Before you begin your Halloween festivities, we've got one more Top Five for you (a day early) as the Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Alien Invasion Films.
As per usual, each writer ranks their top 15 films in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five.
5. MEN IN BLACK
I truly believe that Men in Black is one of the most underrated films of the past 30 years. Look at me crazy all you want, but go with me here… Yes, it gets all the “Mr. July” Will Smith love because it was a mega-hit blockbuster that still has plenty of cultural currency today. But when was the last time you watched it? If it’s been a while, maybe you are thinking that Mr. July’s other alien invasion movie needs to be here instead. To that, I say watch MiB again and tell me how you feel? Because every time I watch it, I am blown away by how well-acted, briskly paced, amazingly choreographed, and intelligently written it is. Not only is it one of the best alien invasion movies of all time, but I also put it up there as one of the best sci-fi movies ever made. Those calls for a retroactive Oscar nomination for Vincent D’Onofrio don’t come from nowhere. Men in Black is the perfect blend of blockbuster entertainment and prestige aura that you wouldn’t expect from a movie with its own (bangin’-ass) theme song. — Amarú
4. EDGE OF TOMORROW
I'm not sure why Edge of Tomorrow doesn't get more love. Driven by a War of the Worlds-meets-Groundhog Day concept, we see Tom Cruise's unexpected hero, William Cage, repeatedly battle brutally violent alien invaders with the support of Emily Blunt's impressive badass. It's a nearly perfect sci-fi action film, featuring a concept that is executed extremely well, not to mention the simply breathtaking futuristic spectacle and alien battleground sequences. The action is immersive and violent, and the viscous extraterrestrial invaders are among some of my favorites ever on screen, especially given their memorable creature design. Their hive mind and ominous power make them a compelling threat despite Cage's inability to die, and watching them kill him in increasingly savage ways never gets old. I also love the cast, particularly the dynamic between Cruise and Blunt, that latter of whom matches and sometimes even exceeds the former’s compelling screen presence. — Katie
3. THE THING
To many, 1982 is considered a benchmark year for science fiction films: Tron, Blade Runner, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, among others. Even with that slate, it’s hard to believe that The Thing was the least regarded, speculatively because it offered a grim and hopeless look at interaction with an alien species that was diametrically opposed to the most popular movie of that year, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Why think about an otherworldly visitor killing you and assimilating your appearance when they could be eating Reese’s Pieces and going trick-or-treating with you? Either way, John Carpenter’s classic was ahead of its time, especially from a visual effects and make-up standpoint. With every viewing, I increasingly question the collective thought process of the Academy not recognizing it at all. Not only does The Thing play on our xenophobia and the crushing realization of bitter loneliness and isolation, but it does so through mystery, making you question who is human and who is alien. It is intimate but sprawling in its ideas and environment, a true exercise in building tension and horror. — Robert
2. ALIEN
"In space, no one can hear you scream" is factually correct, but also the ingenious tagline for the 1979 sci-fi horror flick Alien. However, people can hear us scream on Earth, and they certainly heard us screaming while watching this classic. While subsequent films in the franchise lean a little more into action, with some great and some not-so-great results, the original stands out as being particularly amazing at creating absolute dread with its man v. alien premise. Alien plays into the archetypal invasion structure in effectively frightening ways. We don't even see the xenomorph for a good chunk of the movie, and yet, there's the permeating fear of something unseen putting the USCSS Nostromo’s crew in mortal danger. I, admittedly, have a sour relationship with director Ridley Scott, but Alien forever remains one of his crowning achievements. — Adriano
1. ARRIVAL
Arrival flips the alien invasion genre on its head, proving that not all alien invasion films need to end in a blood bath. When a bunch of mysterious spaceships touch down across the world, chaos ensues. However, director Denis Villeneuve takes a brilliant and more unconventional approach to the subject matter by deciding to focus on the communication between us and them instead of the possible conflict. This film is so much more than your typical alien invasion story as it will genuinely pull at your heartstrings. It dives deep into heavy themes of time, memories, and the overall human experience, all against the backdrop of first contact. I don’t use the word “masterpiece” lightly, but let’s be real, Arrival truly earns that title. — Paige
HONORABLE MENTIONS
PREDATOR
CLOVERFIELD
ATTACK THE BLOCK
A QUIET PLACE
WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005)