Strap in, as we’re about to blast off into a galaxy full of cool, creepy, and downright weird aliens. From shape-shifting nightmares to adorable space musicians, these aliens are capable of warming your heart, or stopping it cold.
The Thing from “The Thing"
Remember the movie “Happy Feet?” It’s the one with the penguins that run around dancing and singing in Antarctica. John Carpenter's 1982 classic "The Thing" brings us an alien that makes those talented little birds look like frauds.
The Thing is the ultimate shapeshifter, capable of turning the icy wasteland into your personal nightmare. Let’s run through the checklist of what makes this alien so spooky:
- Spider-like legs
- Head detaching from body
- Stomach capable of turning into a MOUTH
That pretty much sums it up. While critics originally called the movie “boring” and a “moron movie,” they must have missed the scene where a man's head sprout legs and scuttles away.
While "The Thing" owes its existence to the 1939 novella “Who Goes There”, it's the special effects wizard Rob Bottin who really brought The Thing to life. Bottin went all out, creating effects so gruesome and realistic that you'll be side-eyeing your dog for weeks.
So next time you're feeling chilly, just remember: it could be worse. You could be stuck in an Antarctic research station with a shape-shifting alien that wants to eat you and convince your friends that all is well. [1]
The alien from the "X-files" episode Jose Chung’s From Outer Space (Season 3, Episode 20). Alternatively, the alien from the cover of the book “Communion.”
Hold onto your tinfoil hats! We're diving into a two-for-one special with these grays from outer space.
First up, meet the chain-smoking extraterrestrial from “The X-Files” episode "Jose Chung's From Outer Space." This little guy trades the typical eerie alien grin for a cigarette, proving that even beings from other planets can't resist Earth's bad habits.
This nicotine-loving E.T. is actually a parody of the cover of "Communion" by Whitley Strieber. The book version? Nightmare fuel. The X-Files version? Hilarious.
Not only is the alien itself funny, but the entire episode of “The X-Files” is hilarious and hands down one of the best of the series. This episode has a little bit of everything, including Alex Trebek and Jesse Ventura as Men in Black. Because when you're dealing with aliens, why not throw in a game show host and a pro wrestler turned governor?
So next time you see a strange light in the sky, ask yourself: Is it an alien invasion, or just some extraterrestrial trying to bum a smoke? [2]
Mitth'raw'nuruodo from Star Wars
Move over, Jake Sulley and Dr. Manhattan! There's a new heir to the blue-skinned space empire.
Meet Mitth'raw'nuruodo, aka Thrawn. While he might look like a human cosplaying as a Smurf – he's a bona fide alien strategist who could outthink Sherlock Holmes.
While his dark red eyes and blue skin are certainly a striking feature, one thing that makes Thrawn so unique is his ability to remain calm, cool, and collected under pressure. He’s also extremely attentive to details, using his enemies’ art and culture to predict their battle tactics.
While Thrawn has been a fan favorite since he first hit the Star Wars universe in 1991, it took him a full 32 years to go from page to screen. During this time, he spread across a universe of different mediums, including comics, video games, and cartoons.
So next time you're at an art gallery, remember: that intense blue guy staring at the paintings might just be planning galactic domination. Or he could just really like Picasso. With Thrawn, you never know! [3]
The Chadra-Fan from the Cantina in “A New Hope”
Before there was Baby Yoda, there was the Chadra-Fan from the cantina in “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Hiding in plain sight since 1977, this little guy is living his best life, just trying to grab a drink in a bar full of scum and villainy.
Let’s review why this particular Chadra-Fan is so iconic:
- Steals the spotlight while only being in the film for less than two seconds
- Looks like a tiny bat-person
- Manages to be cute in a place where someone can lose an arm for bumping into the wrong alien
- Only exists in the movie to order a drink
While the Cantina scene is a who's who of weird aliens, this fuzzy friend stands out by being more "aww" than "argh!"
In the expanded Star Wars universe, there are more Chadra-Fans with actual storylines, including some with more unsavory jobs, like torturer. But let's be honest, none are as iconic as our bar-hopping buddy from the original trilogy!
So next time you're watching "A New Hope" for the 100th time, keep an eye out for this pint-sized patron.
Star Wars. Episode IV. A New Hope
Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes from “A New Hope”
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes are, to my knowledge, the only boy band to be featured in Star Wars.
Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes’ most famous song, AKA the one that plays in the background while the above Chadra-Fan drinks, has been getting stuck in people’s head since 1977. The Cantina Theme is so iconic, it’s probably playing in your head right now. These big-brained, no-nosed musicians are serving looks and tunes that are out of this world (literally).
The leader of this all Bith band, Figrin D’an, is an expert on the Kloo horn. He can be seen in this photo between Tedn Dahai and Ickabel G'ont. If you can’t get enough of Figrin D’an and the gang, don’t worry, because there are entire entries in the Star Wars Extended Universe that are dedicated to just him and the band.
