12 Best Alien Invasion Movies

One of the most common plots in science fiction movies is for aliens to invade the Earth. Alien invasions have been done to death. Sometimes it works and other times it just the same old thing. The following 12 movies are movies that did it right (mostly) and are the 12 best alien invasion movies.

12) Plan 9 from Outer Space
Plan 9 from Outer Space is an awful movie. Plan 9 from Outer Space has a ridiculous plot that is laugh out loud bad and that's why it's good. In Plan 9 from Outer Space aliens come to Earth and decide it will be easier to take over Earth if the humans are distracted so they raise the dead.

11) Independence Day
Independence Day could have easily been another bad, cheesy action movie like Armageddon but thanks to a very good cast it was a level above most of the action movies of the time. It sure didn't hurt that Will Smith was the most enjoyable actor in Hollywood at the time.

10) Signs
No director raises more arguments than M Night Shymalan. There will be a lot that disagree with my opinion but I'm going to say thumbs down on Unbreakable and thumbs up on Signs.

9) Men In Black
Will Smith was all about protecting the world from aliens back in the mid-90's. Men In Black was a little bit more comedic than Independence Day so it was right in Smith's wheelhouse.

8) The Thing
The Thing is an older alien invasion movie from the early 80's but it is a sci-fi classic and any younger movie fans should definitely look for it at their favorite movie rental service

7) Dark City
Dark City was a unique movie at a time when science fiction movies were pretty stale. Dark City also features Jennifer Connelly, the most spectacular actress to ever walk the face of the earth. So it's a good thing those aliens didn't get her.

6) District 9
District 9 was the sleeper hit of 2009 and was even better than the overhyped and overrated Avatar movie.

5) The War of the Worlds
Long before the Tom Cruise remake there was a much better War of the Worlds movie released in 1953 starring Gene Barry and Ann Robinson. Some movie critics would probably even give The War of the Worlds some first place votes for best alien invasion movie.

4) Predator
Predator was a fun romp through the forest. The Predator was certainly one of the best looking aliens to ever appear on screen and was loaded with cool abilities and weapons.

3) Planet of the Apes
Who says that the human has to be the one getting invaded? Technically if humans crash land on a planet full of apes than the humans are aliens and they are invading somebody else's land.

2) Invasion of the Body Snatchers
There have been two versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers and this spot in the rankings is a joint effort. Both the 1956 version starring Kevin McCarthy and the 1978 version starring Donald Sutherland are worth seeing.

1) The Day the Earth Stood Still
Again this is a sci-fi classic that was recently remade but forget about the Keanu Reeves remake and watch the 1951 version. The Day the Earth Stood Still is not only an alien invasion film but it is also a socially minded movie about peace and understanding.