50 BEST 80’S SCI-FI/FANTASY MOVIES

Having been indoctrinated into the Movie Buff world by my father at a young age, I grew up watching tons of science fiction and fantasy movies in the 80’s. These were my formative years of what would become my snobbery of what those types of movies should be. In the 90’s, 00’s, and 10’s sci-fi/fantasy has improved somewhat, however most of what passes for sci-fi nowadays are comic book movies and your occasional Trek or Wars films. So feeling nostalgic I went back and picked what are my top 50 sci-fi/fantasy movies of the 80’s. Some may be legit classics, others are here for the sheer enjoyment of the movie, plot and acting be damned!

50. Time Bandits – 1981 Director: Terry Gilliam Writer: Terry Gilliam and Michael Palin

Time Bandits 1981

Young history buff Kevin (Craig Warnock) can scarcely believe it when six dwarfs emerge from his closet one night. Former employees of the Supreme Being (Ralph Richardson), they’ve purloined a map charting all of the holes in the fabric of time and are using it to steal treasures from different historical eras. Taking Kevin with them, they variously drop in on Napoleon (Ian Holm), Robin Hood (John Cleese) and King Agamemnon (Sean Connery) before the Supreme Being catches up with them.

 

49. Tron – 1982 Director: Steven Lisberger Writer: Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird

Tron 1982
When talented computer engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) finds out that Ed Dillinger (David Warner), an executive at his company, has been stealing his work, he tries to hack into the system. However, Flynn is transported into the digital world, where he has to face off against Dillinger’s computerized likeness, Sark, and the imposing Master Control Program. Aided by Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Yori (Cindy Morgan), Flynn becomes a freedom fighter for the oppressed programs of the grid.
48. Dreamscape – 1984 Director: Joseph Ruben Writer: David Loughery
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Selfish teen Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid) is coerced into joining a government project in which psychics like him are trained to enter others’ dreams. He starts learning to use his abilities to do good, but before long, a new official, Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), seizes control of the project. A writer (George Wendt) helps Alex uncover Blair’s true motives, which involve assassination via dreams. Soon, only Alex and a beautiful scientist (Kate Capshaw) stand in the way of something terrible.
47. Critters – 1986 Director: Stephen Herek Writer: Domonic MuirCritters movies DVD collection boxset UK, starring Dee Wallace, Scott Grimes, Leonardo DiCaprio, Angela Bassett, Don Keith Opper, Terrence Mann, Lin Shaye, Billy Zane, Aimee Brooks, Brad Dourif, Eric DaRe and many more - dvdbash.wordpress.com

