Aliens (1986) Movie Review - One of The Best Films of All Time

Aliens is a 1986 American science-fiction action horror film written and directed by James Cameron, produced by his then-wife Gale Anne Hurd, and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton.
It is the sequel to the 1979 film Alien and the second installment of the Alien franchise.
The film follows Weaver's character Ellen Ripley as she returns to the planet where her crew encountered the hostile Alien creature, this time accompanied by a unit of space marines.
Gordon Carroll, David Giler and Walter Hill of Brandywine Productions, who produced the first film and the later sequels, were executive producers of Aliens.
They were interested in a follow-up to Alien as soon as its 1979 release, but the new management at 20th Century Fox postponed those plans until 1983.
That year Brandywine picked Cameron to write after reading his script for The Terminator, and once that film became a hit in 1984, Fox greenlit Aliens, that would also be directed by Cameron, with a budget of approximately $18 million.
The script was written with a war film tone influenced by the Vietnam War to contrast the horror motifs of the original Alien. It was filmed in England at Pinewood Studios and at a decommissioned power plant in Acton, London.
Aliens was a critical and commercial success, with positive reviews that considered it an entertaining film that despite the tonal shift still served as a worthy sequel to Alien, and grossed $180 million worldwide.
The movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver, winning both Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects.
It won eight Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actress for Weaver and Best Direction and Best Writing for Cameron. Aliens is frequently considered one of the best films ever released.

[@kacklemackle1660]

This without doubt was one of the best films of all time, period.

[@militaryhistoryguy827]

What I love about Aliens is that the 4 most deserving characters live, which is rare in an action/horror/sci-fi movie. Wouldn’t change it at all. Great review!

[@OcpCommunications]

Great job reviewing one of the best sequels ever made. Alien is my favorite Ridley Scott film, and Aliens is my favorite James Cameron movie. Yes. I like it more than T2, or The Terminator or even The Abyss. Aliens is a stone cold classic. I really had a blast seeing it in the theater this year. One of the best theatrical experiences I have ever had and any fan of Aliens deserves to experience it. Aliens is one of those sequels that is respectful to the film before it(unlike Alien 3), and it also stands on it's own two feet. It also ups the ante. The criticism this sequel gets for not being a horror film and just an action movie, I don't get at all. I think it has plenty of horror. The nightmare sequence in the beginning, the creepy atmosphere of the LV-426 colony, and the heart pounding face hugger on the loose scene in the medical bay. The film is the only movie that gave my mother heart palpitations in the theater. If it wasn't scary? People don't get heart palpitations watching it. Aliens is not only an effective action movie but it is also an effective horror film as well as a sci-fi movie. This isn't just an "action" movie. It has sequences in it that are just as suspenseful as the most suspenseful scenes in Alien and ten times more suspenseful and genuinely scary than anything in Alien 3, Alien Resurrection or Prometheus. The film is also undeniably fun to watch. Chock full of great characters with memorable lines of dialogue and more than their fair share of moments where they hold their own and make a mark on the film. Hudson is one of the most beloved characters in the movie and he is at best a supporting cast member. But you wouldn't even think about Hudson being just another guy. He is so memorable that you look at him as one of the stars of the show. It even creates new characters to align with Ripley in Hicks, Bishop and Newt that add even more depth and take the story of Alien to a whole other level. The special effects are also some of the best ever put on film. Especially the Alien Queen, which is to this day one of the most realistic and impressive works of practical effects I have ever seen. It looked like they captured a real Alien Queen and let it loose on the set. James Horner comes in and delivers a score that is every bit as memorable as Jerry Goldsmith's from Alien. The films directing is impeccable, the pacing rolls at a break neck speed, the story is original and is a great companion piece to Alien, the characters are so well written that you feel like you are along there with them on the mission, Sigourney Weaver delivers the best performance of her career and proved that a woman can be every bit of a gun toting bad ass as John Rambo, this sequel delivered everything you could have asked for and then some. Aliens is a legendary film. A film that I will always cherish, and a film that I will never get tired of. And the last Alien film worth a damn, because Alien 3 wasted not only this film's goodwill but the entire franchise's as well. The ending to Aliens is after Alien 3 a a sad ending and it was never intended to be one, but I can't help shedding a tear whenever I watch Aliens now for Newt, Hicks and Ripley at the end of the film because I know what comes next and the last shot of Aliens is the last time those three will be seen alive together and at peace. Those three went through hell only to die? Yes. I know life sucks sometimes. But this isn't real life. This is a sci-fi horror movie. Also? Life isn't always nihilistic either. It's a fine balance between good and bad. Hence why Alien and Aliens work so well and to me Alien 3 failed miserably. It was too bleak and hopeless. Aliens isn't all sunshine and rainbows either. Beloved characters die right and left. Hudson, Vasquez, Drake, Apone all die. There are only three survivors left after the smoke and acid clears. But it left you with a sense of hope at the end. A sense of better days ahead for Ripley and what could be her family. And Alien 3 pissed all of that way just because they could. Alien 3 is a film so bad that it nuked the franchise from orbit. Aliens is a film so great that it nukes Alien 3 and any other Alien film that came after it. After Aliens it was all downhill for the Alien franchise and that's a crying shame. But at least we still have Aliens. But we could have had even more. The franchise had so much potential. Potential for more movies as fun, and as innovative as Aliens. Here's to holding out hope for Alien 5 to do the impossible fix this franchise and save it from oblivion.

