Film Junk Poll: What is the Best Alien Invasion Movie?
There have been a ton of movies about aliens invading Earth over the years, so narrowing down a list for this week’s poll was a tough one. For the most part I stuck to the criteria that the aliens had to be hostile from the get go, and also that there were more than one of them, but I did make a few exceptions. I know some people are probably going to point out that there aren’t many films from the ’50s and ’60s listed here, but the problem is that (a) most of them aren’t considered great films, and (b) many of them have been remade numerous times which just adds to the confusion. Either way, if you don’t see your some of your favourites listed on this poll, whether they’re new or old, let us know in the comments below. Just don’t forget to cast your vote!
Comments (24)
BAD TASTE is missing in the list!
Posted by Stefan on July 9th, 2009It’s gotta be “Body Snatchers”
Its one of those movies that is most definitely from a different era, but it just pops and is paced so well and is shot so interestingly that it makes you basically feel like it hasnt aged. To me in that regard similarly to the original Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Posted by Goon on July 9th, 2009SPACED INVADERS is missing from the list. that one is by far the best
Posted by Rick on July 9th, 2009“Just put the glasses on.”
Posted by Ian on July 9th, 2009I would have to say the remake of “War of the Worlds”.
Posted by Matt Keith on July 9th, 2009Predator is an Alien Invasion film?
Posted by rustyaries on July 9th, 2009WHERE’S MEN IN BLACK!?
just kidding…i gotta go with They Live
Posted by Mike on July 9th, 2009Loved Invasion of the Body Snatchers, too. The ending is classic and actually sent chills up my spine the first time I saw it.
Posted by dan on July 9th, 2009cannot believe that THE THING is not on this list, as it is probably one of the most mature of the bunch.
Posted by Soop27 on July 9th, 2009I wouldn’t say that Predator was an alien invasion film. The alien is not invading anything nor does it plan to.
Posted by swarez on July 9th, 2009Invasion From Mars is also missing from this list, both the original and the Tobe Hooper remake which I loved as a kid.
Gotta go with Carpenter on this one!
Posted by Julien on July 9th, 2009Voted 78’s Body Snatchers
Actually I would take BAD TASTE as the one
Posted by Xu on July 9th, 2009I had to got with Kaufmanns “Body Snatchers” – but only because Don Siegels Original wasn´t on the list. THIS was a really scary movie and – even with Sutherland – the remake never moved me this much.
Posted by theDia on July 9th, 2009get jiggy with it – Men in Black
Posted by rus in chicago on July 9th, 2009Get to the Choppa!
Posted by Matt on July 10th, 2009why isnt “The Faculty” on the list. i must say that is my pick
Posted by cedrick on July 10th, 2009The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) should be in there, a sci-fi classic.
Posted by Booma on July 10th, 2009Would have voted for the original ‘56 Body Snatchers, but for some reason only the ‘78 remake was on the list, so I went with the original War of the Worlds.
Posted by ottobud on July 10th, 2009war of the worlds (2005)
Posted by adam on July 10th, 2009The Thing without any doubt. Voted for Body Snatchers instead.
Posted by Eisensammler on July 10th, 2009The Day The Earth Stood Still is not an alien invasion film.
Posted by swarez on July 10th, 2009Just because a film features an alien doesn’t make it an alien invasion film.
I never said that the mere presence of an alien constitutes an alien invasion film.
Perhaps I have a broader view of what an invasion is, Klaatu lands on Earth and threatens the human race with destruction should they not cease their own conflicts. The film illustrates the paranoia of an invasion, the people feel as though they have been invaded given the possibility of the alien being among them. It doesn’t necessarily require an all out attack on Planet Earth for there to be an “invasion”, that would be a very narrow interpretation. Gort kills two people, the aliens obviously have no qualms about killing humans should it ensure the fulfillment of their goal. Is there a certain amount of people that need to be killed for it to be an attack on the human race? As far as I’m concerned, the Planet Earth is invaded, and the only reason more people aren’t killed is because they do not hinder Klaatu and his efforts to communicate his warning/threat.
Posted by Booma on July 11th, 2009Booma, your rationalization for calling “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (TDESS) as an alien invasion film is admirable. I suppose the aliens should have tried communicating with an audio message first rather than landing on the front lawn of the White House. Sure the spacecraft didn’t do any damage (except for maybe flattening the grass), but if someone walked through my front door, I would still consider that an invasion nevertheless. So I am willing to agree with your assessment that TDESS is an alien invasion film.
Regardless, by Sean’s own admission criteria, TDESS is not in his list because the aliens are not “hostile from the get go.” Gort kills in retaliation for Klaatu (the Michael Rennie character) being attacked first. The aliens are not benevolent, but I think this is necessary in order to make Klaatu’s warning at the end of the movie not seem like an idle threat.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 11th, 2009Predator is hardly an “invasion” movie per se, but I’m voting it just because it’s one of the most blatantly funny action movies ever made.
Posted by stevie_boy on July 13th, 2009Leave a Reply