The popularization of the sci-fi genre really took off in the 1950s as the nuclear age was dawning, and the space race had just begun. 2019’s sleeper indie hit, The Vast of Night, taps into this nostalgic feeling of the earliest sci-fi origins. Where Nope has the budget to show off its visuals with IMAX flair, The Vast of Night takes just the opposite approach, leaning into the spoken word and stories past word of mouth of pass of the story, building the mystery of what could be above us.
9 The War Of The Worlds Is The Invasion Story That Started Them AllGoing straight to the source of the inspiration of Vast is the Godfather of UFO movies themselves, 1953’s classic, The War of the Worlds. Based on the 1938 H.G. Wells novel, it was first brought to the masses by Citizen Kane himself, Orson Welles, when he adapted it into a radio drama with the unique twist of not mentioning that it was a work of The film finally came to the screen in ’53 in blistering Technicolor as a powerful allegory for the threat of imperialism. If fans dig Nope, seeing UFO cinema’s original big-budget sci-fi masterpiece is well worth their time.
8 War Of The Worlds Is A Menacing Update Of A Classic Typically, remakes don’t measure up to the classics, but leave it to the blockbuster king, Steven Spielberg, to provide a solid remake and then some. War of the Worlds (2005) is a modern update of the original that features some truly terrifying sequences of alien tripods wreaking havoc on the ill-prepared people of Earth.The film also features some top-notch Tom Cruise running, and a creepy turn by Tim Robbins. In one of the most tense sequences of the film, Spielberg uses only the camera and purple light to depict the dread and suspense of an impending invasion along with seeing the worst qualities of people coming to the fore.
7 Close Encounters Of The Third Kind Is An Epic With A Beating Heart
Where in War of the Worlds, the aliens come to do harm, 1983’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind is its counterpoint. Instead of leaving audiences looking to the sky and quaking in fear, it provides some hope about possible extraterrestrial life.Steven Spielberg’s film is maybe the most enduring depiction of connection with another world with nothing but curiosity and goodwill at its core. Spielberg would double down on the audience’s good feelings about visitors from space in a little film called E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Fans of Nope will see Spielberg DNA all over Peele’s latest film.
6 The Day The Earth Stood Still Is A Cautionary Tale That Has Aged Well
Much like Peele’s first two films, Get Out and Us, The Day the Earth Stood Still utilizes genre to provide potent social commentary. From 1951, the film makes beautiful use of science fiction conventions to comment on the problems of the modern world. With a growing Cold War and the idea of assured mutual destruction by nuclear war, the film posits that a higher form in the shape of a UFO or flying saucer is not a threat but an olive branch to humanity to warn of looming self-made danger.Much like Close Encounters, The Day the Earth Stood Still is a hopeful glimpse of the good that could be above us, making it required viewing for sci-fi fans and those looking for some UFO goodness.
5 Independence Day Is The Gold Standard Of Alien Invasion Films

If fans enjoyed Nope but think they would like to see a similar film that turns into a full-blown action film dialed up to the absolute maximum, then look no further than Independence Day. One of the most fun alien action movies of all time; this movie is rock solid popcorn entertainment from the opening frame until the closing credits.Independence Day solidified Will Smith as the A-1 Prime movie star we know and gave us one of the most rousing pre-battle speeches ever recorded. Perhaps the mystery of the UFO is solved relatively quickly in this one, but few audience members didn’t feel the awesome power of the mile-long alien ships looming large over our cities and not be in awe of what they could behold.