Top 10 Must See UFO Docs
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best documentaries about the supposed existence of extraterrestrials. Do you believe in life on other planets? If not, do you think any of these documentaries could convince you? Sound off in the comments!
#10: “Westall 66: A Suburban UFO Mystery” (2010)
When it comes to unexplained UFO sightings, this is one that had a lot of witnesses. In this case, the witnesses were a group of over 200 suburban high schoolers and their teacher - who saw a UFO fly over their school in broad daylight. A few of the former students feature in this documentary about the experience, recounting their memories of the flying saucer purportedly descending near their school in 1966. To further convince viewers of the odd encounter, the director attempts to retrieve news footage of the day… only to find that it has been mysteriously removed from the station’s archive. Spooky!
#9: “Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything” (2020)
How the Tarantino Movies are Connected
On its surface, this docuseries doesn’t appear to have anything to do with UFOs. It covers a variety of topics, from poop to nukes, with scientists discussing how each subject connects us with our surrounding universe. But if we’re connected to the universe, wouldn’t we also be connected to alien life? Shortly after the series’ release, one viewer found what they believed to be a flying saucer in the episode covering clouds. It’s difficult to make out the object as it races past a plane, but its similarity to UFO depictions in sci-fi films is uncanny. While some have complained about the series’ overly enthusiastic host, we still think it’s a worthwhile watch for those looking to feel closer to the world, or worlds, around them.
#8: “UFOs and Nukes - The Secret Link Revealed” (2016)
Focusing on a series of declassified documents about unidentified flying objects seen at nuclear testing sites, “UFOs and Nukes” isn’t the flashiest documentary to delve into the potential existence of aliens, but it’s thought-provoking nonetheless. The film places a lot of importance on the credibility of its witnesses, all of whom held important roles at nuclear weapons facilities within the U.S. The former employees primarily describe seeing typically shaped “saucer” UFOs, with solid red or orange coloring, and claim that they tampered with their crucial, high-risk work. Recreations of each witness’s account help give viewers a better idea of what may have been seen, while documents detailing similar experiences in the Soviet Union serve to strengthen the link between UFOs and nuclear power.
#7: “Curse of the Man Who Sees UFOs” (2016)
The Shocking True Story of the Von Erich Curse
Christo Roppolo hasn’t had an easy life. His father and fiancée both died, his brother stole his money, and his mother disowned him when he tried to convince her to mitigate the situation with his sibling. After facing so many hardships, it’s not hard to see why he would look to the stars for solace. And yet, the documentarian at the helm of “Curse of the Man Who Sees UFOs” never suggests Roppolo’s beliefs come from anything other than a genuine place. Though he admits to often playing the “Scully to Roppolo’s Mulder,” he admits that the things he saw with him are genuinely strange and unexplainable. It’s a doc that will leave you wondering if the truth really is out there in Monterey, California.
#6: “Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction” (1995)
Top 10 Alien Movies That Were Based on True Events
In 1947, something happened in Roswell, New Mexico. But it likely wasn’t this. “Alien Autopsy” aired on Fox in 1995, purporting to be a documentary film about its title subject. Although it has since been debunked, with its filmmakers admitting to faking its content, the impact it had on viewers cannot be dismissed. It captured their imaginations, and sparked heated debates across the country about its supposed legitimacy. Due to the film’s popularity, Fox quickly scheduled two reruns of “Alien Autopsy” to follow the initial airing, promising that the new broadcasts would add more footage for the public to dissect. Each one brought in more views than the last, and helped ignite a public interest in extraterrestrial life that has lasted into the present day.
#5: “Love & Saucers” (2017)
Top 10 Disney Movies That Made You Believe in Love
Far too often, UFO documentaries can come across as exploitative of their subjects. There’s a sense that the film is laughing at the people they are portraying, not with them. Thankfully, this is not the case with “Love & Saucers.” The unconventional tale of romance focuses on a seventy-two year old man who paints pictures of the encounters he claims to have had with aliens throughout his lifetime - including a female alien he says is his lover. In spite of his unorthodox beliefs, he appears to be warmly received, not only by the film’s documentarian, but by his son and surrounding neighbors. It’s a refreshingly kindhearted view into a wonderfully weird world that we can only hope exists in this reality.
