Alien Invasion Movies
Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, the ten-episode, 20-hour miniseries Taken was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by cable TV's Sci-Fi Network, ultimately costing 40 million dollars -- a price that proved well worth it, inasmuch as the series posted the network's highest-ever ratings. Covering a period from 1947 to the present, the story focused on three different families, each of whom was profoundly affected by extraterrestrial visitation. The Keys family was headed by WWII bomber pilot Russell Keys (Steve Burton), who spent virtually his entire adult life haunted by his "close encounter" with aliens. The Clarkes were originally represented by lonely Texas waitress Sally Clarke (Catherine Dent), who was impregnated by a charming stranger (Eric Close) who turned out to be an alien survivor of the Roswell crash. And the lives of the Crawfords were dictated by ruthless Army officer Owen Crawford (Joel Gretsch), who was determined to prove that the government had covered up the truth about Roswell by dedicating his life to tracking down all space aliens and their half-human descendants. The story was narrated by Allie Keys (Dakota Fanning), a "hybrid" child of the present day, whose story determined the outcome of the final episodes. Boasting impressive computer-generated special effects and eye-popping facial makeup, Taken was seen over a two-week period, beginning December 2, 2002, and ending on December 13. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dakota Fanning, Alonso Oyarzun, (more)
Executive produced by Shaun Cassidy and Thomas Schlamme, the highly touted ABC sci-fi/fantasy series Invasion began when a devastating hurricane roared into the town of Homestead, FL. Among the survivors of the deluge were stalwart park ranger Russell Varon (Eddie Cibrian), his pregnant TV-reporter wife, Larkin Groves (Lisa Sheridan), and their little daughter, Rose (Ariel Gade), who insisted that she saw "hundreds of white lights" darting through the air at the height of the hurricane. Although Rose's parents were inclined to doubt her incredible story, a number of very strange things occurred in the days following the storm. For one, local sheriff Tom Underlay (William Fichtner) began acting like a man possessed, tyrannically imposing a quarantine on Homestead and totally cutting off contact with the outside world. For another, Tom's wife (and Russell's ex-wife) Dr. Mariel Underlay (Kari Matchett) had undergone some profound behavioral changes -- as had several other people in town. Russell's brother-in-law Dave (Tyler Labine), a conspiracy theorist whom no one had previously taken seriously, suddenly seemed to make a lot of sense when he cast a suspicious eye upon his friends and neighbors (or at least, they looked like his friends and neighbors). But it was up to Rose to sum up the terrifying situation in four little words: "Mommy -- you smell different." Although the title of the series did not include "...of the Body Snatchers," the essence of that classic horror film oozed from every frame of the weekly, 60-minute Invasion, which debuted September 21, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Season One of the lavishly produced sci-fi series War of the Worlds begins with a two-hour pilot episode, establishing the fact that the Earth had first been visited by aliens from the planet Mortax in 1938, and that the two planets waged a violent war in 1953, with the Earth emerging triumphant and the Mortaxian "casualties" entombed in steel drums and buried in various nuclear testing sites throughout the world. And why wasn't this common knowledge to the public. Well, thanks to mass hypnosis, Mankind had been convinced that the 1938 visitation was merely a radio hoax perpetrated by a young actor named Orson Welles, and the 1953 war--which ended with the aliens being killed off by bacteria--was nothing more than a Hollywood movie produced by George Pal! Unfortunately, the Mortaxians are not dead, only hibernating, and after awakening they escape to an abandoned nuclear site in Nevada, there to receive orders from their leaders, the Advocates (played this season by such actors as Richard Comar, David Calderisi, Isle Von Glatz and Michael Rudder). Those orders are simple and two the point: Proceed with the original mission to conquer the earth! Simplifying this task is the fact that the aliens can absorb the bodies of human beings and assume their identities, thereby moving about without detection--at least until the high radiation level in their systems cause them to literally melt into nothingness. Alone among his colleagues, Dr. Harrison Blackwood (Jared Martin) suspects that the "myth" of the Mortaxians is a reality, and he tries vainly