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Alien
1979
· Movie
· 117 min
A
MEANRANK
86/100
Where it ranks
- Mean Score #74
- IMDb #62
- Google retired #634
- Rotten Tomatoes #191
- Metacritic #62
- Letterboxd #160
+9 more
- Rotten Tomatoes Critics #620
- Rotten Tomatoes Audience #136
- Metacritic Critics #221
- Metacritic Audience #25
- Criticker #84
- Douban #394
- Kinopoisk #193
- AlloCiné #48
- Trakt #74
Every rating
74–94
out of 100
Mostly agreed
Lowest is Criticker on 74, highest is Rotten Tomatoes viewers on 94.
See the films the platforms disagree about most →The crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo is awakened from cryo-sleep to investigate a mysterious transmission from a nearby planetoid. On the surface, one of the crew members is attacked by a strange lifeform that attaches itself to his face. Back on the ship, the creature seems dead, but it soon becomes horrifyingly clear that a lethal alien organism has been brought aboard and is now stalking them through the ship's dark corridors.
Details
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett
- Released
- 25 May 1979
- Country
- United States, United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rated
- R
- Budget
- $11.0M
- Box office
- $104.9M
- Awards
- 39 wins, 110 nominations
This title elsewhere
Cast
Full cast (9) →
Awards & nominations
See all 149 →3 major awards won · 39 wins from 149 nominations across 47 ceremonies
| Academy Awards 1979 | Best Sound Effects Editing | Don Sharpe | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1979 | Best Visual Effects | Robert Skotak, Stan Winston, John Richardson and Suzanne M. Benson | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1979 | Best Visual Effects | H.R. Giger, Carlo Rambaldi, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder and Denys Ayling | Winner |
| Academy Awards 2025 | Best Visual Effects | Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan | Nominee |
| Golden Globe Awards 2025 | Cinematic and Box Office Achievement | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
| Academy Awards 2013 | Best Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill | Nominee |
| BAFTA Awards 2013 | Special Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth | Nominee |
| Academy Awards 1979 | Best Art Direction | Michael Seymour, Leslie Dilley, Roger Christian, and Ian Whittaker | Nominee |
Awards from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
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Just released
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Trailer — Alien
×Full cast — Alien
×
149 awards — Alien
×
Academy Awards
12 nominations, 3 won
| Best Sound Effects Editing | Don Sharpe | Winner |
| Best Visual Effects | Robert Skotak, Stan Winston, John Richardson and Suzanne M. Benson | Winner |
| Best Visual Effects | H.R. Giger, Carlo Rambaldi, Brian Johnson, Nick Allder and Denys Ayling | Winner |
| Best Actress | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
| Best Art Direction | Michael Seymour, Leslie Dilley, Roger Christian, and Ian Whittaker | Nominee |
| Best Art Direction | Peter Lamont and Crispian Sallis | Nominee |
| Best Film Editing | Ray Lovejoy | Nominee |
| Best Original Score | James Horner | Nominee |
| Best Sound | Graham V. Hartstone, Nicolas Le Messurier, Michael A. Carter and Roy Charman | Nominee |
| Best Visual Effects | Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin and Shane Mahan | Nominee |
| Best Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Trevor Wood, Charley Henley and Martin Hill | Nominee |
| Best Visual Effects | Richard Edlund, Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and George Gibbs | Nominee |
Golden Globe Awards
3 nominations
| Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
| Best Original Score | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Cinematic and Box Office Achievement | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
BAFTA Awards
1 nomination
| Special Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Charley Henley, Trevor Wood, Paul Butterworth | Nominee |
Grammy Awards
1 nomination
| Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
Japanese Academy Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Foreign Language Film | Aliens | Nominee |
