RANKING Movie Aliens from Terrifying to Adorable (& If We'd Befriend Them)

#15: Terrifying: Xenomorphs

“Alien” Franchise (1979-)

The most terrifying alien on our list shouldn’t serve as a surprise to anyone familiar with the franchise called…well, “Alien!” The Xenomorphs are apex predators of the stars, existing as hunter-killer aliens that behave with cruel and malicious intent. Cuddling up to one of these things is basically a no-no, with not even an Alien Queen being royal enough to convince us to the contrary. Xenomorphs are too permanently wet to hug, anyway; not to mention how these things are, y’know, generally out to wipe everything off the face of the planet.

#14: Terrifying: The Thing

“The Thing” (1982)

Director John Carpenter’s brilliant 1982 reimagining of “The Thing From Another World” introduced us to a whole new world of terror. “The Thing” delivered an icy, frozen death to the denizens of U.S. Outpost 31, assimilating and consuming these isolated scientists one by one, until only two are left…or is that one? So yeah, this interstellar menace definitely wants to get close to us, but not in the way we’d probably imagine or prefer. Instead, it’s probably best to remain paranoid, lock your doors and don’t trust anybody that’s been remotely near this eternally hungry space killer.

#13: Terrifying: Yautja

“Predator” Franchise (1987-)

We’re going to admit optimism here in the hopes that we’d be accepted by the Yautja if we happened to grow up amongst their societal clan structure. It’s outsiders that really have to remain wary of these predators, because the Yautja treasure the hunt most of all. These wild-looking alien killing machines possess uniquely distinct features that branch out from an immediately recognizable main character build. They’re tall and vaguely humanoid, with faces only a mother could love. Yautja have also become known for their dreadlocked hair and a habitual predilection for carrying an arsenal of weapons. In other words: they’re probably not the easiest aliens in the universe to befriend.

#12: Terrifying: Killer Klowns

“Killer Klowns from Outer Space” (1988)

Can you remember any specific moment in history when clowns went from beloved children’s entertainers to harrowing harbingers of fear? These cinematic triggers of coulrophobia, or fear of clowns, were created by The Chiodo Brothers, who also directed their 1988 movie outing, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” These special effects wizards crafted so many weird and honestly wonderful clown designs for their film, ranging from the short and kind of cute to the giant, kaiju-sized clown that appears during its climax. We guess it all depends how frightening you find clowns on a personal level, but we could honestly go either way on this one.

#11: Terrifying: Martian Tripods

“War of the Worlds” Franchise (1953-)

The imposing nature of these interstellar fighting machines will probably never live up to the mythologized hype behind Orson Welles’ 1938 radio-play rendition of H.G. Wells’ classic story. Still, the Martian Tripods that eventually land upon the earth’s surface are nothing if not impressive and imposing. These three-legged contraptions house invading alien marauders within, and utilize both weaponry and their aggressive design to assist in their takeover. The Martian Tripods just look fearsome as they blot out the night-sky, creating more than enough tension and fear for us to stay as far away from them as possible.

#10: Terrifying: Heptapods

“Arrival” (2016)

The grey-skinned aliens that appear in this Denis Villeneuve film admittedly aren’t the scariest or most unsettling example of this classic creature design. They’re also not depicted in a typically aggressive manner, at least not when compared to most films from the alien invasion genre. Still, their appearance on earth is super-dramatic, while the scientific community’s struggle to communicate with them results in some fairly tense moments. Considering everything, “Arrival’s” generally optimistic point-of-view and non-exploitative execution means that these modern aliens are a bit less terrifying than the average modern grey. Thus, we can see ourselves eventually warming to what could be called a friendship.

#9: Terrifying: Andromedan Royalty

“Bugonia” (2025)

The bait-and-switch ending that occurs near the climax of Yorgos Lanthimos’ remake of 2003’s “Save the Green Planet!” from South Korea feels like something right out of “The Twilight Zone.” This is by no means an insult, but rather testament to Emma Stone’s committed portrayal of pharma-exec Michelle Fuller as a secret Andromedan Queen. Her decision to wipe humanity from the face of the earth is achieved with a whisper, not a scream. Fuller merely pops a bubble, and voila! Instant death for men, women, and children across the planet. Granted, animals and plants seem to survive in Lanthimos’ remake, but if you ask us, the utter nihilism of this ending is enough to chill our blood.

