District 9
Over the years the alien movie has been a very popular genre on the big screen with a whole host of weird and wonderful creations finding there way to earth.
And this week the alien flick is back in the form of Paul, which stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
So to celebrate the release of the movie we take a look at some of the best alien pictures that have ever graced the big screen.
- District 9
Neill Blomkamp's District 9 hit the big screen back in 2009 and turned out to be one of THE movies of the year.
Thirty years ago, aliens made first contact with Earth. Humans waited for the hostile attack, or the giant advances in technology. Neither came.
Instead, the aliens were refugees, the last survivors of their home world. The creatures were set up in a makeshift home in South Africa's District 9 as the world's nations argued over what to do with them.
It's hard to believe that District 9 was the first feature film for this director as it is made with such assurance and class.
It's not just a mindless movie, although there are some great action set pieces, but it's a film that looks at the human condition and what it means to be human, is a study of racial tension while suggesting that humanity, compassion and understanding goes beyond our own race.
- E.T
If there was one alien movie that many of us grew up with then it was E.T. - and it still doesn't fail to draw a tear despite the fact I'm twenty five and have seen it a hundred times.
Released in 1982 E.T saw Steven Spielberg return to the director's chair to tell the story of a group of humans trying to help get an alien home.
With E.T. Spielberg brings magic to the everyday as he tells timeless story of friendship, acceptance and growing up.
Nearly thirty years after it's release E.T. remains a timeless classic.
- Predator
From timeless to all out action movie Predators saw the aliens get nasty and Arnold Schwarzenegger get even in 1987.
A team of commandos, on a mission in a Central American jungle, find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.
The special effects still look great and the action is still as intense as it was when it was first released.
Despite a franchise going on to be developed Predator remains the best in the series as well as remaining one of the best action movies.
- Independence Day
Roland Emmerich's Independence Day - which was released back in 1996 if you can believe that - helped make Will Smith a huge star as the movie enjoyed massive success.
It is an ordinary summer day. But then, without warning, something very extraordinary happens. Enormous shadows fall across the land.
Strange atmospheric phenomena, ominous and mesmerizing, surface around the globe. All eyes turn upward.
The question of whether we're alone in the universe has finally been answered. And, in a matter of minutes, the lives of every person across the globe are forever changed.
Independence Day became, at the time, the second biggest grossing movie ever as it took over $816 million worldwide.
The movie is hugely entertaining, fast paced and looked great... and you have got to love a bit of Will Smith!!
- Alien
Ridley Scott's Alien, which was released back in 1979 is still regarded as one of the best movies in this genre of all time.
In deep space, the crew of the commercial ship Nostromo--comprised of five men and two women--is awakened from their cryo-sleep capsules, halfway through their journey home to investigate a distress call from an alien vessel.
The tale unfolds as they further look into the S.O.S. distress call from that battered commercial space vessel--only to discover that it's a warning call, rather than a call for help.
Far away in space and time, all five encounter an awesome galactic horror, that begins to kill the crew members one by one.
The movie is technically brilliant, tense and visually stunning as well as redefining the action hero with Sigourney Weaver's central role.
Other alien movies that are well worth checking out Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Day The Earth Stood Still and War of the Worlds.
Paul is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw