IMDb > Aliens (1986)
Aliens
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Aliens (1986) -- The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, the rescue team has impressive firepower, enough?
Aliens (1986) -- Ripley gets her men out of the Aliens nest just in time.
Aliens (1986) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.5/10   156,566 votes
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Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
James Cameron (story) and
David Giler (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Aliens on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 July 1986 (USA) more
Tagline:
This time there's more. more
Plot:
The planet from Alien (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, the rescue team has impressive firepower, enough? full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 21 nominations more
User Reviews:
One of the most thrilling films ever- special edition highly recommended more (867 total)


Additional Details

Also Known As:
Alien 2 (USA) (working title)
Alien II (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for monster violence, and for language. (1992 special edition)
Runtime:
137 min | USA:154 min (special edition)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The word "fuck" is used 25 times in the film, 18 of them are spoken by Hudson. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The first time Ripley grabs the Alien queen during the fight in the power loader, the loader's hand is closing on the queen's neck. In the next shot the hand has grasped the queen's snout. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Salvage team leader: Bio-readouts are all in the green, looks like she's alive. Well, there goes our salvage, guys.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "American Dad!: Pilot (#1.1)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Movie music more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut?
Why didn't the colonists on LV-426 pick up the warning beacon from the derelict ship?
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55 out of 61 people found the following review useful.
One of the most thrilling films ever- special edition highly recommended, 31 August 2005
10/10
Author: Derek237 from Canada

James Cameron is an extremely talented action director because not only does he know great action, but he always backs the action up with a great story and interesting characters. Aliens is his finest achievement, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, I should specify: Aliens Special Edition is his finest achievement.

In 1986 several scenes were cut to keep the movie's run-time reasonable but there was one scene that was incredibly foolish to leave out. The scene I refer to is near the beginning where Ripley learns that her daughter has died while she was away in 'hypersleep' for 57 years. "I promised her I'd be home for her 11th birthday," cries Ripley. This is a very moving scene that adds a great deal the character's depth and makes more sense to why she cares for a little girl named Newt later in the film. She's seeking penance through Newt with her love and determination to keep her alive at all costs. The theatrical edition obviously doesn't elude to any of this, and even cheapens the relationship between Ripley and Newt- just a little bit. James Cameron has said that all of his movies are love stories, and Aliens is a story of parental love. He has also said that the special edition is his intended (if not definitive) version of the film. For about five years or so the Special Edition was the only version of Aliens you could get on DVD. It should have stayed that way.

Aliens is a unique film experience: it's genuinely thrilling and exciting, unlike a lot of movies where people shoot the evil monsters and there's disgusting blood and rapid gunfire, and it's really meaningless. In Aliens' case, the aliens are very threatening and more than just target practice. We don't see any aliens for over an hour, but once we do, it's a huge payoff. By that time, we get to know some interesting characters: Hicks (Michael Beihn), a take-charge marine who also turns out to be sweet and sincere, Hudson (Bill Paxton), a braggart who turns out to be a coward and complains most of the time, Vasquez (Jeanette Goldstein), the iron-willed woman soldier who proves to be one of the bravest characters in the film, Bishop (Lance Henrikson), a robot that is very helpful for everyone's survival, Burke (Paul Rieser), the slimy company man who the audience loves to hate, and of course, the adorable little Newt (Carrie Henn), a girl who has survived unspeakable horror. Holding the whole film together is Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver in her surprise-Oscar-nominated performance. I think the only reason why the audience cared for her in the first film is because she was the only person left and we wanted her to live. But for this film, James Cameron added so much to her. With all this investment in characters, we're really concerned for their well-being. We don't want those aliens to get them. Some die, and I'm always truly bummed out when it happens.

Filled with amazing performances and an abundance of thrills, Aliens is one of the greatest of any genre it attempts: whether it's action, sci-fi, horror, or even drama. I personally liked it better than the first film, but it's really like comparing apples and oranges. I prefer the special edition and don't see why anyone should view the other version instead.

My rating: 10/10

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Aliens (1986)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Was Hudson really 'elite marines' material ??? paule-rooney
Apone vs Ripley jmorris023
Why didn't Ripley just kill the Queen outright? big_heat
Boring Plot... vs. Avatar?? YouFightLikeACow
The Dropship detaching giskardia
Alan Dean Foster (author of the novelization) Interview.... cultfilmfreak
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