#8: Adorable: Little CJ a.k.a. Oliver

“District 9” (2009)

So, we gotta ask a general question as we enter the “adorable” section of our ranking, namely: who doesn’t love a cute little alien? The creature design of Little CJ, a.k.a. Oliver, isn't admittedly the sort of mischievous fuzzball one typically sees in science fiction movies. Yet, this alien’s diminutive stature, childlike innocence, and impressive intelligence is more than enough to warrant Little CJ a place on our list. “District 9”’s decision to meld sci-fi adventure with narrative themes of racism, classism, and xenophobia not only works to elevate its status with fans as a whole, but it makes characters like Little CJ feel even more important to the story.

#7: Adorable: Rocky

“Project Hail Mary” (2026)

It’s refreshing, every now and then, to be on the receiving end of an optimistic depiction of human-alien relations. The 2026 adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel presents its character of Rocky the Eridian as a collaborator with mankind. Rocky’s partnership with Ryan Gosling’s Ryland Grace is a pivotal one for the movie, since both characters must rely upon each other to survive. Their cooperation is also pivotal for the survival of not only earth, but for multiple solar systems, since Rocky and Grace are fighting against time to stop an alien parasite known as the Astrophage.

#6: Adorable: Elio Aliens (Especially Glordon)

“Elio” (2025)

This Disney-Pixar film may have underperformed at the box office, but that hasn’t stopped some fans and critics from praising the character design of its aliens. Glordon was a particularly endearing character to watch, as this alien’s friendship with young Elio Solis blossoms throughout the film. There are a lot of other interesting-looking specimens present within the interstellar universe of “Elio,” but we’d be hard-pressed to find many that could eclipse the adorable factor of Glordon in our eyes. He’s like the best sort of space-lobster-worm-lizard we never knew we wanted!

#5: Adorable: Frank

“Men in Black” Franchise (1997-)

Ok, so this one might be the most obvious choice on our list. But, how could you blame us? This Remoolian named Frank takes on the disguise of an adorable-looking pug as he hides out on the earth of 1997’s “Men in Black.” A pug-on-the-run might’ve been cute enough, but the sight of Frank wearing a little half-suit reminiscent of Agents J and K is enough to make our little hearts melt. There are a lot of cute aliens out there, as well as even more cute dogs, but Frank the Pug is the goodest boy, and we won’t hear a single word to the contrary.

#4: Adorable: Groot

“Guardians of the Galaxy” Franchise (2014-)

We’re willing to welcome Groot in our hearts anyway we can get him. The first “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie debuted a fully-grown Groot who offers up a heroic sacrifice to save his friends. Yet, it’s also here where we’re first introduced to Baby Groot, who starts the cycle anew. This fresh member of the crew is even cuter and more endearing than adult Groot, although the teenage version of Groot we eventually see admittedly goes through some…we’ll call them “growing pains?” This ultimately doesn’t matter, though, since Groot, in all of his forms, has gone on to become one of the MCU’s most beloved characters.

#3: Adorable: Experiment 626 [a.k.a. Stitch]

“Lilo & Stitch” Franchise (2002-)

A lot of thought has clearly gone into the creature design of Experiment 626, better known as Stitch from the “Lilo & Stitch” franchise. Concept art for this adorable little alien can actually be traced back to the early ‘80s, but it’s the contemporary big-eared, big-eyed and toothsome iteration of the character that’s become best known by fans. Stitch actually tends to keep its alien accoutrements retracted often while on earth, although we do see the extra arms and antennae appear once in a while. Stitch’s chaotic and unpredictable nature may be a handful, but that’s also why we love it so much!

#2: Adorable: E.T.

“E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)

It was the major motion picture event of the summer back in June of 1982, because this was the year “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” first hit theaters. The film managed to make just about everyone fall in love with this short, strange looking little alien, while also spawning tons of imitators, including “Mac & Me” from 1988. E.T. is a startling sight at first, thanks to its big, expressive eyes, leathery skin and little pot belly. It’s the alien’s friendly demeanor that made him so beloved, however, particularly with how Steven Spielberg’s film treats E.T.’s relationship with Elliot. There are images and scenes here that have gone down in cinema history as watershed moments of warm-hearted nostalgia, and we honestly wouldn’t want it any other way.

#1: Adorable: Ewoks

“Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)

What ‘80s kids didn’t want their very own Ewok growing up? These Endorean teddy bears fought back the Galactic Empire with sticks and stones, proving their resilience in the face of danger. Their loyal nature belies their initial trepidation towards trusting outsiders, with the Ewok family structure showcasing the strength of their forged relationships. Much has been made about how George Lucas’ “Star Wars” franchise leaned into the kid and toy-friendly marketing on films such as 1983’s “Return of the Jedi.” Yet, if you were there and at the right age for them? Ewoks were absolutely the cutest things in space.

How old were you when you watched your first sci-fi movie or space opera? Let us know in the comments!