Who directed "Aliens"?
The original "Alien" scared the absolute hell out of audiences in 1979 with its haunted-house-in-space vibe and that unforgettable chestburster scene. Seven years later, Fox decided it was time for a sequel, but they wanted to turn the adventures of Ellen Ripley and her xenomorph problems into a full-blown action spectacle with marines, flamethrowers, and enough firepower to level a small planet. Which director transformed "Alien" into "Aliens"?
▼
Correct Answer: James Cameron
(Source)James Cameron was the guy Fox entrusted to transform what could have been a simple retread into a completely different beast. Cameron got the job back in 1983 when he pitched a 42-page treatment based on the concept of "Ripley and soldiers," but the project stalled until "The Terminator" became a surprise hit in 1984. Once Fox saw what Cameron could do with action and suspense, they greenlit "Aliens" with an $18 million budget (triple what he got for "The Terminator"). The film ended up making over $130 million worldwide, turned Cameron into one of Hollywood's most bankable action directors, and even helped lay the groundwork for future (extremely profitable) alien projects from the director.
Share This Trivia
Want More Nostalgia?
Check out our other quizzes and random trivia questions!
More Trivia
- Name the show: "cause when they met, it was murder"
- Which James Brown song did NASA include on a wake-up playlist for astronauts?
- What is the wolf named in "Dances with Wolves"?
- Which singer turned down the song "Physical"?
- Who was the first host of "The Hollywood Squares"?
- Which rockstar provided backing vocals for Carly Simon's "You're So Vain"?
- What is MacGyver's first name?
- What speed does the DeLorean in "Back to the Future" need to reach for time travel?