strong performances make it a standout in the genre.
13. Avatar (2009)
IMDb Rating: 7.8
Director: James Cameron
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver
Available On: Disney+, Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A visually stunning film about a paraplegic marine who is sent to the alien planet Pandora. Cameron’s groundbreaking use of 3D technology and the film’s immersive world make it a must-watch sci-fi epic.
14. Starship Troopers (1997)
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A satirical military sci-fi film about soldiers fighting against an alien insect race. Verhoeven’s direction and the film’s dark humor and action-packed sequences make it a cult classic.
15. The Fifth Element (1997)
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich, Gary Oldman
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A visually spectacular film set in a futuristic world where a cab driver teams up with a mysterious woman to save humanity. Besson’s unique vision and the film’s blend of humor, action, and romance make it a beloved sci-fi classic.
16. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
IMDb Rating: 7.4
Director: Philip Kaufman
Cast: Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Review: A chilling remake of the classic sci-fi horror film about humans being replaced by alien duplicates. Kaufman’s direction and the film’s eerie atmosphere make it a standout in the genre.
17. Cloverfield (2008)
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Mike Vogel, Jessica Lucas, Lizzy Caplan
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A found footage film about a group of friends navigating New York City during an alien attack. The film’s innovative format and intense action make it a thrilling and immersive experience.
18. Annihilation (2018)
IMDb Rating: 6.8
Director: Alex Garland
Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply. Garland’s direction and the film’s haunting visuals make it a thought-provoking and unsettling sci-fi film.
19. The Thing (1982)
IMDb Rating: 8.1
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Peacock
Review: A tense and terrifying film about a research team in Antarctica who encounter a shape-shifting alien. Carpenter’s direction and the film’s practical effects and suspenseful plot make it a horror sci-fi classic.
20. A Quiet Place (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Director: John Krasinski
Cast: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Paramount+
Review: A gripping film about a family who must live in silence to avoid being hunted by creatures that attack sound. Krasinski’s direction and the film’s innovative concept and tension-filled atmosphere make it a standout in the genre.
21. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Director: Robert Wise
Cast: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), HBO Max
Review: A classic sci-fi film about an alien visitor and his robot companion who come to Earth with a message of peace. Wise’s direction and the film’s timeless themes make it a landmark in science fiction cinema.
22. Pacific Rim (2013)
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Rinko Kikuchi
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Netflix
Review: A visually stunning film about giant robots piloted by humans to fight off monstrous sea creatures. Del Toro’s direction and the film’s spectacular action sequences make it a thrilling and entertaining sci-fi adventure.
23. Prometheus (2012)
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A prequel to the “Alien” series, this film follows a team of explorers who discover a clue to the origins of humanity on Earth. Scott’s direction and the film’s philosophical themes and stunning visuals make it a compelling sci-fi film.
24. Oblivion (2013)
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Cast: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Netflix
Review: A visually stunning film set in a post-apocalyptic future where a drone repairman discovers a secret that changes his understanding of the world. Kosinski’s direction and Cruise’s performance make it a captivating sci-fi film.
25. Contact (1997)
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt
Available On: Amazon Prime (Rent/Buy), Apple TV (Rent/Buy), Hulu
Review: A scientist makes contact with extraterrestrial intelligence, leading to a journey that challenges her beliefs and understanding of the universe. Zemeckis’ direction and Foster’s compelling performance make it a thought-provoking and emotional sci-fi film.
Conclusion
These 25 science fiction alien movies offer a thrilling and diverse range of stories, from heartwarming adventures to intense action and thought-provoking dramas. Whether you’re interested in classic films, modern blockbusters, or indie gems, this list has something to captivate your imagination.