When strange furry creatures from outer space arrive on a farm, the Brown family — Jay (Billy Green Bush), Helen (Dee Wallace-Stone), their daughter, April (Nadine Van Der Velde), and their son, Brad (Scott Grimes) — must fend off the malevolent little aliens. Two bounty hunters with superhuman abilities follow the aggressive beasts from beyond, but the warriors aren’t terribly effective, leaving the Brown family to battle the fur balls and rescue April from their clutches all by themselves.
46. *Batteries Not Included – 1987 Director: Matthew Robbins Writer: Mick GarrisBatteries not Included
Frank (Hume Cronyn) and Faye Riley (Jessica Tandy) are an elderly New York City couple living in a depressed part of town. There, they run a diner as well as an apartment building, which is home to a poor but friendly group of people. One day, Frank and Faye learn that a property developer wants them to sell the apartment. When they refuse, their diner is vandalized. However, Frank, Faye and their tenants are aided by mysterious flying saucers, which help them repair the diner and fight back.
45. Firestarter – 1984 Director: Mark Lester Writer: Stephen King & Stanley MannFirestarter
As youths, Andy McGee (David Keith) and his future wife, Vicky (Heather Locklear), participated in secret experiments, allowing themselves to be subjected to mysterious medical tests. Years later, the couple’s daughter, Charlee (Drew Barrymore), begins to exhibit the ability of setting fires solely with her mind. This volatile talent makes the youngster extremely dangerous and soon she becomes a target for the enigmatic agency known as “The Shop.”
44. The Blob – 1988 Director: Chuck Russell Writer: Theodore SimonsonThe Blob
In a tiny California town, high school students Brian (Kevin Dillon), Meg (Shawnee Smith) and Paul (Donovan Leitch) discover a strange, gelatinous substance that melts the flesh of any living creatures in its path. The deadly substance gets into the town’s sewer system, where it begins growing uncontrollably, occasionally emerging to feast on unsuspecting townspeople. A military clean-up crew is sent to eliminate the menace, but it may end up doing more harm than good.
43. Short Circuit – 1986 Director: John Badham Writer: S.S. Wilson and Brent MaddockShort Circuit
After a lightning bolt gives it human emotions and intelligence, a military robot escapes and finds refuge at the home of an animal-loving pacifist (Ally Sheedy).
42. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 5th Dimension -1984 Director: W.D. Richter Writer: Earl Mac RauchAdventures of Buckaroo Banzai 1984
Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) is caught with his trusted allies, the Hong Kong Cavaliers (Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Lloyd), in a battle to the death between evil red aliens and good black aliens from Planet 10. Lead by demonic dictator John Whorfin (John Lithgow), who has taken over the body of Italian scientist Dr. Emilio Lizardo, the aliens try to get the Overthruster back from Buckaroo Banzai. But the good black aliens are willing to destroy earth rather than let these renegades return to their planet.
41. Ladyhawke – 1985 Director: Richard Donner Writer: Edward KhmaraLadyhawke 1985
Upon breaking out of a dungeon, youthful thief Phillipe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) befriends Capt. Navarre (Rutger Hauer), a man with a strange secret. Navarre and his lover Lady Isabeau d’Anjou (Michelle Pfeiffer) were cursed by the wicked Bishop of Aquila (John Wood), who desires Lady Isabeau for himself. His dark magic prevents the pair from ever being in each other’s presence except at twilight, so they enlist Gaston in a dangerous plot to overthrow the Bishop and break his evil enchantment.
40. Heavy Metal – 1981 Director: Gerald Potterton Writer: Dan Goldberg and Len BlumHeavy Metal 1981
Adventures from deep space to futuristic New York, and beyond. Each world and story is dominated by the presence of the Loch’nar — the sum of all evils manifest as a glowing green sphere whose power infects all times, all galaxies, all dimensions. To some, it appears as treasure, a green jewel they must possess. Others worship it as a god. Few escape it. Even in death and through death its powers continue. From war to war and world to world it seems invincible.
39. Beastmaster – 1982 Director: Don Coscarelli Writer: Don CoscarelliBeastmaster 1982
Prehistoric Dar (Marc Singer) uses ESP with animals to save a slave girl (Tanya Roberts) from a sorcerer (Rip Torn).
38. Explorers – 1985 Director: Joe Dante Writer: Eric LukeExplorers 1985
Young Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) spends his free time watching sci-fi films, playing video games and reading comic books. Surprisingly, his affinity for all things fantastical yields a real result — when he has a vivid dream about technology, his science-loving friend Wolfgang Muller (River Phoenix) manages to create a working spacecraft. Joined by their buddy Darren Woods (Jason Presson), the boys take off into outer space and encounter some very odd extraterrestrial life.
