Movie Aliens: From E.T. to Avatar

Although we're not positive the 'creature' in J.J. Abrams Super 8 is definitely an alien, after Cloverfield, we kind of think it is! This got us to thinking about all the other aliens we've known from the movies over the years.

By John Halecky and Chuck Walton
A Na'vi from Avatar

Neytiri is a true Na'vi from the planet Pandora in James Cameron's big-budget sci-fi feast for the eyes. Blue and cat-like, the Na'vi have their own culture, language and don't particularly like the humans invading their home planet. Zoe Saldana is Neytiri, with Sam Worthington as another blue Na'vi.
An alien from A.I.

Steven Spielberg's 2001 sci-fi tale centered more on a small robot boy named David than aliens but the alien that David encounters at the end of A.I. looks like he/she could use a sandwich!? And maybe hit the gym to work out those arms a bit too!
Newcomer from Alien Nation

Don't mind the suit and tie. 'Newcomer' Sam Francisco (!) is an easygoing fellow just trying to make a living as an L.A. cop in the early '90s. Despite his big head, this policeman alien is really a softie who likes to eat raw beaver, and gets drunk on spoiled milk.
Xenomorph from Aliens

We're not sure which would be worse. Being impaled by the thing's razor sharp, silicon-scaled talon; being bitten by his extra set of jaws that snap out of his mouth; being chomped on by his elongated, nasty-looking primary head; or being fried by his concentrated acid for blood. Ladies and gents, we introduce the one and only Alien/Aliens Xenomorph (and we'll pretend we've never heard of his relatives in the inferior sequels and spinoffs).
A Zirkonian from Aliens in the Attic

This PG-rated family film stars cute CGI aliens such as Sparks, a geeky, four-armed creature who helps the kids battle the baddie aliens and looks a lot like a cross between E.T. and one of the aliens from Galaxy Quest!
E.T. from E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

The most loveable alien in cinema history caused all sorts of commotion when he arrived on the scene in 1982. He and his buddy Elliot made a catch phrase of "phone home," adorned numerous cool, collectible Pizza Hut glasses, and caused stock in Reese's Pieces to skyrocket. Best of all, this little alien with the golden touch pushed Steven Spielberg to create his most personal film to date.
Aliens from Galaxy Quest

One of the most hilarious, genuinely affectionate spoofs of the sci-fi alien genre is Galaxy Quest, starring Tim Allen, Avatar's Sigourney Weaver and more as cast members of a fictional TV show who are mistaken by aliens for real space adventureres. We're somewhat dubious of extra-terrestrials who don't do their fact checking, but these Thermian aliens are too earnest to be ignored.
A Terranian from Battle for Terra

A peaceful alien planet faces destruction when it's invaded by a human colony...now introducing a sci-fi extravaganza called Ava..er, Battle for Terra. We're assuming the copyright holders on this one will be keeping a close eye on the upcoming blockbuster.
An alien from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Pre-E.T., Steven Spielberg began his fascination with aliens with this 1977 hit where we got to (briefly) see this classic movie version of an alien that has influenced so many others that came after it.
A Crystal Skull alien from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Spielberg seemed to dig out his old alien creature from Close Encounters..., add an oblong (crystal) skull to it and call it 'new' for the 2008 release of Indy's latest adventure that some say 'Nuked the Fridge.'
The Lokni and the Nohrin from Delgo

While many people have recently been comparing the 2008 animated movie Delgo to Avatar, we think this original tale of an alien who tries to protect his world from conflict and keep the peace...oh, wait, nevermind...Battle for Terra and Delgo fans, unite!
A Prawn from District 9

Who's got the cocktail sauce?! The derogatory-termed 'Prawns' from Neill Blomkamp's 2009 sci-fi sleeper hit aren't that cute but they rival humans in their intelligence and biotechnology weaponry. Just don't mistakenly mix your DNA with theirs or the government will try to hunt you down!
A Drac from Enemy Mine

He's one ugly alien. But by the time all's said and done, Louis Gosset Jr.'s "Jerry" Shigan is not only an extraterrestrial a human being can warm up to, he's a former enemey who inspires spaceman Dennis Quaid to overcome his interstellar racism and look after Jerry's son as if he were his own. Another neat trick: Jerry is able to become pregnant all by himself.
Greedo from Star Wars

Han shot first! When we first meet him in the creature cantina confronting Han Solo, we know his days are numbered. And even though the new version of the movie has Greedo shooting first, we all know the truth -- you don't mess with Han!
Howard from Howard the Duck

While George Lucas is known for creating the Star Wars universe and helping to bring some of the most beloved alien creatures to life on film, he also was behind this gem of a movie! It's about a sarcastic, humanoid, cigar-smoking duck brought to earth and paired in an adventure with a singer played by Lea Thompson! And it takes place in Cleveland! -- Awesome!
An alien from Independence Day

Those crafty buggers from ID4 fly a mean alien space craft, and their beady eyes and oblong heads may be intimidating, but with the help of ace pilot Will Smith, President Bill Pullman, and a wise-cracking Harry Connick Jr., all should be well. Go Team Earth!
Mac from Mac and Me

Basically a giant commercial for McDonald's and Coca-Cola, this 1988 flop was trying to capitalize on the success of E.T. just a few years before. About a Mysterious Alien Creature (MAC) who lands on earth and befriends a little boy - really?!
A Martian from Mars Attacks!

