Best Alien Movies

Last updated: June 25, 2026

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.

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A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Poster Image

MOVIE

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

age 5+

Delightful family-friendly sequel has positive themes.

2020 G (86 minutes)

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Elio Movie Poster: Elio and the other main characters appear against a purplish-blue background

MOVIE

Elio

age 6+

Moments of peril in heartfelt adventure about lonely boy.

2025 PG (99 minutes)

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Forbidden Planet Poster Image

MOVIE

Forbidden Planet

age 6+

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

1956 NR (98 minutes)

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Home Poster Image

MOVIE

Home

age 6+

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

2015 PG (94 minutes)

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Lilo and Stitch movie poster: Lilo and Nani surf a wave under the title in red font

MOVIE

Lilo & Stitch

age 6+

Great characters, life lessons in Hawaii-set Disney film.

2002 PG (85 minutes)

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Terra Willy Poster Image

MOVIE

Terra Willy

age 6+

Animated alien adventure has learning, empathy, teamwork.

2019 PG (89 minutes)

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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Poster Image

MOVIE

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

age 7+

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

1982 PG (115 minutes)

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Monsters vs. Aliens Poster Image

MOVIE

Monsters vs. Aliens

age 7+

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

2009 PG (94 minutes)

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind Poster Image

MOVIE

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

age 8+

Suspenseful, thoughtful alien-encounter classic.

1977 PG (132 minutes)

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Sonic the Hedgehog Poster Image

MOVIE

Sonic the Hedgehog

age 8+

Carrey lights up video game movie; peril, drinking.

2020 PG (100 minutes)

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Movie Poster

MOVIE

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

age 8+

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

2022 PG (122 minutes)

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The Day the Earth Stood Still Poster Image

MOVIE

The Day the Earth Stood Still

age 9+

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

1951 G (92 minutes)

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Galaxy Quest Movie Poster Image

MOVIE

Galaxy Quest

age 10+

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

1999 PG (102 minutes)

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Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy Movie Poster

MOVIE

Maika: The Girl from Another Galaxy

age 10+

Sweet film about friendship, grief has comic violence.

2022 PG (105 minutes)

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The Flight of the Navigator Poster Image

MOVIE

The Flight of the Navigator

age 10+

'80s time-travel adventure has some cursing.

1986 PG (90 minutes)

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Arrival Poster Image

MOVIE

Arrival

age 11+

Great, deeply thoughtful, compassionate sci-fi tale.

2016 PG-13 (116 minutes)

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Ender's Game Poster Image

MOVIE

Ender's Game

age 12+

Thought-provoking sci-fi adventure with military violence.

2013 PG-13 (114 minutes)

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Independence Day Poster Image

MOVIE

Independence Day

age 12+

Patriotic sci-fi film is an explosive adventure.

1996 PG-13 (153 minutes)

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Men in Black movie poster: Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith wearing suits hold up massive sci-fi guns

MOVIE

Men in Black

age 12+

Lots of fun, but too scary for some kids.

1997 PG-13 (113 minutes)

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Project Hail Mary movie poster: Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) stands against a background of the sun, a planet, and other movie images

MOVIE

Project Hail Mary

age 12+

Crowd-pleasing sci-fi adaptation mixes peril and humor.

2026 PG-13 (156 minutes)

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