to alert the world that the aliens are alive, well, and dangerously close to taking over. Expressing high skepticism over Blackwood's theories are his astrophysicist colleague Suzanne McCullough (Lynda Mason Green), a divorcee with a young daughter named Debi (Rachel Blanchard). Similarly, martinet Native American military officer Col. Paul Ironhorse (Richard Chaves) finds Blackwood's notions hard to swallow. Only when paraplegic computer whiz Norton Drake (Philip Akin), who manages to get about with the help of his computer-activated wheelchair, "Gertrude", punches up evidence that the aliens are burrowing their way towards their old warships, still held in storage, do Suzanne and Ironhorse begin to come over to Blackwood's side--and then, it still takes several violent "close encounters" to win the hearts and minds of the disbelievers. The rest of the season's 22 episodes finds Blackwood and his team coordinating their counterattack against the Mortaxians from their hidden headquarters, The Cottage. Along the way, Blackwood wins several more converts to his cause, and also crosses paths with other aliens who have either cast their lot with Mortaxians or who side with the humans. And throughout it all, it is very, very difficult to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys--even for the viewers at home! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jared Martin, Lynda Mason Green, (more)
After a moderately successful first season in syndication, the H.G. Wells-based science fiction series War of the Worlds returns for a second season with several radical changes in place--and not merely the new title, War of the Worlds: The Second Invasion. As we shall see, the series has abruptly taken on the dimensions of two other entertainment properties: the Mad Max movies, and the briefly popular network sci-fi series V. As before, scientist Harrison Blackwood (Jared Martin) and his astrophysicist colleague Suzanne McCullough (Lynda Mason Green) continue to wage war against an army of extraterrestrial invaders, but not precisely the same invaders as in the previous season. It turns out that the dreaded Mortaxians, who had the ability to assume the bodies and identities of humans in order to carry out their dirty work undetected, were actually soldiers in the employ of an even stronger other-worldly race, the human Morthrai. Summarily exterminating the Mortaxians for failing to complete their mission of conquering the Earth, the Morthrai show up to finish the job--which is distressingly easy, inasmuch as the entire infrastructure of earthly society has apparently collapsed between Seasons One and Two, leaving the planet in a chaotic, dysfunctional state, with the "leadership" in the hands of local despots and scoundrels. (So much for Mad Max) Commandeering the Morthrai is the Hitlerlike Malzor (Denis Forest) and his beautiful-but-deadly consort Mana (Catherine Disher). Dictating the progress of the war against the humans is the "Joseph Mengele"-type scientist Ardix (Julian Richings), bent on "purifying" the earth by purging all undesirables. Malzor, Mana and Ardix are guided in their sinister ambitions by a jellyfish-shaped deity called The Eternal. (So much for V) Though he hadn't received much official support during Season One, Dr. Blackwood is almost completely on his own during Season Two in his Herculean efforts to ward off the invaders and save the world. Worse still, two of his former colleagues, computer whiz Norton Drake and Army colonel Paul Ironhorse, have been killed off. Luckily, Blackwood can still count on the help and support of his trusted aide Suzanne McCullough, as well as a newcomer to his team, ex-soldier John Kincaid (Adrian Paul). With their original headquarters destroyed, the alien fighters were forced literally underground, running their resistance movement from their city's sewer system. Sensing that the "improvements" wrought on Season Two of War of the Worlds were more hindrance than help, the producers decided to wrap things up permanently in the 44th and final episode "Knight Time", in which a clear victor in the Earth-Morthrai conflict is declared (as if we're going to tell you who it is!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jared Martin, Lynda Mason Green, (more)
You won't want to miss the mystifying fourth and final season of The 4400! When Promicin becomes available to Seattle, the future of the human race will change forever. This four-disc collection includes all 13 Season 4 episodes of the critically acclaimed series, which originally aired during on cable's USA in the summer of 2007. It's packed with such special features as deleted scenes, a gag reel, featurettes, and a director's cut of the finale with unexpected, unforgettable events.
