IMDb >
Alien (1979)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsAlien (1979) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 118 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 10) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
25 May 1979 (USA)
more
Tagline:
In space no one can hear you scream. more
Plot:
A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 11 wins
&
18 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(513 articles)
James Cameron talks Terminator Salvation and the Alien prequel
(From Filmonic. 25 November 2009, 2:05 PM, PST)
See The Secret Cinema Christmas Special
(From TotalFilm. 25 November 2009, 4:46 AM, PST)
(From Filmonic. 25 November 2009, 2:05 PM, PST)
See The Secret Cinema Christmas Special
(From TotalFilm. 25 November 2009, 4:46 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Classic horror
more (824 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Tom Skerritt | ... | Dallas | |
| Sigourney Weaver | ... | Ripley | |
| Veronica Cartwright | ... | Lambert | |
| Harry Dean Stanton | ... | Brett | |
| John Hurt | ... | Kane | |
| Ian Holm | ... | Ash | |
| Yaphet Kotto | ... | Parker | |
| Bolaji Badejo | ... | Alien | |
| Helen Horton | ... | Mother (voice) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
MPAA:
Rated R for sci-fi violence/gore and language. (director's cut)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
117 min | USA:116 min (director's cut)
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Dolby
Certification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (director's cut) (2003) |
Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) (director's cut) (2003) |
Canada:18A (Manitoba) (director's cut) (2003) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) (director's cut) (2003) |
Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) |
New Zealand:M (re-release) |
New Zealand:R16 (original rating) |
Italy:T |
Canada:14+ (Ontario) |
Finland:K-18 (director's cut) (DVD rating) |
USA:TV-14 (TV rating) |
Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) |
South Korea:15 (re-rating) (2003) |
South Korea:18 (original rating) |
Philippines:R-18 |
Brazil:14 |
West Germany:16 (f) |
Israel:16 |
India:A |
Czech Republic:18 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:-12 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Iceland:16 |
Ireland:18 |
Japan:PG-12 |
Netherlands:12 |
Norway:15 (director's cut) (2003) |
Norway:16 (original rating) |
Norway:18 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 (director's cut) |
UK:18 (video rating) (1987) |
UK:X (original rating) |
USA:R (certificate #25541)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During the opening sequence, as the camera wanders around the corridors of the Nostromo, we can clearly see a Krups coffee grinder mounted to a wall; this is the same model that became the "Mr. Fusion" in Back to the Future (1985).
more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Just before Brett is killed and the alien drops down behind him you can clearly see wires attached to the alien.
more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Brett: This is the worst shit I've ever seen, man.
Parker: What you say? You got any biscuits over there?
Ripley: Here's some cornbread.
Parker: Cornbread. Yeah.
Lambert: I am cold.
Parker: Still with us, Brett?
Brett: Right.
Kane: Oh, I feel dead.
Parker: Anybody ever tell you you look dead, man?
more
Brett: This is the worst shit I've ever seen, man.
Parker: What you say? You got any biscuits over there?
Ripley: Here's some cornbread.
Parker: Cornbread. Yeah.
Lambert: I am cold.
Parker: Still with us, Brett?
Brett: Right.
Kane: Oh, I feel dead.
Parker: Anybody ever tell you you look dead, man?
more
Soundtrack:
Excerpts from 'Symphony no. 2 (Romantic)'
more
FAQ
Why does the alien transform people into eggs?A note regarding spoilers
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?
more
more (824 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Alien (1979) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Aliens | Alien³ | Alien: Resurrection | AVP: Alien vs. Predator | Contamination |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb top 250 movies | IMDb Horror section |
| IMDb UK section | Add this title to MyMovies |













The further we go in special effects, the more movies show us and ignore the unseen, the more people will return to dark horrors like this one.
It's hard to look at this film without considering the sequels and knowing the alien itself, however when made the alien was mostly unseen and a mystery. It's difficult to forget what you've seen, but it's important to approach this film first if possible rather than joining the series late.
It's amazing that this is over 20 years old - apart from the actors looking so young, the film doesn't feel dated at all. The sci-fi visions here are still bleak and futuristic as they were then - this is not the Star Trek vision of the future. The foreboding exists long before John Hurt spills his secret, Scott's direction is excellent throughout. Once the alien is "born" the tension is cranked up and the characters dispatched one by one (a formula we know oh-so well now!)
However here the characters are not merely alien-food but have some dimension to them. Weaver is excellent, while the support cast is full of great support actors (Stanton, Kotto, Hurt, Skerritt, Holm), but of course the real star is the one we see least of.
We barely see the alien in full detail, most of the time it is set in shadows, moving with deadly intent.The alien here is not simply a killing machine as seen in later films but is cruel with it. Witness the alien trap a female crew member and slowly rub up her leg, moving with slow seductive movements before moving with terrifying speed to kill another crew member sneaking up behind it. The slow movements betray the alien's pure cruelty.
The film is a study in terror. It may not be as action packed as the other films in the series but it brings the claustrophobia of being hunted to a new level.