Truly underrated in Tim Burton's canon of moviemaking is the gleefully warped Mars Attacks! Jack Nicholson as the oblivious President, Martin Short as his morally questionable press secretary, Tom Jones as Tom Jones - what's not to love? Plus, it features kooky Martians doing what kooky Martians do - attacking!
A Worm Guy from Men in Black

Although there are a lot of aliens to choose from Men in Black and its sequel, one of our favorites are the Worm Guys. They sit around, crack jokes and hang out at headquarters all day having fun. That's a nice alien life if you can get it!
Gallaxhar from Monsters vs. Aliens

Voiced by "The Office's" Rainn Wilson, the evil alien in Monsters vs. Aliens is after the mysterious element quantonium to conquer the world but is defeated by a rag-tag group of monsters led by a giant Reese Witherspoon. We've seen Legally Blonde - she is a monster!
An alien from Planet 51

If your loved ones are too little to handle the all-sensory engaging spectacle that is Avatar in IMAX 3D, a nice substitute is Planet 51, a charming little movie about some eye-pleasing green aliens on a peaceful planet whose only problem is a human astronaut named Chuck.
The Predator from Predator

How bad@## is the Predator? Well, in the first movie alone, this dreadlock-sporting head hunter takes on Jesse 'The Body' Ventura, Carl 'Apollo Creed' Weathers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and almost comes out on top. While no alien is going to outmuscle Ah-nuld in his '80s prime, we give points to this super cool alien for at least giving it the college try.
A Conehead from The Coneheads

Sometimes cited as the worst feature film based on a Saturday Night Live sketch, (although, It's Pat: The Movie, Stuart Saves His Family and Superstar do give it a good run for its money), this 1993 contender was a bit past its' prime as the original sketch it was based on was popular over 10 years beforehand. That didn't stop Beldar and Prymatt from making it to the big screen.
Sil from Species

A beautiful blonde female/alien hybrid lures you into a hottub and then turns into an alien and kills you if you're not the right mate for her -- reminds us of a certain dream we've had. The gorgeous Natasha Henstridge stars as the human form of Sil in this campy 1995 horror/sci-fi movie.
A Klendathu bug alien from Starship Troopers

It's Paul 'Basic Instinct' Verhoeven in space, so you know right away that whatever the xenomorhph, he, she or it is going to be big, bad and extremely violent. So it is with the Kendathu bug alien, a species that lays waste to plenty of intergalactic jarheads, but hopefully not to our heroes Casper Van Dien and a young, fit Denise Richards.
Queen Borg from Star Trek

Resistance is futile...but if you'd like to try, hey, we're always interested to see the Queen Borg take down one more terrestrial being in her pursuit of perfecting her species' interconnected collective. While the Star Trek: First Contact supreme alien is a bit icky and sticky, and we value individuality in our neck of the universe, we still find her oddly appealing and even a little bit sexy.
An N.T.I. from The Abyss

Who can forget the water-shifting N.T.I. (that's Non Terrestrial Intelligence) from James Cameron's The Abyss? Back when Avatar was still a figment yet configured in Cameron's imagination, the guy still came up with a technological innovation in the underwater N.T.I.'s, who could manipulate H20 to move here and there, and could even reflect back striking facsimilies of Ed Harris's and Mary Elizabeth Mastrontonio's facial features.
The Blob from The Blob

Eek! It's The Blob! Originally looking like a hot batch of melting tar in the Steve McQueen '50s cult classic, The Blobster made a return in the '80s cult classic starring Kevin Smith and Saw perennial Shawnee Smith. This time, he'd upgraded his look with a couple of new color tones.
Optimus Prime from Transformers

The leader of the autobots, Optimus looks more like a robot than an alien although they are technically from outer space and 'alien' to our world. Being an alien that is able to transform into a big rig truck does have its' advantages; such as hauling goods and services over long distances, and honking your horn really loudly at passing motorists!
An alien tripod from War of the Worlds

You never get a real clear shot of the alien tripods in War of the Worlds, but by the look of the eviscerating they exact on everything in their path, that's probably just as well. Due to the film's uncanny effects and that crazy zap sound on the soundtrack, plus the looks of godawful fear on Tom Cruise's and Dakota Fanning's faces, we find the tripods highly memorable.
Sara and Seth from Race to Witch Mountain

Quite possibly the scariest aliens of all are the ones that would star in a movie with Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson! Don't they know that he was in Walking Tall and Doom!

Which Movie Aliens do you like? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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- 2011 Summer Movie Preview