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The Rewatchables · August 31, 2026

Aliens

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan host Sean Fennessey producer Craig Horlbeck theme Summer of CR

What aged best: Slow-burn structure, practical craft and the ensemble
Casting what-if: Weaver negotiations
Top ten: The ten best sequels, plus the hosts’ additions

All 44 categories

Who won the movie James Cameron / Sigourney Weaver
Roger Ebert
Dion Waiters Award Al Matthews as Apone
“That Guy” Award Mark Rolston

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award · 1:29:53

Franchise direction, Vietnam comparison and Ripley’s final line

Aliens may be the best entry while constraining the franchise around Ripley

Aliens may be a better Vietnam film than Full Metal Jacket, without necessarily being a better movie

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson · 2:07:41

Avoid returning to personal hell

Do not return to your personal hell

The film

Aliens (1986)

Directed by James Cameron · Science fiction

137 minutes

IMDb Letterboxd JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Sigourney Weaver Ellen Ripley

Michael Biehn Dwayne Hicks

Paul Reiser Carter J. Burke

Lance Henriksen Bishop

Carrie Henn Rebecca "Newt" Jorden

Bill Paxton Hudson

William Hope Gorman

Ricco Ross Frost

Al Matthews Apone

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

55:38

Most Rewatchable Scene

Motion trackers / ceiling reveal; alien-hive ambush

In the discussion (12)

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:38Read transcript

Ripley’s nightmare — Bill Simmons
Meeting the Marines, Vasquez’s pull-ups and Bishop’s knife trick — Bill Simmons
Discovering the facehuggers and Newt — Bill Simmons
Finding the cocooned colonist and the hive ambush — Bill Simmons
Ripley taking control of the armored vehicle — Bill Simmons
Bishop volunteering to reach the transmitter — Bill Simmons
Motion-tracker countdown and aliens above the ceiling — Bill Simmons
Hudson’s last stand and Gorman/Vasquez’s shared death — Bill Simmons
Newt in the water — Bill Simmons
Ripley rescuing Newt from the egg chamber — Bill Simmons
Power-loader finale, Bishop torn apart and the airlock rescue — Bill Simmons
Two preferences favor the tracker sequence; the ambush is another explicit preference — Bill Simmons

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1:04:20

The most 1986 thing

Vietnam echoes and 1986 Hollywood conventions

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:04:20Read transcript

Vietnam-war overtones
A female action lead treated as a novel proposition
Michael Biehn replacing James Remar
Burke’s contemporary-looking blazer
Metroid and the female-hero reveal are linked to Ripley

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1:07:43

What’s Aged the Best?

Slow-burn structure, practical craft and the ensemble

In the discussion (11)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:43Read transcript

An hour-long build before the first sustained alien action
Timeless hostile-terrain war structure
Physical sets, miniatures and creature effects
The war-focused promotional tagline
Paul Reiser as a comic actor playing a villain
Organic continuation from Alien
Video calling and other simple future technology
Michael Biehn’s screen presence
Hudson and Hicks as contrasting partners
Filming the Marines’ introduction late to capture their familiarity
The finale’s countdown matching elapsed time

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1:15:55

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

Newt in the water; power-loader reveal; ceiling reveal

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:15:55Read transcript

Alien emerging behind Newt
Ripley appearing in the power loader
Hicks lifting the ceiling panel
Paxton leaning into a group shot to confront Burke

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1:19:45

Is There a Better Title for This Movie?

Keep Aliens

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:45Read transcript

The existing title is favored — Bill Simmons
A maternal profanity-based alternative is joked about — Bill Simmons
Cameron’s dollar-sign pitch is recalled — Bill Simmons

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1:21:31

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Burke’s scheme; Newt’s parents; Newt / missing motivation

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:21:31Read transcript

Burke’s plan to bring an alien specimen home is challenged
Newt’s parents bringing children to investigate the derelict ship is questioned
Newt’s prominence and self-assigned nickname are criticized
Ripley’s daughter backstory is defended as crucial motivation in the extended cut

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1:25:52

What’s Aged the Worst?

Vasquez casting and omitted Ripley backstory

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:25:52Read transcript

Jenette Goldstein’s portrayal of a Chicana character is discussed critically — Bill Simmons
Omission of Ripley’s daughter from the theatrical cut — Bill Simmons
James Horner’s compressed scoring schedule — Bill Simmons
The scripted co-ed shower scene and its removal — Bill Simmons
Alien 3 killing Hicks and Newt — Bill Simmons
Later action movies unfavorably compared with Aliens — Bill Simmons

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1:28:38

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Bill Paxton and Vasquez

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:28:38Read transcript

Paxton’s heightened performance is praised — Sean Fennessey
Vasquez’s gestures and physical posing are nominated — Sean Fennessey
No clean final ballot is stated — Sean Fennessey

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1:29:53

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Franchise direction, Vietnam comparison and Ripley’s final line

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:29:53Read transcript

Aliens may be the best entry while constraining the franchise around Ripley
Aliens may be a better Vietnam film than Full Metal Jacket, without necessarily being a better movie
Ripley’s famous final line delivery is criticized; another participant defends it
Craig is invited to prepare for this category in future and has no prepared take here

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1:36:58