37. The Neverending Story – 1984 Director: Wolfgang Petersen Writer: Wolfgang Petersen and Michael EndeThe Neverending Story 1984
On his way to school, Bastian (Barret Oliver) ducks into a bookstore to avoid bullies. Sneaking away with a book called “The Neverending Story,” Bastian begins reading it in the school attic. The novel is about Fantasia, a fantasy land threatened by “The Nothing,” a darkness that destroys everything it touches. The kingdom needs the help of a human child to survive. When Bastian reads a description of himself in the book, he begins to wonder if Fantasia is real and needs him to survive.
36. Clash of the Titans – 1981 Director: Desmond Davis Writer: Beverly CrossClash of the Titans 1981
Perseus (Harry Hamlin), son of the Greek god Zeus (Laurence Olivier), grows up on a deserted island. His destiny is to marry Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker), who will someday rule the city of Joppa. But as long as the satyr Calibos (Neil McCarthy) — who uses a giant vulture to kidnap Andromeda’s soul every night — is alive, no one can marry her. Perseus travels to Joppa, where he must defeat Calibos and other mythological monsters to rescue Andromeda.
35. They Live – 1988 Director: John Carpenter Writer: John Carpenter and Ray NelsonThey Live
Nada (Roddy Piper), a wanderer without meaning in his life, discovers a pair of sunglasses capable of showing the world the way it truly is. As he walks the streets of Los Angeles, Nada notices that both the media and the government are comprised of subliminal messages meant to keep the population subdued, and that most of the social elite are skull-faced aliens bent on world domination. With this shocking discovery, Nada fights to free humanity from the mind-controlling aliens.
34. Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – 1989 Director: Stephen Herek Writer: Chris Matheson and Ed SolomonBill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) are high school buddies starting a band. However, they are about to fail their history class, which means Ted would be sent to military school. They receive help from Rufus (George Carlin), a traveler from a future where their band is the foundation for a perfect society. With the use of Rufus’ time machine, Bill and Ted travel to various points in history, returning with important figures to help them complete their final history presentation.
33. Twilight Zone The Movie – 1983 Director: John Landis, Joe Dante, George Miller, and Steven Spielberg Writer: John Landis, George Clayton Johnson, Jerome Bixby, and Richard MathesonThe Twilght Zone Movie
This tribute to the beloved supernatural TV show has four episodes. In the first, racist Bill Connor (Vic Morrow) is transformed into a Jew in World War II. Next, Mr. Bloom (Scatman Crothers) comes to a retirement home to teach the residents that they are only as young as they feel. In the third, teacher Helen Foley (Kathleen Quinlan) meets Antony (Jeremy Licht), a boy who is not what he seems. Finally, panicky plane passenger John Valentine (John Lithgow) sees gremlins attacking his flight.
32. Labyrinth – 1986 Director: Jim Henson Writer: Jim HensonLabyrinth-Poster2
Teenage Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) journeys through a maze to recover her baby brother (Toby Froud) from a goblin king (David Bowie).
31. The Dark Crystal – 1982 Director: Jim Henson Writer: Jim HensonThe Dark Crystal 1982
Jen (Stephen Garlick), raised by the noble race called the Mystics, has been told that he is the last survivor of his own race, the Gelflings. He sets out to try to find a shard of the dark crystal, a powerful gem that once provided balance to the universe. After the crystal was broken, the evil Skeksis used sinister means to gain control. Jen believes that he can repair the dark crystal and bring peace back to the world, if he can only find the remaining shard.
30. The Running Man – 1987 Director: Paul Michael Glaser Writer: Stephen King and Steven DeSouzaThe Running Man
In the year 2019, America is a totalitarian state where the favorite television program is “The Running Man” — a gameshow in which prisoners must run to freedom to avoid a brutal death. Having been made a scapegoat by the government, an imprisoned Ben Richards (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has the opportunity to make it back to the outside again by being a contestant on the deadly show, although the twisted host, Damon Killian (Richard Dawson), has no intention of letting him escape.
29. The Last Starfighter – 1984 Director: Nick Castle Writer: Jonathan BetuelThe last Starfighter 1984
