Alienis one of those movies whose influence makes it hard to remember how fresh and interesting it was when it came out. In an era oversaturated with vaguely supernatural slashers, this story brought us an intriguing, somewhat claustrophobic, and extremely visceral terror. Its sequel was equally impressive, being one of the few movies ever to genuinely pull off a shift in genre from horror to action, something that normally marks the degradation of a franchise.
The fact that this world can so easily support such different stories is a testament to how well-built it is. To celebratethe release of Alien: Romulus, the next entry in this series, we’ve gotten together a list of the best Alien apparel on the market.
Alien Xenomorph Illustrated Poster T-Shirt
A very clear and intricate image
This cool shirt bears a well-drawn, highly detailed image of the iconic monster that makes the Alien franchise what it is; the menacing xenomorph, scanning for prey as it stalks an unknown location.
There are a lot of things the Alien films do well, but possibly the most notable of them is the monster itself. Designed by H. R. Giger, this amazing, terrifying, and genuinely alien creature’s monstrous bloodlust and horrific life cycle are the core of this franchise.
This is not the only shirt on this list that’s going to have a Xenomorph on it, but this depiction is the most intricate and detailed. Such a clear depiction is slightly incongruous with the restraint alien films generally display for the sake of keeping the creature scary, but boy is this art ever beautiful enough to make up for it.
Aliens Xenomorph Blue Light T-Shirt
Mfw nuking it from orbit is the only way to be sure
This t-shirt once again depicts Alien’s titular monster, this time in a shadowy blue light that makes for fewer details, but has the benefit of making the creature more imposing.
This depiction of the Xenomorph is branded as specifically referring to the hit sequel, Aliens, and its depiction of the Xenomorph is fitting. In the shift from action to horror, Aliens loosened up on how well it hid the Xenomorph, but not completely. There was still some restraint there, and that’s reflected here. We see the shape of the alien clearly, but it’s still largely in shadow, surrounded by an eerie blue light.
Alien 45th Anniversary Xenomorph 1979 Movie Poster In Space T-Shirt
Admittedly, it’s sort of a null point when there’s a spaceship full of air
Released to celebrate the forty-fifth anniversery of the original movie’s release (bet that makes some of you feel old), this shirt bears the iconic tagline of the original movie along with a well-shadowed xenomorph.
Given its importance tothe 80s aesthetic of works like Stranger Things, it’s a bit trippy to remember that the original Alien technically came out in 1979. That means the film has just celebrated its 45th anniversary, an occasion commemorated by several shirts, including this one, bearing the iconic tag line of the original horror film, along with an up-close but still shadowy depiction of its monster.
Alien 45th Anniversary Xenomorph Priority One Logo T-Shirt
The moment our heroes learn they’re screwed
One of the best moments of the original film was the reveal that manifested through this line, when it becomes crystal clear to our characters that they’re up against not just the monster, but the very ship in which they hide.
Another anniversary celebration, this shirt references one of the best moments from the original Alien film, the moment when it’s revealed that the Weyland-Yutani corporation has every intention of sacrificing our main characters to get the Xenomorph for itself.
It’s a dark and brutal twist that ups the stakes in a major way, especially since it comes with a betrayal from one of the characters. The fact that the text is displayed here in a screen-like format makes for a cool reference to the details of that specific moment.
Aliens Xenomorph Chestburster T-Shirt
It’s literally on your chest
This clever shirt takes advantage of its physical position on the body to provide a neat depiction of the most gruesome aspect of the xenomorph’s horrifying parasitoid life cycle.
Perhaps the single most iconic scene from the original Alien is the one wherethe chestburster emergesfrom the film’s first victim. This t-shirt takes advantage of its physical position on the body to create the illusion of a chestburster currently emerging from the wearer’s stomach. The resulting effect is super fun. It’s a joke you have to think about for a moment in order to get, but it’s really neat once you do.
Alien 45th Anniversary Weyland-Yutani Corp Acheron Logo T-Shirt
A vicious corporation willing to do anything for its bottom line (imagine that)
This t-shirt bears the name and logo of Weyland-Yutani, the evil corporation responsible for so much of what goes wrong in the Alien franchise, along with the name of one of its many colonies.
Merch that bears the fictional logos and emblems of in-universe factions can be a lot of fun. From noble houses to nations and armies, it’s often really neat to be able to express your hypothetical loyalty to a fictional organization, whether sincerely or ironically.
That’s exactly the purpose of this product, which bears the logo of the antagonistic Weyland-Yutani corporation, who authored the declaration of crew expendability referenced a few shirts ago. There wouldn’t be any Alien stories without someone to do their job of poking and prod where they ought not in order to release this franchise’s horrors on the world.
Weyland-Yutani Special Services Division T-Shirt
Has fun details without being too busy
Similar to the shirt above, this one bears the logo of the corporation’s enigmatic and sinister special services division. It’s a somewhat more intricate design that makes a more specific reference.
A more specific version of the above, this shirt bears the emblem of the Special Services Division of the Weyland-Yutani corporation, an enigmatic department within it. This department of the company is mysterious enough that it’s hard to write a description of it, because there just isn’t much that anyone knows, but it serves as a secondary antagonistic force in Aliens.
Aliens U.S.S. Sulaco U.S. Colonial Marines T-Shirt
Honestly, it’s just that everyone else is even worse
This t-shirt bears the logo of another faction from the Alien universe. Like most real militaries, they can pass for good guys so long as you don’t learn too much about them.
Maybe you don’t want to associate yourself with the villainous corporation. Perhaps you want to associate with a group that a reasonable person could possibly admire. Well, the colonial marines are here for you, and so is this shirt with their symbol on it. The ship named on this shirt, the U.S.S. Sulaco, is the one that the marines from Aliens are from, meaning this shirt is associated with that specific group, and all the wonderful characters inside it.
FAQ
What are the general abilities of the Xenomorph?
Xenomorphs are very powerful creatures. They’re quite strong. Their blood and saliva are acidic and damage those who touch them, and they have a variety of natural weapons including claws, teeth, and a bladed tail.
What is the difference between a regular Xenomorph and the Xenomorph queen?
Xenomorphs are eusocial, meaning that they’re organized into hives where individuals fall into distinct castes serving different roles within the colony. Ants and bees are two other examples of eusocial animals. Like both of these, xenomorph hives include a queen who is responsible for playing the female reproductive role in the colony. Xenomorph queens also play a leadership role within the colony, something that is not actually true of bee and ant queens, but matches common misconceptions about them.
