Alien (1979)
A commercial spaceship crew answers a distress signal, unleashing a chilling, gritty, and atmospheric nightmare.
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.
How intense is Alien?
Alien is terrifying, with graphic gore and strong violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a late-night trip. Rated R.
What Alien feels like
- Tone
- suspensefulgrittychillingatmospheric
- Pace
- Measured
- Best for
- Full attentionLate night
Where to stream Alien
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 12, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is Alien for you?
Is Alien scary?
Yes. Alien is scare level 3 of 3, one of the scariest titles in the CouchRot catalog.
Is Alien gory or violent?
Graphic gore (2 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3). If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
Is Alien sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is Alien OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 3, gore 2, violence 2, each out of 3.
How long is Alien?
Alien runs 1h 57m.
Where can I stream Alien?
Alien is streaming on Netflix.
Does Alien have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Bittersweet. It earns its ending, but not everyone gets what they want.
Cast and crew
More like Alien
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The Fly (1986)Properly scary · extreme gore · strong violence · emotionally devastatingA brilliant scientist's breakthrough in teleportation fuses man and insect, transforming his body with grotesque, tragic results.
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Dawn of the Dead (1978)Properly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavySurvivors navigate a zombie apocalypse in a shopping mall, blending gritty horror with darkly comic social commentary.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)Properly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavyStrangers barricade themselves in a farmhouse, facing relentless flesh-eating ghouls and bleak, chilling suspense.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)Properly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastatingA brilliant, imprisoned psychopath offers chilling insights into a serial killer's mind, if a young agent dares to listen.
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