#4: “The UnXplained” (2019-)
Top 10 Failed Oscar Bait Movies of 2019
Who better to host a docuseries about UFOs than Captain James T. Kirk himself? “The UnXplained” covers a variety of bizarre and mystifying topics, from the existence of Mothman to horrifying deadly cults, but the episodes most relevant to its host’s sci-fi background are those focused on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The first of these episodes is a fairly basic primer on conspiracies of government cover-ups, titled “The Truth About UFOs.” However, Shatner takes a more in-depth look at the phenomenon in the show’s fifth season, in an episode covering UFO hotspots. Extraterrestrial experts are interviewed about the infamous Skinwalker Ranch, Phoenix, Arizona, and several other key locations known for their repeat visits from beyond the stars.
#3: “Out of the Blue” (2003)
Superhero Origins Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle
Whether you believe that there is life on other planets or not, Unidentified Flying Objects themselves are undeniably real. Sometimes there are things flying or floating in the sky that we just can’t explain. They’re unidentified! The true debate is whether these objects are manned by alien pilots - and it’s a debate that “Out of the Blue” confronts head on. Speaking with scientists, former government employees, and everyday eyewitnesses, this comprehensive documentary attempts to paint a fuller picture of UFO sightings around the world as a means of convincing viewers of the existence of extraterrestrials. If you’re looking for some alarmingly convincing evidence, but don’t have the time for a full series, this is likely the doc for you.
#2: “A Strange Harvest” (1980)
Top 10 Most Powerful Versions of Doctor Strange
Structured like an investigative news report, “A Strange Harvest” took a serious look at the serial disfigurement of cows that had plagued ranches since the 1950’s. While one might initially assume the perpetrators were predator animals, the witnesses interviewed in this documentary suggest that the criminal is actually of extraterrestrial origin. Alternate theories, such as the idea that a military aircraft could have been tampering with the animals, are tested but ultimately thrown out. The film even features a therapy session with an alleged UFO abductee, who describes seeing the cows subjected to testing firsthand! In spite of the documentary’s journalistic approach, its ideas are presented with tense and unnerving score.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Ariel Phenomenon” (2022)
Top 10 MCU Moments of 2022
A UFO Is Witnessed by 60+ Children in Africa, but No One Believes Them
“Ancient Aliens” (2009-)
Top 20 Scariest Movie Aliens
Its Theories Are Controversial, But Its Popularity Cannot Be Denied
“Top Secret UFO Projects: Declassified” (2021)
Top 10 Cancelled DreamWorks Projects We Never Got to See
Declassified Documents Give UFO Experts a Mountain of New Data to Investigate
“The Hidden Hand: Alien Contact and the Government Cover-Up” (2013)
Top 20 Best Hidden Details in Coraline
Witnesses Divulge What the Government Supposedly Doesn’t Want You to Know
“Mirage Men” (2013)
Top 10 WatchMojo Top 10s of 2013
Disturbing First-Hand Accounts From Ex-Government Employees Provide a Good Scare
#1: “Alien Worlds” (2020)
Top 10 Scariest Alien Experiment Scenes In Movies
If aliens exist, what would they look like? “Alien Worlds” rejects the popular idea of little green and gray men, and instead offers science-based looks at what kind of creatures may actually be able to survive on other planets. Segments play out like nature documentaries from another world, describing how each of the invented extraterrestrials might be able to survive in spite of their harsh surroundings. Far from a solely CGI-based science fiction, the show also makes sure to provide context for each of the ecosystems it constructs, often using hostile environments on our own Earth as jumping-off points. It’s refreshingly creative, and the perfect blend of sci-fi and reality for UFO enthusiasts and animal lovers alike.