Saturn Awards
40 nominations, 12 won
| Best DVD Collection | Alien Anthology | Winner |
| Best Director | James Cameron | Winner |
| Best Director | Ridley Scott | Winner |
| Best Horror Film | Alien: Romulus | Winner |
| Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Carrie Henn | Winner |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Aliens | Winner |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Alien | Winner |
| Best Special Effects | Stan Winston, Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actor | Bill Paxton | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actress | Jenette Goldstein | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actress | Veronica Cartwright | Winner |
| Best Writing | James Cameron | Winner |
| Best Actor | Michael Biehn | Nominee |
| Best Actress | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
| Best Costume | Emma Porteus | Nominee |
| Best Costume | Rob Ringwood | Nominee |
| Best Costume | Rob Ringwood and David Perry | Nominee |
| Best DVD Collection | Alien Quadrilogy | Nominee |
| Best Director | Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Nominee |
| Best Director | David Fincher | Nominee |
| Best Film Direction | Fede Álvarez | Nominee |
| Best Film Make Up | Pam Smyth | Nominee |
| Best Film Production Design | Naaman Marshall | Nominee |
| Best Film Visual / Special Effects | Eric Barba, Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Daniel Macarin, and Shane Mahan | Nominee |
| Best Make-Up | Peter Robb-King | Nominee |
| Best Make-up | Pat Hay | Nominee |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Alien: Covenant | Nominee |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Prometheus | Nominee |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Alien 3 | Nominee |
| Best Science Fiction Film | Alien Resurrection | Nominee |
| Best Special Effects | Brian Johnson and Nick Allder | Nominee |
| Best Special Effects | Pitof, Eric Henry, Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. | Nominee |
| Best Special Effects | Richard Edlund, Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and George Gibbs | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Fassbender | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | Charles S. Dutton | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Film | David Jonsson | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actress | Winona Ryder | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actress in a Film | Cailee Spaeny | Nominee |
| Best Writing | Dan O'Bannon | Nominee |
| Best Writing | David Giler, Walter Hill and Larry Ferguson | Nominee |
British Academy Film Awards
12 nominations, 3 won
| Best Production Design | Michael Seymour | Winner |
| Best Sound | Derrick Leather, Jim Shields and Bill Rowe | Winner |
| Best Special Visual Effects | Robert Skotak, Brian Johnson, John Richardson, Suzanne M. Benson and Stan Winston | Winner |
| Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music | Jerry Goldsmith | Nominee |
| Best Costume Design | John Mollo | Nominee |
| Best Editing | Terry Rawlings | Nominee |
| Best Makeup | Peter Robb-King | Nominee |
| Best Production Design | Peter Lamont | Nominee |
| Best Sound | Don Sharpe, Roy Charman and Graham V. Hartstone | Nominee |
| Best Special Effects | Richard Edlund, Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and George Gibbs | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | John Hurt | Nominee |
| Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Role | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
Sierra Awards
4 nominations, 3 won
| Best Art Direction | Alex Cameron | Winner |
| Best DVD | Alien Anthology | Winner |
| Best DVD | Alien Quadrilogy | Winner |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Fassbender | Nominee |
DVD Exclusive Awards
6 nominations, 2 won
| Best Overall DVD, Classic Movie (Including All Extra Features) | Charles de Lauzirika | Winner |
| DVDX Award for Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) | Ridley Scott, Ronald Shusett, Terry Rawlings, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt (only for Alien ) | Winner |
| Best Behind-the-Scenes Program (New for DVD) | The Beast Within: The Making of Alien, Charles de Lauzirika | Nominee |