[@Johnlindsey289]

OcpCommunications What about Alien 4, AVP 1 & 2 and Prometheus?

[@callumwearne7870]

+Johnlindsey289 If you want to see OCP's opinion on those he has made 1 hour long rants about them

[@VBshredder]

We can safely say none of those flicks hold a candle to Aliens

[@EpictasticJoshua]

OcpCommunications I agree with everything you said about Aliens. It's awesome.

[@ryandt2623]

I disagree on Aliens being better than Terminator 2. I personally would put Terminator 2: Judgement Day above Aliens, but honestly, me saying I like Terminator 2 more than Aliens, isn't really saying a whole lot, because... while Terminator 2 is number 6 on my list of all-time favorite movies, Aliens is number 8 on my list of all-time favorite movies.

[@Wilks363]

Aliens = My number one movie of all time..!

[@Scifitater]

Well said Matt. Aliens is my all-time favorite movie (as you can probably tell by my avatar)

[@uncharted7againblackking256]

Hell yea!!!!! Go Ripley's she believable and the haters not....

[@ivebenjamin8036]

Mine’s too. “Get away from her, you BITCH!” I’m going to rewatch this movie more in the summer. It easily kicks the shit out of most movies and sequels, particularly nowadays.

[@sslim29205]

I watch this at least once a week. Great film and it never gets old.

[@Emulous79]

I first saw this on VHS as a kid and knew it was special. This film combines sci-fi, action, and horror in the best way I've ever seen. Rarely has it been matched before or after. Paul Wank-Stain Anderson wishes he could.

[@BRIANOCONNOR2003]

Well they offered Paul WS Anderson to direct Alien Resurrection and he turned it down because he wanted to direct event horizon And it's ironic that he turned it down and then 7 years later he would go on to direct Alien VS Predator

[@dredre_lj2003]

Tbh I would like to see a Direct Sequel to Aliens (1986) with Sig Weaver, Carrie Henn, Lance Henriksen, and Michael Biehn with them all finally making it to planet earth, and several years later Xenomorphs starts to invade planet earth and the main four protagonists survive to protect themselves and the human race with new twists & turns, more gore, more creativity, and no nostalgia fan service.

[@EpictasticJoshua]

You are so on point and I love the title of the review and I agree with everyone. This is one of the best sequels and one of the best films of all time Aliens is my favorite of the series. James Cameron did a great job with this movie. Keep it up, man. You are a great reviewer on KZbin.

[@codyw1]

It is essentially a perfect film.

[@Invader9Productions]

Fantastic movie! I still prefer the first film, but Aliens is one hell of a great film.

[@ryandt2623]

This is my 8th favorite movie of all-time. As much as I love Alien, I love Aliens even more. Aliens is an example of a sequel done right. Because it does everything that a sequel should do. It expands the plot for the film, and gives us something new, while still feeling very familiar. When you watch both Alien and Aliens back to back, they sort of follow the same beats, but Aliens brings in more of the action element, and adds more aliens. It introduces us to some great new characters, it expands more on the origin story for the Xenomorphs, and even though it's a horror film, it still has an action element to it. Sigourney Weaver gives such a good performance in this movie that she got nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, and even though she didn't win, the fact that she got nominated for Best Actress in a Sci-Fi/Action movie is groundbreaking in itself. It's a movie that has plenty of rewatchablity factor to it. It's one of those films I could watch a thousand times and never be tried of it. I could even watch it two times in a row, I love it that much.

[@moose2294]

Once I heard you say "fuck Alien 3" I imeadiatly hit the like button

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Word is, there is going to be a 5th Alien film that ignores Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection and Sigourney Weaver and Michael Behin return in their roles.

[@Vlade2002]

Great review. What can be said that has not been said before?. Aliens 10/10 Jimmy's best along with T2 (10/10) as well.

