Alien

Name: Alien
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror
Released: June 22, 1979
Duration: 117 min
Rating: 89
Cast: John Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt

1979

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 1336 Ratings

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9.0

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9.0	Your Score
9.0	User Score Universal acclaim based on 1336 Ratings

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Alien

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Movie Details & Credits

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: June 22, 1979 | R

Starring: John Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt

Summary: For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, Alien returns to the big screen with a digitally remastered special edition of director Ridley Scott's science fiction/horror classic. [Fox]

Director: Ridley Scott

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Rating: R

Runtime: 117 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Staff (Not Credited)

If you've never seen Alien on the big screen, this is a must-have cinematic experience that will leave you shivering and adrenalised. And even if you have seen it, the same holds true. It really is that damn good. [2003 re-release] Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Editors Terry Rawlings and Peter Weatherley cut the film so cleverly so that we never have a clear notion of what the alien actually looks like until the very last shots. Read full review

100

The Telegraph Martin Chilton

For sheer theatricality, the very thing Weaver thought she was abandoning, Alien is difficult to beat. Read full review

100

Michael Agger

The scariest movie in history is actually a bit shy. The subtle, romantic score by Jerry Goldsmith is what keeps the tension at a simmer. Read full review

100

Peter Hartlaub

Feels like a streamlined improvement on the original. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The most important features of this "new" version are the digital cleaning of the print and the re-mastering of the sound. There are a few added scenes, but they are mostly insignificant and have been previously seen (at least by fans of the movie) on the laserdisc or DVD releases. Read full review

Ron Stringer

Unfortunately, fulfilling an apparent need to assert absolute control over his early successes no matter the cost, the director has gone ahead and loused up his 1979 masterpiece of gothic sci-fi horror. Read full review

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User Reviews

cbalogh

Oct 4, 2010

This film is meticulously constructed, and all of its components fit together almopst perfectly. Creepily paced, wonderfully acted, and menaced throughout, Alien is one of the best films ever made.

28 of 31 users found this helpful283

Gaiduk

Nov 19, 2014

Masterpiece! It should have score - 100. I think Ridley Scott even himself didn't understand what he had created. It's better and better with time, really.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

maestro666

Aug 11, 2019

This film is my favorite film of all time I never got tired watching it over and over.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NickTheCritick

Nov 3, 2021

A fantastic sci-fi horror movie by a R. Scott who shot his second impressive long feature after the duellists. This movie is an inimitable and unattanainble masterpiece of its genre. Scott here is a master in building tension during all the film that is a space drama/thriller. You see theA fantastic sci-fi horror movie by a R. Scott who shot his second impressive long feature after the duellists. This movie is an inimitable and unattanainble masterpiece of its genre. Scott here is a master in building tension during all the film that is a space drama/thriller. You see the Alien only at the end of the movie. This is genius, this is what cinema is. Art. Every shot here is simply perfect. And guys, he created the Xenomorph. Honor and merit for this.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Le__Xenomorph

Dec 15, 2014

This movie is the near-perfect example of horror. Its creepy atmosphere drips with tension as you share Ripley's fear when running from the Alien. 'Nuff said. 9/10 (Awesome).

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

r96sk

Feb 21, 2022

'Alien' isn't as eventful, and as such as entertaining, as I had anticipated, though it is still an enjoyable near two hours.

It's a strong cast, with newbie Sigourney Weaver putting in a great performance. Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto and John Hurt are good too. I wanted'Alien' isn't as eventful, and as such as entertaining, as I had anticipated, though it is still an enjoyable near two hours.

It's a strong cast, with newbie Sigourney Weaver putting in a great performance. Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto and John Hurt are good too. I wanted to see more of them, though that's normal given the tightness of the setting - there's only so much they can do, of course.

Other positives include the neat set design, solid special effects and well done tension building. I can't say I was ever fully unnerved, in fairness that's more a personal thing as fiction rarely scares me, but I was locked on for the entirety. It also gets respect for setting the benchmark it did.

Will check out the sequels, prequels and spin-offs/crossovers with much intrigue.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Timbuck2

Aug 2, 2006

This movie can never bee made into a decent film, it will always be pathatic and nothing but fake gore, annoying script and stupid scares...awful in every way...no match for "The Descent".

1 of 33 users found this helpful

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