All the talk in Hollywood right now is the release of Steven Spielberg’s new alien movie, Disclosure Day. Although Spielberg has certainly never lost his touch, the film feels like a return to his roots, as this is the man who directed E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, War of the Worlds, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, among other alien movies. When Spielberg’s name is attached to an alien film, you know it’ll go down as one of the most iconic in the genre.
Cinema surrounding aliens has also given us Super 8, Arrival, Project Hail Mary, the entire Alien franchise, The Thing, and so many others. However, while those are all known to every film lover out there, there’s something special about discovering the lesser-known movies in the genre. These are the projects that were made on small budgets and didn’t receive the promotion or love they deserved, as well as films that flopped commercially and were forgotten about.
As is often the case though, many of these underrated or forgotten alien movies actually rank among the best ever released within the genre. Sometimes the aliens are friendly, sometimes they’re the villains, and in some cases, they’re actually the protagonists of the story. Regardless, each alien movie here is worth more appreciation than they tend to get.
Attack The Block (2011)
Attack the Block is one of the more small-scale alien flicks, since it was made on a budget of only around $13 million. You typically need much more than that to tell a story involving aliens, especially when CGI is often used to create the visuals for the aliens. However, Attack the Block found a good way around that, showcasing impressive-looking creatures despite the small budget.
The premise of Attack the Block centers on members of a teen street gang who end up having to defend themselves from the aliens that are invading their South London neighborhood. The film does well to only give us bits and pieces of the aliens to make the budget work, while the cast, which features John Boyega and Jodie Whittaker, is fantastic. Attack the Block is a true hidden gem of the alien movie genre.
No One Will Save You (2023)
There’s a lot about No One Will Save You that doesn’t seem obvious at first glance. The film starts with a bang as it focuses on Brynn, a young woman who has her home invaded one night by aliens. She overcomes the telekinesis that the alien uses and fights it off but the next morning, she receives no help from the town around her. That’s because Brynn has been shunned by them for something that happened long before.
No One Will Save You also features next to no dialogue, with only five words spoken during the entire runtime. That’s a unique setup that helps separate this from other alien movies. Critics appreciated the movie and Kaitlyn Dever does tremendous work in the lead role, despite the lack of dialogue.
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
While most movies on this list are hidden gems, Cowboys & Aliens was actually something of a big deal when it was released. The film had a budget of over $160 million and was supposed to be a blockbuster hit for the studio, especially since Jon Favreau directed it and the likes of Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig, and Olivia Wilde led the cast.
Unfortunately, Cowboys & Aliens ended up flopping at the worldwide box office, barely grossing back its budget. Based on a graphic novel, the story is set in a retro-futuristic version of the 1870s and sees an outlaw work with a cattleman and a mysterious woman to fight against an alien invasion. It’s a shame the film flopped because it’s actually a ton of fun.
Slither (2006)
Long before he was known for directing Guardians of the Galaxy and heading up the DC Universe, James Gunn was making a mark in smaller movies. One of them was Slither, which is actually his feature directorial debut and features some trademarks that he has continued to showcase to this day.
Slither blends sci-fi with horror and comedy, as it tells the story of the residents of a small town that has become overrun by an alien parasite. Reviews for this film were positive, though it didn’t become a success until years after its release, when it found a cult audience. It’s worth checking out, especially for its solid visuals, Gunn’s staples, and strong cast.
Elio (2025)
It might seem odd to include a Pixar movie on a list of lesser-known projects but Elio is something of an outlier for the studio. It received little to no marketing upon arrival, meaning people overlooked it or didn’t even know it had come out. That led it to become a huge box office failure for the studio, though it’s one of their better movies in recent years.
The setup of Elio focuses on the titular character, a kid who has a hard time on Earth after his parents die. He lives with his aunt but dreams of something bigger, so he wishes to be abducted by aliens to start a new life. When aliens actually visit him, he gets mistaken for their leader, forcing him into an intergalactic crisis. With a lot of heart, beautiful visuals, and a fun depiction of aliens, Elio is an excellent film.
Under The Skin (2013)
Under the Skin is not only an underrated alien movie but it also features one of Scarlett Johansson’s best performances. Based on a novel, the film follows Johansson’s “The Female,” an extraterrestrial in Scotland who is disguised as a woman. She uses the disguise to lure men in, which she then preys on.
It’s a slow-burning alien movie, yet it’s also one that does a lot with a little. There aren’t tons of extravagant visuals or a giant fight scene. Instead, the film relies on the quiet direction of Jonathan Glazer, the mesmerizing performance of Johansson, and its score to keep the viewer reeled in. It’s not a movie for everyone, but it’s a haunting experience to be had.
The Vast Of Night (2019)
What The Vast of Night manages to pull off is one of the most impressive feats of modern filmmaking. Made on a budget of under $1 million, the movie crafts an engaging alien story while also featuring some stunning moves by the director, Andrew Patterson. The most memorable of these is a tracking shot that goes across the entire town, through a basketball game, and more. It’s breathtaking and is the kind of thing that has people excited for more from Patterson.
The Vast of Night is set in New Mexico in the ’50s and centers on a switchboard operator and a radio DJ who stumble upon a mysterious radio frequency that they learn is extraterrestrial in origin. As they dive deeper into what this all means, some of the town’s secrets are revealed. The Vast of Night is one of the best Prime Video originals ever crafted and a true hidden gem among modern sci-fi projects.