There’s a lot to process since Peele’s NOPE came out the theaters which tells the tale of a UFO terrorizing two-ranch owning siblings, played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer.
We’ve got you covered! – if in case you’re looking for the next UFO and alien-like movies to satisfy your curiosity because NOPE is just the tip of the UFO iceberg.
1. ARRIVAL
Arrival should top the list. Arrival is near perfect with an award-worthy performance from Amy Adams, alongside breathtaking visuals and a score by the late great Jóhan Jóhansson. The film is one of the more emotional UFO-centric films, with a gut-punch of an ending that will be sure to linger with viewers long after their first viewing.
2. THE THING
The Thing features one of the more horrifying depictions of alien life, and more so for the fac that it can become any person it chooses. Not knowing who to trust is the core conceit of this all-time alien classic. Although the saucer is the size of a small country and remains more or less relegated to a single matte painting, John Carpenter’s The Thing is an alien horror masterpiece.
3. FIRE IN THE SKY
Based on a true story, Fire in the Sky features one of the most insidious alien encounters. The film shows audiences just what it would be like to be abducted by an alien, and subsequently have various experiments performed upon their person.
4. SIGNS
Known as one of M Shyamalan’s greats, Signs shows a stylistic and tonal similarities in which also includes portrayal of intimate dramas about a broken family dealing with elements they’re far used to. So much of the magic of Signs is never quite knowing what is out there and what the veritable “signs” really mean until the end.
5. INDEPENDENCE DAY
If fans enjoyed Nope but think they would like to see a similar film that turns into a full-blown action film. It’s no other than Independence Day—which gave us one of the most rousing pre-battle speeches ever recorded. The mystery of the UFO is solved relatively quickly in this one, but few audience members didn’t feel the awesome power of the mile-long alien ships looming large over our cities
6. THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
This film is a good glimpse if you’re looking for some UFO goodness. This actually looks like a great commentary that is centered in pure greatness. With a growing Cold War and the idea of assured mutual destruction by nuclear war, the film posits that a higher form in the shape of a UFO or flying saucer is not a threat but an olive branch to humanity to warn of looming self-made danger.
7. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
1983’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind provides some hope about possible extraterrestrial life. Spielberg’s film is maybe the most enduring depiction of connection with another world with nothing but curiosity and goodwill at its core. Truly in the tag, “we are not alone” indeed.
8. WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005)
War of the Worlds is a modern update of the original that features some truly terrifying sequences of alien tripods wreaking havoc on the ill-prepared people of Earth. The film also features some top-notch Tom Cruise running, and a creepy turn by Tim Robbins. In one of the tensest sequences of the film, Spielberg uses only the camera and purple light to depict the dread and suspense of an impending invasion along with seeing the worst qualities of people coming to the fore.
9. WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953)
Going straight to the source of the inspiration of Vast is the Godfather of UFO movies themselves is 1953’s classic, The War of the Worlds. The film was based on the 1938 H.G. Wells novel and was first brought to the masses by Citizen Kane himself, Orson Welles. When he adapted it into a radio drama with the unique twist of not mentioning that it was a work of fiction.
10. THE VAST OF NIGHT
The Vast of Night, taps into this nostalgic feeling of the earliest sci-fi origins. The Vast of Night takes just the opposite approach, leaning into the spoken word and stories past word of mouth of pass of the story, building the mystery of what could be above us. So, if you’re looking for a classic spin-off with great twists, you’re in the right place.
