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Aliens
20th Century Fox 20th Century Fox
Brandywine Productions Brandywine Productions
SLM Production Group SLM Production Group
Alien Collection Alien Collection

Aliens

This time it's war.

1986 137 min ★ 8.0 (11,146) Released
Action Science Fiction Thriller

Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.

Original title
Aliens
Language
EN
Country
US
Budget
$18,500,000
Revenue
$183,316,455
Reviews & Ratings 6
E

emre

Sep 12, 2024 · via TMDB

★ 8.0

While Cameron masterfully balances tension and action, he also deepens the film by focusing on character development. Watching Ripley's transformation is a testament to his impressive direction. Additionally, the creature designs and military costumes bring a sense of realism that surpasses its time, drawing the audience into the film's dark and dangerous world. In these aspects, *Aliens* stands as a masterpiece not just for sci-fi fans, but for cinema enthusiasts as well.

Filipe Manuel Neto

Filipe Manuel Neto

Apr 27, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

**A sequel on par with the first film, and one that helped cement the Alien franchise.** I really liked the movie Alien, the first of this franchise. There is no doubt that it is one of the best and most remarkable horror films ever made, and one of the “fathers” of contemporary sci-fi cinema. This film was thought to give logical continuity to the story started in that film, and I think it couldn't be better than it is. There are many people who consider the film to be excessively dated, with sets and effects that look old. I strongly disagree. It's true that digital and CGI are not here, but if you think about the amount of bad CGI and bad effects that we have to swallow in today's movies, it's really nice to see a movie with effects that work well and look amazing fifty years later. . When Ripley is saved over fifty years have passed since the events of the initial film. She arrives in a world that has continued to spin while she sleeps, and which does not believe her account. Still, they ask him to return to space when a colony, newly created on the planet where the first Alien was found, suddenly stops communicating. It's pretty clear that someone knows more than they're saying, and that there are, again, very strong interests from a financial point of view. But Ripley will figure it all out in due time. The film is extraordinary and is completely at the level of its direct predecessor: the script has an excellent development, knows how to involve and capture the public's attention. Okay, there's a similar story, with the return to that planet and the return of the aliens, but the premise that leads to the return is the best and most convincing, and we don't feel tired or downtime. There's a pleasant tension, which deepens as the threat grows, and even when we don't see the xenomorphs, the fact that we know they're around increases that tension and the feeling of threat. Cameron continues to prove his genius as a director, and manages to extract the best from everyone involved in his project. In particular, the actors. Sigourney Weaver is at the highest level and gives us an anthology work, which will open doors for her as an actress and which will mark her for life. The rest of the cast does not stand out so much, but we can praise the efforts of actors like Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, Jenette Goldstein and Al Matthews. Carrie Hen, in part, is the weakest link in this cast, as her character only appears to arouse empathy and for us to connect more intensely with what we are seeing. The truth is that the way her character – a child – survives in that situation is frankly implausible, almost an authentic miracle. Technically, the film is fantastic. It even seems like a new and relatively recent film, if you don't know what you're watching and that it was released in 1986. The cinematography is clean, sharp and there is an excellent filming and editing job. The effects are done the old-fashioned way, without the overwhelming appeal of digital, and they work amazingly well. See, for example, how the droid cut in half looks, how believable and authentic it looks. The alien is effective, menacing and fearsome, it looks like a weapon come to life and not a normal living being.

GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwine

Jan 13, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

I have a simple policy: if the movie entertains like it's supposed to, I give it 10 stars... ...That being said: I'm going to give you two words: "Space Marines" That's right, "space marines" I can almost see the pitch for this. We are going to take the Alien movie, the classic horror movie in space...and we are going to turn it into an action movie in space and completely change the direction of the franchise to the point where people are going to be hesitant to go back to the horror in space formula that worked for alien. And that is kind of what happened. The Alien franchise kind of lost its horror movie cred with Aliens to the point where Alien 3 got a lot of hate for trying to bring back the successful merger of horror and science fiction. Aliens turned the franchise into a typical science fiction series...and that kind of hurts. HOWEVER You still have Ripley and Ripley is still a super cool hero. And Aliens doubles down on her character and brings her from the tough survivor to a tough as nails warrior. And then you have a great addition of characters that quickly become beloved. And even if it changed from a horror movie to a basic science fiction movie with space marines, it was still a stellar science fiction movie. It was still stylistic and fun. So part of me hates Aliens for making that turn from horror to straight science fiction. But the other part of me recognizes it as a a very good movie for what it is with a great cast. So I'm going to give it 10 out of 10 despite wanting it to be the same kind of film that Alien was. And, at the same time, I want to praise the risk it took for taking the franchise in a new direction.

BryceSpencer

BryceSpencer

Jan 12, 2023 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

I LOVED this movie! I honestly rank this movie even higher than the first. The intense action, the gripping horror, the characters, the aliens, the ascetic...everything. And it takes its time to give us all the little hints and clues from the first film as we venture into this thrilling ride. Though I have much respect for Ridley Scott's first Alien film, this one just takes it to a whole new level in a way the first never could. THIS is how it's done.

BryceSpencer

BryceSpencer

Nov 26, 2022 · via TMDB

★ 10.0

**Even BETTER Than The First!** I LOVED this movie! The intense action, the gripping horror, the characters, the aliens, the ascetic...everything. And it takes its time to give us all the little hints and clues from the first film as we venture into this thrilling ride. Though I have much respect for Ridley Scott's first Alien film, this one just takes it to a whole new level in a way the first never could. THIS is how it's done.

Wuchak

Wuchak

Nov 1, 2022 · via TMDB

★ 9.0

**_One of the best monster movies_** I prefer James Cameron's "Aliens" (1986) to its predecessor, Ridley Scott's "Alien" (1979), mainly because the story is more compelling. People often say "Aliens" is more of an action film than "Alien," but it's not a mindless action film and, in fact, the action doesn't even start until a FULL HOUR into its 2 hour and 18 minutes runtime (the extended cut runs about 16 minutes longer). The best horror/action movies take this route -- taking their time to build character and suspense before unleashing the horrific mayhem. Some complain about the screaming little girl, Newt, but -- hey -- she's a little girl and I think the situation calls for this sort of response. Others complain that Bill Paxton is too whiny as one of the Marines, but isn't this the way SOME people respond when facing overwhelming defeat -- even hardened militarists -- particularly by hideous extraterrestrial monsters? Another complaint is that the Marines are depicted as dumb, arrogant "oo-rah" types, but I used to be a Marine and this was the way the over-the-top ones acted and, furthermore, these are the kinds of Marines that would qualify for such a dangerous mission -- the (over)confident wackjobs who would get the job done and done right. The initial confrontation with the aliens at the hour mark is one of the most horrific sequences in cinematic history; and the Marines are thoroughly humbled. The rest of the film shows the surviving group literally sweating-it-out trying to figure out how to get off the planet alive where annihilating the creatures becomes a secondary objective. Ripley's motherly love for Newt is a good addition and it humanizes Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). The sequences with the alien Queen make for a dynamic and extended climax. Also, Lance Henriksen is notable as the "artificial human" and Paul Reiser as an effective love-to-hate quasi-villain. On the downside, the film is noticeably setbound, but that's par for the course for these types of sci-fi films, e.g. Star Trek. Another negative -- for me at least -- is that the film features no curvy babes, but this was the case with the first film as well, so it's to be expected. Besides, I think the female crew is more believable without someone like Juno Temple or Megan Fox aboard, lol. The bottom line is that "Aliens" is easily one of the greatest monster films of all time, surpassing even the first film in the series and leagues better than the next two. GRADE: A

