Physical Media Releases (Alien) Alien (1979)
The film has been released on every major home video format since 1980
Alien has one of the longest and most detailed home video histories of any film, with significant releases on VHS, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD. Each generation of format brought new transfers, new bonus features, and — in the case of the 2003 Director's Cut — a different version of the film itself.
VHS: the rental era (1980-1999)
The first home video release was a 17-minute Super 8 digest version for home projectionists, followed by a full VHS release from Magnetic Video in 1980. CBS/FOX Video issued two subsequent editions (1983, 1984), all containing the theatrical cut. 20th Century Fox Video released further VHS editions in 1992 and 1999. A VHS box set containing Alien, Aliens, and Alien 3 was released in facehugger-shaped packaging — a collector's item that has aged better as an object than as a viewing format. All three films received THX-certified widescreen VHS releases in 1997. (careful4spoilers, wikipedia)
LaserDisc: the first supplementary materials (1981-1992)
The standard LaserDisc appeared in 1981 (US) and 1982 (UK). A standalone LaserDisc of the documentary Giger's Alien was released on March 21, 1987. The most significant LaserDisc edition was the Special Collector's Edition (October 8, 1992), which included ten deleted scenes, seven outtakes, conceptual artwork, production photos, and behind-the-scenes footage — the first time much of this material had been commercially available. (careful4spoilers)
DVD: the 20th Anniversary and the Director's Cut (1999-2004)
The 20th Anniversary Edition (June 1, 1999, US) was the first major DVD release. It included Ridley Scott's audio commentary, an isolated Jerry Goldsmith score track, ten deleted scenes, and storyboard galleries.
The Director's Cut two-disc set (January 6, 2004, US) was the landmark home video release. It contained both the original theatrical cut and Scott's 2003 Director's Cut — which restored the "cocooned Dallas" scene and trimmed several seconds elsewhere, running about one minute shorter than the theatrical version. Bonus features included expanded audio commentary with cast and crew, the feature-length documentary The Beast Within: The Making of Alien, screenplay materials, and additional behind-the-scenes content. Scott has stated that he considers the theatrical version the definitive cut and that the "Director's Cut" label was a marketing decision. (careful4spoilers, wikipedia)
Blu-ray: high definition and the Anthology set (2010-2014)
The standard Blu-ray (May 10, 2011, US) included both cuts of the film with multiple audio commentaries and isolated score tracks. It was also available as part of the Alien Anthology box set alongside Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien Resurrection, with approximately sixty hours of bonus material across the four films.
A 35th Anniversary Edition (October 7, 2014) repackaged the same Blu-ray content with updated artwork. (careful4spoilers)
4K UHD: the 40th Anniversary restoration (2019)
The 40th Anniversary 4K UHD Edition (April 1, 2019) presented the film in 2160p resolution with HDR10 high-dynamic-range. It includes both the theatrical and Director's Cut versions on 4K UHD disc and on standard Blu-ray, retaining all previously released bonus features: audio commentary from Scott, cast and crew commentary, isolated Goldsmith score, deleted and extended scenes, and the Beast Within documentary. This remains the definitive physical media release as of 2026. (hd report, careful4spoilers)
Release timeline
| Year | Format | Edition | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | VHS | Magnetic Video | First home video release |
| 1981 | LaserDisc | Standard | Theatrical cut |
| 1992 | LaserDisc | Special Collector's | 10 deleted scenes, outtakes, artwork |
| 1997 | VHS | THX Widescreen | Certified widescreen transfer |
| 1999 | DVD | 20th Anniversary | Scott commentary, isolated score |
| 2004 | DVD | Director's Cut (2-disc) | Both cuts, Beast Within documentary |
| 2011 | Blu-ray | Standard / Anthology | Both cuts, HD transfer |
| 2014 | Blu-ray | 35th Anniversary | Repackage of 2011 disc |
| 2019 | 4K UHD | 40th Anniversary | HDR10, both cuts, all extras |