Ridley Scott's 1979 iconic sci-fi horror Alien is probably one of the most recognizable movies of all time. No wonder that it became a box office hit and collected so many awards in addition to spawning an entire franchise that is still going strong today.
But, what some fans and casual viewers don't realize is that there are other similar movies to check out for a combination of science fiction and horror, along with some similar thematic and story elements, in some cases. These movies are not always comparable by their status to Alien, but they definitely deserve a watch.
Life (2017)
2017's Upgrade, both of which came out in 2018. In essence, all three are similar to Alien, but only to the smallest extent which can still make them an enjoyable watch.
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds, Life follows a group of astronauts on the International Space Station who find the first evidence of life on Mars... and it is definitely not friendly.
Resident Evil (2002)
Nowadays, video game adaptations are quite common, even though most of them usually fail both at the box office and with critics. But, 2002's Resident Evil might just be an exception. It's not perfect, but many viewers enjoyed it, and the movie was a box office success at the time, which obviously led to numerous sequels.
The movie follows the amnesiac title heroine Alice (played by Milla Jovovich) who teams up with a band of Umbrella Corporation commandos trying to prevent the T-virus from spreading beyond the secret underground facility they are in.
Annihilation (2018)
Another overlooked movie, 2018's Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, and Oscar Isaac.
Based on the 2014 novel of the same name, the movie follows a group of explorers who are sent into "The Shimmer," a strange quarantined zone with mutated flora and fauna that started transforming after with alien life.
Cloverfield (2008)
The found footage genre has probably exhausted itself by this point, but, for all the dozens of unsuccessful movies made with this technique, there were some true gems that are still ed today, and such is 2008's Cloverfield which was a box office and critical hit.
Set in New York City, the story is presented as the supposed footage found on a personal camcorder that was recovered in Central Park by the US Department of Defense. The story follows a group of friends and acquaintances trying to survive as a giant monster starts destroying the city.
The Mist (2007)
Speaking of monsters, they don't always need to be seen to be scary. In fact, this approach is one of the reasons why Alien was successful, and 2007's adaptations of Stephen King's work, as it is based on his 1980 novella of the same name.
Set in Bridgton, Maine, The Mist follows the artist David who is trapped in a shop with his son and other customers after a mysterious mist arrives outside and those entering it get attacked by unseen beings.
Sunshine (2007)
Despite being a box office failure, Danny Boyle's 2007 sci-fi psychological thriller Sunshine was well-received by critics and audiences alike and even garnered some award nominations. Nowadays, it is often referred to in the context of underrated movies, and it definitely is one of the kind.
Set in 2057, Sunshine follows a group of astronauts, with cast including Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, and Chris Evans, on a spaceship heading to the dying Sun that they need to reignite.
[Rec] (2007)
Another found footage gem, 2007's Rec was a massive commercial and critical success that later earned it the status of one of the best works in its genre. Moreover, the movie is actually entirely in Spanish, so it can serve as a great introduction for horror fans to foreign films.
Rec follows a news reporter with her cameraman whose footage is the one used to present the story. The news reporter is covering a firefighter intervention in a building in Barcelona, but, once more details are uncovered, the situation escalates into something unexpected and deadly.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Undoubtedly one of the biggest horror successes of the past years, A Quiet Place was a massive hit at the box office and even went on to get some major award nominations, which doesn't happen often to movies in this genre.
Set in 2021, A Quiet Place follows a family, with John Krasinski and Emily Blunt playing the parents, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world that was devastated by blind extraterrestrial monsters. To avoid being caught and killed, the family has to make a minimal amount of noise and communicate with sign language.
Moon (2009)
2009's Sam Rockwell's performance was praised quite a bit. Moreover, the CGI in the movie looks amazing considering the budget and the fact that it was 2009.
Taking place on the Moon—yup, you guessed it—Moon follows the astronaut Sam Bell, played by Rockwell, who resides on a helium-3 mining station and is about to be sent back to Earth after three years of work. His only companion is a robot, which makes Sam experience a personal crisis after so long with no proper human , but everything gets even worse after he crashes his lunar rover.
The Thing (1982)
By far one of the most famous sci-fi horror movies ever made, The Thing is probably equal in its status with Alien. But, unlike Alien, The Thing wasn't a big hit and was actually negatively reviewed upon its release. Over time, the movie underwent critical reevaluation and is now considered a cult classic.
Based on the 1938 novella Who Goes There?, the movie follows a group of American researchers, one of them played by Kurt Russell, stationed in Antarctica who come into with the "Thing," an extraterrestrial being that can imitate other life-forms.
