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"?
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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.
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