8 Sci-Fi Movies About Extraterrestrial Life You Need to See Before 'Disclosure Day', Ranked by IMDb
From philosophical reflections to blockbusters with breathtaking special effects.
Humanity has long been obsessed with the idea that we are not alone in the universe. In turn, cinema has given us countless variations on the theme of first contact, ranging from friendly aliens to bloodthirsty invaders.
We've recalled the eight best sci-fi movies about extraterrestrial life.
8. 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', 2008
IMDb Score: 5.5/10
A UFO resembling a huge, glowing ball lands in Central Park in New York City. A special forces team arrives on the scene immediately. An unknown creature emerges from the craft, prompting one of the soldiers to open fire in panic.
The alien is rushed to a secret intensive care unit, where it sheds its shell and takes on a human form. Later, the creature regains consciousness and reveals its name is Klaatu.
He warns that Earth will be exterminated by a more advanced civilization unless humanity stops destroying the planet. The fate of humanity is now at stake, and people must prove that they are capable of change.
7. 'Fire in the Sky', 1993
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
The movie is based on the story of logger Travis Walton, who claimed to have been abducted by aliens. On the evening of November 5, 1975, Walton and a group of loggers were driving home.
Suddenly, a strange glow similar to a fire appeared in the forest, so the men decided to drive closer to investigate. However, they claimed that it was not a fire but rather a large object hovering above the ground. Despite his friends' cries, Travis heads for the ship and falls to the ground, seemingly dead.
The others, frightened, left, thinking Walton was dead. The sheriff didn't believe the alien story, and Travis' body was never found in the forest. Suspicion now falls on his closest friend, Mike. Five days later, however, Travis returns.
6. 'The Faculty', 1998
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
Strange events begin to occur at the high school. The principal disappears, and only two teachers know what really happened. The day after the principal's disappearance, Casey finds an unknown parasite on the football field and brings it to biology class.
The creature bites a teacher, frightening everyone around. The teachers become increasingly suspicious, and Casey is the first to realize what is really going on.
A growing feud emerges among the students, but they must put it aside and unite because they now face much more serious challenges.
5. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', 2005
IMDb Score: 6.7/10
As Arthur Dent's house on Earth is demolished by a transport company, an alien voice announces that the entire planet will be destroyed in a few moments to make way for a transgalactic highway.
The decision was made 50 years ago, and the construction plans have been available all this time in an office on Alpha Centauri. Earthlings prepare to die, but Arthur escapes with his best friend, Ford Prefect, who turns out to be an alien.
Ford hails a UFO as a taxi, and the friends embark on an amazing journey across the galaxy.
4. 'Signs', 2002
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
Former priest Graham Hess lives on a farm with his two children and younger brother. These are turbulent times – people around the world are finding mysterious giant circles in farm fields.
Meanwhile, unidentified lights are hovering in the skies over New Mexico, and news reports suggest that they may be alien spacecraft. The ominous signs have also appeared in Graham's cornfield, terrifying his entire family.
Then, the aliens themselves appear and attempt to break into the house. Graham boards up all the doors and windows, and the family is besieged. The family has only one option left: to fight back.
3. 'Annihilation', 2018
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
A strange, shimmering fog has appeared on the Florida coast. It is growing and engulfing everything around it. Inside the anomaly, instruments and communications fail, and expeditions disappear.
The only person to return was soldier Kane, who immediately fell into a coma without revealing anything. His wife, Lena, then decided to join the next expedition into the anomaly zone to find out what happened to him.
2. 'Nope', 2022
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
Following their father's sudden and mysterious death, Em and Otis live on the inherited ranch. They train horses and try to start a business, but things are not going well.
Strange things are happening around the house: appliances are turning off by themselves and frightening sounds are being heard. Em is certain that it's a UFO – she decides to film an alien to gain fame and fortune.
What she didn't realize was that the alien could be a bloodthirsty creature capable of anything.
1. 'Contact', 1997
IMDb Score: 7.5/10
Since childhood, Ellie has dreamed of distant galaxies. Now grown up, she works on a project aimed at searching for extraterrestrial intelligence. However, all attempts to make contact have been unsuccessful, and the observatory has lost funding.
Ellie doesn't give up, though, and continues her work independently. One day, she finally receives the long-awaited "call from space," which revolutionizes people's understanding of reality.
