Aliens
57 years after Ellen Ripley had a close encounter with the reptilian alien creature from the first movie, she is called back, this time, to help a group of highly trained colonial marines fight off against the sinister extraterrestrials. But this time, the aliens have taken over a space colony on the moon LV-426. When the colonial marines are called upon to search the deserted space colony, they later find out that they are up against more than what they bargained for. Using specially modified machine guns and enough firepower, it's either fight or die as the space marines battle against the aliens. As the Marines do their best to defend themselves, Ripley must attempt to protect a young girl who is the sole survivor of the nearly wiped out space colony.
Despite a respectable budget of $18.5M, Aliens became a commercial juggernaut, earning $183.3M worldwide—a remarkable 891% return.
2 Oscars. 20 wins & 25 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Aliens (1986) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of James Cameron's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 17 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 3.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ellen Ripley
Newt
Corporal Dwayne Hicks
Carter Burke
Bishop
Private William Hudson
Sergeant Al Apone
Private Vasquez
Lieutenant Gorman
Main Cast & Characters
Ellen Ripley
Played by Sigourney Weaver
Sole survivor of the Nostromo who returns to LV-426 with Colonial Marines to confront the xenomorph threat.
Newt
Played by Carrie Henn
Young girl and sole survivor of the Hadley's Hope colony who forms a maternal bond with Ripley.
Corporal Dwayne Hicks
Played by Michael Biehn
Competent and level-headed Colonial Marine who becomes Ripley's ally and romantic interest.
Carter Burke
Played by Paul Reiser
Weyland-Yutani corporate representative whose true priorities endanger the mission.
Bishop
Played by Lance Henriksen
Android crew member who proves his loyalty despite Ripley's initial distrust.
Private William Hudson
Played by Bill Paxton
Loud-mouthed Marine who panics under pressure but finds courage when it matters.
Sergeant Al Apone
Played by Al Matthews
Experienced Marine sergeant who leads his squad with confidence and discipline.
Private Vasquez
Played by Jenette Goldstein
Tough and skilled smartgun operator who never backs down from a fight.
Lieutenant Gorman
Played by William Hope
Inexperienced officer whose poor leadership decisions cost Marine lives.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ripley drifts alone in the Narcissus escape pod, frozen in hypersleep after 57 years - isolated, traumatized, the sole survivor of the Nostromo. Her status quo is one of unprocessed trauma and solitude.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Burke informs Ripley that contact has been lost with the colony on LV-426 - the families she warned them about are now silent. He asks her to return as an advisor to the Colonial Marines.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 21% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The dropship descends through LV-426's atmosphere. Ripley commits to entering the nightmare world, crossing from safety into the place of her trauma. There is no turning back., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (66% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The dropship explodes, taking their only means of escape. Hudson declares: "Game over, man! Game over!" The whiff of death: they are stranded with no rescue, surrounded by aliens, with a nuclear reactor about to explode. Hope dies., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Ripley infiltrates the alien hive, finds Newt and other colonists, burns the egg chamber, confronts the Alien Queen, and escapes as the reactor explodes. On the Sulaco, the Queen emerges for a final battle. Ripley defeats her using the power loader, saying "Get away from her, you bitch!" - the mother protecting her child., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Aliens's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Aliens against these established plot points, we can identify how James Cameron utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Aliens within the action genre.
James Cameron's Structural Approach
Among the 8 James Cameron films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.9, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Aliens takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete James Cameron filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more James Cameron analyses, see Titanic, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Abyss.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ripley drifts alone in the Narcissus escape pod, frozen in hypersleep after 57 years - isolated, traumatized, the sole survivor of the Nostromo. Her status quo is one of unprocessed trauma and solitude.
Theme
Burke tells Ripley: "I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them screwing each other over for a goddamn percentage." The theme: institutional greed versus maternal protection, corporate exploitation versus human solidarity.
Worldbuilding
Ripley awakens to learn 57 years have passed, her daughter has died, and LV-426 is now a terraforming colony. The company disbelieves her alien story and revokes her flight license. She works as a cargo loader, plagued by nightmares, isolated and powerless.
Disruption
Burke informs Ripley that contact has been lost with the colony on LV-426 - the families she warned them about are now silent. He asks her to return as an advisor to the Colonial Marines.
Resistance
Ripley initially refuses, terrified of returning. Burke and Lieutenant Gorman persuade her that this is her chance to face her nightmare. She agrees only if they promise to destroy the aliens, not study them. She meets the overconfident Colonial Marines aboard the Sulaco.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The dropship descends through LV-426's atmosphere. Ripley commits to entering the nightmare world, crossing from safety into the place of her trauma. There is no turning back.
Premise
The Marines explore the deserted colony, discover the colonists cocooned in the alien hive, and are ambushed by xenomorphs. Most of the squad is killed. The survivors barricade themselves in the Operations center, realizing they are hopelessly outgunned and awaiting rescue in 17 days.
Opposition
The group discovers Burke's betrayal - he smuggled alien embryos to impregnate Ripley and Newt for the company. Aliens breach the facility. Bishop is sent to remote-pilot the second dropship for rescue. An alien is revealed to be on the dropship, causing it to crash and explode, destroying their escape. They descend to the lower levels.
Collapse
The dropship explodes, taking their only means of escape. Hudson declares: "Game over, man! Game over!" The whiff of death: they are stranded with no rescue, surrounded by aliens, with a nuclear reactor about to explode. Hope dies.
Crisis
Ripley and the survivors plan to wait for Bishop in the sub-level, but the reactor becomes critical. Then Newt is captured by aliens through the floor grating. Ripley faces her darkest moment: lose her surrogate daughter or descend into the hive alone.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Ripley infiltrates the alien hive, finds Newt and other colonists, burns the egg chamber, confronts the Alien Queen, and escapes as the reactor explodes. On the Sulaco, the Queen emerges for a final battle. Ripley defeats her using the power loader, saying "Get away from her, you bitch!" - the mother protecting her child.