X
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • FOX
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • FOX
Alien Nation (1989)

Summary "That was the scene in California's Mojave Desert five years ago - our historic first view of the Newcomers' ship. Theirs was a slave ship, carrying a quarter million beings bred to adapt and labour in any environment. But they'd washed ashore on Earth, with no way to get back to where they came from. And in the last five years, the Newc...

  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • FOX
  • 1989
  • TV-14
  • FOX

Alien Nation (1989)

Season 1 Premiere: Sep 18, 1989
Metascore Mixed or Average Based on 8 Critic Reviews
53
User Score Universal Acclaim Based on 7 User Ratings
8.1
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary "That was the scene in California's Mojave Desert five years ago - our historic first view of the Newcomers' ship. Theirs was a slave ship, carrying a quarter million beings bred to adapt and labour in any environment. But they'd washed ashore on Earth, with no way to get back to where they came from. And in the last five years, the Newc...

Where to Watch

All Seasons

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 8 Critic Reviews
53
38% Positive
3 Reviews
38% Mixed
3 Reviews
25% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Mixed or Average Based on 8 Critic Reviews
53
38% Positive
3 Reviews
38% Mixed
3 Reviews
25% Negative
2 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
90
Jul 12, 2013
"Alien Nation" as a series has been a remarkable achievement in the dullest fall season in history. It is both entertaining, socially responsible, and significant. [7 May 1990]
By Marvin Kitman FULL REVIEW
70
Apr 20, 2014
Issues of bias and prejudice are moved to center stage, rather heavyhandedly. There are references, direct and veiled, to blacks and civil-rights struggles, the Holocaust, and AIDS hysteria. But Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint are effective as, respectively, a younger, hipper Matthew and a mellower George. For television, Fox's Alien Nation is different, adventurous and very much worth monitoring.
By John J. O'Connor FULL REVIEW
70
Apr 20, 2014
Although flawed in its heavyhanded and unrelenting use of prejudice against alien beings as a metaphor for prejudice against blacks, Alien Nation packs a punch and could be the cult action show of the year - if it survives "Monday Night Football." [18 Sept 1989]
By Ed Siegel FULL REVIEW
50
Apr 20, 2014
It almost torpedoes itself by being a bore and taking its futuristic sociology too doggone seriously. [18 Sept 1989, p.3D]
By Matt Roush FULL REVIEW
40
Apr 20, 2014
Shadowing most every encounter and incident are examples of the same sort of bigotry and racism that many other peoples have faced and fought as they dragged themselves into this society. Racist references - the aliens are called slags and spongeheads - are unfortunate and but the most serious of this series' many problems. [18 Sept 1989]
By Rick Kogan FULL REVIEW
30
Apr 20, 2014
Alien Nation is covered with ooze. For one thing, it's about as subtle as an AK-47. For another, its aliens lack interest because -- except for looking a little different and humming like tuning forks when engaged in sexual foreplay -- they're almost human clones.
By Howard Rosenberg FULL REVIEW
30
Jul 23, 2013
A good idea has been largely bollixed through crummy execution. [18 Sep 1989]
By Tom Shales FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 7 User Ratings
8.1
71% Positive
5 Ratings
29% Mixed
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Universal Acclaim Based on 7 User Ratings
8.1
71% Positive
5 Ratings
29% Mixed
2 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company:
  • 20th Century Fox Television
  • Kenneth Johnson Productions
Initial Release Date: Sep 18, 1989
Number of seasons: 2 Seasons
Rating: TV-14
Genres:
All Details

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Viewers for Quality Television Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Young Artist Awards
• 1 Nomination

Related Shows

Related News

What to Watch on Hulu Right Now

What to Watch on Hulu Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Hulu, updated frequently.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Disney+ Right Now

What to Watch on Disney+ Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Disney's streaming service, updated frequently.

  • tv show
April TV Preview (2024)

April TV Preview (2024)

Jason Dietz

The month ahead will bring a series adaptation of the videogame Fallout plus Netflix newcomer Ripley, Park Chan-wook's miniseries The Sympathizer, a sequel to Emmy winner The Jinx, Idris Elba's weirdest project to date, and more.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Paramount+ Right Now

What to Watch on Paramount+ Right Now

Jason Dietz

Find a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added to Paramount+ and Paramount+ With Showtime, plus a list of titles coming soon to the streaming services.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Prime Video Right Now

What to Watch on Prime Video Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Amazon's Prime Video, updated frequently.

  • tv show
What to Watch on Max Right Now

What to Watch on Max Right Now

Jason Dietz

Get a list of the best movies and TV shows recently added (and coming soon) to Max--plus all of the titles leaving the streaming service this month--updated frequently.

  • tv show