Aliens poster

Aliens

1986137 minutesR
5.9
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.4IMDb
🍅 94%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 84/100Metacritic
🎬 8.0TMDb
📊 9.2Popularity
🏆Won 2 Oscars. 20 wins & 25 nominations total
Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror
Directed by: James Cameron
57 years after Ellen Ripley had a close encounter with the reptilian alien creature from the first movie, she is called back, this time, to help a group of highly trained colonial marines fight off against the sinister extraterrestrials. But this time, the aliens have taken over a space colony on the moon LV-426. When the colonial marines are called upon to search the deserted space colony, they later find out that they are up against more than what they bargained for. Using specially modified machine guns and enough firepower, it's either fight or die as the space marines battle against the aliens. As the Marines do their best to defend themselves, Ripley must attempt to protect a young girl who is the sole survivor of the nearly wiped out space colony.

Box Office

Budget:$18.5M
Revenue:$183.3M
Profit:$164.8M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision3.3/10
Emotional Arc Impact7.5/10
Thematic Consistency7/10
Overall Score5.9/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Aliens Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
10 min
3
Set-Up
25 min
4
Catalyst
40 min
5
Debate
55 min
6
Break Into Two
65 min
7
B Story
75 min
8
Fun and Games
90 min
9
Midpoint
100 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
115 min
11
All Is Lost
125 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
130 min
13
Break Into Three
132 min
14
Finale
135 min
15
Final Image
137 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Ripley waking from hypersleep, alone in space. Haunted by nightmares of alien encounter. Isolation and trauma established.

#2

Theme Stated

10 min

Theme of confronting past trauma, motherhood, and courage. Ripley warned of dangers ahead by corporate agents.

#3

Set-Up

25 min

Ripley meets with company officials. Colonists on LV-426 unresponsive. Ripley struggles with authority and disbelief. Marines introduced. Stakes established: Alien threat, human error.

#4

Catalyst

40 min

Ripley convinced to accompany team to LV-426. Arrival on planet signals danger. Alien eggs discovered. Action imminent.

#5

Debate

55 min

Should Ripley trust company and soldiers? Tension with marines and cautionary instincts. Ripley debates risk vs. responsibility.

#6

Break Into Two

65 min

Alien attacks begin. Marines overrun. Ripley takes leadership. Fight for survival starts. Emotional stakes increase as characters die.

#7

B Story

75 min

Ripley and Newt relationship. Maternal instincts emerge. Protecting Newt personalizes the mission. Emotional depth added.

#8

Fun and Games

90 min

Marines attempt defense. Ripley fights aliens. Tense combat sequences. Suspense and horror. Exploration of xenomorph behavior.

#9

Midpoint

100 min

Aliens swarm colony. Many Marines killed. Ripley escapes with Newt. False victory lost: survival at high cost. Stakes peak, danger maximum.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

115 min

Corporate interests clash. Alien queen discovered. Ripley must face ultimate threat. All remaining characters under extreme danger.

#11

All Is Lost

125 min

Newt captured by alien queen. Ripley cornered. Apparent hopelessness. Emotional low point.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

130 min

Ripley reflects on loss and fear. Musters courage and maternal resolve. Prepares final confrontation.

#13

Break Into Three

132 min

Ripley confronts Alien Queen using power loader exosuit. Synthesis of fear and courage. Final battle begins.

#14

Finale

135 min

Ripley defeats Alien Queen, rescues Newt. Combines strategic thinking, strength, and maternal protection. Victory achieved.

#15

Final Image

137 min

Ripley and Newt escape planet. Safe in dropship. Growth complete: trauma confronted, maternal bond affirmed, courage proven. End on hope and relief.