Join the Aliens cast & crew, including James Cameron (Writer & Director), Gale Anne Hurd (Producer), Sigourney Weaver (Ripley), Michael Biehn (Hicks), Lance Henriksen (Bishop), Paul Reiser (Burke), Mark Rolston (Drake), Jenette Goldstein (Vasquez), William Hope (Gorman) and Carrie Henn (Newt), on a deep dive into this science-fiction classic.

Brimming with stories, insight, and wonderful personal detail, this four-hour documentary is the most passionate and sophisticated exploration of Aliens ever made; a love letter to the people who made it and the communities who adore it, reflecting and enhancing the incredible legacy of this beloved epic. 

This limited edition collector’s item is available again for two weeks only. Orders close at midnight on Christmas Eve (or before, if we run out of stock!)

Your Ultimate Companion to James Cameron’s Aliens

The backbone of the documentary is an analysis of the crucial scenes of Aliens in chronological order. Using an innovative graphical ‘scanner’ we travel inside the movie to focus on not just scenes, but individual elements within those scenes, including characters, weaponry, and sets.

As we examine these elements, the crew, including Creature Effects Supervisors Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., Visual Effects Supervisor Robert Skotak, Model Maker John Lee, and Graham Hartstone (Sound Department) add their own stories to those of the cast.

Along the way, we offer up a fresh and expanded take on the incredible story behind the film: the chance encounter that led to Cameron taking it on, the intense writing process, the intuitive casting of the marines, winning over Sigourney Weaver, finding Newt, the nightmare shoot, and the ultimate triumph. Famous tales are retold, but enriched with new perspectives.

But this isn’t just the story of Aliens - it’s also a story about how we relate to it. Together, we investigate the broader elements of the Aliens experience, examining how our love of Cameron’s film, then and now, has been influenced by a wide range of factors, including:

• The Merchandising, including the novelisation and James Horner’s atmospheric soundtrack.
• The Expanded Universe, including the books, comics, video games, film sequels, and cosplay.
• And the Fan Communities that enable us to continue to show our appreciation for the film all these years later

In these sections, Alan Dean Foster (Author, Aliens Novelization), Mark Verheiden (Author, Aliens Comics), V. Castro (Author, Vasquez), Charles de Lauzirika (Director, Superior Firepower: Making Aliens), and Derek Dafoe (Alien Theory) add their own insights to those of the cast and crew.

Across the four-hour runtime, we dive into innumerable stories that take you behind-the-scenes and under-the-skin - here are just a few of our favorites:

Winning Over Ripley: Director James Cameron and the cast recall what it took to persuade Sigourney Weaver to return after her contract had lapsed, including Cameron’s cunning plan to persuade the studio to make her the highest paid actress in Hollywood.

Remembering Bill Paxton: in a highly emotive segment, Jenette Goldstein (Vasquez), Mark Rolston (Drake), Cynthia Scott (Corporal Dietrich), Carrie Henn (Newt), and James Cameron recall working with Bill Paxton, and how he became the untameable, beloved, heartbeat of the production and a friend to everyone.

The Film that Never Ages: Alec Gillis (Creature Effects Coordinator, Aliens), Tom Woodruff Jr. (Creature Effects Coordinator, Aliens) and Matt Winston (Co-Founder, Stan Winston School) discuss how the sets, models, and complete lack of CGI give Aliens an authenticity that would be hard to beat with today’s technology.

The Battle with the British Crew: With great humor (in hindsight), James Cameron and his cast recall the culture clash with the dyed-in-the-wool British crew: the tensions, stand-offs, and the legendary confrontation between Cameron and a tea lady, and how the edginess on set fed into the tension within the movie.

All Hail the Queen: The cast & crew explore the creation of one of the greatest screen monsters of all time, the Alien Queen. From design concepts to the fabled “garbage bag” test to the giant, 14-foot puppet operated on set, to the amalgam of pigs, tigers, and other animals in her “vocalization,” this was a triumph of imagination realized at thrilling scale.

The perfect Christmas gift for a friend or yourself! Order by December 10th for delivery by Christmas (Delivery estimate: Domestic US 8-10 days, International 15-20 days)! 

Full Cast

Shipping & Fulfillment

All items ship immediately. Shipping prices are $8 for domestic (US) and $20 for international orders. US orders made by December 10th should arrive in time for Christmas, but this is not guaranteed.

Find out a little about us below. If you are a member of the press or an influencer, scroll down to find links to our press kit and information on how to request a review copy.

Our Team

CREATORVC is an independent producer of community-powered entertainment: long-form factual content that is funded, inspired, and shaped by a dedicated community of fans. Our projects include the critically acclaimed In Search of Darkness trilogy and the ‘80s Sci-Fi documentary In Search of Tomorrow.

The team working on this project includes:

Ian Nathan (Writer & Director) - Ian Nathan is one of the UK’s best-known film writers and commentators. He is the author of numerous books, including Alien Vault and James Cameron: A Retrospective. He is also the former editor and executive editor of Empire, still one of the world’s biggest movie magazines, where he remains a contributing editor. 

David Weiner (Executive Producer) - David Weiner is the writer/director of the five-hour ’80s Sci-Fi documentary In Search of Tomorrow, and of the ’80s horror genre documentaries In Search of Darkness Parts I-III. David was previously editor-in-chief of the iconic Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, a writer for The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision, senior editor at Entertainment Tonight for 13 years, and is a multiple Rondo Award nominee and winner.

Robin Block (Executive Producer) - Founder/CEO of CREATORVC, the world’s leading crowdfunded factual entertainment company. Robin is also the creator and Exec Producer of the critically acclaimed In Search of Darkness ‘80s horror documentary series and the '80s Sci-Fi retrospective In Search of Tomorrow.

Press Kit & Partnerships

If you are a member of the press you can access our press kit here. If you are an influencer, use this form to apply to join our affiliate program.

Do you accept international orders?

Yes. We accept most currencies through our secure payment processing system. Although payments are processed in U.S. Dollars, you will see the equivalent charge in your currency on your bank or credit card statement.

Will I Be Charged Customs/Import Fees on my International Order?

Please check your country's import rules. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for import fees

My payment was declined, what should I do?

Our payments system is hosted by Shopify, the world’s number one ecommerce platform. If you are having problems making a payment we are unable to assist. Please contact your card issuer/bank and ask them to accept the transaction.

Will the Blu-ray be region free?

Yes, the Blu-ray will be region free

Does the Documentary Have Subtitles?

Yes, English and Spanish

When will I receive my copy?

Your items will be shipped immediately. Shipping estimates are 8-10 days Domestic US and 15-20 days International.

How much is shipping?

Shipping is $8 for domestic (US) and $20 for international.

Is there a DVD option?

We are not producing a DVD version of Aliens Expanded. Producing physical media is prohibitively expensive at lower volumes, and after surveying ALIENS fans, there wasn't enough demand to make the option viable.

My question isn’t answered here - what should I do?

Please contact support@creatorvc.com for other questions