Top 20 Scariest Moments in the Alien Franchise

#20: Finding the Engineer

Alien (1979)

Before all hell broke loose, there was one eerie sign that something was horribly wrong with the planet the Nostromo landed on. Yep, its the Engineers first appearance. Known as the Space Jockey, it may be linked to the Engineers in Prometheus. When Kane, Lambert, and Dallas first encounter this long-dead, fossilized humanoid slumped in a chair, weve no clue what it is. That mystery, combined with its larger-than-life presence and the gaping hole in the chest, makes us feel like were nothing compared to whats out there. Plus, whats discovered inside the ship only deepens the horror. Though it appears briefly, this ancient creature became one of sci-fi's most iconic figures. Thats enough to tell you how much it fascinated fans.

#19: Underwater Chase

Alien Resurrection (1997)

This might be considered one of the weakest in the Alien franchise, but it still delivers some spine-tingling thrills. Set 200 years after Alien 3, it revolves around the militarys plan to breed and study xenomorphs. Things go south very quickly when these creatures escape their confinements. In one of the movies most intense and visually stunning scenes, the survivors try to escape through a flooded kitchen but are ambushed by two xenomorphs. Its both thrilling and nerve-wracking as they try to hold their breath while avoiding these predators that swim as fast as they crawl. Of course, not everyone makes it out alive. This is way more terrifying than the great white sharks in Jaws, dont you agree?

#18: Clemens is Killed

Alien 3 (1992)

Maybe Ripley wasnt meant to have a happy ending. Whenever it seems like shes found a little warmth or someone she can trust, its ripped away. After crash-landing on Fiorina "Fury" 161, Ripley meets Clemens, a prison officer with a dark past but calm presence. Their bond grows gradually, goading us into thinking Ripley might find some respite. Alien 3 offers no comfort. Just as Clemens begins to open up to Ripley in the infirmary, the xenomorph appears and kills him mid-conversation. The way it happens with no dramatic cue or build-up makes it so scary, even Ripley is left stunned. Still, it feels like a huge waste of a likeable character. But hey, the universe doesnt care.

#17: Rain Caught Between Xenomorph & Facehugger

Alien: Romulus (2024)

If you ever find yourself stuck between a xenomorph and a facehugger, you should say your last prayer. One is there to hunt you, while with the other, you risk impregnation. Its just an impossible situation. In one intense scene, Rain finds herself trapped between these two predators after falling through an elevator shaft when gravity kicks back in. At first, you might be confused why the xenomorph saved her, but as a facehugger comes into view, you realize it wasnt an act of mercy. Its a calculated move to perpetuate the alien life cycle. Thankfully, Andy shows up just in time to save Rain from becoming an alien breeder.

#16: Maternity Ward Massacre

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Xenomorphs are downright merciless, and nowhere is that more pronounced than in the maternity massacre scene in AVPR. It happens when a Predalien invades a hospital maternity ward. Instead of the typical facehugger implantation, it literally forces its embryos down the throat of a pregnant woman. Honestly, its one of the franchises most disturbing sequences-not just for its brutality-but for the way it defiles whats meant to be sacred and safe. With a body horror this unrelenting, its clear nothing is off-limits in the Alien franchise: nothing. Its almost as if the camera is daring you to look away. We honestly cant blame anyone who felt the franchise went too far with this.

#15: Alien in the Water

Aliens (1986)

Sometimes, all you need is a simple setup to create the chilliest scene, and James Cameron nails it with this. After an explosion separates Newt from Ripley and the others, she plummets into a flooded corridor, clutching her doll. Newt calls out to Ripley, hoping to be rescued, but times running out. All you can hear is the dripping water, echoing silence - no dramatic score as Newt waits to be saved. Then, from the murky water, a xenomorph emerges behind her, like something out of a bad dream. Newt doesnt see it at first, but when she does, her scream cuts through the silence. By the time Ripley emerges, all thats left is Newts doll bobbing in the water. Its absolutely nerve-racking and heartbreaking.

