Best Alien Movies

Alien movies come in all shapes and sizes -- from heartwarming and family-friendly (like E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) to action-packed and scary (like Alien). No matter how you like your movie extra-terrestrials, you're sure to find something you like on our list of best alien movies. For more outer space adventures, be sure to check out our Sci-Fi Movies and Space Movies lists.

Filter by:

MOVIE

Lilo and Stitch

age 5+

Cute story, great characters, fabulous soundtrack.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2002)

See full review

MOVIE

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

age 5+

Delightful family-friendly sequel has positive themes.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)

See full review

MOVIE

Forbidden Planet

age 6+

Classic '50s sci-fi flick is campy fun.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1956)

See full review

MOVIE

Home

age 6+

Animated alien comedy is sweet, cute, if not super original.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2015)

See full review

MOVIE

Terra Willy

age 6+

Animated alien adventure has learning, empathy, teamwork.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2019)

See full review

MOVIE

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

age 7+

Spielberg's family classic is still one of the best.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1982)

See full review

MOVIE

Monsters vs. Aliens

age 7+

Homage to '50s alien flicks too intense for youngest kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2009)

See full review

MOVIE

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

age 8+

Suspenseful, thoughtful alien-encounter classic.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1977)

See full review

MOVIE

Galaxy Quest

age 10+

Sci-fi comedy has violence, language, sexual references.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1999)

See full review

MOVIE

Sonic the Hedgehog

age 8+

Carrey lights up video game movie; peril, some drinking.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)

See full review

MOVIE

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

age 8+

Game-based sequel levels up the positive messages; peril.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)

See full review

MOVIE

The Day the Earth Stood Still

age 9+

Sci-fi, pro-peace classic with some threats and violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1951)

See full review

MOVIE

The Flight of the Navigator

age 10+

'80s time-travel adventure has some cursing.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1986)

See full review

MOVIE

Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy

age 10+

Sweet film about friendship, grief has comic violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)

See full review

MOVIE

Arrival

age 11+

Great, deeply thoughtful, compassionate sci-fi tale.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)

See full review

MOVIE

Ender's Game

age 12+

Thought-provoking sci-fi adventure with military violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2013)

See full review

MOVIE

Men in Black

age 12+

Lots of fun, but too scary for some kids.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1997)

See full review

MOVIE

Spaceballs

age 12+

Goofy '80s parody has cursing, violence, innuendo.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 1987)

See full review

MOVIE

Thor: Ragnarok

age 12+

Funniest Thor movie has tons of style, plenty of violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)

See full review

MOVIE

Avatar

age 13+

Action-heavy epic has dazzling effects, familiar story.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2009)

See full review

"Best of" Lists

"Best of" Lists

Best Alien Movies

Other great lists from our editors

Articles