After finally achieving the high score on Starfighter, his favorite arcade game, everyday teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) meets the game’s designer, Centauri (Robert Preston) — who reveals that he created Starfighter as a training ground for developing and recruiting actual pilots to help fight a war in space. Whisked away from the banality of his trailer park life to a distant alien planet, Alex struggles to use his video game-playing skills to pilot a real ship, with real lives at stake.
28. Conan The Barbarian – 1982 Director: John Milius Writer: John Milius and Robert E HowardConan 1982
Orphaned boy Conan (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is enslaved after his village is destroyed by the forces of vicious necromancer Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), and is compelled to push “The Wheel of Pain” for many years. Once he reaches adulthood, Conan sets off across the prehistoric landscape of the Hyborian Age in search of the man who killed his family and stole his father’s sword. With beautiful warrior Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez), he faces a supernatural evil.
27. The Dead Zone – 1983 Director: David Cronenberg Writer: Stephen King and Jeffrey BoamDead-zone-poster
When Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) awakens from a coma caused by a car accident, he finds that years have passed, and he now has psychic abilities. Heartbroken that his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) has moved on with her life, Johnny also must contend with his unsettling powers, which allow him to see a person’s future with a mere touch. After shaking the hand of aspiring politician Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen), Johnny sees the danger presented by the candidate’s rise and resolves to kill him.
26. Weird Science – 1985 Director: John Hughes Writer: John HughesWeird Science 1985
Teen misfits Gary (Anthony Michael Hall) and Wyatt (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) design their ideal woman on a computer, and a freak electrical accident brings her to life in the form of the lovely, superhuman Lisa (Kelly LeBrock). She outfits Gary and Wyatt in cool clothes, surprises them with a Porsche and helps them stand up to jerks Ian (Robert Downey Jr.) and Max (Robert Rusler). But, all the while, the boys must hide Lisa’s existence from Chet (Bill Paxton), Wyatt’s nightmare of a big brother.
25. The Secret of Nimh – 1982 Director: Don Bluth Writer: Don Bluth and Robert O’BrienThe Secret of Nimh 1982
Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a widowed mouse, must move her children out of their home in a field before the local farmer starts plowing. Unable to leave because her son is ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats, who have heightened intelligence after being the subjects of scientific experiments. She receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi). Soon Mrs. Brisby is caught in a conflict among the rats, jeopardizing her mission to save her family.
24. Legend – 1985 Director: Ridley Scott Writer: William HjortsbergLegend 1985
Darkness (Tim Curry) seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns. Jack (Tom Cruise) and his friends do everything possible to save the world and Princess Lili (Mia Sara) from the hands of Darkness. Enter a world of unicorns, magic swamps, dwarfs and rainbows.
23. Starman – 1984 Director: John Carpenter Writer: Bruce Evans and Raynold GideonStarman 1984
Answering a NASA message intended for aliens, a space being tries to contact mankind, but an American missile grounds his ship. Scrambling, the so-called Starman (Jeff Bridges) inhabits the body of a late Wisconsinite and kidnaps the dead man’s widow, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen). Determined to reunite with a vessel from his home planet at a predetermined site, Starman and Jenny travel to Arizona. Pursued by military officials trying to kill him, Starman forges a lasting bond with Jenny.
22. Ghostbusters – 1984 Director: Ivan Reitman Writer: Dan Aykroyd and Harold RamisGhostbusters
After the members of a team of scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a university in New York City, they decide to become “ghostbusters” to wage a high-tech battle with the supernatural for money. They stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, a doorway that will release evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters must now save New York from complete destruction.
21. 2010 – 1984 Director: Peter Hyams Writer: Arthur C. Clarke and Peter Hyams2010
Brave explorers are headed for the far reaches of the galaxy in the continuation of the story that began with “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Their destination is Jupiter, where the Russian and American astronauts will conduct their investigation. Drs. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), Walter Curnow (John Lithgow) and R. Chandra (Bob Balaban), along with shipmates Tanya (Helen Mirren) and Dave (Keir Dullea), aim to uncover what led to disaster for the deceased astronauts who preceded them.
