There has been quite the talk of aliens due to the recent whistleblower leaks vaguely confirming their existence. At the same time, this news has undoubtedly had UFO enthusiasts and the public abuzz with speculation. Little is known about the degree of our interactions with travelers from another planet, or dimension if you want to get extra nerdy, but we want to know more and hope they come in peace.
Regardless, one thing for sure is that the interest in UFOs is higher than ever. With this in mind, we look at the best movies about UFOs, ranking up to our favorite.
15 Mars Attacks!
Mars Attacks! is far from a masterpiece, and it is the only film of Tim Burton’s that is considered a flop financially and with critics and audiences alike. This was primarily due to the disjointed nature of the movie, which felt more like a series of non-sequiturs that would rival an episode of Family Guy. However, what makes this such a fascinating UFO movie is just how much-wasted potential there is here, and the over-the-top performances from some of the greats become tragically comedic in their excess and lack of direction.
This is one of the most impressive casts ever ensembled for a comedy and includes the likes of Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Danny DeVito, Michael J. Fox, and Jack Black, to name a few. To see all these actors ham it up in a film that would live in infamy for its failure is an excellent guilty pleasure worth revisiting.
14 The McPherson Tape
Proclaimed to be the first found footage horror film, The McPherson Tape presents the home movies of a family terrorized by a UFO and alien invasion on the night of a birthday party. The 1981 film was made on a shoestring budget of $6,500, so don’t expect high quality here, but this is a gem of a movie not just for its historical significance.
This is an unsettling experience that even had people fooled into believing it was an authentic account of aliens terrorizing a family. The grittiness of the film quality also adds to the unease and the sensation of accidentally stumbling upon lost media. Still, the low budget and date may make it more of a niche pick, but if you love found footage movies and aliens, this is a great one to check out.
13 Fire in the Sky
Based on the book The Walton Experience, Fire in the Sky recounts the claims of Travis Walton. Walton, a logger from Arizona, disappeared for two days and claimed his absence was due to being abducted by a UFO and experimented on.
Much like Walton’s story has its detractors regarding the validity of his claims, the film had similar reservations about its portrayal of an alien abduction. However, for those who believe there is alien life, the movie’s sensationalized account of Walton’s abduction adds suspense and horror to craft a frightening story of one man’s “close encounter of the fourth kind.”
12 Killer Clowns from Outer Space
If aliens exist, we don’t know what form they would take; sure, it could be your typical “greys,” but what if they took on the form of clowns? Killer Clowns from Outer Space is a wonderfully campy horror film where the UFO is a giant tent circus, and the aliens are clowns who store people in cotton candy.
This ’80s cult film is perfect if you want a more lighthearted and silly horror film to ponder the potential existence of aliens. There is a lot of love here, from the cool soundtrack (including an original theme from punk band The Dickies), the practical effects, to the nightmare-inducing design of the titular killer clowns.
11 Independence Day
An unprecedented spectacle for the time, which saw the film cruise to a massive $817.4 million globally, made Independence Day the second-highest-grossing film ever at the time. Combine this with an all-star cast including Will Smith and Bill Pullman, and the sci-fi spectacle has become synonymous with alien invasion films and Independence Day celebrations.
So why so low in our ranking? While the film was a triumph of effects, the story here is pretty cookie-cutter. Moreover, while the film still impresses today, its effects are not as stunning as they once were with the passage of time and improvement in practical and special effects. Still, this is, in many ways, a quintessential UFO movie worth a re-watch or checking out for the first time.
10 The War of the Worlds (1953)
The War of The Worlds holds an interesting place in history after rising to notoriety for scarring a large portion of the populace when the original book was read and broadcasted on the radio waves. Many thought the horrific details of the invasion were authentic, and The War of The Worlds became infamous with how it reflected the effect of media on people as well as the real fear people harbored about aliens and UFOs.
For this entry, we are looking at the original film adaptation, released in 1953, directed by Byron Haskin and starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. It may seem outdated by today’s standards, but at the time of release, the movie was praised for its special effects. This is a true classic in the science fiction genre that can still be enjoyed today.
9 District 9
District 9 is one of those films that appeared out of nowhere and instantly gained cult notoriety due to its unique take and the dystopian vision of alien invaders. Following Wikus van de Merwe, a bureaucrat tasked with relocating aliens to a new district, the man transforms into one of the aliens and learns more about their struggles.
While the hype around the film died down, and, in retrospect, many see it as a solid concept well done as opposed to the mindblower it was initially touted as. District 9 is still a wholly original approach toward UFOs and aliens. If you like your films ripe with social commentary, this should be on your watch list.
