Top 10 Friendly Alien Visitors

This weekend welcomes two very different alien movies – one a kid-friendly story of a boy’s trip to Mars; the other a violent account of the Earth being destroyed by extra-terrestrials. The alien love does not stop there either – in the next few weeks, Paul and Apollo 18 also hit theaters. In preparation for all these releases, here is part one of a two-part list – the 10 friendliest alien visitors on film. Soon to follow will be part two – the 10 nastiest alien invaders.

10) Superman (1978)

While his invincibility and superhuman strength make for a dull superhero on Earth, Superman’s back story as an alien refugee from a destroyed planet is quite interesting. He is famous for being faster than a bullet and more powerful than a locomotive but people sometimes forget the real Superman is of an alien species. Not only is he an outsider, but he is possibly the last of his kind, stuck on an ungrateful planet where he must hide his true self. Still, he uses his powers for good and thus secures a spot on this list. There have been numerous incarnations of the Man of Steel, but Christopher Reeve played him best in Richard Donner’s 1978 film.

9) Starman (1984)

Jeff Bridges plays a gentle alien who comes to Earth in this uncharacteristically sappy John Carpenter flick. The alien gets help from a reluctant Karen Allen after taking the form of her deceased husband. Together they take a road trip cross-country with the government on their heels. Few humanoid aliens are as lovable as Starman, with his child-like naiveté and Bridges’ charming smile. This film was proof that not all John Carpenter aliens seek world domination.

*batteries not included (1987)

When an apartment complex is in danger of being demolished, its tenants get unexpected help from some tiny, alien robots. The film is sweet, funny, and if you did not grow up with this little-known gem, then you missed out. The little robots are adorable and the human actors are enjoyable, too – among them being real-life couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. This Steven Spielberg-produced charmer fits right in with all the other feel-good 80s flicks (most of which also have Spielberg’s name on them somewhere).

7)  Galaxy Quest (1999)

In this funny, under appreciated comedy, the cast of a science fiction television show (ala Star Trek) are visited by real aliens and asked to help save their race back home. Mistaking the invitation for a casting opportunity, they go along, but soon realize they are in real danger. If that plot sounds kind of familiar, you are probably thinking of Three Amigos. Or A Bug’s Life. Or even Rango. The idea has been done a lot, but Galaxy Quest puts a fun, geeky twist on it. The aliens in the film are vulnerable, pale-faced, and talk funny. Even when they inevitably find out their heroes are just actors, they still look up to them with a doe-eyed adoration. It makes you just want to hug them. They are the closest thing to a live-action version of the Toy Story aliens.

6) District 9 (2009)

Just like human beings, not all “prawns” are good. Stranded away from home in a dire situation, and then put into what are essentially concentration camps, they naturally incite some violence. Still, the aliens mean no harm to humans – they simply want to go home. This is best represented through Christopher Johnson, an alien who reluctantly helps District 9’s human protagonist, Wikus. Chris is a strong, relatable character, especially when protecting his small alien son. Prawns like Chris make the humans (including Wikus) look like the real monsters.

5) Cocoon (1985)

*batteries not included was not Cronyn and Tandy’s first experience with aliens. Two years earlier, they encountered a race of extra-terrestrials in this Ron Howard-directed feature. As the story goes, thousands of years ago, aliens colonized Atlantis. When the city sank into the ocean, the aliens hid their cocoons in a Florida swimming pool. When the elderly tenants of a local retirement community sneak a swim in that pool, they experience some invigorating effects and realize the pool is essentially a “fountain of youth.” Not only are these friendly aliens not pissed, but they ultimately offer to *SPOILER ALERT* take the elderly folk with them to their home planet, where they will never age or grow ill.

4) The Iron Giant (1999)

Warner Brothers gave Disney a run for their money with this fantastic (and underrated) animated feature. Directed by Brad Bird (The Incredibles), it tells the story of a boy who befriends a giant alien robot but has to protect it from a paranoid government that wants to destroy it. Furthermore, it turns out the robot was designed to be a weapon but the boy teaches it to be more than that. The story is far deeper than most kids flicks dare to be, and set in the 1950s, the film addresses Cold War-era themes and evokes the feeling of a classic science-fiction film. The Iron Giant itself, voiced by Vin Diesel, is the kind of friend every kid dreams of having.

3) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

In this sci-fi classic, Earth is visited by an alien named Klaatu and his robot companion, Gort. While they are intimidating and threaten to destroy Earth if necessary, their intention is to save human beings from themselves. They are intergalactic peacekeepers who arrive on the planet to warn humans to stop developing nuclear weapons or the other inhabitants of the galaxy will take action against Earth. These guys certainly are not cute and cuddly like some of the other entries on this list, but they actually stand to do the most good for humanity.

2) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Here is one of the many fantastic Steven Spielberg alien films. This one exemplifies the mystery and beauty of alien life forms. Strange, unexplainable occurrences begin happening all over the world, including a man (Richard Dreyfuss) who becomes obsessed with images and sounds that lure him toward a mysterious mountain. The fear and tension ultimately give way to epiphany and childlike wonderment as the aliens are revealed in all their splendor. The beautiful finale on Devil’s Peak has become a legendary moment in movie history.

1) E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

And here is Spielberg’s other great contribution to sci-fi cinema. This little brown dude needs no introduction. The bike-flying, home-phoning, Reeses-Pieces-loving alien has stolen the hearts of everyone – child and adult alike. The film has made us all cry like babies, whether we want to admit it or not. E.T. takes a very different yet equally moving approach to aliens. This film is far less worldly than Close Encounters, focusing instead on a boy and his friend. E.T. is a character that has always and will always melt hearts for as long as there are movies.