| Best Menu Design | Matt Kennedy | Nominee |
| Best New Movie Scenes (Finished-Edited Into Movie or Stand-Alone) | Charles de Lauzirika and David Crowther (only for Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection ) | Nominee |
| DVDX Award for Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) | James Cameron, Michael Biehn, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn, Christopher Henn, Lance Henriksen, Gale Anne Hurd, Pat McClung, Bill Paxton, Dennis Skotak, Robert Skotak and Stan Winston (only for Aliens ) | Nominee |
Golden Reel Awards
5 nominations, 2 won
| Best Sound Editing | Alien 3 | Winner |
| Best Sound Editing | Don Sharpe | Winner |
| Best Sound Editing — Sound Effects and Foley in a Feature Film | Prometheus | Nominee |
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue / ADR | Will Files, Lee Gilmore, Matt "Smokey" Cloud, Polly McKinnon, David Butler, Ryan Cole, Jacob Riehle, Ailene Roberts | Nominee |
| Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Effects / Foley | Will Files, Lee Gilmore, Chris Terhune, Luis Galdames, Dan Kenyon, Ken McGill, James Miller, Matt "Smokey" Cloud, Steve Neal, Samuel Munoz, Lyndsey Schenk, Jacob McNaughton, Noel Vought | Nominee |
Hugo Awards
3 nominations, 2 won
| Best Dramatic Presentation | Alien | Winner |
| Best Dramatic Presentation | Aliens | Winner |
| Best Dramatic Presentation | Alien 3 | Nominee |
Key Art Awards
2 nominations, 2 won
| Digital | "Weyland Industries" website | Winner |
| Innovative Media | Prometheus | Winner |
Golden Trailer Awards
8 nominations, 1 won
| Best Horror Poster | Domestic Teaser, 20th Century Fox, InSync Plus | Winner |
| Best Horror TV Spot | Born Neo, 20th Century Fox, Wild Card | Nominee |
| Best Sound Editing | Theirs, 20th Century Fox, Wild Card | Nominee |
| Best Sound Editing | Prometheus, 20th Century Fox, Skip Film | Nominee |
| Best Summer 2017 Blockbuster TV Spot | Run / Madness, 20th Century Fox, Wild Card | Nominee |
| Best Summer Blockbuster Poster | Domestic Teaser, 20th Century Fox, InSync Plus | Nominee |
| Best Teaser Poster | Domestic Teaser, 20th Century Fox, InSync Plus | Nominee |
| Summer 2012 Blockbuster Trailer | Prometheus / "Not Alone", 20th Century Fox, Wild Card | Nominee |
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
2 nominations, 1 won
| Favorite Supporting Actress - Sci-Fi | Winona Ryder | Winner |
| Favorite Actress - Sci-Fi | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Top Box Office Film | James Horner | Winner |
Australian Production Design Guild Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Docklands Studios Melbourne Award for Excellence in Screen - Acknowledging Excellence in Design and Practice or Artisan Excellence on Australian or International Productions | Ian Gracie (Supervising Art Director) Damien Drew (Senior Art Director) Michelle McGahey (Senior Art Director) Charlie Revai (Art Director) Jacinta Leong (Art Director) | Winner |
Bogey Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Bogey Award | 20th Century Fox | Winner |
Hasty Pudding Theatricals
1 nomination, 1 won
| Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year | Sigourney Weaver (also for The Ice Storm and Snow White: A Tale of Terror ) | Winner |
IGN Movie Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Blu-ray | Alien Anthology | Winner |
Kinema Junpo Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Readers' Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Film | James Cameron | Winner |
San Sebastián International Film Festival
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Cinematography and Special Effects | Alien | Winner |
Visual Effects Society Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project | Waldemar Bartkowiak, Trevor Wide, Matt Middleton, Ben Shearman (for "Renaissance Space Station" ) | Winner |
Satellite Awards
5 nominations
| Best DVD Extra | Alien Quadrilogy | Nominee |
| Best Overall DVD | Alien Quadrilogy | Nominee |
| Best Visual Effects | Alien: Covenant | Nominee |
| Sound (Editing and Mixing) | Victor Ray Ennis, Ann Scibelli, John Cucci and Mark P. Stoeckinger | Nominee |
| Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Charley Henley and Martin Hill | Nominee |
