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MOVIE DECISION GUIDE
Alien
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Ridley Scott. With Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright.
8.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
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8.2/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTDuring its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a cham…
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
A decision, not a review. Choose the kind of night you want and keep your queue honest.
RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Alien.
MoviHero lists May 25, 1979 as the release date for Alien. Ridley Scott is the listed director. The listed cast includes Tom Skerritt as Dallas, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Veronica Cartwright as Lambert, Harry Dean Stanton as Brett. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateMay 25, 1979
GenresScience Fiction · Horror
Runtime1h 57m
DirectorRidley Scott
CastTom Skerritt as Dallas, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Veronica Cartwright as Lambert, Harry Dean Stanton as Brett
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Alien right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Alien runs 1h 57m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 5/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 4/10, suggesting a lighter emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Alien. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 8.2/10 from 17,077 votes. Updated Nov 3, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
What did you think?
Your movie rating. Your audience score.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing5/10
Emotional Impact4/10
Mind-Bending5/10
Scary7/10
Violence4/10
Rewatchability7/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Alien
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“Described by Roger Ebert as a "trapped in a haunted house" movie, this movie set the bar for Horror in the Summer.”
Viewer reaction
“Back in the day before Sir John Hurt took to being little more than a highly paid cameo-man, he was a great actor and here…”
Viewer reaction
“There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated...”
More reactions (2)
Viewer reaction
“The standard bearer of horror in space, Ridley Scott's masterpiece still thrills new generations of fans.”
Viewer reaction
“'Alien' isn't as eventful, and as such as entertaining, as I had anticipated, though it is still an enjoyable near two hours.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
A CLOSER LOOK
Stay with the image.
CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherDallasDallas appears in Alien (1979).Open character guide otherLambertLambert appears in Alien (1979).Open character guide otherBrettBrett appears in Alien (1979).Open character guide otherKaneKane appears in Alien (1979).Open character guide otherParkerParker appears in Alien (1979).Open character guide otherRipleyRipley appears across 3 MoviHero films from 1979-1992, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver. Start with the first appearance, then follow the screen path in release order.Open character guide
PART OF A WATCH JOURNEY
Where Alien fits.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
10.0/10
MOVIHERO RATINGPacific
2026·Science Fiction · Horror
7.1/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEAt The Bottom
2026·Science Fiction · Horror
7.1/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEPure Defense
2026·Science Fiction · Horror