Films like Alien
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Alien, going by its Boxlist taste profile: An otherworldly horror film that is fresh and unsavoury. Best if you like surprises over comfort. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of social commentary and resilience and survival, plus tags such as cosmos, cowardice and xenomorph.
Here are 15 films with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Alien (1979).
- 1
Sunshine (2007)
Film7.0Faster-paced
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space marine, space travel.
- 2
Chappie (2015)
Film6.8
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: android, dystopia.
- 3
Companion (2025)
Film7.1
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: android.
- 4
The Thing (1982)
Film8.0
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of resilience and survival. Common ground: space marine, spacecraft, alien.
- 5
eXistenZ (1999)
Film6.9Faster-paced
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 6
They Live (1988)
Film7.3
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: alien, dystopia.
- 7
Starship Troopers (1997)
Film6.9Faster-paced
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space marine, spacecraft, dystopia.
- 8
The Platform (2019)
Film7.0
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 9
M3GAN (2022)
Film7.3
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of resilience and survival.
- 10
Moon (2009)
Film7.6Slower burn
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: space, dystopia.
- 11
Blade Runner (1982)
Film7.9More intricate
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary. Common ground: android, dystopia.
- 12
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
Film7.0More intricate
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: android, alien, dystopia.
- 13
Pitch Black (2000)
Film6.8
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and dark, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: dystopia.
- 14
Interstellar (2014)
Film8.3
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival. Common ground: space travel, spacecraft, space.
- 15
The Omen (1976)
Film7.4
Why it's like Alien: Also heightened and inventive, with themes of social commentary and resilience and survival.
Boxlist compares Alien with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Alien?
- Picks with a similar feel include Sunshine, Chappie, Companion and The Thing. Each shares part of Alien's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 films.
- How are these films like Alien chosen?
- Boxlist compares Alien with every film in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 6.7 or more from at least 1,000 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.