20. The Abyss – 1989 Director: James Cameron Writer: James CameronAbyss
Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio are formerly married petroleum engineers who still have some issues to work out. They are drafted to assist a gung-ho Navy SEAL (Michael Biehn) with a top-secret recovery operation: a nuclear sub has been ambushed and sunk, under mysterious circumstances, in some of the deepest waters on Earth.
19. Big Trouble in Little China – 1986 Director: John Carpenter Writer: Gary Goldman and David WeinsteinBig_trouble_in_little_china_poster
Kurt Russell plays hard-boiled truck driver Jack Burton, who gets caught in a bizarre conflict within, and underneath, San Francisco’s Chinatown. An ancient Chinese prince and Chinatown crime lord has kidnapped a beautiful green-eyed woman, who is the fiancee to Jack’s best friend. Jack must help his friend rescue the girl before the evil Lo Pan uses her to break the ancient curse that keeps him a fleshless and immortal spirit.
18. Predator – 1987 Director: John McTiernan Writer: Jim Thomas and John ThomasPredator
Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a soldier of fortune, is hired by the U.S. government to secretly rescue a group of politicians trapped in Guatemala. But when Dutch and his team, which includes weapons expert Blain (Jesse Ventura) and CIA agent George (Carl Weathers), land in Central America, something is gravely wrong. After finding a string of dead bodies, the crew discovers they are being hunted by a brutal creature with superhuman strength and the ability to disappear into its surroundings.
17. Enemy Mine – 1985 Director: Wolfgang Petersen Writer: Barry Longyear and Edward KhmaraEnemy mine 1985
During a war between humans and the reptilian Drac race, spaceship pilot Willis Davidge (Dennis Quaid) ends up stranded on an alien world, along with enemy fighter Jeriba Shigan (Louis Gossett Jr.). While both Willis and his Drac counterpart can breathe on the planet, the environment and its creatures are relatively hostile, forcing the two to work together to survive. As time goes by, Willis and Jeriba become unlikely friends, though their unique relationship faces considerable challenges.
16. The Fly – 1986 Director: David Cronenberg Writer: George Langelaan and Charles Edward PogueFly
When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) completes his teleportation device, he decides to test its abilities on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly slips in during the process, leading to a merger of man and insect. Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, but the fly’s cells begin to take over his body. As he becomes increasingly fly-like, Brundle’s girlfriend (Geena Davis) is horrified as the person she once loved deteriorates into a monster.
15. Cocoon – 1985 Director: Ron Howard Writer: Tom Benedek and David SapersteinCocoon 1985
Oscar-winning fantasy in which the residents of a Florida rest home get a new lease of life when they stumble across an alien “fountain of youth” in a disused holiday home. Unbeknown to them, aliens have been using the swimming pool in the house to store their cocooned brethren, giving the waters a powerful, rejuvenating
quality.
14. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – 1982 Director: Nicholas Meyer Writer: Harve Bennett Star trek 2 1982
As Adm. James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Capt. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) monitor trainees at Starfleet Academy, another vessel from the United Federation of Planets is about to try out the planet-creating Genesis Device in a seemingly deserted portion of space. In the process, two of Kirk’s officers are captured by Khan (Ricardo Montalban), an enemy Kirk thought he’d never see again. Once more, Kirk takes the Enterprise’s helm, where he meets Khan’s ship in an intergalactic showdown.
13. Back to the Future 2 – 1989 Director: Robert Zemeckis Writer: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Galeback-to-the-future-2
In this zany sequel, time-traveling duo Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) return from saving Marty’s future son from disaster, only to discover their own time transformed. In this nightmarish version of Hill Valley, Marty’s father has been murdered and Biff Tannen, Marty’s nemesis, has profited. After uncovering the secret to Biff’s success — a sports almanac from the future — Marty and the Doc embark on a quest to repair the space-time continuum.
12.  Back to the Future – 1985 Director: Robert Zemeckis Writer: Robert Zemeckis and Bob GaleBack to the Future 1985