Season Three of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 largely focuses on the surviving members of a group of 4400 people who, after being abducted from the earth over a sixty-year period, suddenly reappeared in a bolt of light in the year 2004--only to be systematically eliminated by the US Government when it was discovered that many of "The 4400" have developed paranormal powers which, if used improperly, could destroy all mankind. Since the previous season, the National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC) has been forced to back off on its campaign of "ethnic cleansing", but not before the radical Nova group, comprised of a band of "4400" rebels, carry out a master plan to take over the world. Forming a united front against the Nova group are the "good" 4400 members, as well as NTAC agents Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie). Meanwhile, the infant Isabelle, whose blood contains the antidote for the "promicin inhibitor" that has been used to decimate The 4400, has suddenly grown into womanhood (she is played this season by Megalyn Echikunwoke) and remains a fugitive, not only from the Government but also from the Nova group. Many of the episodes this season detail the growing relationship between Isabelle and the kindly 4400 Shawn Farrell, who has the power (albeit limited) to revive the dead. As the season progresses, it is revealed to the viewer that the supposedly "martyred" Jordan Collier, an early leading light of the 4400, is still alive, calling the shots behind the revolt against humanity. Even so, Tom's son Kyle remains in prison for fulfilling his mission of assassinating Collier--a mission determined by the futuristic earthlings who'd originally abducted the 4400 as part of a long-range plan to save the world from total annihilation! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
As Season Two of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 gets under way, several of the secrets closely held during Season One have been revealed--foremost among the fact that those 4400 humans who'd suddenly reappeared in a flash of light after having been kidnapped from the earth over a period of nearly six decades were not alien abductees, but instead had been snatched up by futuristic earthlings. The purpose was to "seed" the abductees throughout history to prevent the apocalyptic destruction of the earth! Of special importance to National Threat Assessment Command agent Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch), who along with fellow agent Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) had been assigned to track down all of the "4400" once some of them had begun exhibiting awesome paranormal powers, is the fact that the futuristic kidnappers had selected Tom's own son Kyle (Chad Faust as their primary messenger--and also as an avenging angel, foresworn to kill the one "4400" member who poses the greatest threat to mankind It is also now known that it is the "promicin", a transmitter imbedded in each of the 4400's brains, that gives them their unique powers, and that NTAC plans to kill off the most "dangerous" abductees (as well as few innocent bystanders!) with a promicin inhibitor. The only antidote to this inhibitor is found in the blood of Isabelle, the infant daughter of "4400" Lily Moore (Laura Allen) and Richard Tyler (Mahershalhashbaz Ali)--and thus Isabelle has been targetted for elimination as soon as she can be found. As the season ends, the NTAC goes to great lengths to wipe out all evidence that the 4400 ever existed. But those "in the know" intend to see that justice is done to the surviving 4400...and to solve the many puzzles still remaining. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The first season of USA Network's sci-fi thriller The 4400 begins (pardon the cliché) with a bang, as a huge, glowing object falls from the sky and lands near Highland Beach, Washington. The comet-like object then disgorges some 4400 human beings, all of whom had vanished from the earth over the past 58 years! After a brief quarantine, the "4400" leave for various parts of the world--and then several returns, exhibiting such paranormal abilities as telekinesis, mind control, supersensitve hearing, and even, in the case of Shawn Farrell (Patrick Flueger), the power to revive the dead. Another of the 4400, Lily Moore, is pregnant with the child of Richard Tyler (Mahershalahashbaz Ali) Acutely aware that the returnees' otherworldly powers can be used for evil as well as good, Dennis Ryland (Peter Coyote), head of the National Threat Assessment Command division of Homeland Security, dispatches agents Tom Baldwin (Joel Gretsch) and Diana Skouris (Jacqueline McKenzie) to locate the rest of the 4400 to make certain that nothing terrible happens. