Aliens

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Aliens

R

Released Jul 18, 1986

2h 17m

Sci-Fi

Horror

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

142 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the marines find only one survivor, a nine year old girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). But even these battle-hardened marines with all the latest weaponry are no match for the hundreds of aliens that have invaded the colony.

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Critics Consensus

While Alien was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension, Aliens packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.

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Scott Cain

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Let's not mince words: Aliens is the greatest horror movie since Frankenstein. Here is a rare instance in which a sequel is infinitely superior to the original. Alien, the 1979 thriller, now seems like a preliminary sketch.

Jul 30, 2024

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Mike McGrady

Newsday

Cameron is a master of machinery and weaponry, a technical wizard who replaces Scott's refinement with his own kind of muscularity... But with either film, you leave the theater drained, physically exhausted, well-rewarded for all your suffering.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 30, 2024

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Jay Maeder

New York Daily News

The long-awaited sequel to Alien proves to be an extraordinary treat, as perfectly realized a thrill-a-second screamer as has ever come along.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 30, 2024

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

From the small character details to the massive set-pieces, Cameron expands the Alien mythology and switches sub genres seamlessly. It truly is a perfect sequel.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 16, 2024

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Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

[James Cameron] takes the franchise in another direction by raising the stakes and turning the sequel into an action-packed, war epic [while] retaining the dread-inducing feel and tone of the first movie.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 15, 2024

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Lou Lumenick

Bergen Record (New Jersey)

What can I say? Aliens is the scariest and most exciting movie I've seen in several years. My adrenalin was still racing an hour later. It's involving. It has well-drawn characters. It has consistency. And Sigourney Weaver gives a dazzling performance.

Jul 30, 2024

Full Review

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Matt C

An army of Xenomorphs, the introduction of The Queen, Ripley wielding a grenade launcher, Paul Reiser and a facehugger falling in love. What more could you possibly want?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/26/25

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Vin P

Will always be one of my favorite movies of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

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Marius M

Even now with all the modern equipment, CGI and all, they still can't match the greatness of this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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Bert W.

This is the greatest movie ever created. Perfectly cast. ICONIC

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Incredible sequel that did not disappoint at all. Slightly less horror, and more suspense than the original. Great visual effects and great story all around. Loved.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

Ryan H

If ALIEN was a masterclass in sci-fi/horror, ALIENS is a masterclass in sci-fi/action/tension. Possibly James Cameron’s best directed film and one of the BEST sequels ever made.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/04/25

Full Review

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James Cameron

Director

Sigourney Weaver

Lt. Ellen Ripley

Carrie Henn

Rebecca "Newt" Jorden

Michael Biehn

Corporal Dwayne Hicks

Paul Reiser

Carter J. Burke

Lance Henriksen

Science Officer L. Bishop

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Aliens: Trailer 1

1:55

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Synopsis

After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's (Sigourney Weaver) shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the marines find only one survivor, a nine year old girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). But even these battle-hardened marines with all the latest weaponry are no match for the hundreds of aliens that have invaded the colony.

Director: James Cameron
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Screenwriter: James Cameron, David Giler
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox, Brandywine Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Action, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1986, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $77.6M
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Stereo, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Stereo
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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