Make sure to keep an ear out for some Kloo horn the next time you are in a seedy space bar. It might just be Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes. [4] [5]
Star Wars. Episode IV. A New Hope
The Heptapods from “Arrival”
Meet the Heptapods from "Arrival," the aliens that'll make you question everything. What makes them so cool? Well for starters:
- They're 30 feet tall (Basketball teams, take note!)
- Look like squids had a baby with the Smoke Monster from "Lost"
- Communicate in ink blot circles that would make Rorschach jealous
Thanks to some conveniently placed fog, we never get a full look at these otherworldly visitors. It's like they knew the old horror movie rule: the monster's scarier when you can't see it clearly! What little you can see of them throughout the movie makes them look both familiar (squid-like), but also alien (titanic in size).
Their name "Heptapod" comes from the Greek "hepta" meaning seven. Can you guess how many limbs they have? The circular language they make with these limbs is a key plot point in "Arrival." It's like cursive, but extraterrestrial. [6] [7]
The Worm Aliens from “Men in Black”
Ever wondered what would happen if you crossed a worm with a cricket, gave it a coffee and nicotine addiction, and hired it to save the galaxy? Wonder no more!
Meet the Worm Aliens from "Men in Black," the unsung heroes of intergalactic bureaucracy who prove that size doesn't matter when it comes to style, substance, or caffeine consumption. Interestingly, while they are employed by the Men in Black, they opt not to wear any clothes.
These strange Muppet/worm/cricket hybrids spend their days at the office chugging coffee, their afternoons smoking and partying in their penthouse, and their evenings saving the world. While their role in the first “Men in Black” movie is limited, these wormy wonders aren't just movie stars - they've got their own episodes in the "Men in Black: The Series" animated show. Who knew they had such star power?
Next time it rains and you see something wriggling around on the ground, don't be alarmed. It might just be an intergalactic worm trying to blend in... or desperately seeking its next caffeine fix! [8] [9]
The Unggoy from the “Halo” series
Known to Halo fans as "Grunts," these pint-sized powerhouses are the labor force behind the Covenant's galactic domination attempts. Talk about a tough gig!
Officially, their species are called the Unggoy. They’re the ultimate underdogs of the Halo universe who turn workplace napping into an extreme sport! Acting as comic relief throughout the Halo series of books and video games, the Unggoy are known for three things:
- Rocking a fashion-forward gas mask and methane backpack combo
- Being masters of the tactical retreat (aka running away screaming)
- Falling asleep on the job
Their home world, Balaho, makes their methane-filled backpacks necessary. It's like they're carrying their own personal atmosphere around. Talk about high-maintenance!
Although they are better known for their bumbling antics in the video game series, the Halo books reveal the Unggoy can be brilliant tacticians and courageous leaders. [10]
The little aliens from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
Spoiler alert! But let's be real, if you haven't seen this classic in the last 50 years, that's on you.
Picture this: It's 1977, you're watching "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," and Spielberg's about to pull the ultimate alien bait-and-switch. Three ingredients make up the great alien fake-out:
- The first alien: a spindly, seven-foot-tall horror
- Everyone’s initial reactions: pure terror, amplified by dramatic music
- Plot twist: The spindly alien gets the hint and disappears and is replaced by about two dozen cute aliens
These aliens are masters of the dramatic entrance, waiting until the very last minute of the film to show what they look like. Similar to the Heptapods from “Arrival,” they also understand the benefits of being shrouded in mystery, making sure that the lighting from their ship and the fog from it obscure their appearance.
Unlike some other aliens on this list, these little guys prove that aliens can be capable of traveling thousands of lightyears, and not looking absolutely terrifying. These aliens also show that some aliens just want to travel to meet new species without having some ulterior motive, such as world domination or ecological destruction. Sure, they might have abducted some people and held on to them for decades, but they did at least return them.
Just a warning, though, encountering these aliens might leave you with the sudden urge to sculpt statues out of mashed potatoes or take up learning how to play a synthesizer. [11] [12]
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
The Harvesters from “Independence Day”
If you watched FX in the 2000s, you've probably seen this movie more times than you've had hot meals. “Independence Day” was a staple movie for cable television channels to air, and for good reason! “Independence Day” gives us our last alien species on this list, the Harvesters. The Harvesters are the extraterrestrial equivalent of that neighbor who borrows your lawnmower and never returns it. Except instead of your lawnmower, they want the entire planet, and they aren’t to keen on asking.
Considering that their form of “Hello” is destroying a majority of the Earth’s major landmarks, these aliens are no pushovers. Couple that with the fact that they can invade the minds of their foes, they demonstrate that they are the ultimate 4th of July party-poopers. [13]
Information for this blog post was found at the resources below:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(1982_film)
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Chung%27s_From_Outer_Space
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Admiral_Thrawn
[4] https://www.starwars.com/databank/figrin-d-an-and-the-modal-nodes
[5] https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Figrin_D%27an_and_the_Modal_Nodes
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(film)#Plot
[7] https://aliens.fandom.com/wiki/Heptapod
[8] https://meninblack.fandom.com/wiki/Worm
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men_in_Black_(1997_film)
[10] https://www.halopedia.org/Unggoy
[11] https://aliens.fandom.com/wiki/Alien_(Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind)
[12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(1996_film)