#14: Xenomorph Dog

Alien 3 (1992)

In the world of Aliens, it seems nothing's left out from the horror, not pregnant women, not children, and definitely not dogs. That brings us to one of the scariest facehugger creations, the xenomorph dog. After a prison dog named Spike is impregnated, what bursts out from it is undeniably grotesque. Its both devastating and terrifying, especially since it happens during the funeral ceremony for Newt and Hicks. But its not just the body horror that creeps you out. Theres something heartbreaking about mans best friend being twisted into a monster. You dont even have to be a dog lover to feel the weight of it.

#13: David Calms the Neomorph

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Set years after Prometheus, Alien: Covenant follows a crew of a colony ship bound for a distant planet. When they intercept a mysterious transmission from a nearby planet, curiosity pulls them off course. What they find is far worse than expected: the neomorphs and David, the android survivor from Prometheus. In one very chilling scene, after a neomorph attacks and decapitates a crew member, David calmly pets it like a proud zookeeper. The horror here isnt loud. Its quiet and unnerving because of what it suggests. David isnt just a survivor. Hes been nurturing them, playing god in secret. The full weight of the horror sinks in when Oram becomes his next gruesome experiment.

#12: Facehuggers in the Medbay

Aliens (1986)

Yet another scene where characters find themselves trapped in a life-or-death situation, this is one of the scariest in Aliens. Newt and Ripley have just been locked in the medbay by Burke, with two facehuggers loose. Its claustrophobic, frantic, and personal as they try to evade these aliens that can impregnate you just by latching onto your face. The room is small, theres no weapon in sight, and the danger is closing in fast. Ripley fights these relentless creatures while Newts panicked screams only heighten the chaos. Meanwhile, Hicks and the others work frantically to save them. Thankfully, they both make it out unscathed, but not before pushing us to the edge of our nerves.

#11: The Offspring's Final Scene

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Just when it seems the films wrapping up, the tension spikes with the final confrontation between Rain and the Offspring: a xenomorph-human hybrid. Kay is dead, Andy cant help, and Rain is the last one standing, but not on the Offsprings watch. It attacks her, and when it seems shes defeated, Rain manages to float away. Soft music sets in, tricking us into thinking shes safe. Suddenly, the Offspring reappears, cracking her helmet in an attempt to finish her off. Its seriously one effective jumpscare that takes us by surprise. It almost feels like the creature has a personal vendetta, and for a moment, it nearly got what it wanted. Luckily, Rain survives.

#10: The Corridor Chase

Alien 3 (1992)

David Finchers entry is certainly flawed, and the director himself has since disowned it, saying, No one hates it more than me. But there are some good things going for it, and there are many well-constructed sequences that showcased the obvious talent brewing in the young director. The visual of the xenomorph approaching Ripley is obviously iconic, and the movie contains one of the greatest chase sequences in the entire franchise. The hunt in the corridor is terrifically paced and contains some great acting and sound design. Furthermore, it showcases Finchers thirst for filmmaking, containing fun flourishes like twirling POV shots and creative visual effects.

#9: The Queen Revealed

Aliens (1986)

Its amazing to think that this was James Camerons third movie, as he already had complete command of the art of filmmaking. In the thrilling climax of the second film, Ripley and Newt meet the alien queen, and it is truly a sight to behold. The slow reveal of the queen is absolutely stellar, complete with some unbearable tension, creative visual and sound design, and eye-popping special effects. Cameron and Stan Winston built a 14-foot foam puppet that was controlled by fishing line and hydraulics, and the results couldnt be more amazing. Its one of the best reveals in movie history - and certainly one of the scariest.

#8: The Shuttle Escape

Alien (1979)

Unlike Aliens, the first movie doesnt end with a face-melting showdown. Instead, it favors quiet, anxiety, and suspense. Ripley discovers to her absolute horror that the alien has stowed itself inside the escape shuttle, and she is forced to use her resourcefulness and intelligence to defeat it. In a moment that is almost unwatchable, she allows the alien to get close, her breathing getting more and more panicked as she hears it approaching. And then she jettisons that sucker into space. Ridley Scott directs the sequence to perfection, allowing the tension to build and lighting the shuttle with a strobing effect, which ensures that the creature remains in shadow.

