Aliens is a masterpiece. One of the only great sequels ever made, it’s a film that’s mere existence is miraculous, as evidenced by the fact that not a single sequel in the franchise since has lived up to its greatness.
But it’s miraculous in more ways than one. The history of Aliens is far more complicated than it appears, and if you were on the film’s set, you might not have been so sure that this movie was going to be the hit it was. With Aliens 35th anniversary this year, there’s no better time to learn about the making of a sci-fi legend: