From classics to modern stories, films dealing with an alien invasion have always been incredibly interesting to us. It truly is the underdog story of humans fighting off a technologically superior extraterrestrial force. These films have stayed in the hearts and minds of people long after they’ve left the theatres and continue to be some of the most loved and cherished films out there. So let’s take a look at some of the must-watch alien invasion films available on Amazon.
One of director Tim Burton’s most acclaimed films, Mars Attacks is a humorous take on an alien invasion. Featuring some stellar creature design, the film is more of a comedy than an action-packed thriller but it works perfectly. Inspired by the early B-movies of the 1950s, Mars Attacks has a heightened sense of reality and is a light-hearted film that does not take itself too seriously. Over the years, it has become a true cult film and is definitely a must-watch.
A more grounded and modern adaptation of the classic novel, 2005’s War of the Worlds is more of a family drama centred around the invasion of Earth by vicious extraterrestrials hellbent on turning Earth into a twisted version of their home planet. The film stars Tom Cruise as a middle-class, blue-collar man who has to find himself all the while taking care of his two children during a world-changing invasion. It also gave birth to the Tom Cruise running gag that has populated pop culture since.
More of a dark thriller than an outright invasion film, The Invasion is loosely based on the Invasion of the Body Snatchers but manages to tell its own story. The film stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig as they try to fight off a deadly alien virus that has a sort of hive mind. A pensive tale of humanity and our violent urges, The Invasion may not be action-packed but it does offer viewers a glimpse into what we view as humanity in the grander scene of things. A true thinking man’s alien invasion film.
An action-packed extravaganza, Independence Day is a true Hollywood epic with excellent visual effects and astounding set pieces. The film stars the who’s who of Hollywood including Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman as they all rally together to fight a technologically superior extraterrestrial force that is hellbent on destroying humanity and claiming the planet as their own. The film also has one of the best third acts in film history and is a must-watch alien invasion film, even to this day.