His name is now synonymous with big-budget blockbusters (and even bigger box-office), but there was a time when James Cameron was not the king of the world. Coming off Piranha Part Two: The Spawning, he was working on The Terminator when he became interested in a follow-up to Ridley Scott‘s 1979 Alien. An unproven director at that time, he had to wait his chance until his Arnold Schwarzenegger-led sci-fi debuted to acclaim and success. Finally, seven years after Scott’s film (a lengthy time by today’s Hollywood standards), Aliens hit theaters on July 18th, 1986.
To celebrate today’s anniversary, we’ve dug up an exhaustive documentary clocking in at over three hours that dissects every aspect imaginable in the film. Directed by Charles de Lauzirika, Superior Firepower: The Making of Aliens was released in 2003 and included on the must-have Alien Anthology Blu-ray set (pick it up here), but for those that don’t want to pop it in, it’s available in full in HD. Featuring Cameron, artist Syd Mead, Sigourney Weaver, composer James Horner and many other crew members, it’s necessary viewing for fans and should hold Avatar groupies over until the much-delayed sequels.
What are your favorite moments from Aliens? When did you first see it?