[@dredre_lj2003]

Alien & Aliens² (Alien⁴: Resurrection & AVP1) were the only Fantastic ones to me.

[@hasakubuwasakubu7210]

I agree matt this is a great movie one of the best of all time especially in the action genre thanks for the review and entertainment!!

[@JoeDredd2012]

I truly,truly feel this is the perfect example of a real stand along sequel it was the very first film I was interduce to I agree this film ended the series right this film to me is a perfect film it has great cast,characters, action scenes,creature FX,models and sets,score,pacing etc! A very epic job brother I'm looking forward to see you tear apart those horrorible sequels shitty sequels that drop this films in to the shit!

[@robertchristofaro]

I think the third alien film and the Fourth alien film should be remaked

[@jackcraven2266]

The title of the video says it all, one of the best movies of all times. Great review, i love both Alien and Aliens the same (although i watched Aliens lot more time than the first one) and i don't find anything wrong with it, and extended version of it is one of the best ever. I actually don't mind Alien 3 but i will say that fourth movie is the weakest.

[@AziaXtremeNFinity]

Did u like The Abyss? I bought that recently & that instantly became 1 of my all-time favorite films

[@ramboraph4life]

AziaXtremeInphinity I enjoy The Abyss.

[@callumwearne7870]

+ramboraph4life interesting Idea you had about the colonial marines prequels thats something I didn't think about and yes Bill paxton's reference to things they may have come across before, Having said that we do know how some prequels turn out these days

[@SpenceDaFence]

My all-time favorite film. One of the best aspects of this movie is that it was a sequel written and directed by a fan of the original; how often does that happen in Hollywood?

[@CplDwayneHicks11]

I honestly defend Aliens: Colonial Marines for actually being a fun game for the series unlike these so called haters say. I took the time to find every little excuse on why this game gets hated on. I was at disbelieve when they claim to be "Mega Fans of Aliens" to some who never even watch or seen Aliens at all!? "Oh your name is not Ripley (at your main man Christopher Winter) only Ripley can kill the Alien" Hahaha what? "Why are we fighting humans in an Aliens game?" Um maybe because Weyland-Yutani been the bad guys since the first film maybe? "AvP is the best Aliens game ever made!" Um what where was the Predator seen in the film Aliens because I yet to see one?! "Alien Isolation is good because you have no powerful guns and you not a dumb Space Marine" What would have Aliens been like without the "Space Marines" oh a rehash of Alien which you are playing now. "Why do the Aliens attack us at close range? They meant to be hiding!" Well maybe because you fighting the Soldier class who do just actually that! "The story makes no sense at all because Alien 3 said this and that!" Hicks gets waken up by Samwell Stone and then later sends a message out to Earth. Colonial Marines pick up the message 13 weeks later and stumble on Wey-Yu on Acheron LV-426. They have a mini War over in space and on the planet. At the end they get the information needed to end this war. Very simple plot to fellow. "Too much like Halo why am I playing poor man Halo" Maybe because Bungie strip everything Aliens for that game universe? "Dumb AI, graphics, guns, Marines, gameplay, not scary, cutscenes, E3 demo, no super QTE, and everything!" Spoiled gamers no wonder developers today are giving them microtransaction overloads. I enjoyed this film and the Hicks and Newt comics which I mention countless times.

[@ProfessorMurf]

'Aliens' rules.

[@TheTheratfarmer]

one of a few favorite movies. who was that guy in titanic?

[@ramboraph4life]

+TheTheratfarmer Bill Paxton who was in the beginning portion of Titanic looking for the sunken ship.

[@TheTheratfarmer]

who is this? i can write and produce. make entertainment.

[@ramboraph4life]

TheTheratfarmer What? This is my video and you asked 'who was that guy in titanic'...and the only actor in both films is Bill Paxton.

[@TheTheratfarmer]

bill paxton. yes, thank you.

[@Dylantomasi]

TheTheratfarmer Bill Paxton partner

[@professorloony]

Do you like this film better than Predator 2? I remember on your 69 favorite horror films list you had Predator 2 on like 10 and Aliens on like number 8. Both great classics in there own right.

[@ramboraph4life]

professorloony Yes I like Aliens more but I still love Predator 2.

[@callumwearne7870]

+professorloony Why are we comparing films like this? they are all equally awesome in their own right and convey themselves differently its not a question of which are better but how they are different and all equally awesome in their own way. When I think of classics like bladerunner even split second, T1 and T2 they are all different but I wouldn't say one is better than the other because they are not the same all of them are trying to achieve different things, but they do it with respect to each other

[@Dylantomasi]

excellent review buddy I love hearing what other people think of this awesome movie.. have a good one :)

[@TheStellardust]

man, I come home, check the videos, and there you go, you review Aliens. Thanks man. what a surprise. thank you, your reviews are excellent.keep it up man.

