Alien Nation *** (1988, James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, Terence Stamp) – Classic Movie Review 13,769

Veteran police investigator James Caan and the first alien Newcomer detective Mandy Patinkin probe a criminal underworld while trying to solve a homicide, in Alien Nation (1988).

Director Graham Baker’s 1988 American science fiction action film Alien Nation is written by Rockne S O’Bannon, and stars James Caan, Mandy Patinkin and Terence Stamp.

Veteran police detective Matthew Sykes (James Caan) embarks on a ruthless quest for revenge when his partner cop is murdered in a raid in the aliens’ quarter of Los Angeles in the futureworld of the 1990s. He teams up with the world’s first alien police inspector, Sam (“George”) Francisco (Mandy Patinkin) to investigate a drugs ring, headed by William Harcourt (Terence Stamp).

An intelligent, effective sci-fi thriller is boosted by the vigorous acting, exciting dark-toned atmosphere and a laudable attempt to examine racial tensions. Despite the strong star performance from a back-on-form Caan, it does feel like a pilot for a TV series, and indeed one followed, with neither of the two main stars.

Even if the story is often violent, and concentrates on the action, the compelling characters still dominate.

Rockne S. O’Bannon’s original screenplay for Alien Nation was submitted as a spec script to producer Gale Anne Hurd in 1988, just one of 20 to 25 received each week by 20th Century Fox at the time. 

Alien Nation was released by 20th Century Fox in the US on October 7, 1988, and grossed $32.2 million worldwide against a $16 million budget.

It led to a short-lived TV series, five TV films, a set of comic books, and a number of novels. The TV series ran for a single season of 22 episodes from September 18, 1989 to May 7, 1990. Gary Graham played Matt Sikes and Eric Pierpoint played George Francisco. The first of five TV film sequels, entitled Alien Nation: Dark Horizon, premiered on October 25, 1994.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,769

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