Many children are fascinated by monsters, dinosaurs, and colorful beasts. When it comes to movies, these well-designed creatures are the perfect characters to keep younger viewers engaged. Aliens feature prominently in adult horror and sci-fi movies, but more loveable extraterrestrials are all over children's media.

In addition, kids' movies often have an energetic and positive tone. They clearly distinguish between right and wrong and usually explore social issues children can relate to. Storylines that incorporate aliens make things much more enjoyable and exciting for younger viewers. At the same time, these movies have a wonderful nostalgic quality that adults would also enjoy.

Updated on March 20th, 2024 by Fawzia Khan: Aliens will never be uninteresting, and the appearance of extraterrestrial creatures is always exciting. Kids movies with alien characters are a genre that is hugely enjoyable for children and adults alike, and this list has been updated with new formatting, extra information, and new images about these films.

10 Monsters Vs. Aliens Is One of DreamWorks' Best Movies

In Monsters Vs. Aliens, an asteroid containing Quantonium lands on Susan on the day of her wedding. Surprisingly, she makes it to the altar before rapidly growing into a giant. The colossal bride is then captured by the US government and made to join a monster team. However, the evil alien and Quantonium-obsessed Gallaxhar sends his robot probes to retrieve the precious mineral.

Many fans consider this animated sci-fi story to be one of DreamWorks Animation's best movies. Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, and Rainn Wilson hilariously voice the main characters on their quest to defend Earth against Gallaxhar's clones and robot aliens.

9 Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe Is As Great As The Series

Set before the series finale, Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe follows Phineas and Ferb as they ally with Dr. Dofenshmirtz to save Candace and Vanessa from an alien abduction. Using the Galactic Travel-inator, a spaceship created by Doofenshmirtz, the heroes travel to Feebla-Oot, a planet ruled by Super Super Big Doctor.

Phineas and Ferb is unarguably one of the best Disney shows of the last couple of decades. It's wholesome, often absurd, and it possesses a smart sense of humor that even adults enjoy. Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe definitely has the same vibe as the cartoon.

8 Lilo and Stitch Is a Beloved Disney Movie Because of the Blue Alien

Disney's beloved animated movie Lilo and Stitch tells the story of a lonely Hawaiian girl who lives with her older sister. When they go to the animal shelter to find Lilo a companion, she mistakes Stitch for a dog. Still, she adopts the alien anyway after falling in love with his unusual behavior.

Lilo and Stich is a heartfelt tale centered on the importance of family. Even though Stitch is from a different world and was built to destroy, he bonds with Lilo and she teaches the galaxy's most-wanted alien to care for other people. The successful original release led to another three movies in the franchise.

7 Gremlins Is an Iconic '80s Movie

In Gremlins, the protagonist's father brings home an adorable new pet he found in China, which he calls Gizmo. The alien species is referred to as the Mogwai, and before coming to Earth, the creatures were created on a distant planet to bring peace to nearby civilizations. However, this species is unstable as they produce rapidly and undergo metamorphosis before transforming into little green troublemakers.

Gremlins came out in 1984 and originally had a rating of 15, which was lowered to PG-13 months after its release. These days, children are exposed to so much more, so this comedy/horror movie seems pretty tame compared to today's standards. However, the dated classic is considered by many critics to be one of the most iconic movies from the 1980s. Many people who were children at the time still speak highly of Gremlins.

6 Home Follows an Alien Misfit & a Young Girl

In Home, the color-changing alien race of Boov relocates all humans to the Australian outback and makes Earth their new home. The extraterrestrial protagonist Oh is voiced by Jim Parsons, who is known for playing Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory. Oh is not favored by his species and struggles to make friends, even with his positive and affectionate demeanor.

However, despite the planet-wide invasion and Oh's pidgin English, he manages to befriend a friendly girl, Tip. The alien misfit helps her on a journey to find her mom while running from Boov patrol. Home also includes the voices of Steve Martin and musicians Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna, whose tracks are also heard throughout the movie.

5 The Iron Giant Created Nostalgic Memories For Many People

The Iron Giant is a giant robot, but he is also an extraterrestrial super-weapon, making him an alien of sorts. The movie takes place in Maine in 1957, and Hogarth finds the enormous machine in the woods in the fictional town of Rockwell.

Still iconic 25 years later, The Iron Giant features the voices of Jennifer Aniston, Christopher McDonald, and Vin Diesel as the metal-eating invader. The story of friendship between a nine-year-old boy and a huge mechanical alien quickly became popular with kids. The Iron Giant created nostalgic memories for people worldwide and is an underrated animated movie from the '90s.

4 Space Jam Blends Live Action With Animation

Danny DeVito voices Swackhammer, an alien and the main antagonist in Space Jam. After hearing about the Looney Tunes, he orders his extraterrestrial accomplices to fetch the cartoon characters so he can enslave them and turn them into new attractions for his theme park on Moron Mountain.

After agreeing to settle their difference over a basketball game, the aliens steal the talent of some of the best NBA players while the Warner Bros. icons kidnap Michael Jordan. The iconic '90s movie blends live action with animation, retaining the classic cartoons' slapstick comedy. It's a perfect combination that appeals to children everywhere. It may be of its time, but Space Jam remains one of the best movies for kids centered on aliens.

3 Astro Kid Has High Ratings

In Astro Kid, Willy gets separated from his parents after their spaceship gets caught in an asteroid field on their way back to Earth. His emergency pod lands on an unknown planet, and the 10-year-old is instructed to wait for rescuers with his personal survival module, Buck. Instead, Willy leaves the pod and decides to explore his new surroundings.

The unusual world is full of colorful ecosystems and foreign creatures. Willy comes across some dangerous beasts and strange-looking aliens, including Flash, a dog-like creature who joins the traveler. The protagonist is out to prove to himself and his parents that he is brave, resilient, and capable of becoming a real space explorer. Astro Kid has high ratings on critique platforms and is adored by thousands of young viewers.

2 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Was Released 40 Years Ago

The iconic movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released 40 years ago. This alien kids movie tells the tale of a young boy named Eliott who finds an alien who got left behind on planet Earth. He conceals his discovery and hides E.T. ​​​​from his mom and the public eye. The alien fulfills Elliott's desire for a close friend, and because of their strong bond, the two eventually exhibit identical physical and emotional traits.

Although it contains some mild horror, E.T. was adored by many young viewers and still captivates audiences today. Because of its gripping narrative, relatable characters, and young protagonist, the famous film does well to keep children entertained. Many believe E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is one of the best movies directed by Steven Spielberg.

1 Will Ferrell Voices the Titular Protagonist in Megamind

After being sent away as a young alien, the titular evil protagonist of Megamind finds himself in Earth's Metro City. At school, he meets his rival, Metro Man, who has superpowers and is better than him at everything and much more popular. As a result of jealousy and bitterness, Megamind soon decides he is destined to live a life of villainy.

Will Ferrell comedically portrays the titular alien, and Megamind's soundtrack is filled with rock music that reflects his bad-guy personality. The movie also features an all-star voice cast, including Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, and Jonah Hill. DreamWorks Animation tends to produce movies that can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike, and Megamind is no exception.