[@professorloony]

Great review on a classic film. I loved the tone of this as it was different than the 1st but still kept the Aliens in the shadows and ready to jump out.

[@popey129]

Great movie and review.

[@DemonBoy3223]

20:05 You are not alone on that subject. Even that cop-out still to this day pisses me off. I understand the whole Blomkamp Alien thing, but I have hopes that Blomkamp will right the wrongs the original 'Alien 3' made.

[@hebrew26commandmentspower55]

Aliens >>>> Alien ...... Aliens in my opinion surpassed alien in cinema and acting ... The last 30 minutes is phenomenal.... Cinematic

[@TheShapeH31]

Excellent review Matt!! This isn't my favorite James Cameron film. I'd say T2 takes that prize but 2nd favorite definitely. This is one of my favorite films of all times aswell. *ANY* genre of film this goes into Sci-Fi, Action, Horror it's definitely one of the best. Great video mate!!

[@daveraffy8622]

***** Hey Matt have you ever seen the underrated horror film called 'The Descent'? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

[@ramboraph4life]

Dave Raffy I enjoy The Descent.

[@DominikSobolewski]

I respect your opinion, but I found this film underwhelming. The Terminator is easily James Cameron's one masterpiece, which no other movie he made after comes close to it's quality.

[@ramboraph4life]

***** Sorry, I 100% disagree with you. Aliens is a Masterpiece (and in my opinion, Cameron's Best Film)...and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that...to each their own.

[@DominikSobolewski]

I just found it sort of hollow. Like it builds up to something, but just doesn't deliver at the end. However, it does have some of the best miniature models I've seen in any film. Only other movie that I can think of with as good special effects is Total Recall.

[@ramboraph4life]

***** No clue what you mean by it being hollow. To me, there is nothing Hollow about it. She gains a new 'daughter' while her actual daughter was dead by the beginning of the film...Ripley faces her fear and gets over her PTSD by going in by herself to rescue the Girl/Fight the Aliens/and Destroy the Entire Nest...Battles One on One with an Alien Queen and Whips its' Ass...and, by the end, now both her and Newt can dream without the worry of any more Nightmares (which plagued Ripley at the beginning of the film). To Me, Absolutely Nothing Hollow about that. Like i said, to each their own but I 100% disagree.

[@DominikSobolewski]

***** I don't know man. Just not my cup of tea. To each his own. :)

[@takayasu2009]

***** I just watched this film again now. It was not underwhelming but overwhelming. To me, ALIENS is the best Cameron film.

[@JoeDredd2012]

16:00 That's a great question it would be a great video game prequel especially if they got Micheal Biehn,Bill Paxton,Lance Henriksen etc bro! 18:26 Agreed 1000% bro!

[@TZMC219]

Vincent Ward did this to the Alien Franchise by killing off Hicks and Newt

[@VBshredder]

I like your passion man. Hudson is greatest supporting character in cinema history!!

[@militaryhistoryguy827]

We got sonic electronic ball breakers!

[@CRITTERBUSTERS]

Totally Agree with you on this one matt, ALIENS is a classic, and definitely my favourite of the series, the build up to the action is the best i've ever seen and its my Third favourite James Cameron film, My Favourite being Terminator 1 and second being T2

[@JasonLee-ww5of]

hey +ramboraph4life did you now that someone i think it's niel Blomkamp is making alien 5 and the he is going to ignore the events of alien 3 and alien resurrection with ripley and hicks and he looks awesome with the scar he gets towards the end of aliens

[@wyattwilliams4778]

Excellent review Matt for both Alien and Aliens. Solid Job. I do agree the franchise should have ended with Aliens or does end well with Aliens because like you said Ripley conquered her nightmares,defeated the Xenamorphs and now she can have peace. And the way the franchise has turned out with Alien 3 and Resurrection ruined it. AVP also kind of changed the back story a little bit for both creatures that was not explained in both franchises separately. I will admit AVP was entertaining in some parts, but Alien and Aliens are better 100 times than AVP. There are just some franchises that really needed only two films and Alien and Aliens are good examples of that. Anyway excellent review and I said it before you got good taste in movies. Take care Matt.

[@Roberto_Valencia]

Truly is the series' best one. It surpassed the original to me.

