Alien | What to Watch

(Image credit: Allstar/Cinetext/20 CENTURY FOX)

This special 40th anniversary screening of the ground-breaking sci-fi classic is introduced by director Ridley Scott

This special 40th anniversary screening of the ground-breaking sci-fi classic is introduced by director Ridley Scott.

Sigourney Weaver kicks mean alien butt in her star-making role as Ripley who, along with Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto and Harry Dean Stanton, is among the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo. They are stricken with terror after an unstoppable alien monster is taken on board and bursts spectacularly out of unfortunate John Hurt's chest.

Scott’s 1979 movie (with the memorable tagline ‘in space no one can hear you scream’) was one of the most influential films of its era, with its blend of science fiction and horror blowing like a breath of fresh air.

The iconic monster (created by the Swiss surrealist artist HR Giger) is still terrifying all theses decades on and the meticulously designed sets create a potent feeling of claustrophobia.