10 Movies Every Film Buff Should Have Seen Already

6. Alien (1979)

The phenomenal success of Star Wars in 1977 is impossible to exaggerate, but for film buffs dedicated to learning more about cinema, Alien should be higher on their list of must-see films. Ridley Scott and screenwriter Dan O'Bannon subverted the glossy look of Star Wars just two years after its initial release, creating a grimy, dystopian view of future space travel in Alien that was far more grounded in reality. Anyone who has studied film will be familiar with the symbolism in Alien, but it's still incredible to realize just how layered and intricate the subtext truly is. From sexually charged Freudian imagery to the exploration of motherhood and feminism, the entire Alien franchise is packed with a library's worth of material for students of film and gender to pore over, but what's truly remarkable is that among all this symbolism, Alien is still an incredibly visceral and enjoyable movie to watch. The influential vision of the future depicted in Alien transcends genre, impacting the development of action, horror and science fiction movies even now, decades later. While Scott excels at creating tension throughout the movie, making the alien creature one of the most horrifying creations ever seen in cinema, it's Sigourney Weaver's incredible portrayal of Ellen Ripley that achieves truly iconic status, inspiring a thousand feminist papers and millions of fans worldwide. If you haven't seen Alien yet, make sure you have a spare pair of underwear standing by. Further Recommendations: Halloween (1978), The Thing (1982), Aliens (1986)