30 Alien Poster Designs That Will Have Your Chest Bursting!

WRITTEN BY: Roger McDonald

They Mostly Come At Night…Mostly

There are arguably very few film franchises with as passionate a fanbase as the Alien franchise. From the moment sci-fi and horror fans saw that infamous original 1979 Alien poster, they knew they were in for something special. Never had a film attempted to take a jump-scare horror movie so seriously. Director Ridley Scott, however, saw the potential in screenwriter Dan O’Bannon’s seemingly generic B-monster movie script.

Several things make the original Alien film a success. First, Ridley Scott’s dedication to treating the film’s b-movie script like a high-budget cinematic art film. Second, the cast’s commitment to immersing themselves in the scenes to give real performances. Third, the production team’s enthusiasm to create beautifully-detailed sets and costumes. Most importantly, however, was Dan O’Bannon making sure Ridley Scott used H.R. Giger’s morbid and macabre biomechanical artwork as inspiration for the Alien Xenomorph designs.

The minute Ridley Scott saw those designs; he knew he had his creature. In fact, Scott loved Giger’s designs so much that he hired him on to the film’s art department. Giger’s infamous creature design, as well as his Space Jockey, has inspired artists globally and spawned countless fan-inspired Alien poster designs for decades.

Although many regard James Cameron’s 1986 sequel “Aliens” as the best film in the franchise, there would be no franchise without the original. Ridley Scott’s uncompromising vision for the film’s visual aesthetic set a tone that has carried through the entire franchise. Giger’s original designs still inspire recent Alien poster designs, like this 2017 “Alien: Covenant” poster:

Get Away From Her, You Bitch!

As previously mentioned, the Alien fanbase is arguably one of the most passionate fan bases in existence. Why? Because out of 6 main franchise films (with at least one more on the way) and two crossover films (Predaliens, anyone?), only the first two films are widely praised.

Alien3 suffered from too many cooks in the kitchen (A.K.A. producer David Giler thought he could tell director David Fincher what direction the movie should go). Alien: Ressurection even gets panned by its own screenwriter, nerd god Joss Whedon (“Kill me…”).

When Ridley Scott returned to the franchise with the 2012 pre-prequel “Prometheus,” fans complained. They said the film focused too much on the humans and the Engineers instead of the xenomorphs and the androids. Then, for the 2017 follow-up film “Alien: Covenant,” fans complained again. This time, because the film seemed to write off the story of the Engineers and humans, instead focusing on the xenomorphs and androids.

The point is, despite all of this in-house bickering among Alien fans, they remain passionately in love with those face-hugging, chest-bursting, egg-laying, acid-blooded aliens. Every year, talented artists from across the world create new Alien-inspired artwork. And every year, Alien fanboys peruse the isles of their local Comic Con looking to lighten their wallets.

Well, as Phillip J. Fry would say, SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY. Without further adieu, here are 30 of the best Alien poster designs from across the internet!