The 20 best alien invasion movies

Independence Day is one of the most famous alien invasion movies of the past thirty years. The plot sees an alien race come to Earth and attack major cities with their advanced technology. The U.S. president, played by Bill Pullman, joins forces with a ragtag crew in order to save humankind. The team includes pilot Steve Miller (Will Smith) and technician David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum). As they plot to save humanity on July 4th, the patriotic holiday takes on a whole new meaning.

District 9 is an alien invasion movie with a twist and something important to say. Predominantly filmed in the style of a documentary, the film sees an alien population, known as "Prawns," forced to live in the slums of Johannesburg under inhumane conditions. A government agent tasked with evicting the aliens is exposed to their biotechnology. The film offers a unique social commentary, with the confined and exploited aliens representing how the government treats refugees. 

Close Encounters of the Third Kind was director Steven Spielberg’s next big hit after the release of his first blockbuster Jaws. Despite several mysterious sightings, the government denies the existence of aliens. When electrical lineman Roy Neary encounters a UFO, he searches for answers on a cross-country quest. Spielberg’s film has had a huge influence on the sci-fi genre, particularly in the traditional way aliens are physically portrayed on screen.

Steven Spielberg added another alien invasion flick to his filmography with his 2005 adaptation of War of the Worlds , based on the novel by H. G. Wells. Tom Cruise plays a dock worker set to spend the weekend with his children, whom he shares custody of with his ex-wife. Their world is turned upside down when aliens invade Earth and threaten to wipe out humanity. Cruise plays the typical heroic leading man he is so well known for as he attempts to find refuge for his children.

No One Will Save You is an unconventional alien invasion movie that quietly dropped on Hulu but deserves much more attention. Kaitlyn Dever plays a young, isolated woman who has been cut off from society and finds solace in the walls of her home and mundane routine. This peaceful existence is shattered when someone — or rather something — dangerous breaks in. The film notably only has a few words of dialogue, relying on visuals and Dever’s expressive performance to tell its story. 

Cloverfield uses the found footage style of filmmaking to create an alien invasion that feels immersive and terrifyingly intimate. When an extraterrestrial monster attacks New York City, friends venture out to find one of their missing friends. The use of hand-held cameras and home video-style footage allows the viewer to feel like they are a part of the action and experiencing the terror with these characters. It mixes horror and sci-fi elements to create something genuinely unnerving. 

Tim Burton puts his kooky and comedic spin on the alien invasion flick with Mars Attacks! The film sees a group of Martians arrive on Earth and meet with the President of the United States. They say they come in peace, but their true intentions to destroy humanity are revealed. Completely silly and irreverent, the film works as a parody of classic alien invasion scenarios. It also features a stacked cast, including Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, and many more.

From producer Edgar Wright, Attack the Block is an action sci-fi flick that plays with genre and surprises on many levels. Set in South London, the film follows a gang of teens, led by Moses (John Boyega), who defend their block from an alien invasion. The film combines elements of comedy and thriller to create a fast-paced, stylish, and ultra-entertaining ride. With a unique British flair and a runtime of under ninety minutes, it’s a refreshing entry into the genre. 

From modern sci-fi maestro Denis Villeneuve, who has directed films like Dune and Blade Runner 2049, Arrival is a sci-fi film that transcends usual conventions to present something original and poignant. Amy Adams plays a linguistics expert who must interpret the language of aliens who have landed their spaceships worldwide. With visceral imagery and weighty themes, Arrival is an intelligent exploration of what makes us human, told through aliens coming to Earth. 

“Get to the chopper!” is the famous line from the original Predator film, as the characters try to escape one of cinema’s most famous extraterrestrial creatures. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an all-star macho team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle who encounter the titular Predator. They are hunted down one by one by the creature, who has superhuman strength and advanced skills. The jungle has never been more dangerous or bloody.

Completing Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy is 2013’s The World’s End , starring the director’s usual players, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. The film follows five friends who reunite twenty years later to complete an epic pub crawl in their hometown. Their plans are jeopardized when they realize alien droids have taken over the town. The film features Wright’s signature style of humor and fast-paced editing, making for a fun and heartfelt combination of sci-fi and comedy.

A prequel to the sci-fi horror movies starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, A Quiet Place: Day One tells the story of how the world was first attacked by the noise-sensitive creatures that wreak havoc in those films. Lupita Nyong’o plays a woman with a terminal illness who fights for her survival, along with a kind-hearted stranger played by Joseph Quinn. While the film takes viewers back to the day the world went quiet, it is surprisingly moving thanks to the relationship between its two lead characters. 

In Edge of Tomorrow, alien invasions meet Groundhog Day , although in a much more serious fashion. Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the film follows a soldier fighting in an alien invasion who relives the same day over and over when he is killed on the battlefield. Along with the star power of Cruise and Blunt, the film is elevated by its original concept and spectacularly orchestrated action scenes. It is an adrenaline-filled ride from start to finish and one of the great modern sci-fi.

John Carpenter’s The Thing is one of the biggest hits to come out of the ‘80s and one of the most influential sci-fi movies of all time. The film follows a research team on an expedition in the Arctic who starts being hunted down by a shape-shifting alien. The creature also has the ability to physically transform into its victims. The Thing features one of the most revolting aliens to ever hit our screens, utilizing groundbreaking practical effects to create some of the most visceral body horror ever. 

While 1978’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers is technically a remake, it is generally the more iconic and celebrated of the two. The film is set in San Francisco, where mysterious seeds drift to Earth and pods start to grow. It is soon discovered that these pods are replacing the human citizens of the city one by one. Technically innovative for the time, Invasion of the Body Snatchers is full of terrifying thrills and builds upon ideas explored in the original film. 

M. Night Shyamalan is one of the most talked-about modern film directors, so it seems only natural that he, too, honed in on the alien invasion craze with his 2002 film Signs. The film follows a former reverend who moves to a farmhouse with his children and brother. They begin to find mysterious crop circles in their fields, which coincide with alien activities sighted around the globe. Meditative and unsettling at the same time, Signs is a singular alien flick with a classic Shyamalan twist. 

While Marvel’s The Avengers is primarily categorized as a superhero movie (which it definitely is), it is also a somewhat classic example of an alien invasion movie. In the film, the titular Avengers come together to stop God of Mischief Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity. In most alien invasion movies, humans only have limited technology and resources to rely on in order to save their race. This crew of aliens becomes rather unlucky in their quest when they face Earth’s mightiest heroes.

Audiences might be more familiar with the poorly received 2008 remake starring Keanu Reeves, but  1951’s The Day the Earth Stood Still remains a retro sci-fi classic. In the film, an alien and his robot land in Washington, D.C., with an ultimatum for world leaders and the people of Earth. If they cannot live peacefully, humanity will be destroyed as a danger to other planets. Surprisingly thoughtful and political, the film explores themes around violence and peace. 

Jordan Peele is a modern master of the horror genre, which he combined with science fiction in 2021’s Nope. The film follows brother and sister OJ and Emerald, who own a ranch horse ranch. They discover a sinister presence in the sky above them, which they try to capture on video. Meanwhile, a nearby theme park tries to profit from the spectacle. Full of suspense, subtext, and highly creative visuals, Nope offers something distinctive from the usual alien invasion movie.

Captive State is a gritty and realistic take on the alien invasion premise. The film is set in a Chicago neighborhood that has been under extraterrestrial occupation for a decade. Residents must choose whether to continue living under rule or support an uprising. A young man named Gabriel joins the rebellion, which is up against plenty of resistance. Featuring striking visuals and an innovative approach to insurgency, Captive State is a sci-fi flick with brains as well as a bite.