Five movies about friendly Aliens!
Last updated: July 30, 2026
Forget blown-up landmarks and a subdued humanity reluctantly kneeling before its new masters. Today, the threat from outer space is no threat at all—just pure, unconditional love. Today, dear reader, we're looking at movies featuring friendly aliens. Cozy, isn't it?
The threat from outer space has always been a rewarding subject for filmmakers. Everyone can relate to the fear of the unknown, and what could be more unknown than the cold darkness of space? Today, however, we're turning that idea on its head and seeing our curious visitors as friends rather than enemies. So today's recommendations are five movies with friendly aliens.
E.T. (1982)
Let's start with the film that's top of mind for just about everyone: E.T. The adorable little brown humanoid captured audiences' hearts in 1982 and features some of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. This timeless classic is directed by Steven Spielberg.
READ MORE: How Heist Films Entertain TV Fans
A cute little alien ends up stranded on Earth and is discovered by ten-year-old Elliott. Naturally, he brings his unusual new friend home and keeps him hidden from his family. E.T. is a story about friendship across intergalactic borders and the magic of childhood.
Paul (2011)
Paul is essentially a modern comedy version of E.T. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg both wrote the screenplay and star in this wonderfully charming film which, in true Frost and Pegg fashion, delivers plenty of laughs while never losing its heart.
Comic book geeks Graeme and Clive hit the road and make their way to the legendary Area 51. There, the pair stumble upon a genuine alien: Paul. Together, the trio embarks on an adventure that could change our world forever.
The Iron Giant (1999)
Eleven-year-old Hogarth Hughes is an unusually lonely boy. But his entire world is turned upside down when a gigantic metallic colossus arrives in his neighborhood. Hogarth has finally found a new friend—albeit one with a few quirks. After all, it's not every day your best friend has the power to destroy the entire planet.
The Iron Giant is a modern animated classic from Warner Bros., directed by Brad Bird. It struggled to find an audience upon its initial release but has since earned its place as one of animation's most beloved classics.
Arrival (2016)
Aliens have landed across the globe, and the world's governments are paralyzed. Massive spacecrafts hover above the Earth, and the fear of an intergalactic war is overwhelming. To uncover the visitors' intentions, a linguist is brought in to somehow bridge the communication gap.
Arrival is an extraordinary science fiction film with far more in common with Close Encounters of the Third Kind than Independence Day. It's a stunning, mature, and emotionally devastating film that I simply cannot recommend highly enough.
Cocoon (1985)
Cocoon is a warm story about humanity and coming to terms with the final chapter of life. Director Ron Howard uses aliens to say something profound about us as people, and he does so brilliantly.
The story follows a group of retirees living in a retirement community in Florida who discover a very unusual swimming pool. After taking a dip in its mysterious waters, they begin to grow younger. It turns out that a group of aliens has hidden mysterious cocoons beneath the surface.
