10 Greatest Military vs. Aliens Sci-Fi Action Movies

Movies that center on the battles fought by members of the military certainly have their place, but sometimes it’s more fun to see what (albeit, fictional) soldiers might do against an alien combatant rather than another flesh-and-blood human being. It’s with this idea in mind that the military science fiction subgenre was likely born, and though the idea certainly exists across every storytelling medium, it’s the movies that typically offer the best military vs. alien warfare.

Whether you prefer realistic depictions of alien invasions, comic book-inspired tales, or one-on-one conflicts between man and extra-terrestrial beast, there are plenty of options to choose from. For all you action lovers out there, we’ve put together a list of some of the best action-packed military vs. alien movies we could muster. While you have no doubt seen some of these, others may have slipped over your watchlist. So, let’s rouse the troops and look to the skies, because these are the alien invasion movies that you’ve just got to see.

10

‘Battle: Los Angeles’ (2011)

For a gritty, intense, and fairly violent take on the battle between U.S. Marines and alien invaders, Battle: Los Angeles is an underrated sci-fi adventure that may just be worth revisiting. Following Aaron Eckhart‘s Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz and his Marine platoon, the movie has no trouble living up to its name as the soldiers fight for the sake of a small batch of survivors. Sure, it’s a bit clichéd, but it’s still perfect for folks looking for a military-focused alien adventure.

Full of shaky action sequences that echo the early 2000s style of Bourne-like action movies and high-stakes that hardly let up, Battle: LA deserves more praise than it initially received. It was largely overshadowed by Skyline at the time, but has since become a cult favorite for many who adore these sorts of action-packed thrills. Director Jonathan Liebesman pushed the concept to the limit as the City of Angels is on the line.

9

‘Stargate’ (1994)

Image via MGM

The father of modern military sci-fi on television, Stargate is another underrated sci-fi flick that takes U.S. Air Force Colonel Jack O’Neil (Kurt Russell) and a small group through an interstellar wormhole that sends them to the Ancient Egypt-inspired world of Abydos. There, they discover that Egyptian mythology is actually fact, but Ra (Jaye Davidson) isn’t an actual god, he’s an alien warlord who seeks to return to and invade Earth. Although not as grand a scale as some of the other films on this list, the stakes remain high.

Stargate would prove such a good idea that it would spawn a trilogy of television shows that continued the military sci-fi adventure, including Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. While the shows are great (and come highly recommended), Stargate the movie is where it’s at if you’re looking for a quick watch that scratches your alien itch. You won’t be disappointed in this Roland Emmerich adventure.

8

‘Pacific Rim’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Clearly inspired by the megazord battles of Power Rangers, there’s nothing quite like the original Pacific Rim. When monstrous kaijus begin appearing through a rift in the Pacific Ocean, mankind’s military forces come together to build Jaegers, giant mech suits that require two pilots to fight in-sync. As giant robots battle giant monsters, this military sci-fi flick isn’t your typical boots-on-the-ground soldier vs. alien warfare picture, but it certainly qualifies.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim would also spawn a larger franchise, though the original sci-fi masterpiece is still undoubtedly the best of the brand. With shockingly relatable characters and a complex mythology that is both original and engaging, Pacific Rim delivers on all giant fronts. It’s only a shame that we didn’t get a crossover with Godzilla…

7

‘Predator’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Fox

While not the original “military vs. alien” movie, Predator may be one of the first to come to mind when you think of members of the Armed Forces in conflict with extraterrestrials. When the CIA sends U.S. Army Special Forces operator Dutch Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) on a mission to the Central American jungle, things go haywire when an alien warrior begins tearing through his entire unit. In many ways, Predator was the first of its kind, sparking a wave of imitators, though it remains firmly on top.

Directed by action movie legend John McTiernan, Predator is everything folks love about Schwarzenegger movies, complete with a solid cast that also includes Carl Weathers and Shane Black. The action movie ended up sparking an entire Predator franchise that continues the idea, but only the original 1987 film really delivers on that initial “military vs. alien” premise — well, except for maybe the Shane Black-directed The Predator, but that movie is terrible so feel free to skip it.

6

‘War Machine’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

Riding on the tail of Predator is the newest Netflix hit War Machine, which tosses Alan Ritchson in with a group of potential U.S. Army Rangers as they seek to accomplish their final task before promotion. Only, upon arriving in the field, they soon find themselves stalked and hunted by a mechanical monster that crash-landed from the stars. Fighting to get their wounded comrades help, they attempt to outrun the machine as it relentlessly pursues them. By the end, it becomes clear that humanity is at war.

