Aliens have always fascinated and frightened us in equal measure, especially when they’re portrayed in ways that defy our imagination. From grotesque monsters to highly intelligent beings with sinister motives, these extraterrestrials have left audiences sleeping with the lights on. In this list, we explore the 12 most terrifying aliens in film history.
These aliens are sure to give you nightmares. Get ready to explore the spine-tingling realm of the most terrifying aliens ever portrayed in film.
Independence Day
The aliens had horrible exoskeletons with triangular hoods and human-strangling tentacles growing out of their backs. Eewwyuck! And the fact that they flew in massive sauces didn’t help things either. Worst of all is the fact that they are immune to even the nuclear bomb.
Halo
When the Spartan chief lands among the galaxy rings in the midst of the Covenant war, he finds himself surrounded by ‘The Flood’—grotesque creatures that are mind-controlling his fellow marines and also feeding off of them. Normal zombies are bad enough, but now we have space zombies to contend with.
Doctor Who
The Daleks. These are genetically engineered mutants who, despite their small size, have been formidable enemies against Doctor Who for the last fifty years. The reason? These are capable of emitting laser domes which can kill anything with a single hit.
Alien
The creatures from this movie were known as the xenomorphs. The face huggers and chest bursters are the stuff of nightmares. If the names are not enough to scar you mentally, then process this: They emit an acidic secretion that melts the strongest of metals. They have tails garnished with a dagger-like barb. And they can rust fast, real fast.
Predator
The predators are basically intergalactic hunters, who are designed to find and kill anything they can find. With retractable wrist blades and shoulder cannons, they sure gave a tough time to ol’ Schwarnegger. They are also intelligent. Kill me already!
Starcraft
The Zerg from Starcraft are basically alien bugs that swarm entire populations and adapt their advanced features to themselves. They are cunning, have strength in numbers, and can burrow underground and lie in wait for their victims.
Species
The Sil is an alien which seduces men and kills them while having sex. It does so with the aim of producing alien-human hybrids which will finish off the Earth’s population. This is the Black Widow of Aliens, guys. Beware!
Killer Klowns From Outer Space
As if Pennywise from the ‘It’ series wasn’t enough, this 1988 movie gave us scary, cool clowns who landed thud on earth from outer space. Creepy-looking, nightmarish clowns who are also aliens? Wow! tears of joy
A Quiet Place
The scary, sound-hunting demons in A Quiet Place definitely had us on our toes. The way they swooped down on the family’s youngest son out of nowhere in broad daylight, makes them even more dastardly. Shush, everyone! Don’t make a sound.
The Arrival
The Heptapods from this movie may not have any malevolent motives but the way they seek to control the future of humanity makes them seem quite sinister in a way. They also look scary with their seven limbs (hence the name heptapod) and starfish-like ‘hands’.
Nope
How do we even describe this thing? It’s beautiful, profound, lovely, and terrifying—all at the same time. Nicknamed Jean Jacket, this alien can shapeshift into virtually anything—a spacecraft, a balloon, a vessel, or just itself. Its main aim? Eating up anything it sees. Nope, nope, and nope.
War of the Worlds
The tripod aliens are violent and blast everything into ash. And they are also capable of causing earthquakes when they rise from underground. Nobody has forgotten the ferry scene from the movie.
