Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Female-led thriller still very scary; has stereotypes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Alien
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 86 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a classic horror sci-fi that blends suspense and mild violence, primarily highlighted by the infamous chestburster scene, which some find excessive but many argue isn't as graphic by modern standards. While it includes strong language and some nudity, most parents believe it is appropriate for tweens and early teens, given that kids are prepared for the thematic elements and can handle intense situations without being overly frightened.
- graphic violence
- strong language
- mild nudity
- appropriate for tweens
- suspenseful atmosphere
- classic horror film
Summarized with AI
Based on 332 kid reviews
Kids say that the film is a classic sci-fi horror that combines moderate gore, strong language, and suspenseful moments, particularly noting the infamous chestburster scene that many find both memorable and intense. Despite some concerns about violence and a little nudity, many viewers feel it's not overly scary and can be appropriate for older children or teens who can handle such content.
- memorable scene
- moderate gore
- strong language
- not overly scary
- appropriate for teens
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ALIEN, the Nostromo—a cavernous and poorly lit interstellar mining ship—is staffed by a miniscule crew of seven led by Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt). They're awakened out of hibernation by an order from faraway Earth to investigate a mysterious distress signal on a dark and stormy planet. There, the miners find a huge, grounded spaceship from an unknown civilization with a long-dead alien pilot. A parasite, apparently the same type that took down the other craft, affixes to the face of Nostromo crewman Kane (John Hurt). After Kane seems to recover, a hostile newborn alien bursts out of the doomed man's chest in front of the rest of the crew. The crew, now led by senior officer Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), struggles to kill the fast-moving, fast-growing, unwelcome visitor before it gets them.
Is It Any Good?
This groundbreaking sci-fi classic definitely still has the scare factor. Being scary, in new and disturbing ways that hadn't been done before, was Alien's mission. For a generation of moviegoers, Alien was a state-of-the-art shocker, even though it basically has a second-hand monster plot and characters that behave like clichéd horror-movie victims, wandering alone in the dark or waiting like sitting ducks to be picked off. Alien did defy stereotypes of its time in the brilliant move of making the ultimate survivor, Ripley, a vulnerable-looking young woman who courageously fights back against the alien marauder.
Most of the violence is suggested in quick edits rather than directly shown, just like the skittering, skeletal/serpentine alien parasite itself. While this once-shadowy monster species has been exposed in inferior sequels, video games, and comic books (even Superman battled them!), some of the best minds in cinema tried to ensure that this movie would be a nightmare-inducer, and parents should keep that in mind.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Alien is so effective in evoking fear. How do the filmmakers use lighting, editing, and sound to heighten the intensity? Also consider the design of the alien: What about its appearance makes it so scary?
Have you seen any other Alien movies, such as the sequel Aliens, or the crossover film Alien vs. Predator? How does this movie compare to those? And how does the alien in this movie evolve throughout the franchise?
How does the creature in Alien compare with other movie aliens, like those in E.T. or Star Wars? Do you imagine aliens as friendly, or deadly-scary?
What makes Ripley an iconic hero? How does she compare to other sci-fi heroes? What do you notice about how she's portrayed compared to the other female crew member, Lambert?
How do characters display courage, perseverance, and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 24, 1979
- On DVD or streaming : January 1, 2002
- Cast : Harry Dean Stanton , Sigourney Weaver , Tom Skerritt
- Director : Ridley Scott
- Studio : Fox Searchlight
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
- Run time : 124 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sci-fi violence/gore and language
- Last updated : March 20, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate