IMDb > Alien (1979)
Alien
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Alien (1979) -- A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates.
Alien (1979) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 33% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Dan O'Bannon (story) and
Ronald Shusett (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Alien on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 May 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
In space no one can hear you scream. more
Plot:
A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 11 wins & 18 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(584 articles)
The 15 Most Anticipated Films of 2010
 (From Reel Loop. 27 December 2009, 10:16 AM, PST)

Dan O'Bannon Website Opens Doors
 (From Dread Central. 23 December 2009, 4:17 PM, PST)

User Reviews:
Structural perfection matched only by its hostility more (829 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Alien: The Director's Cut (USA) (director's cut)
Star Beast (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for sci-fi violence/gore and language. (director's cut)
Runtime:
117 min | USA:116 min (director's cut)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby
Certification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (director's cut) (2003) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) (director's cut) (2003) | Canada:18A (Manitoba) (director's cut) (2003) | Canada:PG (Ontario) (director's cut) (2003) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) (original rating) | New Zealand:M (re-release) | New Zealand:R16 (original rating) | Italy:T | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 (director's cut) (DVD rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 (re-rating) (2003) | South Korea:18 (original rating) | Philippines:R-18 | Brazil:14 | West Germany:16 (f) | Israel:16 | India:A | Czech Republic:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 (director's cut) (2003) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (director's cut) | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #25541)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The chestbursting scene was considered the second scariest movie moment of all time on Bravo's "The 100 Scariest Movie Moments" (2004). more
Goofs:
Continuity: The milky "sweat" that drips down Ash's forehead before he fights Ripley disappears after he throws her onto the desk. It was not wiped away, because his head is perfectly clean, rather than smeared. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Brett: This is the worst shit I've ever seen, man.
Parker: What you say? You got any biscuits over there?
Ripley: Here's some cornbread.
Parker: Cornbread. Yeah.
Lambert: I am cold.
Parker: Still with us, Brett?
Brett: Right.
Kane: Oh, I feel dead.
Parker: Anybody ever tell you you look dead, man?
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Excerpts from 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' more

FAQ

Can I read O'Bannon and Shusett's early script online?
Where did the Alien come from?
Why was it raining in the cargo bay? Or was Brett refreshing himself with Alien drool?
more
180 out of 237 people found the following review useful.
Structural perfection matched only by its hostility, 20 July 1999
Author: Cybrtypr from Gainesville, Fla.

Director Ridley Scott's well-honed talents of pacing and editing create a tense atmosphere that superbly conveys dread and fear of an unknown, unseen evil entity. In 1979, the technology didn't exist to generate a computer image of a Being from another world, and thank God, because this film would have sucked just like all these post-Alien creature features do. Everyone who loves this movie knows what I'm talking about. Ridley Scott had to be extremely careful not to show a full shot of the Alien, except in very brief scenes, and not to reveal exactly how it moves, because then we would see that it is just some tall, skinny guy in a rubber suit. Nowadays, some computer guy would whip up a really scary-looking, but nevertheless FAKE-looking (yes, computer guys, we can tell) Alien, and the director would not have to even think about trying to breathe life into H.R. Giger's hallucinations to make a successful picture.

The dark, cold beauty of this film will never be equaled.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Alien (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Alien or Aliens which film you like more ? PeaceLuvr1
Movie based on this movie that was a lot better Gordon_Stoltsky
Dan O'Bannon, Alien writer dead at 63... hulk-18
Directors Cut Chiscokid88-1
How do you smother someone with a rolled-up magazine? elder_ben_b_jammin
The Alien's Nap in the Escape Craft (Spoiler) dcavalli
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