Plot: Taking place after alien crafts land around the world, an expert linguist is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat.

KBZ’s Take: Denis Villeneuve has become this generation’s James Cameron with a string of sci-fi hits starting with Arrival and continuing with Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).

Villeneuve also countered the growing trend of Alien Invasion films from the decade – Battle: Los Angeles (2011), Battleship (2012), Pacific Rim (2013) and so on – with a thought provoking and intelligent look at how an alien species might interact with humanity to help save it.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: Thirty years ago, aliens arrive on Earth. Not to conquer or give aid, but to find refuge from their dying planet. Separated from humans in a South African area called District 9, the aliens are managed by Multi-National United, which is unconcerned with the aliens welfare but will do anything to master their advanced technology. When a company field agent contracts a mysterious virus that begins to alter his DNA, there is only one place he can hide: District 9.

KBZ’s Take: Writer and Director Neil Blomkamp has explored various sci-fi themes from societal struggle in Dystopian vs. Utopian worlds in Elysium (2013) to the evolution of AI in Chappie (2015). And despite his foray into short films focused on alien invasions in Rakka (2017), genetic experimentation gone wrong in Zygote (2017) and the supernatural in Firebase (2017), his magnum opus is still District 9.

This is one of our favorite all-time sci-fi films that turns a lens on human society and how we treat others different from us – in this case, extraterrestrial immigrants.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: After a police chase with an otherworldly being, a New York City cop is recruited as an agent in a top-secret organization established to monitor and police alien activity on Earth: the Men in Black. Agent Kay and new recruit Agent Jay find themselves in the middle of a deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.

KBZ’s Take: The Men in Black series of films is one of the only filmed comic book adaptations we’re including on this list. Though all the films deal with the secret agency interacting with and hunting aliens on earth, the first film is still the cream of the crop with the introduction to Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and Agent J (Will Smith). Plus, any film that features Frank the Pug is a shoo-in for this list.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: An alien and a robot land on Earth after World War II and tell mankind to be peaceful or face destruction.

KBZ’s Take: Though the original The Day the Earth Stood Still is coming up on its 75-year anniversary, the themes of the film are still as relevant today as they were during a world caught up in the Cold War. And while the 2008 remake is more visually appealing compared to the dated special effects of the 1950s version, it doesn’t quite capture the suspense of the original and use of the famous phrase, “Klaatu barada nikto”.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigor.

KBZ’s Take: Ron Howard established himself as one of Hollywood’s premier directors with a string of box office hits in the 80s from Night Shift (1982) and Splash (1984) to Willow (1988) and Parenthood (1989). Sandwiched between these classic films of the decade is the vastly underrated Cocoon.

Though it’s been forgotten over time and overshadowed by other subgenre films of the decade (i.e. E.T. (1982) & The Abyss (1989)), it’s still one of the best films of the subgenre about benevolent aliens and a hope for humanity’s potential when assisting our galactic neighbors.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver soon finds himself on a spectacular odyssey 25,000 feet below the ocean’s surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it.

KBZ’s Take: The Abyss is often overshadowed by Director James Cameron’s other sci-fi classics including The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986) and Avatar (2009). With some innovative special effects of the time (that would be enhanced in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)), Cameron introduced the world to both the alien aquatic world of Earth and the benevolent aliens that might be living it its depths.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster) races to interpret a possible message originating from the Vega star system. Once first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence is proven, Arroway contends with restrictive National Security Advisor Kitz (James Woods) and religious fanatics bent on containing the implications of such an event. An incredible message is found hidden in the signal, but will Arroway be the one to answer its call?

KBZ’s Take: Like Arrival (2016), Contact is one of the most thought-provoking films of the subgenre. Adapated from the Carl Sagan novel, it’s a film the explores the dichotomy between science and spirituality and a realistic progression of how humanity and governments might react to first contact with an advanced alien species.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: After an encounter with UFOs, a line worker feels undeniably drawn to an isolated area in the wilderness where something spectacular is about to happen.

KBZ’s Take: Though Jaws (1975) was Steven Spielberg’s breakout film in the 1970s, we would argue that his second effort, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, would have an even bigger impact in film. Jaws certainly spawned a cottage industry of knock-off clones from Tentacles (1977) to Orca (1977) but Close Encounters arguably changed the entire dynamic on how we perceived alien visitors from another galaxy.

Up until Close Encounters’ release in 1977, most sci-fi films involving aliens visiting Earth involved their intent for destruction in The War of the Worlds (1953) or assimilation in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). Close Encounters would change the dynamic so much that an entire subgenre would take hold in the 80s that featured kind-hearted aliens with good intentions for humankind…none more impactful than our next film….

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie, and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.

KBZ’s Take: The only shock to E.T. appearing on this list might be why it’s not #1. It’s the highest grossing film of the 1980s and the de facto film parents will use to introduce their children to ‘good aliens’. And though the film’s box office records would be eclipsed by Steven Spielberg’s own Jurassic Park (1993), E.T. gave rise to an entire subgenre that Close Encounters started.

Explorers (1985), Batteries Not Included (1987) and even the dreadful Mac and Me (1988) were all inspired by E.T. but none so more than the next film on our list…

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon

Plot: When an alien takes the form of a young widow’s husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.

KBZ’s Take: Starman is Director John Carpenter’s most underrated and forgotten film of the 80s. While Carpenter was himself becoming the premier horror director of the decade with The Fog (1980), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Prince of Darkness (1987) and They Live (1988), it’s Carpenter’s one film that wasn’t horror or sci-fi-based that best captured humanity’s dual reactions to a friendly, visiting alien.

On the negative side is the government’s response to hunt down the benevolent alien with their own sinister intentions. On the positive side is Jenny’s (Karen Allen) eventual understanding of the Starman, his actual intentions and her ability to show a kinder, more human side to the visiting alien.

It’s obvious the film was inspired by E.T. as both the plot and heroes and villains are similar to Spielberg’s classic. However, where it differs is with Jeff Bridges’ Oscar nominated performance as the Starman and how an alien might adapt to its new human form.

It’s a film that inspires with a message that humanity can be better even in situations of fear, cynicism and doubt. And while we don’t fault anyone for expecting E.T. in this slot, if the knives are out for us, all we have to say is, “Klaatu barada nikto”.

Where to Stream / Buy: Amazon