8 Edge of Tomorrow
Groundhog Day, but with Tom Cruise fighting aliens? We’re in! Edge of Tomorrow is a fun and enthralling sci-fi action film worth checking out. And even though Edge of Tomorrow is a popcorn flick with action being the primary draw, the technology, and concepts behind the alien invaders are an exciting take within the sci-fi genre. Moreover, Tom Cruise’s evolution as a character from a despicable coward to a hero is a joy to watch, and Emily Blunt gives an equally engaging performance as a battle-hardened hero to the people.
Contact may have been the less popular of two alien films in the theater, released at the same time as Men in Black, but the Jodie Foster-led film is understated in how well it explores the possibility of making contact with alien life. In addition, the film’s slow pacing focuses on science, morality, and faith in a meaningful and engaging manner.
This is a precursor to other films on the list that took a more philosophical approach to sci-fi and what encounters with alien life could entail, and how it could shape our perceptions of what it means to be human. Even if you are not into more contemplative work, Jodie Foster gives one of the best performances of her career as Dr. Ellie Arroway, an astronomer who discovers proof of alien existence.
6 Xtro
There will be a divisive line drawn on people who believe that Xtro deserves such a high spot on this list, but that tends to be the case with movies that find cult status years after their initial release. The story of Xtro is pretty straightforward, a man gets abducted by a UFO only to return three years later to his family, but they soon learn something is wrong.
This film excels in its experimental approach to horror, and some of the imagery here is… well, you have to watch it for yourself. But those who like a more outlandish horror experience will love the bizarre directions this one goes in. The film also spawned two sequels that are fun in their own right, though not nearly as effective. The third one even marks the film debut of Tom Hanks’ brother, Jim Hanks.
5 Nope
A bit more of a clever sociopolitical commentary piece for entry into the best UFO films, though that is to be expected with Jordan Peele behind the camera. Nope drew various cinematic influences to craft its peculiar UFOs, which terrorize two horse wranglers (Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer).
One can even go as far as to say that this sci-fi allegory for exploring themes of capitalism, greed, and materialism is Peele’s most disturbing film to date. Combining this with the defined visual direction, strong performances, and engaging story makes Nope a must-watch for sci-fi fans who love unique interpretations of UFOs.
4 Arrival
This Amy Adams-led sci-fi drama focuses on language, exploring how we may learn to communicate with alien life. In particular, Arrival looks at how language shapes our reality and perception of what it means to be human. The movie is smart, filled with twists, and weaves many concepts throughout its runtime.
Arrival was praised critically for its thought-provoking themes, ethereal visuals, and Amy Adams’ performance as linguistics expert Dr. Louise Banks. Those who like more challenging and contemplative works should add this to your UFO watch list.
3 Annihilation
While the real meaning behind Annihilation is up for debate, taking the movie at face value, this female lead feature sees a group of scientists investigating an area deemed “The Shimmer.” Traversing a landscape with alien/altered flora and fauna, the team led by Lena (Natalie Portman) pushes towards the source of the mysterious force, a UFO.
Depending on who you ask, there are no aliens, there is no UFO, and the film is more an allegory for something else. Regardless of where you stand, the visual presence of the film, the phenomenal all-female cast, and the final confrontation within the ‘alien structure’ certainly makes Annihilation worthy of high standing on this list.
2 The Thing
John Carpenter’s masterpiece and arguably the most frightening vision of alien life committed to film, The Thing follows R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) and his crew as they fight off an unknown threat that mimics its victims. The catalyst for this event is a crash-landed UFO, which is further explored in the prequel film of the same title released in 2011. The practical effects of The Thing stand up to this day and are one of the most significant examples of the effectiveness of practical effects over CGI.
While it bombed in the theaters and was considered a failure upon release, the horror fandom has embraced the movie as one of the best horror movies of the ’80s, if not of all time. This is an absolute must-watch for those interested in sci-fi horror.
1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind
With the possibility of real UFOs, it is hard not to place a film like Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the top of the list. This thoughtful and suspenseful work by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is not just a fan favorite. And it has also caught the praise of other filmmakers with names like Stanley Kubrick, Edgar Wright, Bong Joon-ho, and Spike Lee, touting its recognition as one of their all-time favorites.
Following a group of people, led by blue-collar worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), who attempt to contact aliens. The film utilized special effects that were groundbreaking for the time and memorable storytelling. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a classic, and many consider it Spielberg’s best work.
