--- title: "Aliens: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/aliens/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/aliens" critics_score: 86 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Aliens (1986): what the critics said Critics' score 86 from 11 reviews: 11 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The consensus is strongly positive: most critics welcome James Cameron’s shift from confined horror towards military action, finding that the sequel expands the original without losing its capacity to frighten. Praise centres on Cameron’s control of tension, the physical force of the action and the practical effects. Sigourney Weaver is the clearest point of agreement, with reviews crediting her performance as Ripley with giving the spectacle emotional weight; several also value the character’s resourcefulness and maternal role. The differences concern how much that expansion costs in atmosphere, originality and character. Enthusiasm ranges from wholehearted approval to qualified admiration: The New York Times finds the script thin and overwhelmed by technique, while Slant Magazine admires the action and use of space but objects to archetypal characters and the treatment of gender. Elsewhere, reservations focus on diminished surprise and a preference for the original’s more restrained horror. ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 5/5. This sequel surpasses the original in sheer spectacle as Ripley joins marines to confront colonised aliens in a hi-tech house of horrors. Cameron masterfully controls tension and pace for shocks, suspense and an Oscar-winning fright-fest. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0jzd27/aliens/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 18 July 1986. The film is a superb example of filmmaking craft and intense thriller that delivers on its promise to frighten, though it leaves the viewer drained and anxious rather than entertained. It singles out Sigourney Weaver's strong, sympathetic performance as the thread holding everything together along with the professional special effects. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/aliens-1986) ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic calls Aliens the perfect sequel that expands on the original while standing alone, crediting Cameron's vision and nerve in turning it into a war movie with an army of aliens. They single out the intense, physical execution of the action and Ripley's resourcefulness as a strong female lead. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/empire-essay-aliens-review/) ## Total Film — Kevin Harley Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 October 2014. The critic praises Cameron's sequel for preserving what worked in the original and multiplying it into a war movie, while still delivering horror through sudden encounters and strong scripting. They highlight the maternal themes with Ripley and the ageless practical effects as making it state-of-the-art action-horror. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/aliens-1-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 1986. It is a perfectly honorable sequel that is taut, inexorably paced and successful when Weaver is onscreen, though more blaster action than Gothic future-horror. It singles out Sigourney Weaver as the white-hot core with fine, irascible dialogue and athleticism. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-18-ca-16778-story.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 July 2014. The sequel builds slowly to develop Ripley's multi-dimensional character while escalating the action with hi-tech hardware and hordes of aliens. Cameron's work maintains a tension between masculine and feminine qualities, culminating in an epic battle. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/aliens) ## The New York Times — Walter Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 July 1986. It is a flaming, flashing, crashing blow-'em-up show that keeps you popping from your seat with its effects and perils, though less innovative than the predecessor and with a skimpy script overwhelmed by technique. It singles out the special-effects specialists and Sigourney Weaver's rescue and return to action. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/07/18/movies/film-sigourney-weaver-in-aliens.html) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1985. It proves a very worthy followup that makes up for lack of surprise with sheer volume of thrills and chills. It singles out Sigourney Weaver's smashing job as Ripley and the overall expert craftsmanship, though it notes Ridley Scott had more of an artist's touch. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1985/film/reviews/aliens-1200426985/) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez 15 December 2003. The review calls Aliens a cruder, greedy mega-production where human melodramas take a back seat to kick-ass action sequences, praising Cameron's direction of action and use of space while criticizing archetypal characters and subtextual gender dynamics. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/aliens/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Dennis Fischer 18 July 2017. The critic finds Aliens a wild roller-coaster ride that should attract thrill fans, praising its action and suspense after a slow buildup while noting it reprises concepts from the original but shifts to high-energy set pieces. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/aliens-review-1986-movie-1022037/) ## Paste — Jim Vorel Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2021. Aliens is a perfect example of a bigger and better sequel, reframing the original story within a new action-horror genre twist while preserving corporate bureaucracy themes. It excels through its rowdy space marines, the addition of the alien queen, and Cameron's talent for scaling up stakes effectively. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/horror-movies/aliens-1986-review-sequel-james-cameron) ## Eye for Film — Gator MacReady Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 5 February 2002. The critic praises James Cameron's sequel for expertly balancing action, suspense, and sub-text while delivering relentless tension, shocks, and a strong emotional core through Ripley's surrogate mother relationship with Newt. It highlights the intense marine sequences, the haunting score, and the epic final showdown with the Alien Queen as making it a superior popcorn thriller and one of the greatest action rides. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/aliens-film-review-by-gator-macready) ## Collider — Maggie Boccella Rating 8/10. 19 August 2024. Aliens is a superior film to Alien, offering a thrilling, action-packed take on the xenomorphs and their queen. The diverse cast of characters adds depth and charm, making the crew's fate more impactful and intense. [Read the review](https://collider.com/aliens-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/aliens.md