#7: The Alien Hybrid

Alien Resurrection (1997)

For many Alien fans, this is the worst entry in the franchise, as things get a littleweird. But this weirdness results in a grotesque image unlike any other. The Queens DNA combines with that of Ripley, resulting in a bizarre alien-human hybrid that recognizes Ripley as its biological mother. This creature was a full-scale animatronic created by Amalgamated Dynamics Incorporated, and the results are, well, absolutely disgusting. Its face bears resemblance to a human skull, and its covered in a nasty white slime. It looks like it was ripped straight from a nightmare.

#6: The Backburster

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Weve all seen the chestburster. Ridley Scott knows this, so he decided to change it up and give us something a little different while still retaining the soul of the original. The result? A backburster! Ledward is infected by spores and is immediately taken to the med bay, where all Hell proceeds to break loose. A neomorph slowly emerges from his back and flops on the floor. It then kills Karine, who was tragically trapped in the room with the inhuman creature. The scene is a nice twist on the iconic original, and its certainly more graphic. We see every revolting detail of this alien birth, and its enough to leave a permanent impression.

#5: The C-Section

Prometheus (2012)

Another variation on the chestburster - and arguably an even scarier one - can be seen in the divisive prequel Prometheus. David spikes Holloways drink with a mysterious black liquid, and Holloway proceeds to sleep with Elizabeth Shaw. Shaw is impregnated, but not with a baby. At least, not a human baby. In the movies most famous sequence, Shaw enters an automated surgery table and has the creature removed from her stomach. Everything about this scene just screams horror movie perfection, from the acting and claustrophobic setting to the revolting image of a slithering squid emerging from her womb. Its enough to give someone a panic attack.

#4: The Ash Reveal

Alien (1979)

The first Alien contains one of the most famous plot twists in the horror genre, and it comes via a haunting image. Ash is revealed to be a robot, and he has been ordered to bring the alien specimen back to the company. He attacks and nearly kills Ripley, but she is saved in the nick of time by Parker, who clubs Ash with a blunt weapon. Ash freaks out, emitting high-pitched robot noises and spewing a white liquid across the room. And then Parker hits his head and, well, you all know what happens next. Its amazing that in a franchise filled with scary alien monsters, its a simple robot who provides one of its greatest scares.

#3: The Nest

Aliens (1986)

James Cameron definitely favored action over horror, but he still found time to craft some creepy sequences. Like the Colonial Marines arriving on LV-426. Cameron squeezes the arrival for all its worth, lingering on empty, ruined hallways and letting the eerie sound design work its magic. But things literally descend into full-blown horror when they make their way down to the nest. Here the Marines find opened eggs and cocooned colonists, one of whom wakes up and gives birth to an infant alien. And thats when the shooting starts. Its a masterful sequence that harkens back to the tension of the first movie, complete with grisly sights and unimaginable terror.

#2: Inside the Vents

Alien (1979)

Its amazing how many things Ridley Scott manages to accomplish in this one short scene. He manages to build an incredible amount of anxiety over the alien in the vents, which is done mostly through solid reaction shots and stellar sound design. That relentless beeping will forever haunt our nightmares. He also crafts one of the all-time greatest jump scares when the alien finally emerges from the shadows. And finally, he kills off Dallas, who up until this point was the groups leader. Hes set up as the primary hero of the film, but Scott performs a wonderful bait and switch and kills him off with one terrifying screech. What a scene.

#1: The Chestbuster

Alien (1979)

Of course its the chestburster. How could it not be the chestburster? While exploring the creepy planet, Kane does a terrifically silly thing and puts his face directly over a hatching egg, allowing the facehugger to, well, hug his face. This is a fantastic scare in and of itself, but it leads to one of the most iconic sequences in movie history. John Hurt is mesmerizing, and he fully sells the unimaginable pain of having a baby alien burrow its way through your stomach. His screams are piercing and nightmarish, and the visual of the alien emerging from his belly has remained a staple of pop culture for decades. Horror doesnt get much better than this.

Which of these moments left you completely petrified? Let us know in the comments section.