10 films to watch this weekend about UFOs
On July 2nd, World UFO Day is celebrated, a date that invites reflection on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and its mysteries. To celebrate the occasion, a selection of ten iconic films from the sci-fi genre offers a journey through encounters with the unknown, from optimistic adventures to horror and suspense scenarios.
Fantastic experiences in Steven Spielberg’s classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the 1977 plot follows an electrician who develops an obsession with enigmatic visions after spotting a UFO. At the same time, a single mother searches for her missing son. Their paths cross at Devil’s Tower, in Wyoming, marking humanity’s first peaceful contact with a civilization from another planet, a film that redefined the way of approaching extraterrestrial themes with a perspective of hope and curiosity.
Unexpected ties in E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial
Steven Spielberg’s work, released in 1982, tells the story of Elliott, a ten-year-old boy who encounters a friendly alien isolated on Earth. They build a unique emotional connection. With the pursuit of government agents and the alien’s health in decline, Elliott and his brothers strive to ensure that their new friend is able to return home, becoming a cultural phenomenon that has touched millions of viewers.
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Science and faith collide in the epic journey of Contact
Directed by Robert Zemeckis, the 1997 film follows SETI astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway as she identifies a coded radio signal originating from the Vega star system that reveals the blueprint for an enigmatic structure. As science, politics and belief merge, she begins an expedition that has the potential to forever alter human perception of the cosmos.
Unraveling time in the intriguing science fiction Arrival
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, the 2016 film deals with the emergence of twelve alien spaceships in different parts of the globe. Linguist Dr. Louise Banks is called upon to interpret the intricate language of beings from space. As the interaction deepens, she develops a groundbreaking and surprising understanding of time, something that could seal the future of humanity.
The fight for survival in the War of the Worlds invasion
Released in 2005 and directed by Steven Spielberg, the work narrates the battle of a recently divorced dockworker to safeguard his two children during a ground attack by immense alien war machines. Amid the collapse of civilization, the family struggles to resist one of the most destructive invasions ever imagined for humanity.
Mysteries and faith in the plot of Signs, by M. Night Shyamalan
In the 2002 film, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, a former priest dealing with personal loss sees his family’s isolated estate become the epicenter of a worldwide alien invasion, after enigmatic crop circles appear on his crops. As his fear advances, he is compelled to face both the mystery and his shattered belief.
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Extraterrestrial conspiracies in the 1950s in The Vast of Night
Directed by Andrew Patterson, the 2019 production is set in 1950s New Mexico. This mysterious science fiction film, with its immersive atmosphere, follows a young telephone operator and a radio DJ who investigate a strange audio frequency. Their investigation uncovers a terrifying conspiracy, linking secret military activities to possible encounters with visitors from other planets.
Klaatu and Gort’s warning in The Day the Earth Stood Still
Directed by Robert Wise, the 1951 classic features Klaatu, an alien emissary, who lands on Earth alongside his formidable robot, Gort. His mission is to deliver a stern warning: humanity must renounce violence or face the repercussions. Considered a landmark of the Cold War, this remains one of the most impactful science fiction films, receiving a remake in 2008, directed by Scott Derrickson.
Space horror in Alien, Ridley Scott’s masterpiece
Directed by Ridley Scott, the 1979 film finds the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo responding to a distress signal from a distant satellite, unaware that they are bringing a lethal alien life form on board. As the creature transforms into a ruthless predator, the crew are eliminated one by one in one of the most iconic horror and science fiction narratives in cinema history.
The claustrophobic thriller of 10 Cloverfield Street
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg, the 2016 thriller begins with Michelle awakening in an underground shelter after a car accident. The bunker’s owner claims that the outside world has become uninhabitable. As she devises a plan to escape her captor, she realizes that a much greater threat may await her outside.
