World UFO Day (July 2): 10 movies to watch this weekend

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) | Directed by Steven Spielberg

An ordinary lineman becomes obsessed with mysterious visions after witnessing a UFO, while a single mother searches for her abducted son. Their parallel journeys lead them to Wyoming's Devil's Tower, where humanity experiences its first peaceful contact with an extraterrestrial civilization.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) | Directed by Steven Spielberg

When a gentle alien is stranded on Earth, lonely 10-year-old Elliott befriends him and forms an extraordinary emotional bond. As government agents close in and E.T.'s health deteriorates, Elliott and his siblings race to help their friend return home.

Contact (1997) | Directed by Robert Zemeckis

SETI astronomer Dr. Ellie Arroway detects an intelligent radio signal from the Vega star system, revealing blueprints for a mysterious machine. As science, politics and faith collide, she embarks on a journey that could forever change humanity's understanding of the universe.

Arrival (2016) | Directed by Denis Villeneuve

When twelve alien spacecraft appear across the globe, linguist Dr. Louise Banks is recruited to decipher the visitors' complex language. As communication deepens, she gains a startling new perception of time that could determine humanity's fate.

War of the Worlds (2005) | Directed by Steven Spielberg

A divorced dockworker struggles to protect his two children when Earth comes under attack by towering alien war machines. As civilization collapses around them, the family fights to survive one of humanity's most devastating invasions.

Signs (2002) | Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

A former priest grappling with personal tragedy finds his family's isolated farm at the centre of a global alien invasion after mysterious crop circles begin appearing in the fields. As fear closes in, he must confront both the unknown and his shaken faith.

The Vast of Night (2019) | Directed by Andrew Patterson

Set in 1950s New Mexico, this atmospheric sci-fi mystery follows a teenage switchboard operator and a radio DJ investigating a mysterious audio frequency. Their search uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving secret military activity and possible extraterrestrial visitors.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) | Directed by Robert Wise

An alien emissary named Klaatu arrives on Earth with his powerful robot, Gort, to deliver a stark warning: humanity must abandon its violent ways or face the consequences. The Cold War classic remains one of science fiction's most influential films.2008 remake: Directed by Scott Derrickson.

Alien (1979) | Directed by Ridley Scott

The crew of the commercial spaceship Nostromo answers a distress signal from a remote moon, unknowingly bringing aboard a lethal extraterrestrial organism.

As the creature evolves into a relentless predator, the crew is hunted one by one in one of cinema's defining sci-fi horror stories.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) | Directed by Dan Trachtenberg

After a car accident, Michelle wakes in an underground bunker where its owner insists the outside world has become uninhabitable. As she plots her escape from her captor, she discovers that an even greater threat may be waiting above ground.