The Thing, Signs and other alien apocalypse movies

The Thing is one of our favorite comfort movies. After all, MacReady was the king of self-isolation and social distancing. So, here are films to watch that will prepare you for the alien apocalypse.

The Thing is a remake and normally, we aren’t too thrilled with those but John Carpenter did an excellent job of reinventing the 1951 sci-fi classic, The Thing from Another World. It is just the sort of primer one would need in the event of an alien apocalypse.

Here is our list of films that will help you get ready if earth should ever be invaded.

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter knows how to push people’s buttons and this film taps into our most paranoid fears. Being remote, isolated and battling a shapeshifting alien at Outpost 31 in Antarctica is enough to make the most stoic person crack under pressure.

The director succeeds at making his audience feel claustrophobic which only heightens the onscreen tension as MacReady and company narrow down who is human and who isn’t. Grab a flamethrower and get ready to save the world!

Signs (2002)

While some felt let down by M. Night Shyamalan’s sophomore effort, we felt Signs was never given its proper due. What worked in his favor was the fact that you never saw what was stalking Graham Hess and his family until the end of the film.

One thing you definitely do not want to be doing is questioning your faith in the middle of an alien invasion. The appearance of crop circles and other unexplained phenomenon should have been a red flag.

Remember, you have to keep your wits about you and most importantly, you can use bats for more than baseball. They also make an effective weapon.

They Live (1988)

Another Carpenter film has made the list. They Live is another effort that will make you question your sanity. Aliens are living among us; except we don’t know it.

Maybe that is because we are too busy being brainwashed by the subliminal messages we are receiving on a daily basis through the media. Wow. This is sounding like a documentary.

“Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who was at the height of his wrestling prowess in the 80’s gets top billing in this extraterrestrial chiller. If you have bubblegum, Nada will be ecstatic because it helps him kick some monumental a**!

A Quiet Place (2018)

Who would have thought that Jim Halpert of The Office would have directed a hybrid (sci-fi/horror) flick about aliens that are not referred to as being from another planet? That is what makes this film so interesting.

John Krasinski took the familiar War of the Worlds scenario and turned it upside down. What makes it even more frightening is the fact that no one can talk or make noise because like Liam Neeson in Taken, they will find you and they will kill you!

Independence Day (1996)

Yes, this film is schlocky but it is a true throwback to those B movies in the 50’s where the aliens do not come in peace. What would you do if one day several UFOs showed up looming on the horizon?

In this Roland Emmerich production, we get an alcoholic Randy Quaid to be our hero and fly a plane into the mothership! Jeff Goldblum is cast, once again as the scientist who has the key to thwarting the ETs’ plans to take over the planet.

Then of course, there is Bill Pullman. The same actor who played the floppy haired Walter in the rom-com Sleepless in Seattle except this time, he is a gruff talking, take no prisoners type of leader of the free world. Who knew?

Other movies to help you get ready for when the aliens show up:

• Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
• The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998)
• Slither (2006)
• Cloverfield (2008)
• Invaders from Mars (1986)

You can watch our alien apocalypse flicks on Google Play, VUDU, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Tubi and iTunes.

What is your go-to alien invasion movie? Let us know in the comments.