Aliens

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Aliens

R

1986

2h 17m

Sci-Fi

Horror

Action

Adventure

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

172 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's 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. 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

Propelled by a commanding and layered performance from Sigourney Weaver, Aliens trades the original's slow burn dread for tightly orchestrated action and visceral thrills to stand as a sequel worthy of its predecessor.

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Jeff Millar

Houston Chronicle

Jun 25, 2026

Aliens is a knockabout. It's one of a small handful of sequels that, as entertainment, approach their progenitors' value.

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Michael Healy

Denver Post

Jun 25, 2026

The movie lacks some of the original's ability to shock, but it makes up for it with great action. It is less horrific than "Alien," but more exciting.

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

Jun 25, 2026

Cameron isn't has poetic or visually imaginative as Scott was, but there's juice and macabre humor in "Aliens."

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Dann Gire

Chicago Daily Herald

Aug 10, 2026

3.5/4

Harrowing, relentless, pulse-pounding combat movie in space.

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Philip Shropshire

New Pittsburgh Courier

Jul 28, 2026

Vitality is everything, as English writer Thomas Carlyle once said. And this film, as well as Cameron's Terminator, has that quality.

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Marsha Fottler

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Jul 7, 2026

"Aliens" is at least as good and probably better than its 1979 predecessor.

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Gary B

@RT52578447 13 hrs ago

It's amazing how this movie holds up 40 years after its release. There is almost nothing about it that seems dated. In fact, it's on a superior level. Recent action movies rely on on CGI and animation, and look flat and fake compared to this masterpiece. Every scene seems like it's really happening, in no small part thanks to Sigourney Weaver's riveting performance. They don't make them like this anymore, folks. Enjoy.

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Derrick D

@spacetravlr 2 days ago

Watched this classic again the other night. I remember seeing this for the first time back in the day and it still invokes that same feeling. Cheers to this generation of horror!

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Bob H

@b33b1 6 days ago

One of my favorite movies ever

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 2, 2026

This has got to be scarier than the first Movie "Alien" but so much more actions take place and saving the little girl forces me to give this movie a "5" star review!

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nick S

@Nick_S Sep 2, 2026

I remember when it came out being a bit disappointed it didn't have the same lurking terror as Alien. And some character/plot elements felt like retreads. But considering the director had to do something fresh within the framework of the original it was an excellent film. Great effects, good acting.

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B P

@Bradster69 Sep 1, 2026

Definitely Recommend It

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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

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Synopsis

After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley's 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. 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
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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