Actually, if I remember right, this was released in the summer of 1979, not 1977. I remember because I was a big fan and went to see it several times during its run at the local theatre (I had a tendency to do that with films I really liked, as this was before VCR and DVD players, and I could never be sure when I might see the film again; when they re-released "The Exorcist" in 1980 and it played at our local theatre, I went to see it every single night of its run). "Alien" wasn't all that original; it's basically the same scenario of the B-classic from the 1950's "It: The Terror From Beyond Space" which actually was a re-tread of a story from the E.C. Horror Comics of the early 1950's. Still, it was very effective, and I thought it was a great movie, even though I was never entirely enthused about the "alien" itself or Giger's design. The characters were less characters than they were archetypes, but they were played by such convincing actors that I never doubted their authenticity. Too, the fact that a very shapely Sigourney Weaver spent the last few minutes of the film stripped down to virtually nothing was a very compelling element of the film for this particular teenager in heat. I still hold a high opinion for "Alien" but never really enjoyed the subsequent sequels, although "Aliens" was actually quite good. By the time of the 3rd one, though, I stopped going to see them. For all I know, they're still churning out sequels to it in Hollywood (in fact, I think a recent sequel had the Alien meeting the Predator).

This was the first, and the best of all the others (usually the first is the best because it is a total surprise). The production, photography, direction, editing, even acting are outstanding. The clever and to a point annoying fact that you can never see the alien in its total shape or form (except when is jettisoned into space) was a brilliant move. A classic and a solid foundation for other movies of similar content.

Kind of repetitive with the same scenario: Ripely vs the Aliens