Top 10 Good Movie Aliens

“Starman” is famous as the movie that Columbia Pictures chose to make instead of “E.T.” It may not have been the era defining hit that “E.T.” was, but “Starman” presented audiences with a truly gentle, lovable and good-hearted alien. Full of childlike wonder and a sense of naiveté, Starman is willing to make sacrifices that endanger his own health and safety, proving this alien has a very human heart.

Mix sci-fi with a buddy road flick comedy, and you get “Paul.” And if you’re going to have a buddy road flick comedy, why not make the title alien a bit of a stoner? Paul is goofy, amiable, a little self-obsessed and the alien you’d probably most want to share a case of beer with. He proves that dudes can come from anywhere – even outer space.

An alien presence that looks like Milla Jovovich is the kind of alien presence we could use more of. It also doesn’t hurt that she’s trying to keep earthlings from getting themselves destroyed in a big intergalactic mess. Sure, she gets turned off by our greed and destructive power – but she also sees the good in humans, for which we say: Thank you, Bruce Willis.

Stitch was created by one of those ubiquitous mad scientists to be a machine of ultimate destruction. But that scientist didn’t count on Stitch meeting a quirky, headstrong and determined little girl named Lilo. Under her influence, Stitch develops a heart that proves nurture is more important than nature. He definitely keeps his mischievousness, but Stitch ends up squarely on the side of good.

Ten-feet-tall and blessed with flawless blue skin, Neytiri is one eyeful of an alien – and fortunately one that is sympathetic to humans. As the daughter of a Na’vi leader in “Avatar,” she rescues the movie’s hero, Jake, from viperwolves and aids him in his crucial battles. And then she saves his hide again from the movie’s bad guy. Jake may be the film’s human hero, but he’d be toast without Neytiri.

The supremely logical Mr. Spock has been a favorite with space nerds – and millions of others – for decades. The half-human, half-Vulcan Spock likes to pretend he is cold and clever, but there’s a warm heart beating beneath all that intellect. At times, Spock may find his humanity a bit bothersome – but he wouldn’t trade it for all the Klingons in space.

In recent years, there’s been a flood of good alien robots, starting with “The Iron Giant” and continuing with all the Autobots in the “Transformers” movies. Although Bumblebee, Ratchet and the other Autobots deserve props, top honors have to go to leader Optimus Prime. Brave, strategic and willing to sacrifice anything to protect the other Autobots and the people of Earth, Optimus Prime is a true hero.

Yoda beloved, say you? Grand Master am honored! There’s no shortage of good aliens in the “Star Wars” series, as Chewbacca, the Ewoks and many others can attest. But Yoda takes the top prize; his curious speech patterns may be cute, but there’s fire, wisdom and an incredible soul inside the little guy that make clear why he is one of the oldest and most respected Jedi Masters in the universe.

E.T. is just bizarre enough in his appearance to look legitimately alien, yet not so strange that he doesn’t come across as cute. More important than his looks, though, is his childlike vulnerability. He’s like a little lost child who wants nothing more than to get home – even as he grows attached to his newfound friends. E.T.’s sweetness and good nature make him intensely endearing – plus, we can relate to his love of Reese’s Pieces.

Before we beam down to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Max “Flight of the Navigator” (1986)
- Klaatu “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951)
- Sara and Seth “Race to Witch Mountain” (2009)

The sole survivor of an alien race (at least, depending on the incarnation), Kal-El from Krypton has a tragic backstory – but it’s the kind of story that makes for a great superhero. As Superman, he’s often said to stand for truth, justice and the American Way – but in truth, he’s a symbol of global goodness. His powers and abilities make him awesome; but it’s his incorruptible sense of fairness and his belief in ultimate goodness that make him a real hero.

Do you agree with our picks? What other friendly visitors from other worlds should we’ve considered for this list? For more enthralling top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.