In this 1980s sci-fi classic, small-town California teen Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is thrown back into the ’50s when an experiment by his eccentric scientist friend Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) goes awry. Traveling through time in a modified DeLorean car, Marty encounters young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), and must make sure that they fall in love or he’ll cease to exist. Even more dauntingly, Marty has to return to his own time and save the life of Doc Brown.
11. The Terminator – 1984 Director: James Cameron Writer: James Cameron and Gale Anne HurdTerminator 1984
Disguised as a human, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) travels from 2029 to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). Sent to protect Sarah is Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who divulges the coming of Skynet, an artificial intelligence system that will spark a nuclear holocaust. Sarah is targeted because Skynet knows that her unborn son will lead the fight against them. With the virtually unstoppable Terminator in hot pursuit, she and Kyle attempt to escape.
10. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi – 1983 Director: Richard Marquand Writer: Lawrence Kasdan and George LucasReturn of The Jedi 1983
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) battles horrible Jabba the Hut and cruel Darth Vader to save his comrades in the Rebel Alliance and triumph over the Galactic Empire. Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reaffirm their love and team with Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), the Ewoks and the androids C-3PO and R2-D2 to aid in the disruption of the Dark Side and the defeat of the evil emperor.
9. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back – 1980 Director: Irvin Kershner Writer: Lawrence Kasdan and George LucasThe Empire Strikes Back 1980
The adventure continues in this “Star Wars” sequel. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) face attack by the Imperial forces and its AT-AT walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke travels to Dagobah in search of Yoda. Only with the Jedi master’s help will Luke survive when the dark side of the Force beckons him into the ultimate duel with Darth Vader (David Prowse).
8. Willow – 1988 Director: Ron Howard Writer: George Lucas 936full-willow-poster
Enter the world of “Willow.” Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.
7. E.T. – 1982 Director: Steven Spielberg Writer: Melissa MathisonET 1982
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.
6. Akira – 1988 Director: Katsuhiro Otomo Writer: Katsuhiro OtomoAkira
In 1988 the Japanese government drops an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children go awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo’s supernatural power suddenly manifest. A final battle is fought in Tokyo Olympiad exposing the experiment’s secrets.
5. Aliens – 1986 Director: James Cameron Writer: James CameronAliens
After floating in space for 57 years, Lt. Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) shuttle is found by a deep space salvage team. Upon arriving at LV-426, the marines find only one survivor, a nine year old girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). But even these battle-hardened marines with all the latest weaponry are no match for the hundreds of aliens that have invaded the colony.
4. The Thing – 1982 Director: John Carpenter Writer: Bill Lancaster and John Campbell Jr.Thing
In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.
3. Blade Runner – 1982 Director: Ridley Scott Writer: Hampton Fancher and David PeoplesBlade Runner 1982
Deckard (Harrison Ford) is forced by the police Boss (M. Emmet Walsh) to continue his old job as Replicant Hunter. His assignment: eliminate four escaped Replicants from the colonies who have returned to Earth. Before starting the job, Deckard goes to the Tyrell Corporation and he meets Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant girl he falls in love with.
2. The Princess Bride – 1987 Director: Rob Reiner Writer: William Goldmanprincess_bridePoster
A fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman and her one true love. He must find her after a long separation and save her. They must battle the evils of the mythical kingdom of Florin to be reunited with each other. Based on the William Goldman novel “The Princess Bride” which earned its own loyal audience.
1. Alien Nation – 1988 Director: Graham Baker Writer: Rockne O’BannonAlien Nation
In Los Angeles circa 1991, humans live alongside extraterrestrial humanoid beings whose spaceship crash landed three years earlier. This coexistence is not always harmonious, as exemplified by segregated slums and the uneasy partnership of police detective Matthew Sykes (James Caan) with new humanoid partner Sam Francisco (Mandy Patinkin). However, the pair begin to overcome their differences as they investigate a slum drug ring led by the slippery William Harcourt (Terence Stamp).