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done, as witness the serial killer who has the power to make others do his dirty work. Also, whatever has caused the 4400 to develop these skills also has a profound effect on the two NTAC agents--to say nothing of Tom's son Kyle (Chad Faust), whose erratic behavior turns is a harbinger of things to come. Meanwhile, another of the 4400, the mysterious Jordan Collier (Bill Campbell), offers protection and shelter to his fellow retunees at Arcadia Estates--an outward act of altrusim that may be a cover up for a sinister hidden agenda. The five-episode first season ends after several of the 4400 are assassinated once their identities are made public--and after the startling secret behind the 4400 is revealed (we won't give too much away here: suffice to say that, though the 4400 were definitely abduction victims, their abductors were NOT aliens from another planet!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Joel Gretsch, (more)
Adapted from the best-selling novel by author Michael Crichton, director Mikael Salomon's made for television mini-series follows a group of specialized scientists as they race to cure a fast-spreading plague. A U.S. military satellite has crashed near a small Utah town, unleashing a deadly pathogen. Everyone who's come into contact with the virus has died, except for two survivors. Could something in the blood of these two survivors prove the key to immunizing the rest of mankind and preventing a devastating outbreak? Now, as a lone reporter begins investigating what he believes to be a vast government conspiracy, the military quarantines the area and a specialized team of scientists race to find a cure for the pathogen they have given the code name, "Andromeda." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Benjamin Bratt, Eric McCormack, (more)
This series is the first in the mammoth library of series, movies, and OVAs known as "Macross." In Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, otherwise known as SDF-1 Macross, the people of Earth, living for the first time under one government for all humanity, have spent the past ten years rebuilding the city-sized alien spaceship that crashed on South Atalia Island. Finally ready to celebrate the ship's first launch, the inexperienced pilots of the ship are met with an attack from an alien race called the Zentradi. The Zentradi are fierce enemies of the race that originally piloted the ship that crashed to Earth, and seeing it now, begin to fire. Earth has unwittingly entered into a war with an alien race, thus changing the history of the universe for all time. SDF-1 Macross was edited, dubbed, and combined with the series Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross and Genesis Climber Mospeada to create the American series Robotech: Macross Saga. Robotech is sometimes mistakenly described as simply the English dub of SDF-1 Macross, but this is not the case. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
The Quatermass Conclusion is comprised of highlights from the 1979 British TV serial of the same name. Like the earlier Quatermass projects of the 1950s and 1960s, the guiding force behind Conclusion was prolific screenwriter Nigel Kneale, though the series (and the film) hardly represent his best work. This time John Mills is Prof. Bernard Quatermass, once more trying to convince the authorities that malevolent extraterrestrials do indeed exist. Quatermass' quandary is the sudden disappearance of several London youths. He deduces that the missing persons are the victims of a "death ray," wielded by hostile space aliens. Though movie special effects had made great strides by 1979, Quatermass Conclusion looks cheaper and less convincing than the classic Quatermass films (The Creeping Unknown, Enemy From Space, Five Million Miles To Earth) which preceded it in the 1950s and 1960s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Mills, Simon MacCorkindale, (more)
- 1985
- Add Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam [Anime Series] to Queue Add Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam [Anime Series] to top of Queue