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 29
action horror alien android assertive colony commanding creature critical cryogenics desolate desolate planet empathetic exhilarated extraterrestrial technology female hero female protagonist military sci-fi sci-fi action sci-fi horror sequel settler sinister space space colony space marine space travel spaceman vacuum warrior woman
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Cast 22
Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver

Ripley

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn

Newt

Michael Biehn

Michael Biehn

Corporal Hicks

Paul Reiser

Paul Reiser

Burke

Lance Henriksen

Lance Henriksen

Bishop

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton

Private Hudson

William Hope

William Hope

Lieutenant Gorman

Jenette Goldstein

Jenette Goldstein

Private Vasquez

Al Matthews

Al Matthews

Sergeant Apone

Mark Rolston

Mark Rolston

Private Drake

Ricco Ross

Ricco Ross

Private Frost

Colette Hiller

Colette Hiller

Corporal Ferro

Daniel Kash

Daniel Kash

Private Spunkmeyer

Cynthia Dale Scott

Cynthia Dale Scott

Corporal Dietrich

Paul Maxwell

Paul Maxwell

Van Leuwen

Valerie Colgan

Valerie Colgan

ECA Rep

Alan Polonsky

Alan Polonsky

Insurance Man

Alibe Parsons

Alibe Parsons

Med Tech

Blain Fairman

Blain Fairman

Doctor

Eddie Powell

Eddie Powell

Alien Warrior (uncredited)

Chris Webb

Chris Webb

Alien Warrior (uncredited)

Alec Gillis

Alec Gillis

Alien (uncredited)

Crew 31
Syd Mead

Syd Mead

Concept Artist

Ron Cobb

Ron Cobb

Conceptual Design

Peter Lamont

Peter Lamont

Production Design

Steven Woodcock

Steven Woodcock

Set Decoration

Adrian Biddle

Adrian Biddle

Director of Photography

Peter Robb-King

Peter Robb-King

Makeup Supervisor

Adam Jones

Adam Jones

Special Effects

Brian Johnson

Brian Johnson

Special Effects

Paul Weston

Paul Weston

Stunt Coordinator

Kiran Shah

Kiran Shah

Stunt Double

Chris Webb

Chris Webb

Stunts

Eddie Powell

Eddie Powell

Stunts

Simon Crane

Simon Crane

Stunts

Steve Dent

Steve Dent

Stunts

James Cameron

James Cameron

Director

Derek Cracknell

Derek Cracknell

First Assistant Director

Stan Winston

Stan Winston

Second Unit Director

Mike Fenton

Mike Fenton

Casting

David Giler

David Giler

Executive Producer

Gordon Carroll

Gordon Carroll

Executive Producer

Walter Hill

Walter Hill

Executive Producer

Bill Damaschke

Bill Damaschke

Producer

Gale Anne Hurd

Gale Anne Hurd

Producer

James Horner

James Horner

Original Music Composer

H. R. Giger

H. R. Giger

Creature Design

Dan O'Bannon

Dan O'Bannon

Characters

Ronald Shusett

Ronald Shusett

Characters

James Cameron

James Cameron

Screenplay

David Giler

David Giler

Story

James Cameron

James Cameron

Story

Walter Hill

Walter Hill

Story

Gallery 471
Videos 11
Similar Movies 511
US Release Dates 7

Jul 14, 1986

Westwood, California

R Premiere

Jul 18, 1986

R Theatrical

Dec 18, 1991

Special Collector's Edition LaserDisc

R Physical

Jun 1, 1999

Special Edition & The Alien Legacy Box Set DVD

R Physical

Dec 2, 2003

Alien Quadrilogy (Theatrical Cut and Special Edition)

R Physical

Sep 13, 2016

30th Anniversary Edition (Theatrical Cut and Special Edition)

R Physical

Mar 12, 2024

Ultimate Collector's Edition (Theatrical Cut and Special Edition)

R Physical

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