Face-Off: Alien (1979) vs Aliens (1986)

FACE OFF: The JoBlo original series that puts two worthy foes in the ring for an epic clash! Whether it’s a pair of movies, actors, iconic characters, franchises, originals vs. remakes, directors, or whatever else we can think of, it’s time for a showdown!

In this episode, it’s a battle of the lethal xenomorphs as Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi horror classic Alien goes against James Cameron’s thrilling 1986 sequel Aliens. Both movies are as incredible as they are influential, but which is the ultimate Alien experience? Only one way to find out: FACE OFF!!

Of course, the debate over which movie, Alien (1979) or Aliens (1986), is better has been going on for thirty-five years. But, as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character puts it during a similar debate in Scream 2, it’s a question of taste. Do you like the slow-burn, atmospheric horror of Scott’s creature feature classic Alien? Or do you prefer the balls to the wall, rollercoaster action of James Cameron’s action epic, Aliens? Critically, the answer isn’t cut and dried. Both films were raved about upon their initial release. In fact, Sigourney Weaver ever copped a much-deserved best actress Academy Award nomination for her turn in Aliens, a rare feat for a genre film.

While action-packed, Aliens has depth of character. But then again, Alien is scarier, right? In this episode, we put all elements against each other, from the supporting cast (Yaphet Kotto and Tom Skerritt in the original, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton in the sequel) to the scare factor, to the action, weapons and more. Indeed, this has been a fanboy debate for the ages! Of course, you just might disagree with our ultimate conclusion, so make sure to let us know in the comments below which of the two films you prefer. Just as long as your answer isn’t Alien 3!