Alien
“In space no one can hear you scream.”
Synopsis
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Part of the Alien Collection
Stream the entire interconnected saga and experience every installment in chronological storyline order.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Modern TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-10-16
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Shanghai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
May 25, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 1, 1999
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$11M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$104.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
9.54x
+$93.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Screenplay & Story
- Dan O'Bannon
- Original Score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Original Title
- Alien
- Country of Origin
- United States of America, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, Spanish
- Runtime
- 1h 57m
- Production Budget
- $11M
- Worldwide Gross
- $104.9M
- Production Studios
- Brandywine Productions, Twentieth Century-Fox Productions, Ronald Shusett Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ridley Scott
Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett
Jerry Goldsmith
Derek Vanlint
Terry Rawlings, Peter Weatherley
Ronald Shusett, Walter Hill, Gordon Carroll, David Giler
Department Leadership Roster
Michael Seymour
Production Design
Terry Rawlings
Editor
Peter Weatherley
Editor
Jerry Goldsmith
Original Music Composer
John Mollo
Costume Design
Walter Hill
Producer
Gordon Carroll
Producer
Derek Vanlint
Director of Photography
Ridley Scott
Director
David Giler
Producer
Roy Scammell
Stunt Coordinator
Dan O'Bannon
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted to Adults (18+).
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Alien.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Alien.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Alien
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Alien about?
During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.
Who directed Alien?
Alien was directed by Ridley Scott.
Who stars in Alien?
The principal cast of Alien includes Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt.
When was Alien released and how long is it?
Alien was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 57m.
What was the box office and production budget of Alien?
Alien had a reported production budget of $11M and grossed $104.9M at the worldwide box office (9.54 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Alien?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Alien was composed by Jerry Goldsmith.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Alien?
Alien holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 18A; DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); FR: 12 (Interdit aux moins de 12 ans — 12+ only.); GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); IN: A (Restricted to Adults (18+).); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).