There you have it, my top 50! What movies did I leave out? What should be included? Let us know in the comments!

A HISTORY OF PREDATOR VS….

In honor of the release of Archie vs. Predator in hardcover, we’re looking back on previous Predator matchups! 

 
1990: Aliens vs. Predator

The one that started it all! Aliens vs. Predator continued the story begun in the pages of Dark Horse Presents #34-#36. The inhabitants of the colony planet Ryushi are peaceful ranchers. But their lives are tragically shattered as they become part of a “coming of age” ceremony for the Predators. However, the Predators’ prey are not the human inhabitants of Ryushi, but rather something far more dangerous – Aliens!
The hunter becomes the hunted as Batman, Earth’s ultimate detective, is pitted against Predator, the galaxy’s most ruthless hunter!
A Predator stalks North Am 4001, searching for his most prized trophy – the X-O Manowar helmet. The stolen trophy has fallen into the hands of a certain Goph, a man called Magnus, whose steel-mashing strength has earned him the title Robot Fighter – thus the stage is set for the battle of the 41st century!
In the center of the earth lies Pellucidar, the last bastion of primeval forest in the world. To Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, this is sacred ground. But to the Predators, it is hunting ground.

In the totalitarian future, Judge Dredd is the law. But for the Predator, the only law is the hunt. There’s gonna be trouble down in Mega-City One
In the year 2032, John Connor and the human resistance forces wage war on the evil super-computer, Skynet. Sensing ultimate defeat, Skynet goes into hiding. Centuries later, it is awakened by stealth Terminators posing as human scientists. Now an even deadlier Skynet is creating invincible Terminator/Alien hybrids! Earth’s only chance lies in the hands of a legendary heroine named Ripley and . . . the Predators?!
When Archie and friends head south for Spring Break, party games and beach games are soon replaced by the Most Dangerous Game! As the unparalleled fierceness of Betty and Veronica lures the trophy-collecting Predator to Riverdale, will the kids even realize they’re in danger before it claims them all?!

Archie vs. Predator Hardcover is in stores now! Check out a preview here! 
Who do you want to see Predator battle next?

DARK HORSE RESURRECTS ORIGINAL “ALIENS” SERIES FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY HARDCOVER!

In 1988, Dark Horse’s Aliens comic debuted, with stunning art by Mark A. Nelson and a script by Mark Verheiden, taking the comics market by storm. For the thirtieth anniversary of the Aliens film, Dark Horse and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products are releasing an oversized hardcover edition of the unabridged and unadulterated series!

This must-have collector’s edition delivers 184 pages of original black-and-white art, each panel more horrifying than the last.

In deep space, a salvage crew is attacked by seemingly unstoppable monsters. The marines are called in, but they need someone with experience. Soon Hicks (the horribly scarred survivor from Aliens) and Newt (now almost eighteen) find themselves on a mission to locate and destroy the aliens’ homeworld!

This collection also marks the first major comics work by Mark Verheiden, who went on to write The Mask, Timecop, Battlestar Galactica, Daredevil, and many other films and television shows.

Aliens 30th Anniversary: The Original Comics Series (978-1-50670-078-6) is in stores April 26, 2016. Preorder your copy today at your local comic shop or through these fine retailers:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

al30ocsAlso available:

Aliens Omnibus Volume 1

978-1-59307-727-3 | $24.99 | OCT098120

Aliens Omnibus Volume 2

978-1-59307-828-7 | $24.99 | MAY118370

Aliens Omnibus Volume 3

978-1-59307-872-0 | $24.99 | NOV138169

Aliens Omnibus Volume 4

978-1-59307-926-0 | $24.95 | MAR080070

Aliens Omnibus Volume 5

978-1-59307-991-8 | $24.95 | JUL080034

Aliens Omnibus Volume 6

978-1-59582-214-7 |  $24.99 | JAN148183

Aliens: Fire and Stone

978-1-61655-655-6 | $14.99 | JAN150169