Aliens

Released: July 18, 1986

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Genre: sci-fi/action

Box Office (numbers in millions):

Domestic: 85.16 Worldwide: 131.06

Adjusted for Inflation:

Domestic: 184.80 Worldwide: 284.40

Directing: James Cameron

Screenwriting: James Cameron

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser

Review:

“Aliens is the model for every potential sequel-maker: it connects irrefutably with the events of the original…and expands on all the ideas and themes while simultaneously differentiating itself.” ^E23 James Cameron, who penned the script and directed, was smart enough “to not try to top the original as one of the greatest ever horror movies. Instead, he transplanted the Alien (and, significantly, Ripley) to a different genre, and created one of the greatest ever action movies” ^E18 as well as a “war movie fused inextricably with science fiction.” ^E23

It is also “an intense thriller” ^MSN that left viewers walking “out of the theaters with feelings of unease and anxiety.” ^MSN “Aliens construction of action scenes, its build-up of tension and its final execution of combat is a marvel to behold.” ^E23 Cameron also “drools lavishly over the future technology of weaponry.” ^E23 This is “monstrous hi-tech mayhem to the max.” ^T98

The premise is that Ripley (Weaver) “survives 57 years of deep space sleep, only to be sent back…to the original Alien planet.” ^T95 Communications have been lost with the since-colonized planet and Ripley has been tapped to lead a team of space marines to investigate. She becomes a reluctant heroine. “Courage, for Ripley, is an acceptance of fear and dealing with it with intelligence.” ^E23

The sequel adds “refinements such as Ripley’s newly discovered maternal instinct, and another one of those androids being sneakily passed off as an ordinary crew member.” ^T95 Mostly, though, the movie focuses on “not just a single, ruthless, unbeatable killing machine but an army of them. On home turf.” ^E23

This is “one helluva roller-coaster ride” ^T95 and “a movie that excels in the craft of filmmaking. ^MSN It’s “also one of the most enduringly quotable films.” ^E18