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Alien
1979 117 min United States of America, United Kingdom R 18+
★9.0
Horror, Science Fiction
Director: Ridley Scott
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
EN
Teaser
Teaser
Description
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Budget:
$11M
US Gross:
$84.21M
Worldwide:
$104.93M
Starring
Sigourney Weaver
Actor
Tom Skerritt
Actor
John Hurt
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Director
BAFTA 1980
— Best Original Score
BAFTA 1980
— Best Production Design
BAFTA 1980
— Best Film Editing
BAFTA 1980
— Most Promising Lead Debut
BAFTA 1980
— Best Production Design
Saturn Awards 2004
— Best DVD Collection
Academy Awards 1980
— Best Production Design
Golden Globe 1980
— Best Original Score
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Visual Effects
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Academy Awards 1980
— Best Visual Effects
BAFTA 1980
— Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Actress
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Screenplay
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Science Fiction Film
Saturn Awards 1980
— Best Supporting Actress
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1979
— Silver Shell – Best Cinematography and Special Effects
BAFTA 1980
— Best Supporting Actor
Key opinion
Alien is widely considered a foundational masterpiece of science fiction and horror that remains remarkably effective decades after its release. Its success is attributed to a meticulous blend of atmospheric tension, groundbreaking practical creature design, and a grounded, realistic portrayal of a working-class crew.
| Acting | Sigourney Weaver delivers a career-defining, resilient performance that anchors the film and creates an iconic protagonist. | |
| Production | The practical effects and H.R. Giger’s creature design remain visually striking and terrifyingly plausible, even by modern standards. | |
| Direction | Ridley Scott’s direction expertly builds a claustrophobic, relentless sense of dread and suspense rather than relying solely on action. | |
| Score | Jerry Goldsmith’s sparse, atmospheric score perfectly emphasizes the isolation and coldness of space. | |
| Pacing | The film’s deliberate, slow-burn pace rewards viewers who appreciate immersive world-building, while those seeking constant chaos may find it exhausting. | |
| Production | The creature's practical realization is mostly lauded as iconic, though some viewers find specific early depictions of the xenomorph to be aged or puppet-like. |