News culture “It turned my brain” Without Star Wars, this legendary sci-fi film rated 93% would never have existed!
Published on 01/17/2025 at 11:00
Share :
It's a groundbreaking science fiction horror film that terrified audiences around the world when it was released in 1979. It might never have seen the light of day without Star Wars! The release of Geroge Lucas' space opera caused shock waves in Hollywood. And among the spectators, a certain Ridley Scott had the click.
The click with Star Wars
His first film as a director, The Duelistsa historical drama set in Napoleonic France, had received critical acclaim and even won the Best First Film award at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival. However, its disappointing box office performance left Scott searching for 'a project that would resonate with a wider audience. Fate intervened when someone recommended Scott see the latest blockbuster, Star Wars. The space opera's innovative special effects and gripping narrative had a profound impact on Scott, leading him to realize that science fiction was the genre of the future. In an interview given to Wired last yearthe director declares:
I had never seen anything like it, this feeling of massive excitement, before and during. It was palpable… I was stunned. Star Wars completely changed my brain.
-
Ridley Scott even adds that when he left the cinema, he even asked himself why he was making a film about Tristan and Yseul. “Things are changing!” he would have exclaimed.
An irrefutable influence today
Alien follows the crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo as they encounter a deadly alien creature that stalks and kills them one by one. Released in 1979, the film was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of that year. The film's success has been attributed to Scott's masterful direction, impressive visual effects, and the terrifying performance of the Xenomorph, the film's iconic antagonist. The film was praised for its intense atmosphere, groundbreaking special effects and strong female lead, played by Sigourney Weaver. Today, the film holds a 93% (press) and 94% (audience) rating on ratings aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to its timeless influence and quality.
Alien went on to spawn a successful franchise, with numerous sequels, prequels and spin-offs, cementing its place as a cornerstone of science fiction cinema. Its impact can be seen in countless films and television shows that followed, inspiring filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling and explore the darkest corners of the human experience in the vastness of space. As for video games, we can notably go to the Metroid series of course or Dead Space. Although they are obviously not the only ones.
France
