← All listsCurated list · 17 films

Alien Found Footage Movies: UFOs, Abductions and Close Encounters

Strange lights over the trees, a blackout at a family dinner, a signal from deep space. Found footage and UFOs belong together - the shaky camera is exactly how most real sightings look.

These are the alien found footage films on our site, from a tiny 1989 home video that presents itself as genuine evidence to big-budget space missions. They are listed in release order.

  1. 01

    The McPherson Tape (1989)

    Directed by Dean Alioto

    A family birthday party, a blackout and a red light in the sky. One of the very first alien found footage films.

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  2. 02

    Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)

    Directed by Dean Alioto

    The TV remake of The McPherson Tape: a Thanksgiving dinner in Montana, filmed by a teenager as the visitors arrive.

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  3. 03

    Unaware (2010)

    Directed by Sean Bardin, Robert Cooley · 1h 21m

    A couple has his grandparents' Texas ranch to themselves - including the old shed he was never allowed near.

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  4. 04

    Apollo 18 (2011)

    Directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego · 1h 26m

    A secret, cancelled Apollo mission lands on the Moon - and the crew's footage suggests why nobody went back.

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  5. 05

    Report 51 (2013)

    Directed by Alessio Liguori · 1h 40m

    Four friends investigate a strange sighting near the woods and end up fighting to survive. An Italian alien invasion film.

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  6. 06

    Europa Report (2013)

    Directed by Sebastián Cordero

    Six astronauts on the first crewed mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, searching for life under the ice.

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  7. 07

    Skinwalker Ranch (2013)

    Directed by Devin McGinn · 1h 26m

    An investigative team fills a remote Utah ranch with cameras after the owner's son vanishes.

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  8. 08

    Encounters (2014)

    Directed by Anders Bukh

    A Danish film crew disappears in the Swedish forests; a year later, hackers leak what they filmed.

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  9. 09

    Hangar 10 (2014)

    Directed by Daniel Simpson · 1h 27m

    Treasure hunters get lost in Rendlesham Forest, the site of one of Britain's most famous UFO sightings.

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  10. 10

    Earth to Echo (2014)

    Directed by Dave Green · 1h 31m

    Three friends follow strange maps on their phones and find a small robotic alien. The family-friendly one.

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  11. 11

    Alien Abduction (2014)

    Directed by Matty Beckerman · 1h 25m

    A family camping trip near North Carolina's Brown Mountain, known for its strange lights, filmed by their 11-year-old son.

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  12. 12

    Area 51 (2015)

    Directed by Oren Peli · 1h 31m

    Friends try to break into the secret base in the Nevada desert. From Oren Peli, creator of Paranormal Activity.

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  13. 13

    Phoenix Forgotten (2017)

    Directed by Justin Barber · 1h 27m

    Three teenagers chase the real 1997 Phoenix Lights and vanish. Twenty years later, their footage turns up. Produced by Ridley Scott.

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  14. 14

    The Gracefield Incident (2017)

    Directed by Mathieu Ratthe

    A weekend at a remote cabin in Quebec - and a meteorite in the woods that somebody wants back.

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  15. 15

    Skyman (2019)

    Directed by Daniel Myrick · 1h 32m

    A man who says he met aliens as a boy waits for them to return on his 40th birthday. From Blair Witch co-director Daniel Myrick.

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  16. 16

    Out There Halloween Mega Tape (2022)

    Directed by Chris LaMartina · 1h 31m

    A 90s VHS recording of trashy TV, ending with a live investigation of a farm known for alien encounters. The sequel to WNUF Halloween Special.

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  17. 17

    V/H/S/Beyond (2024)

    Directed by Jay Cheel, Jordan Downey, Virat Pal, Justin Martinez, Christian Long, Justin Long, Kate Siegel · 1h 54m

    The sci-fi themed V/H/S, framed by a documentary about alien-encounter tapes.

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