[@borgrunner99]

Aliens has always been my number one. Thank god cg wasent invented yet. Thanks Matt

[@callumwearne7870]

My favourite of the bunch, Nice review matt been waiting for this. so many people say this was a worthy sequel I would go even further by saying its the best, when this came out, I thoroughly appreciated the franchise, and I would put this on the same level as my top ten favourite movies of all time, as well as T2 and T1 Die hard 1 and 2 bladerunner Predator 1 and 2 as well as all the Rambo films then you had split second with Rudger the 80s and 90s were a truly awesome time for movies in general man. Hot topic also is the considered remake of Alien 3 is supposedly going to be a direct sequel to this movie, and Neil Blomkamp has openly expressed his distaste for Alien 3 and 4 having said that he is also a director who has a tendancy to make a shitty movie that is full of South Africans, who I do not give a fuck about because they are shitty characters, I hope he doesn't have any South africans I am tired of directors like this who can't come up with something creative The guy isn't even south african so wtf, be more creative Neil blomkamp

[@TheDarkness2204]

Aliens is my favorite of the bunch (fuck Alien 3) definitely getting this movie during Christmas on blu ray *30th anniversary edition*

[@crazy4avrillavignex]

I love your review and honestly it is one the best one on KZbin I saw. Aliens Is also one of the best films that is also really favorite and I love it so much just like I love Alien (1979). I agree with you I also hate Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. Oh and I love Theatrical Cut because it is fast paced and it doesn't take longer as Director cut does. Just I rather prefer DVD cut than I do Blu-ray because it is extended cut of the film and is longer version than it is on DVD version of this film.

[@tommyvercetti9974]

OMG Colonial Marines an Animated Series or Live TV show by HBO or Movie would be AMAZING!!!!!!!! Juat a Show about how Hicks, Hudson, Drake, Vasquaz, Apone, Frost, and the others came to be lol One thing to know the USS Sulaco was named Sulaco for Bad Luck in the universe from the Colonial Marines Tech Manual. it says it killed 12 people on a landing board accident coming into a SPace Station. and alot of soldiers have come in and out Major Injurys or Deaths and Apone is the only one whos been with the ship since it either started or i think some time when it was new i cant remember lol

[@deemyers4022]

I love Sci-fi Action Horror of Alien Aliens Predator Predator 2

[@mychannel-rg3dw]

All I can say is I got alien 3 on DVD for. 99 Cents. .and I paid too much. .also got predator. 99. And that movie rocks. .my worst casting award goes to. .the fog...the remake...what were they thinking? There are tons of actress with awsome radio voices, even radio backgrounds. .that girl didn't cut it..she must have auditioned on the casting couch. ..

[@Airjet2582]

Did you like Titanic?

[@ramboraph4life]

Airjet2582 No, I don't.

[@JurassicGodzillaFan]

***** Funny, my brother said the film was too boring and long, he would skip to the end where the ship breaks. By the way, love Aliens to death. Awesome review Matt.

[@Airjet2582]

Imo ever since James Cameron made Titanic and won many Oscars for it, he's been on a Titanic boner binge since. Making gimmicky limited release documentary of the Titanic. We had to wait fifteen years for him to release his next movie Avatar.

[@silverscreenreviews8521]

Hey buddy great review! Really been enjoying your videos recently! Have only just discovered your channel! Just finishing my aliens review myself you should check out my aliens teaser trailer I have just released with the review coming soon! 👍🏻

[@JerpPin]

Exellent movie exellent review.

[@system-error]

Have you played Aliens Versus Predator (2000), to me that's the best followup to Aliens. Check out this documentary, you can see what a labor of love it was for the people who made it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3a1o6Zte76ertE I remember playing it when it came out and thinking, my god they fucking did it, they captured Aliens in videogame form. And I played it through again a few years ago, and had a blast, it was still scary! There were bits where I was genuinely distressed, thinking why am I playing this game, why am I putting myself through this ordeal. And that's just the marine game, it's three incredible games in one package. At that time, 'Aliens vs Predator' was some of the coolest shit around. One of the most exciting ideas in entertainment. Before all the shit movies flushed it all into the toilet.

[@ramboraph4life]

Never played it.

[@system-error]

@@ramboraph4life there's a great sequel you can get for free, if you have a PC you can download AvP2 right off the web, it's abandonware. I've been playing it, it's fucking awesome. There's also the Alien Trilogy game on PS1 which is more of a straight Doom clone. Did you know, 20th Century Fox offered the Aliens license to id software when they were making Doom? Doom could have been an Aliens game! But id turned the offer down, because they wanted to do demons not aliens.

[@uhchiaobito9989]

i love this movie

[@JohnFisherChoir]

funny as fuck