Entertainment TV & Film Watch the Skies: The Best Alien Invasion Horror Movies Share PINTEREST Email Print Sherri Lynn Herrmann / EyeEm / Getty Images TV & Film Movies Horror Movies Best Movie Lists Comedies Science Fiction Movies War Movies Classic Movies Movies For Kids Movie Awards Animated Films TV Shows By Mark H. Harris Mark H. Harris Mark H. Harris has written about cinema and horror films since 2003. His work has appeared on PopMatters.com, Vulture.com, and Ugly Planet, among other online publications. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 05/24/19 What constitutes a truly indelible horror/suspense movie -- one which 'stays with you' long after the screen has gone dark -- has been the subject of friendly and contentious debate across generations and among horror aficionados for decades. The 'invasion' aspect of a good sci-fi horror movie touts creatures from out of this world flying, drifting and swarming in from outer space or underground to take over the human race. Walk with us through the landscape of 14 of the best alien invasion movies of the last three decades that are not appropriate for your kids. 14 of 14 'Day of the Triffids' (1962) © Allied Artists More thrilling and serious-minded than the 'killer alien plants' plot would imply, Day of the Triffids captures the terror and mayhem of an alien-induced apocalypse. 13 of 14 'Extraterrestrial' (2014) © IFC Midnight Taking the Cabin in the Woods theme into alien territory, Extraterrestrial tells the story of an accidental killing of an E.T., ultimately triggering an all-out assault from its alien allies. Escapist fun from beginning to end, Extraterrestrial embraces familiar horror tropes with nicely designed set pieces, strong special effects and a cute button in the final moments providing a wink-and-nudge reference to another well-known alien property. Read the review 12 of 14 'The Hidden' (1987) © New Line Sly humor propels this little gem about an extraterrestrial criminal taking over human bodies and going on an often-deadly joy ride through Los Angeles, experiencing fun fish-out-of-water encounters along the way. 11 of 14 'Dark Skies' (2013) © Dimension Producer Jason Blum lends the spooky haunted house touch his eye honed in Paranormal Activity, Insidious and Sinister to the story of a suburban mother who suspects her child is targeted for alien abduction. Characters, mood and scripting combine to tell a story which ends up playing like Insidious meets Signs. Read the review 10 of 14 'Critters' (1986) © New Line Fast-paced, fun creature feature chronicling the landing of spiny, insatiable Gremlins-inspired alien fugitives near a Midwestern farm, this campy romp is bound to make you giggle as much as you squirm. 09 of 14 'Slither' (2006) © Universal This funny, energetic entry is basically a Night of the Creeps redux as space slugs invade people's bodies, turning them into brainless zombie-like slaves. 08 of 14 'They Live' (1988) © Universal Subversive and darkly humorous, this John Carpenter cult offering portrays a world in which skeletal aliens integrate themselves into society by impersonating humans, and only specially designed sunglasses can reveal who's who ...or what. 07 of 14 'Night of the Creeps' (1986) © Tri Star Alien slugs invade dead humans' brains creating an army of zombies, really putting a cramp into a local sorority's plans for a big formal dance. Classic '80s horror-comedy goodness. 06 of 14 'The Blob' (1958, 1988) © Tri Star B-movie madness strikes as alien goo in a meteor that lands on Earth begin growing to enormous size with every person it absorbs. The superior remake takes the action to grisly new levels. 05 of 14 'Attack the Block' (2011) © Sony If Super 8 is The Goonies vs. Aliens, then Attack the Block is The Bad News Bears vs. Aliens, as a group of juvenile delinquents fends off aliens raining from the skies in meteorites. It's a fast-paced blast of cinematic joy that's funny, exciting and scary with a strong cast, intense action sequences, and well-designed creatures. Read the review 04 of 14 'Predator' Franchise (1987-2010) © 20th Century Fox In the "Predator" franchise, aliens invade Earth not to take over but rather as a hunting trip to bag some human skulls. The original "Predator" is a classic, and the silly but under-appreciated sequels (minus the awful "Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem") make for a rousing action-horror hybrid franchise. 03 of 14 'Cloverfield' (2008) © Paramount One of the most immersive experiences you'll have to watch a movie (granted you watch it on a big enough screen) and as close to a true first-person viewing experience as is possible, Cloverfield combines the intimacy of found footage with the larger-than-life spectacle of a blockbuster. It reminds us what 'movie magic' truly means by taking such a ludicrous, campy concept -- a giant alien monster attacking Manhattan -- and making it jarringly real. Read the review 02 of 14 'The Thing From Another World' (1951)/'The Thing' (1982) © Universal This tense early '50s chiller about a frozen alien wreaking havoc in an Arctic station after being thawed was given an added gory dimension in 1982 by John Carpenter, with an adaptation which featured the alien assuming the look and personality of anyone it consumes more faithful to the original book. 01 of 14 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers' (1956, 1978)/'Body Snatchers' (1993) © Allied Artists The original paranoid Cold War-era thriller about aliens replicating themselves as humans still resonates more than a half a century later, as indicated by the myriad of remakes -- two of which (the well-received 1978 version and the underrated 1993 version) do a great job at replicating the eerie apocalyptic tone.