-
By Harrison Pierce
This weekend’s sci-fi flick The Host tells the story of a parasitic alien named Wanderer who bonds with her human host, Melanie (Hanna’s Saoirse Ronan); Melanie’s boyfriend, Jared (Red Riding Hood’s Max Irons); and Wanderer’s human crush, Ian (I Am Number Four’s Jake Abel). Here are some of our favorite movies exploring human and alien romance.
-
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953)
In this sci-fi cult classic, a space crew lands on the moon and encounters a race of mysterious, love-starved cat-women! The feline femmes’ purr-fect plan to steal the humans’ ship is foiled, however, when cat-woman Lambda (Susan Morrow) falls for crew member Doug (William Phipps) and reveals to him the whole kit(ten) kaboodle.
-
Queen of Outer Space (1958)
Another mission to space. Another planet inhabited by scantily attired women! Infamous Hollywood celeb Zsa Zsa Gabor - whose broken English catchphrases, over-the-top glamour and cop-slapping ways have always made her seem a bit out of this world – co-stars as one of the space vixens in this second sci-fi movie riffing on the battle between the sexes. Er, species.
-
Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962)
Two bumbling soldiers are taken prisoner by a ship of Amazonian female aliens determined to take over our planet. The guys are able to escape once they discover the aliens’ weakness: a kiss from a human male. What’s a little interplanetary sexual manipulation in the name of saving humanity?
-
Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
A flying saucer lands in the desert outside Hollywood carrying mischievous teenagers from outer space! Nice guy alien Derek (David Love) strays from the pack when he falls for Earth girl Betty (Dawn Bender). Sadly, Derek must sacrifice himself to save Betty and the rest of humanity from his alien brethren. Oh, the teenage angst!
-
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
Androgynous, alien-like David Bowie stars as androgynous alien Thomas Newton in this sci-fi cult favorite. With his planet dying from a terrible drought, Thomas travels to earth in search of water and ends up finding romance with Mary-Lou (Candy Clark), a young woman who introduces him to such earthly pleasures as sex and booze.
-
Liquid Sky (1982)
In this New Wave sci-fi curio, aliens land in punk-era ‘80s Manhattan in search of heroin. But when they discover the unique pleasure experienced by fashion model Margaret’s (Anne Carlisle) lovers, they begin stealing this "high" and murdering the lovers mid-coitus. With her chances at normal earthly love literally killed off, Margaret decides to run off with the aliens.
-
Enemy Mine (1985)
Willis (Dennis Quaid) finds himself stuck on a remote planet with an alien named Jeriba (Louis Gossett Jr.). Although their species are at war, the two end up bonding in order to survive and form a loving relationship. Although Enemy Mine is more alien bromance than alien romance, the character of Jeriba is actually genderless, so perhaps we need a new subgenre: alienance?
-
My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)
In this charming sci-fi comedy, otherworldly beauty Kim Basinger stars as Celeste, an alien who tries to save her planet by marrying a nerdy astrophysicist (Dan Aykroyd). To her surprise, Basinger ends up falling for Aykroyd, which just goes to show you: sometimes hot chicks can crush on nerds; hot alien chicks, at least.
-
Starman (1984)
Jeff Bridges earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as an alien stuck on earth who assumes the humanoid form of the late husband of a young widow, played by Raiders of the Lost Ark’s Karen Allen. Together, Bridges and Allen discover that true love can transcend time and (outer)space.
-
Cocoon (1985)
In Ron Howard’s sci-fi fantasy, a group of aliens return to Earth to retrieve cocoons left off the Florida coast. While the aliens’ presence helps reignite the love lives of some local senior citizens, Steve Guttenberg’s younger boatman character gets to experience a new kind of love – and loving in a pool – with Tahnee Welch’s sexy extraterrestrial.
-
Earth Girls Are Easy (1988)
Speaking of pools, Valley girl Valerie’s (Geena Davis) life, like, totally changes when three aliens – played by Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey - crash-land in her swimming pool. Using her makeover skills, Davis transforms the fuzzy aliens into three dashing romantic possibilities in this campy sci-fi comedy.
-
Species (1995)
In this sci-fi horror flick, evil alien seductress Sil (Natasha Henstridge) cuts a violent swath through Los Angeles in her search for the perfect mate to help propagate her species. If early sci-fi movies featuring killer lady-aliens played it for laughs, Species plays it for screams. Think Basic Instinct meets Alien.
So, what are your favorite movies exploring human and alien relationships - romantic or otherwise?
Special Offer
Embark on a final journey to Pandora with the Collector’s Print Bundle, featuring one Movie Ticket and a Limited-Edition Print!
*Collector’s Print Bundle is non-refundable. Domestic shipping will be added at checkout. Limited time offer. While supplies last. Movie tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Fandango reserves the right to modify or cancel this offer at any time and without notice. You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase a bundle. The Collectible Mini Print will begin shipping in December. Please use a physical U.S. address where the poster shipment can be delivered. Once carrier confirms delivery, Fandango is not responsible for lost or stolen deliveries. See full terms and conditions at https://redeem.fandango.com/products/collectors-print-bundle.