Seven years after the end of the One Year War that took place in the original Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam, the Federation establishes a task force called the Titans to deal with the remaining Zeon insurgents. These military elites use as much force as they deem necessary, superseding all rights of individuals with seeming totalitarian authority. The series focuses on Char Aznable, a member of the Anti-Earth Union Group, a resistance force working against the Titans. A new Gundam Suit prototype has emerged, the Gundam Mark-II, and Char wants to gain possession of it for the AEUG. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is thought by many to be inspired by George Orwell's novel 1984 and inclusive of much more social commentary and reflection than is expected of animated science fiction. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
The plot of The Brain from Planet Arous has something to do with a huge floating brain which takes over the body of nuclear scientist Steve March (John Agar) as the first step in its takeover of the earth. Tipping off the fact that March is not himself are his strange eyeballs and his rather violent mood swings. Additionally, the arrogant alien brain occasionally leaves Steve's body to brag about its superiority. Meanwhile, a "policeman brain" from the villain's home planet hides out in the body of March's dog, awaiting the chance to arrest the renegade graymatter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Agar, Joyce Meadows, (more)
Originally released under the title Midnight Movie Massacre, director Mark Stock's Attack From Mars pits a desperate band of moviegoers against a terrifying horde of space vampires from Mars. As a group of 1950 science fiction-loving teens munch on popcorn, a UFO descends, unleashing a fearsome plague of extraterrestrial bloodsuckers. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Robert Clarke, Ann Robinson, (more)
- 1964
- Add Santa Claus Conquers the Martians to Queue Add Santa Claus Conquers the Martians to top of Queue
Alien invaders kidnap everyone's favorite right jolly old elf in this low-budget mixture of children's comedy and sci-fi adventure. Christmas is not far away, and countless children are glued to their family's TV sets, watching reports about Santa Claus (John Call). However, this is happening on Mars, and leaders of the Red Planet aren't sure what to do for their kids who are pining away for a visit from the gift-bearing earthling. Martian leader Kimar (Leonard Hicks) dispatches two of his emissaries, the chronically grumpy Voldar (Vincent Beck) and the moronically cheerful Dropo (Bill McCutcheon), to Earth to bring Santa back for a visit. After arriving on Earth, Voldar and Dropo abduct two children, Betty (Donna Conforti) and Billy (Victor Stiles), and order the kids to show them the way to Santa's workshop, from which all three are taken to Mars against their will. As Santa, Betty, and Billy try to find a way back to Earth, Voldar becomes enraged with the Earth kids, while the children bond more comfortably with the intellectually-challenged Dropo. Shot on a shoestring budget on Long Island, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has developed a rabid cult following over the years, and yes, it's true, Kimar's daughter Girmar really is played by a ten-year-old Pia Zadora. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
This off-the-wall, low-budget sci-fi film was written, produced, directed, edited, photographed, and acted (one role) by Tom Graeff. The unlikely story concerns a spaceship that lands on Earth from somewhere a lot less accommodating. On board are the space aliens' grazing animals, the gorgons. These are huge, crab-like monsters that quickly balloon up to a gigantic size and then proceed to devour any humans in sight. Soon the space aliens are split between the loner who would rather forget the gorgons and just stay here, and his two evil opponents. The single good guy appears to be the only hope for saving the people of the earth from turning into a snack food. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Love, Dawn Anderson, (more)
Translated into English, the title of this Japanese sci-fi endeavor is Unknown Satellite over Tokyo. The extraterrestrials on this occasion are weirdly shaped creatures with one eye in the middle of their bodies. The aliens take the form of human beings so that they can warn mankind of an imminent disaster: the earth is on a collision course with another planet. Once the creatures have conveyed their messages, a scientist races against time to create a bomb that will throw the other planet off its course. Alas, foreign spies, apparently unmindful that the destruction of earth will affect them too, steal the super-weapon, and the chase is on. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Toyomi Karita, Isao Yamagata, (more)
