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James Cameron’s sci-fi horror masterpiece, Aliens, is marking its 40th anniversary this year.
Motherhood has always been a key theme throughout the franchise. The original Alien film, directed by Ridley Scott and released in June 1979, challenged traditional gender roles when Kane (John Hurt) became the first human to give birth to a Xenomorph in the unforgettable chest-bursting scene. When Cameron’s sequel hit theaters on July 18, 1986, he delved deeper into this theme, amplifying the visceral body horror and emotional trauma.
At the heart of Aliens is the stark contrast between Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) heroic resilience and the terrifying reproductive instincts of the Xenomorph Queen. Interestingly, Sigourney Weaver, now 76, recently shared that she is often mistaken for fellow Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, who is 79.
The story picks up with Ripley awakening from hypersleep, having survived her initial encounter with the Alien. In the director’s cut, she’s shown a photograph of her late daughter, Amanda Ripley-whom she never saw again after spending 57 years in stasis.
After coping with this profound loss, Ripley is recruited by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation to assist a squad of Colonial Marines investigating the terraforming colony on LV-426, which has been overrun by Xenomorphs.
During the mission, Ripley becomes a surrogate mother to Newt (Carrie Henn), the sole survivor of the colony’s massacre. When Newt is kidnapped by the aliens, Ripley confronts the Alien Queen just as she is giving birth to a new generation of Xenomorphs.
In a memorable and fierce moment, Ripley shouts, “Get away from her, you b—-!” as she fires her Pulse Rifle at the Queen, fiercely protecting Newt.
In a discussion with fellow director Robert Rodriguez for Variety’s Directors on Directors series, Cameron reflected on the theme of motherhood in Aliens and his film Avatar. He explained that while society often underestimates pregnant women’s strength and athleticism, history tells us otherwise.
Cameron said, “It doesn’t happen in our society-probably hasn’t happened for hundreds of years. But I guarantee you, back in the day, women had to fight for survival and protect their children, and it didn’t matter if they were pregnant.
And pregnant women are more capable of being a lot more athletic than we, as a culture, acknowledge. I thought, ‘Let’s take the real boundaries off.’
To me, it was the last bastion that you don’t see. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel – all these other amazing women come up, but they’re not moms, and they’re not pregnant while they’re fighting evil.”
Aliens remains highly acclaimed, boasting a 93% audience and critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer praised the film for “upping the action and stakes with characters you care about,” highlighting Ripley’s continued strength as a character.
Another called it “a perfect sequel to a perfect movie,” contrasting the original’s slow-burn horror with Aliens’ intense, action-packed thrills. A third described it as a “work of art,” applauding its engaging characters and relentless intensity from start to finish.
As Aliens celebrates four decades, its blend of horror, action, and profound themes continues to captivate audiences and inspire filmmakers worldwide.