War Machine may not be as thrilling as Predator, but it comes from similar bones and (for the most part) sticks the landing. The juxtaposition of Ritchson’s service in Afghanistan with this new intergalactic warfare is fascinating, especially as he works through the trauma of one while surviving the other. War Machine is a great watch if you’re looking for something quick but engaging on a free evening, and it looks like we may even get a sequel down the line.

5

‘Man of Steel’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros.

Alright, now this one may seem like a strange pick on the surface since Superman (Henry Cavill) is not a member of the military. However, Zack Snyder‘s DC Extended Universe begins with the U.S. Army getting involved with the titular Man of Steel the moment an alien threat shows up in Earth’s orbit. In fact, Snyder even pits the military against General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his elite Kryptonian army, with Man of Steel being the first live-action Superman feature to utilize the U.S. Department of Defense in the making of.

Between the Man of Steel working alongside the military to characters like U.S. Air Force Colonel Nathan Hardy (Christopher Meloni) taking down a handful of invaders single-handedly, there’s enough here in between the superheroics to keep any Armed Forces enthusiast satisfied. It may not be your conventional military vs. alien picture, but Man of Steel honors real-world heroes while highlighting DC’s flagship wonder. It’s a fine balance with some stellar sci-fi action sequences to boot.

4

‘Starship Troopers’ (1997)

Image via TriStar Pictures

Probably one of the first movies that came to mind when you think of aliens vs. soldiers was Starship Troopers — and for good reason. This semi-satirical, propaganda-inspired take on the military industrial complex pits mankind’s Mobile Infantry against a wave of alien bugs who may (or may not) be threatening to take over our world. Director Paul Verhoeven likely had no idea how beloved this movie would be all these years later — we even counted it among the best sci-fi flicks of the ’90s.

Although undoubtedly a critique of American militarism, Starship Troopers arguably plays better when watched straight as an almost patriotic unification of humanity against a common goal. Of course, there’s a lot wrong with the Federation, but these warriors are an elite band that are easy to get behind, between the unstoppable Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) to the dazzling Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer). Plus, it’s just a ton of fun to watch those alien bugs go splat.

3

‘Edge of Tomorrow’ (2014)

Image via Warner Bros.

We’ve seen Tom Cruise as a member of the military before (hello, Top Gun) and we’ve even seen him go up against alien invaders (Oblivion, anyone?), but if you want both of those ideas in one single place, there’s no better action flick out there than Edge of Tomorrow. Billed as “Live. Die. Repeat.” in some markets, this fast-paced Doug Liman picture thrusts Cruise’s Major William Cage, a P.R. rep with no combat experience, right into the fire alongside recent hero Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt).

As the pair battle this group of “Mimics,” animal-like alien beings that accidentally give Cage the ability to relive the same day after every death. With the knowledge he gains from his multiple lives, we watch as Cage himself grows into a hero, and fights alongside the United Defense Force (UDF) to wipe out all alien invaders. With thrilling battle sequences and a compelling arc for Cruise’ latest on-screen hero, Edge of Tomorrow is so good that fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years.

2

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Of course, this list wouldn’t be remotely complete without James Cameron’s Aliens. Sure, some might argue that Avatar is the better pick, but there’s nothing that beats the Colonel Marines going up against a hive of xenomorphs on an abandoned alien world. Throw in Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, and the whole thing is a recipe for science fiction success topped off by incredible visuals that frighten as much as they do captivate.

Aliens really is the crown jewel of the larger Alien franchise, despite being a sequel. Not only does it offer plenty of alien vs. military showdowns worthy of the name, but characters like Corporal Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn) and the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) made military science fiction cool again at a time when it was not the norm. For so many reasons, Aliens deserves its place here — it may even be the best of the bunch.

1

‘Independence Day’ (1996)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Of course, when it comes to military forces waging war on impending alien invaders, there is perhaps no better movie than Independence Day. Coupling various perspectives, from Air Force pilots and government scientists to the average Joe’s willingness to pick up a weapon and fight, Roland Emmerich outdid himself with this inspiring disaster epic that helped usher in a new wave of sci-fi blockbuster. The stacked cast includes Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, and a host of other great performers.

Independence Day is all you could truly wish for in a movie tackling this caliber of alien vs. military warfare. Not only does it offer an interesting perspective on the inner-workings of the American government at the height of such a crisis, but it’s just too darn exciting to turn off. Even a poor sequel doesn’t dampen our love for the original sci-fi classic, which is an annual tradition for many around the Fourth of July.