In this sprawling television miniseries, originally aired in May 1983 on NBC, a race of seemingly human-like aliens arrive en masse on Earth. These "Visitors" promise cooperation and friendship -- then launch a clandestine takeover of the planet by accusing the entire scientific and medical community of conspiring to destroy them, then finally "benevolently" seizing power. Inspired by Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here, a 1935 account of a fictional fascist takeover of America, V uses a huge ensemble cast and an elliptical method of storytelling to trace the contact between humans and the Visitors, from the arrival of 50 giant flying saucers in low Earth orbit to the first major victory of the underground resistance that opposes the aliens. Major characters include Mike Donovan (Marc Singer), a television cameraman who leverages his experience filming in various war-torn locales to help expose the Visitors' true nature; news anchor Kristine Walsh (Jenny Sullivan), his sometime girlfriend, who allows her ambitions to cloud her journalistic judgment and becomes a pawn of the alien invasion; Juliet Parrish (Faye Grant), a young biochemist who finds herself thrust into the role of resistance leader; Abraham Bernstein (Leonardo Cimino), the patriarch of a Jewish family divided between the lessons of the Holocaust and the need to survive; Elias Taylor (Michael Wright), a petty thief who joins the resistance after the Visitors kill his doctor brother, Ben (Richard Lawson); and Robin Maxwell (Blair Tefkin), the surly eldest daughter of a scientist (Michael Durrell) who finds his family the target of harassment and intimidation. The Visitors, who assume common human first names as their monikers, include supreme leader John (Richard Herd); sultry science and security officer Diana (Jane Badler); hunky Brian (Peter Nelson); and gentle Willie (Robert Englund). V was written and directed by Kenneth Johnson, who initially envisioned the project as a less fanciful story of fascist aggression; when his pitch to NBC seemed to be faltering, Johnson allegedly added the alien angle extemporaneously, securing himself a green light and NBC a sweeps-week hit. The success of V spawned a second miniseries, V: The Final Battle, and a weekly TV series that lasted 19 episodes from 1984 to 1985. Johnson ended his association with the world of V halfway through production on the second miniseries, but his work on the Alien Nation TV spin-off years later would resurrect many of the themes of V. Actor Singer was already known to sci-fi fans as star of The Beastmaster, while Englund would go on to portray Freddy Krueger in countless Nightmare on Elm Street films. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Starring:
- Faye Grant
- 1985
- Add Fight! Iczer-One [Anime OVA Series] to Queue Add Fight! Iczer-One [Anime OVA Series] to top of Queue
Earth is in big trouble: an all-female race of aliens called the Cthuwulf has set its sights on the planet and plans on conquering it soon. The Cthuwulf made a mistake, however, when they created Iczer 1, a rebellious woman who has no intention of letting these she-beasts trample all over the world without a fight. She'll need a human to "synch" with if she wants to stop them though, and she chooses a timid, awkward girl named Nagisa. Nagisa's clumsiness might hinder the mission, but then again, maybe the mission will give her the confidence she's never had. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi
An astronaut doctor and his fellow space traveler return to planet Earth after an extended mission only to find that the human population has been enslaved by a race of evil aliens in director Josh Becker's kitchy tale of terror from the skies. Ivan Hood (Bruce Campbell) and his partner, Kelly (Renee O' Connor), have been away on a mission in deep space for 40 years. Of course, quite a lot can change over the course of four decades, and when Ivan and Kelly discover that the Earth has been overrun by finger-eating bugs from outer space, they set out to start a revolution designed to take back the planet. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bruce Campbell, Renee O'Connor, (more)
Join an all-star cast of B-movie legends as they defend planet Earth against a super-sized, three-eyed, extraterrestrial lizard in director Ted Newson's modern sci-fi schlock masterpiece. With a cast that includes Kenneth Tobey, Brinke Stevens, Daniel Roebuck, and Forest J. Ackerman, this alien invasion extravaganza pulls out all the stops to bring the Ed Wood spirit into the new millennium. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Categories
Sub-categories
Rating Systems
Blockbuster
BLOCKBUSTER name, design and related marks are trademarks of Blockbuster L.L.C.
2013 Blockbuster L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Portions of Content Provided by Rovi Corporation. 2013 Rovi Corporation.