Humans have always been obsessed with extraterrestrial life and what is out there beyond the stars. Well, our obsession with a world out there has always been reflected in our art, including cinema. Thus, ‘alien’ movies have always been the favorite of science fiction for more than seven decades.
So, if you are looking for the best alien movies currently available to stream or rent, here are the ten films that deserve a spot on your watchlist. Ranked based on their watchability, appeal, and enduring relevance, here’s the list!
10. Invaders from Mars (1953)
Invaders from Mars (1953) | Credits: 20th Century Fox
Wanting something fun to watch? Well, Invaders from Mars will certainly keep you entertained. One of the earliest alien invasion films, the story follows a young boy who discovers that aliens have secretly landed near his home and are replacing people with mind-controlled versions of themselves.
Although its special effects may seem dated, the movie deserves credit for establishing many of the alien invasion tropes that would later define the genre. Its nightmarish atmosphere and innovative storytelling certainly make it deserve a spot on this list even though it may not be upto the mark according to modern standards.
Invaders from Mars is streaming on MGM Plus.
9. Aliens in the Attic (2009)
Aliens in the Attic (2009) | Credits: 20th Century Fox
This 2009 science fiction comedy is a perfect one for when you need laughs and family time. Kind of like a palette cleanser given all the other intense films on this list, the film follows a group of kids on a boring family vacation who must defend their holiday home from a crew of knee-high, technologically advanced alien invaders.
It is a goofy, fast-paced adventure packed with creative, video-game-inspired physical comedy. It ranks lower on this list as it lacks the gravitas and intensity of the other films on this list.
Aliens in the Attic is available to rent on Prime Video.
8. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg in his directorial debut, it is a masterclass in claustrophobic tension. Most of the film plays out as an intense psychological piece inside an underground bunker, where a young woman is held by a deeply unhinged survivalist who claims a devastating extraterrestrial attack has left the surface uninhabitable.
The brilliance of the film comes from uncertainty. Is he telling the truth, or is he dangerously delusional? It works so well because the aliens are secondary. Yet, it ranks lower because ‘aliens’ are not prominently featured in the film.
10 Cloverfield Lane is streaming on Prime Video.
7. Arrival (2016)
Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner in the film | Credits: Paramount Pictures
A sci-fi drama directed by Denis Villeneuve, it is based on the 1998 novella by Ted Chiang called Story of Your Life. The film completely subverts the traditional alien invasion trope by focusing on linguistics. When mysterious spacecrafts touch down across the globe, a linguist is recruited by the military to translate the complex written language of the visitors before global paranoia sparks a world war.
Profoundly beautiful and intellectually engaging, it uses its alien encounter to explore grief, memory, and how language shapes our perception of time itself. While unforgettable, not everyone who loves ‘alien’ movies may like the film.
Arrival is streaming on Paramount+.
6. The Iron Giant (1999)
An animated film, it is loosely based on The Iron Man, written by Ted Hughes. Set during the height of the Cold War in 1957, it follows a young boy named Hogarth who discovers and befriends a colossal, metal-eating robot from outer space.
At its core, it is one of the most touching stories in the genre. The movie explores friendship, fear, and the choices that define who we become. It may not resonate with everyone, but it ranks sixth for how emotionally resonant it has remained all these years.
The Iron Giant is streaming on Paramount+
5. Annihilation (2018)
Annihilation | Credits: Paramount Pictures
Loosely based on the 2014 novel by Jeff VanderMeer, the film follows a team of scientists who enter a mysterious zone where the laws of biology appear to be breaking down. It is one of the strongest and most thought-provoking science fiction films of the modern era.
The alien here is not an active threat but an indifferent force of nature that is slowly rewriting the planet. While challenging, it is not a traditional entry in the genre, which is why it ranks where it is. For those who love challenging plits, it is a trippy, philosophical descent into human self-destruction.
Annihilation can be streamed on MGM+.
4. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | Credits: Universal Pictures
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial needs no introduction or explanation. Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, it is the definitive golden standard. The story follows a lonely boy named Elliott who bonds with a stranded, gentle alien and must help him go home.
Instead of being monsters or invaders, E.T. was vulnerable, kind, and deeply human. The reason it has endured for more than forty years is simple: it isn’t really about an alien. It is about friendship, childhood, and learning to let go.
E.T. is available to rent on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
3. The Thing (1982)
Kurt Russell in the film | Credits: Universal Pictures
Directed by John Carpenter, based on John W. Campbell Jr.’s novella Who Goes There? Set in a remote Antarctic research station, a tight-knit team of scientists realizes they are being hunted by a shape-shifting alien lifeform that can perfectly imitate any living organism it consumes. The result is a masterclass in paranoia.
What makes The Thing terrifying isn’t the creature itself; it is the loss of trust. Its influence can still be seen in countless horror and science fiction films today, and this is the reason it ranks third.
The Thing can be rented on Prime Video or Apple TV+.
2. Aliens (1986)
A still from the film | Credits: 20th Century Fox
How do you follow up one of the greatest horror movies ever made? James Cameron answered by changing genres entirely, pivoting from a quiet haunted house dynamic to a loud, blistering military action-thriller.
Sigourney Weaver delivers one of the greatest action performances in cinema history as Ripley returns to confront the Xenomorph threat. The genius of the film lies in how it expands the universe, yet it does not come close to the foundations laid by the original film.
Aliens is streaming on Hulu.
1. Alien (1979)
Ridley Scott‘s original Alien takes the crown because it is a flawless film. It took the messy concept of a “monster on a spaceship” and elevated it into a pristine, gothic nightmare that continues to remain a benchmark in the genre.
What makes it the greatest alien movie ever made is its simplicity. Many have tried to copy the formula, but few have succeeded. After all this time, it is a cinematic triumph that has never been surpassed.
Alien (1979) is streaming on HBO Max.
RankMovieStreaming ServiceRating (as of June 2026)#1Alien (1979)HBO Max93% / 94% RT8.5 IMDb#2Aliens (1986)Hulu93% / 94% RT8.4 IMDb#3The Thing (1982)Rent on Prime Video / Apple TV85% / 92% RT8.2 IMDb#4E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Rent on Prime Video / Apple TV99% / 72% RT7.9 IMDb#5Annihilation (2018)MGM+88% / 67% RT6.8 IMDb#6The Iron Giant (1999)Paramount+96% / 90% RT8.1 IMDb#7Arrival (2016)Hulu94% / 83% RT7.9 IMDb#810 Cloverfield Lane (2016)Hulu91% / 79% RT7.2 IMDb#9Aliens in the Attic (2009)HBO Max34% / 43% RT5.5 IMDb#10Invaders from Mars (1953)Hoopla, Vudu, Tubi, Flix Fling88% / 55% RT6.3 IMDb
Looking at the list, each of these films reveals a fascinating cultural evolution in how we view extraterrestrial life. No matter which film you choose, these movies prove that humanity’s fascination with life beyond Earth remains one of cinema’s richest storytelling traditions. What do you think?
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