Every Steven Spielberg Alien Movie and Where to Watch Them on Streaming 

Few directors have shaped our collective imagination of the world beyond quite like Steven Spielberg. Over a career spanning more than half a century, the filmmaking legend has repeatedly touched on the idea of ‘alien’ again and again. Each time, he has brought forth a new tale, sometimes depicting them as invaders and other times as kind-hearted beings.

His films have defined the genre for generations, and now the master filmmaker is back with yet another gem: Disclosure Day. In fact, actor Josh O’Connor recently described Spielberg’s new film as part of a thematic trilogy alongside Close Encounters and E.T., highlighting just how influential those earlier movies remain. He said to Games Radar,

I don’t want to speak for Steven, but I think there is an element of it being the third in a sort of trio: Close Encounters, E.T., and this, Obviously, War of the Worlds is in there as well, but Steven’s talked about those three.

So, if you are looking to revisit Spielberg’s best alien movies, here’s a list of them and where you can watch them!

1 Firelight (1964)

An ambitious, ultra-low-budget sci-fi thriller, Firelight is Steven Spielberg’s feature film debut that he wrote and directed at the age of 17. The story follows a team of scientists in Arizona as they investigate a series of mysterious, glowing red lights in the sky that are systematically abducting local citizens, animals, and even a neighborhood dog.

The film eventually inspired Spielberg’s 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It was released in Spielberg’s local cinema in Phoenix, Arizona, and the filmmaker later called it one of the five worst films ever made (via Steven Spielberg: The Unauthorised Biography). Today, only about three minutes of surviving clips and fragments exist. Because a complete version no longer lives anywhere in the world, it cannot be streamed on standard commercial platforms.

Firelight is not available on any streaming platform, but a three-minute-long clip can be watched here on YouTube.

2 Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

The first alien film made by Steven Spielberg, it was released nearly half a century ago, yet Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains one of the best sci-fi films ever made. A deeply personal, slow-burning masterpiece about everyday human beings obsessed with a series of UFO sightings, it centered on a blue-collar worker called Roy Neary.

The film portrays first contact as a profound, almost spiritual event. Rather than fearing the unknown, its characters are drawn toward it. Before Close Encounters, most alien movies focused on invasion or conflict. 

But Spielberg changed the tale by taking a more optimistic and curious route, which makes this film no less than revolutionary. It does not treat aliens as an external threat, but as a grand, transcendent mystery.

You can stream Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Peacock or rent it on Prime Video or Apple TV.

3 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial hardly needs an introduction, for it is one of the most wholesome sci-fi family movies ever made. Produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, the film tells the story of a lonely boy named Elliott who befriends a stranded alien and helps him find a way home before the government agents can capture him.

E.T. transformed science fiction by making the alien a friend instead of a threat. But the real magic lies in its emotional core that centers on friendship, family, and unlikely connections. 

Backed by a legendary John Williams score and an unforgettable combination of practical puppet work and raw heart, it remains a timeless masterclass in suburban fantasy. That is why it still continues to resonate with new generations decades later.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial can be rented on Prime Video or Apple TV. 

4 A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Loosely based on Brian Aldiss’ short story Supertoys Last All Summer Long, A.I. Artificial Intelligence isn’t exactly an alien movie, but it earns a place for the way it ends. The film follows David, an advanced robotic child programmed to love. 

Thousands of years after humanity disappears, highly evolved beings discover David and uncover the story of human civilization. While these turned out to be evolved machines rather than extraterrestrials, the concept is interesting enough to earn a place here. 

The film might just be Spielberg’s most underrated sci-fi film ever. The final act remains one of the most emotional endings in Spielberg’s entire career, and that is why it is a must-watch for fans of the filmmaker.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence can be streamed on Hulu or Disney+. 

5 War of the Worlds (2005)

Based on H.G. Wells 1898 novel War of the Worlds, Steven Spielberg’s adaptation stars Tom Cruise, along with a narration by Morgan Freeman. The story follows Cruise’s character, who is a divorced father trying to protect his children during a catastrophic alien invasion. Unlike Spielberg’s other alien films, this one purely focuses on fear, utter chaos, and survival.

This time, the aliens are not curious visitors or misunderstood beings but relentless invaders who stop at nothing to destroy and plunge entire civilization. What makes this even more terrifying is that the story is told from the ground level, focusing on ordinary people trying to survive the catastrophe. 

It is relentless, genuinely terrifying, and features some of the most jaw-dropping sound design and scale pieces in modern science fiction.

War of the Worlds can be streamed on Paramount+. 

6 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

The fourth Indiana Jones film took the franchise in a surprising direction by incorporating extraterrestrial mythology. The film follows Indiana Jones investigating a mysterious crystal skull linked to ancient beings known as the Interdimensional Ones, whose origins are heavily implied to be alien in nature.

One of the most divisive films in Steven Spielberg’s filmography, the alien concept stirred up quite a controversy among fans of the franchise. Yet, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has aged better than its reputation suggests. By taking Indy’s adventures from biblical archaeology into 1950s pulp sci-fi, culminating in the literal reveal of interdimensional “saucer men” and a spinning UFO, the film is a reflection of the era in which it was made. 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull can be streamed on Paramount+ or Disney+.

7 Disclosure Day (2026)

Disclosure Day marks Steven Spielberg’s return to the genre. His latest project follows a whistleblower who uncovers evidence of extraterrestrial life and becomes entangled in a vast conspiracy designed to keep the truth hidden. Being described as a spiritual companion to Close Encounters and E.T, the film focuses more on discovery and revelation than invasion. 

Moreover, the real threat comes from the government rather than alien life. Questions about government secrecy, first contact, and humanity’s reaction to discovering extraterrestrial life are all central to the story.

A sharp, paranoid, and highly realistic film that also tackles global geopolitical conflicts, its plot is what the general public has been fascinated with for a long time: are aliens real, and are governments keeping the real truth hidden? Approaching alien life with curiosity rather than fear, the film offers an interesting perspective that every sci-fi fan would love.

Disclosure Day is scheduled to be released in theaters across the United States on June 12, 2026, and is expected to be released on Peacock first, roughly 90 to 120 days after its opening day. 

Ratings (as per June 11, 2026)

Movie Title	Release Year	Core Alien Vibe	Streaming Platform
Firelight	1964	Alien Encounter / Invasion / Mystery	NA	NA
Close Encounters of the Third Kind	1977	Awe-Inspiring / Mystical	Rent on Prime Video / Apple TV	91% / 85% RT 7.6 IMDb
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial	1982	Heartwarming / Family-Centric	Rent on Prime Video / Apple TV	99% / 72% RT 7.8 IMDb
A.I. Artificial Intelligence	2001	Sci-Fi / Advanced Species	Streamed on Hulu / Disney+	76% / 64% RT 7.2 IMDb
War of the Worlds	2005	Visceral / Survival Horror	Paramount+	76% / 42% RT 6.6 IMDb
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull	2008	Action / Adventure / Alien Invasion	Paramount+ or Disney+	77% / 53% RT 6.2 IMDb
Disclosure Day	2026	Paranoid / Political Thriller	In Theaters	83% / NA RT 6.9 IMDb

Well, which of these Steven Spielberg alien movies will you be watching first? Let us know in the comments below.

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