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Alien (1979)

Directed by Ridley Scott · Cinematography by Derek Vanlint

R117 min65 frames

HorrorScience Fiction

In space no one can hear you scream.

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Stills, screencaps & shots from Alien

16 of 65 frames — the full set is searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, color and mood with a free account.

Alien (1979) movie still: wide — A high-tech, white-walled cryogenic room features four pods arranged around a central control console. Several men…Alien (1979) movie still: medium — A dark, cramped technical passage features exposed metal pipes and industrial wall control consoles. A lone…Alien (1979) movie still: establishing — A dark industrial factory space contains large mechanical apparatuses suspended by iron chains. Blue light…Alien (1979) movie still: medium — Three astronauts in detailed mechanical space suits stand side by side in total darkness. Their helmet-mounted…Alien (1979) movie still: closeup — An interior space within a dark, metallic environment with minimal light visible. A woman with dark wavy hair…Alien (1979) movie still: closeup — A dark, cramped technological space featuring complex overhead wiring and metallic paneling. A black helmet with…Alien (1979) movie still: establishing — A dark, curved alien structure features organic, ribbed walls receding into deep shadows. A thin horizontal…Alien (1979) movie still: medium — A futuristic compartment is covered in walls of repetitive grid-like backlit light panels. A man sits at a…Alien (1979) movie still: establishing — A dimly lit, narrow industrial corridor on a spaceship features exposed pipes and metal machinery.…Alien (1979) movie still: wide — A dark, intricate alien chamber features bio-mechanical wall textures and central technical apparatus. A large…Alien (1979) movie still: medium — A dimly lit industrial cockpit with metallic paneling and electronic instrumentation in the background. Three…Alien (1979) movie still: closeup — A dark space focuses on the profile of a man's face. Moisture coats the skin as he remains still with closed eyes.Alien (1979) movie still: medium — A dark, cramped technological control room with glowing consoles and metallic machinery elements. Multiple people…Alien (1979) movie still: establishing — A stark white modular spaceship airlock features a central doorway and heavy mechanical bulkheads. The…Alien (1979) movie still: medium — A utilitarian spaceship mess hall features white panel walls with mechanical geometric textures. Three…Alien (1979) movie still: closeup — A close up of a face peering from inside a white helmet visor. The dark interior shows a woman looking intently…
Alien (1979) — © Brandywine Productions, Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Alien — official trailer

What is Alien about?

During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host is birthed.

Where can you watch Alien?

US availability for Alien (1979). Data by JustWatch, listings on TMDB. Availability changes — check the provider for current listings.

Who stars in Alien?

Who made Alien?

What does the cinematography of Alien look like?

Across 65 sampled frames, Alien builds its coverage from close-ups (35% of the sample), with medium shots (31%) carrying much of the rest. Cinematographer Derek Vanlint keeps 74% of it in soft, low-key light. 63% of the frames play at night or in the failing light of dusk. Anamorphic glass shapes the frame. Focus stays shallow in 65% of the frames, isolating subjects from their surroundings.

What is the color palette of Alien?

The dominant colors across the sampled frames of Alien (1979) are #0f1010, #2f2e2f, #4d4d4c, #0f1926, #d2d1d0, #f4f5f6 — measured from the per-frame color data FrameThrower extracts for every film.

  • #0f1010
  • #2f2e2f
  • #4d4d4c
  • #0f1926
  • #d2d1d0
  • #f4f5f6

See the full Alien colour palette — every hex with its share, plus warmth, saturation and luminance.

Alien ranks in

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Techniques in this film

More films by Ridley Scott

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