It’s that special time of year for UFO enthusiasts. According to the San José Public Library, World UFO Day is celebrated on two days: June 24, marking the day pilot Kenneth Arnold allegedly saw flying saucers in 1947, and July 2, commemorating the supposed spaceship crash in Roswell, New Mexico, the same year.
Whether or not you believe in aliens, they have been a hot topic recently. Just last year, a congressional hearing was held to uncover the truth about UFOs, as reported by Deseret News.
While we might not get to the truth about UFOs anytime soon, we can at least enjoy some great alien movies. To celebrate World UFO Day, here are the 21 best alien movies of all time:
1. Arrival (2016)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Netflix
Linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited to communicate with mysterious alien spaceships that appear around the world.
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Rated: G
Streaming: Max
This Stanley Kubrick film explores technology’s role in human evolution, with the possibility of alien life looming in the background.
3. Men in Black (1997)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Hulu
A New York cop (Will Smith) joins a secret organization that monitors and polices aliens on Earth, leading to hilarious and action-packed adventures.
4. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Tubi
This classic film follows a race of parasitic aliens invading San Francisco, featuring an excellent cast including Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum.
5. Super 8 (2011)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Paramount+
A group of kids in 1979 investigate mysterious phenomena in their hometown after witnessing a train derailment caused by an alien.
6. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Disney+
The iconic space opera follows Luke Skywalker’s journey in a galactic war, featuring a host of quirky aliens and action-packed adventures.
7. Asteroid City (2023)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Prime Video
Wes Anderson’s quirky take on alien invasion features a youth stargazer convention disrupted by a UFO, leading to a quarantine in the fictional town of Asteroid City.
8. Galaxy Quest (1999)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Paramount+
A hilarious take on the sci-fi genre, where the cast of a once-popular show is recruited by real aliens who mistake their show for a historical documentary.
9. Lilo & Stitch (2002)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Disney+
A lonely Hawaiian girl adopts a strange dog, who turns out to be a dangerous alien, leading to heartwarming and funny adventures.
10. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Apple TV, YouTube, Prime Video
Tom Cruise stars as a soldier stuck in a time loop, reliving the same battle against aliens, improving his skills with each iteration.
11. Star Trek (2009)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Paramount+
A reboot of the original series, following Captain James T. Kirk’s early adventures, featuring a mix of new and familiar faces.
12. Independence Day (1996)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Hulu
A classic alien invasion film where humans, led by Will Smith and Bill Pullman, fight to save Earth from total destruction.
13. Signs (2002)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Apple TV
M. Night Shyamalan’s beloved film follows a family in rural Pennsylvania facing an alien invasion.
14. A Quiet Place (2018)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Paramount +
A family must live in silence to avoid sightless aliens with excellent hearing in this emotional and suspenseful film.
15. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Rated: G
Streaming: Prime Video
A Cold War-era film where a humanoid alien and his robot land in Washington, D.C., to deliver a message to Earth’s leaders.
16. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Prime Video
A gentle alien gets separated from his group and is discovered by a young boy, leading to a heartwarming journey to return E.T. home.
17. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Paramount+
The crew of the USS Enterprise battles the Borg, a species connected to a hive mind, featuring the cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
18. Dune: Part 1 (2021) and Dune: Part 2 (2024)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Max
Based on Frank Herbert’s novel, these films follow Paul Atreides’ journey on the desert planet Arrakis, featuring spice, prophecies, and epic battles.
19. No One Will Save You (2023)
Rated: PG-13
Streaming: Hulu
A young woman fights against humanoid aliens invading her home and town in this suspenseful horror film.
20. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Rated: PG
Streaming: Prime Video
An iconic film where an electrician becomes obsessed with UFOs after a close encounter, leading to a quest for the truth about aliens.
21. The War of the Worlds (1953)
Rated: G
Streaming: Prime Video
Based on H.G. Wells’ novel, this classic film follows humanity’s struggle against a devastating Martian invasion.
Celebrate World UFO Day by diving into these captivating alien movies that span a range of genres,from heartwarming family films to intense sci-fi thrillers.
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