Steven Spielberg has always approached aliens in different ways. Sometimes they are gentle beings, other times they throw the world into chaos. He’s such a diverse auteur who’s made films about the holocaust, dinosaurs, the military, sharks, scamsters, and more.
But his fascination with aliens cannot be beat, in fact, he’s the one who got the rest of us on board to be more curious about a potential lifeform that doesn’t come from Earth. So, I decided to rank every Spielberg alien movie based purely on one thing: rewatch value. And let’s just say that some have gotten better with age, while others have become even more haunting!
5. A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)
A still from A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) | Credits: DreamWorks Pictures
Watching A.I. Artificial Intelligence feels a bit unsettling because Steven Spielberg made a movie about it, long before it was mainstream. We follow David, a highly advanced robotic child who is programmed to love like a real human being.
But he’s abandoned by the family who adopts him and goes on this heartwrenching journey to become “real.” I love how Spielberg has made a sci-fi that’s so emotionally tragic, and I’ve included this one on the list because of how alien the world feels despite there being no traditional extraterrestrials.
We encounter“Specialists” at the end, and though they aren’t technically aliens, they do feel otherworldly. The reason I’ve kept it at the bottom of this ranking is that it gets more haunting after every rewatch, and not everyone might be into that!
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
A still from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
I always felt that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was unfairly dismissed, simply because Steven Spielberg and George Lucas decided to take the franchise into alien territory. Harrison Ford reprised his role after nearly two decades, and this time around, we saw his Indiana Jones in a Cold War-era adventure that featured Soviet agents, psychic experiments, and ancient ruins.
So the otherworldly creatures in this movie are not aliens but interdimensional beings (which some might also call aliens, and they honestly wouldn’t be that wrong). The crystal skull mythology drives the entire movie, so it does make it kind of impossible to separate it from extraterrestrial influence. It’s not the best of Spielberg’s work, but one can certainly rewatch it for the score and cinematography.
3. War of the Worlds (2005)
War of the Worlds is probably Spielberg’s most terrifying alien movie because it strips away the sense of wonder we’ve associated with them and replaces it with panic, destruction, and survival. Action star Tom Cruise appears as Ray Ferrier, a dockworker trying to protect his child from alien invasion. I personally loved Dakota Fanning’s performance in this. She played Ray’s terrified daughter and was so convincing!
What makes this film rewatchable for me is how grounded everything is, despite the massive alien spectacle, because we experience the invasion from street level. I also enjoy how intense War of the Worlds is, and the tension rarely lets up. Spielberg made some divisive story choices near the end, but I still think it’s among his strongest modern sci-fi features.
2. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
A still from Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Credits: Columbia Pictures
If you want to see the purest representation of what Steven Spielberg’s fascination with aliens looks like, watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He approaches extraterrestrials with a sense of awe instead of fear in this movie, which follows Roy Nearly, an ordinary electrical worker whose life spirals after witnessing a UFO encounter.
Strange visions begin to consume him, and he becomes fixated with the Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, unknowingly moving toward humanity’s first contact with alien life. Unlike War of the Worlds, aliens aren’t invaders here but almost divine beings. I feel like every rewatch of this movie is rewarding because each time it hits you just how emotionally rich and layered Close Encounters of the Third Kind is! It leaves me with a sense of optimism, and I hope it will do the same for you!
1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
A still from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial | Credits: Amblin Entertainment
To me, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is the definitive Steven Spielberg movie because it captures everything that makes his approach to the genre so special! There’s wonder, loneliness, friendship, and hope, not just a mere cash grab over aliens. The film follows Elliot, a lonely child who befriends a stranded alien left behind on Earth.
He secretly shelters the E.T. inside his home, and the two develop an emotional connection as Elliot tries to help contact the alien’s ship and return home. This is an endlessly rewatchable movie, and I am still moved by how the alien in this is so deeply compassionate and almost magical. More than anything, it makes me hopeful about the possibility of first contact!
Disclosure Day (Bonus)
A still from Disclosure Day | Credits: Amblin Entertainment
Disclosure Day already feels like Steven Spielberg returning to the exact genre that defined so much of his legacy, and honestly, that alone is so exciting. While the movie has not been released yet, the trailers suggest that he will revisit a far darker and more paranoid perspective of aliens in this one.
Emily Blunt leads the cast, and her character is literally glitching while reading out a news report. We also see a man who’s ready to expose big secrets about extraterrestrials, and hence the title Disclosure Day! This is Spielberg’s first truly alien-focused film after War of the Worlds in 2005, and I am eager to see how his take on this concept has changed. I already believe that people will be going in for repeat viewings to experience the full scope of this film.
TitleCastRotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer | Popcornmeter)(as of May 17, 2026)Where to watch (USA)A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O’Connor, William Hurt76% | 64% Fubo, KanopyIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen77% | 53% Paramount+, Disney+War of the Worlds (2005)Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, Miranda Otto76% | 42% Disney+, Hulu Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr91% | 85% Prime Video (rent and buy)E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote93% | 72% Prime Video (rent and buy)Disclosure Day (Bonus)Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman DomingoNA Releasing in theaters on June 12, 2026
Here are some questions that readers might have:
Which of these movies has won Oscars?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind won 2 Oscars, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has 4, in technical departments like sound, editing, etc.
What is Steven Spielberg’s best alien movie?
For most viewers, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is considered Spielberg’s best alien movie because of its emotional storytelling and beautiful visuals.
Which Spielberg alien movie is the scariest?
War of the Worlds is widely considered Spielberg’s darkest and most terrifying alien movie due to its grounded portrayal of destruction and survival.
What I love most about Spielberg’s alien features is that they never feel like it’s all about the entity alone. Beneath the UFOs and invasions, there is always a story about fear, hope, childhood, grief, and humanity itself. So, which of these is your favorite? And are you looking forward to watching Disclosure Day?
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