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards
4 nominations
| The Sequel Nobody Was Clamoring For | Alien Resurrection | Nominee |
| Worst Actress | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
| Worst Sequel | Alien Resurrection | Nominee |
| Worst Supporting Actress | Winona Ryder | Nominee |
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards
3 nominations
| Best Actress | Sigourney Weaver | Nominee |
| Best Studio/Big-Budget Film | Alien 3 | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | Charles S. Dutton | Nominee |
San Diego Film Critics Society
3 nominations
| Best Sound Design | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
| Best Stunt Choreography | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
| Best Visual Effects | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
Teen Choice Awards
3 nominations
| Choice Movie Breakout | Noomi Rapace | Nominee |
| Choice Summer Movie Star – Female | Charlize Theron (also for Snow White & the Huntsman ) | Nominee |
| Choice Summer Movie – Action | Prometheus | Nominee |
Visual Effects Society
3 nominations
| Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture | Xavier Bourque, Sam Cole, Simone Riginelli, Denis Scolan for "Engineers & the Orrery" | Nominee |
| Outstanding Created Environment in a Live Action Feature Motion Picture | Julien Bolbach, Marco Genovesi, Martin Riedel, Marco Rolandi for "LV-233" | Nominee |
| Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture | Paul Butterworth, Charley Henley, Allen Maris, Richard Stammers for Prometheus | Nominee |
Hollywood Professional Association Awards
2 nominations
| Outstanding Sound – Theatrical Feature | David V. Butler, Mark Paterson, Polly McKinnon, Chris Terhune, Will Files, and Lee Gilmore | Nominee |
| Outstanding Visual Effects – Live Action Theatrical Feature | Ale Melendez, Steven Denyer, Sebastian Ravagnani, Nicolas Caillier, and Nelson Sepúlveda | Nominee |
AACTA Awards
1 nomination
| Best Visual Effects or Animation | Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser, Jhon Alvarado, Alé Melendez, Sebastian Ravagnani, and Nicolas Caillier | Nominee |
ADG Excellence in Production Design Award
1 nomination
| Fantasy Film | Arthur Max | Nominee |
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
1 nomination
| Best Stunt Performance | Cailee Spaeny | Nominee |
Artios Awards
1 nomination
| Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama | Mike Fenton, Jane Feindberg and Judy Taylor | Nominee |
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards
1 nomination
| Best Horror or Thriller Feature | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
Astra Midseason Movie Awards
1 nomination
| Most Anticipated Movie | Alien: Romulus | Nominee |
British Society of Cinematographers
1 nomination
| Best Cinematography Award | Derek Vanlint | Nominee |
Critic's Choice Award
1 nomination
| Best Sci-Fi/Horror Movie | Prometheus | Nominee |
Golden Satellite Awards
1 nomination
| Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature | Bill Badalato, Gordon Carroll, David Giler and Walter Hill | Nominee |
Golden Schmoes Awards
1 nomination
| Biggest Disappointment of the Year | Alien: Covenant | Nominee |
Hawaii Film Critics Society
1 nomination
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Fassbender | Nominee |
IndieWire Critics Poll
1 nomination
| Most Anticipated of 2017 | Alien: Covenant | Nominee |
London Film Critics' Circle Awards
1 nomination
| Supporting Actor of the Year | Michael Fassbender | Nominee |
MTV Movie Awards
1 nomination
| Best Action Sequence | Aliens chase through a tunnel | Nominee |
Phoenix Film Critics Society
1 nomination
| Best Visual Effects | Richard Stammers, Charley Henley and Martin Hill | Nominee |
Set Decorators Society of America
1 nomination
| Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Fantasy or Science Fiction Film | Zsuzsanna Sipos, Naaman Marshall | Nominee |
St. Louis Film Critics Association
1 nomination
| Best Visual Effects | Eric Barba, Shane Mahan, and Nelson Sepulveda | Nominee |
Young Artist Awards
1 nomination
| Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress, Supporting Role in a Feature Film - Comedy, Fantasy or Drama | Carrie Henn | Nominee |