One of the most influential science fiction films of all time was released 45 years ago: AlienSince Sigourney Weaver ejected the titular xenomorph from its escape pod, there have been three additional films in the main franchise, two crossovers with the Marvel franchise, and Predatortwo prequels and countless copies. With the arrival of Alien: Romulus This week, here are 10 of the best movies inspired by Alien that you can see now.
Species (1995)
10 Alien Ramps That Are Actually Cool
It is said that during the production of this erotic science fiction film, HR Giger, the award-winning designer who created the creatures in this film and Alien, He told the producers of Species that his script had too many similarities to Ridley Scott’s classic work, including creatures bursting out of someone’s chest. “Why should it be done Species in this repetitive way?” Giger asked in the magazine Cinefantastique“We must have better ideas and we must not be known as copycats of other films.”
Where to watch: MGM+, Tubi, Hoopla, Pluto TV, digital rental
DeepStar Six (1989)
If I hadn’t come out a few months earlier The Abyssthis horror film would have been accused of copying James Cameron’s masterpiece about benevolent beings under the sea. Instead, critics rightly accused the filmmakers of taking their story from a creature that hunts the crew of an underwater military base Alien. Despite losing points in originality, it’s still a fun movie to watch.
Where to watch: digital rental
Event Horizon (1997)
The psychological science fiction horror film Event Horizon does not owe much to Alien In terms of plot: its plot revolves around a crew that slowly goes mad and is probably most indebted to The Shining than with anything else. However, when it comes to the look and design of this underrated cult classic, the filmmakers may have some explaining to do. From the look of the rescue ship to the entire shooting sequences, it was copied from Alien to make this dark cult classic.
Where to watch: Paramount+ con Showtime, digital rental
Galaxy of Terror (1981)
The makers of Event Horizon They also copied some elements from this Roger Corman B-movie about a rescue mission that goes awry when alien creatures hunt down the crew members one by one using their worst fears. This blatant copy is famous for the production design of Aliens by director James Cameron (The Experience, as this video stateswould help give the sequel its futuristic military aesthetic) and infamous for a graphic alien rape scene.
Where to watch: Prime Video, PeacockAMC+, The Roku Channel, Vudu, Tubi, Crackle, Shudder, digital rental
Pitch Black (2000)
If the internet is to be believed, this cult classic is based on a rejected script by Alien 3. It makes sense, since the plot is about survivors of a crashed spaceship who must escape ravenous creatures on the planet they’ve landed on. The twist is that the aliens only come out at night, and the only person who can help them survive is Riddick (Vin Diesel), a bald criminal who can see in the dark. Does that mean Riddick is Ripley in this situation?
Where to watch: Starz, digital rental
Outland (1981)
There is a theory on the internet that says that Outland y Alien are officially connected because they were released within a couple of years and share a similar suit design. The Xenomorphs are the only thing missing from this sci-fi Western starring Sean Connery, though many critics noted that the plot owes more to High Noon that to Alien.
Where to watch: digital rental
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Perhaps better known for its unusual release than for being a copy of Alienthis direct-to-Netflix entry in the franchise Cloverfield Abrams’ The Last Stand is about a crew of scientists in the future who are looking for a solution to Earth’s energy problem. What follows is a series of sci-fi tropes that seem eerily similar to a movie
Kristen Stewart, sporting Ripley’s hairstyle Alien 3is part of a team of engineers living in a claustrophobic laboratory miles beneath the ocean’s surface. He’s part of a mining team drilling into the ocean floor, but little do they know they’ve awakened a monster. Just like Deep Star Sixthis film makes no bones about what it is (a rip-off of Alienobviously) but it makes good use of its low-lit surroundings, ensuring that its scares really work.
Where to watch: FXNOW, Digital rental
Life (2017)
Stop me if you’ve heard this story before: A crew of scientists aboard a space station discovers an organism that grows and hunts each crew member one by one. While this film has some big surprises for its all-star cast (including Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal), there’s no doubt that this hybrid horror film is a rip-off of Alien.
Where to watch: Netflix, Digital rental
Despite the numerous copies of Alien that have been released since the original film, many viewers are still looking for the best entertainment in this genre, and streaming services have made it easier than ever to stream these movies.
For example, if you’re in the mood for a classic copy of Alienyou can transmit Species (1995) on MGM+ or rent it digitally. Alternatively, if you’re interested in more modern takes on the franchise, you can stream Underwater (2020) on FXNOW or rent it digitally.