Best UFO Documentaries: Were There Visitors From Outer Space?
15th Jul 2024
UFO documentaries and feature alien movies are genres, holding their positions in the film and television industry, as they are aimed at an audience eager to explore the unknown.
There are almost no mysteries left on Earth, but there still are a lot of them in space. Are we alone in the Universe? Is life possible beyond our planet? Have we had contact with alien life forms, and if so, why does the government stubbornly keep silent about them? Why did the Pentagon and NASA replace the abbreviation UFO with UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) in 2022 and try to avoid any connection with the extraterrestrial origin of such objects?
If you’re wondering about these and other secrets regarding aliens, these 12 best UFO documentaries and series will help you uncover them.
Best Alien Documentaries List
- Out of the Blue (2003)
- I Know What I Saw (2009)
- Ancient Aliens (2009)
- Mirage Men (2014)
- Unacknowledged” (2017)
- UFOs: The Lost Evidence (2017)
- Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
- John was Trying to Contact Aliens (2020)
- Phenomenon (2020)
- Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified (2021)
- Encounters (2023)
- Alien Disclosure Files (2024)
Out of the Blue 2003
Out of the Blue is one of the top alien documentaries, filmed by directors James Fox and Tim Coleman. The story is based on interviews with eyewitnesses from around the world, as well as senior military and government officials, who share their knowledge and experience in the field of UFO sightings and studies, analyzing possible explanations for these phenomena.
The documentary attempts to show that some UFOs may be extraterrestrial in origin, explores 50 years of official contradictions and denials, and puts forward possible reasons for the secrecy behind these mysterious phenomena. The film is narrated by actor Peter Coyote, who takes the viewer through interviews, footage, and information related to UFOs.
The documentary was well received by critics and audiences and received positive reviews for its thorough research and objective approach to the subject. Even though Out of the Blue was filmed over 20 years ago, the wealth of evidence and expert opinions put together still makes it a valuable source of information for those interested in the subject of UFOs and seeking vast coverage of the subject.
I Know What I Saw (2009)
This film can easily be considered a continuation of Out of the Blue and is one of the best creepy alien documentaries. This time, director James Fox gathered the most authoritative UFO witnesses to testify at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
The film features Air Force generals, astronauts, military and commercial pilots, as well as government and Federal Aviation Administration officials from seven countries.
Just like Out of the Blue, I Know What I Saw received high ratings from viewers and will be especially interesting for those who did not find all the answers in the first part.
Governor Fife Symington of Arizona said the stories told in this documentary “will challenge your perception of reality.” Want to see for yourself?
Ancient Aliens (2009)
This American documentary about aliens will be interesting not only to the UFO theory fans but also to ancient history lovers. The series has become a History Channel classic. The pilot episode premiered on March 8, 2009, and as of 2024, 20 seasons that include 252 episodes have already been filmed.
Ancient aliens explores the idea that ancient civilisations may have had contact with extraterrestrial beings. This concept is based on paleocontact theory, which suggests that historical texts and archaeological finds contain evidence of such contacts. The series examines various aspects of this theory, including the possible influence of aliens on the development of ancient cultures, the construction of buildings and even religious beliefs.
In each episode, viewers are confronted with various “evidence” presented by UFOlogists, researchers, and writers, such as Erich von Däniken and Giorgio Tsoukalos, who discuss their theories and interpretations of references to “astronaut gods” in ancient texts, legends, and myths. There is even a famous meme: a dishevelled Giorgio Tsoukalos throwing up his hands during a passionate explanation of an alien theory.
The series has generated much discussion and controversy, as some critics consider it speculative and argue that it promotes unproven hypotheses as facts. However, Ancient Aliens attracted large audiences and had a significant impact on pop culture — the show was parodied in the animated series South Park.
Mirage Men (2013)
Mirage Men (2013) tells the story of how, for over 60 years, the US Air Force and intelligence agencies exploited and manipulated beliefs about UFOs and alien visitations as part of their counterintelligence programs. The documentary suggests that the military may have deliberately created UFO folklore to use as a cover for all sorts of secret military technologies and operations.
The film received mixed reactions. For example, Twitch Film described it as “scary, suspenseful” and “profoundly thought-provoking.” And American writer Ernest Cline, author of the famous Ready Player One, said that Mirage Men influenced his second novel Armada (2015), in which the government knew about an alien invasion for decades and financed science fiction films and video games to prepare people for war. Do you like conspiracy theories? Then Mirage Men is for you.
Unacknowledged (2017)
This UFO documentary presents the best evidence of extraterrestrial contact, including eyewitness accounts, documents and UFO records, 80% of which have never been published before. The film also looks back at the files of the Disclosure research project and examines how and why secrecy was created around UFOs.
The viewer is offered a version that in the 1950s there was a quiet coup, as a result of which Congress, the US President, and other world leaders were pushed aside by criminal elements of the military-industrial-financial complex.
The purpose of the Disclosure project launched in 1993, was to bring issues related to UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence to the attention of the public and policymakers in an attempt to achieve official recognition and disclosure of UFO information by governments.
Since the official policy surrounding the existence of the UAP has not changed over the years, this may, to a certain extent, serve as evidence of the influence of the “true puppet masters”.
Uncover the worldwide UFO conspiracy with Unacknowledged. It will be an exciting journey.
UFOs: The Lost Evidence (2017)
This is rightfully one of the top alien docuseries that has been broadcast on the Travel Channel every week since 2017. In each episode, the authors try to present new audio, video, and documentary evidence of contacts with aliens from government officials, military and police, scientists and professors, as well as eyewitness meetings. You’ll learn about the possibility of UFOs in our oceans, the secret military base of Area 52, Nazi UFOs, and the connection between Native Americans and the Star People.
Don’t miss UFOs: The Lost Evidence, you will discover a lot of interesting and mysterious things about our contacts with extraterrestrials.
Bob Lazar: Area 51 & Flying Saucers (2018)
This documentary on aliens tells the story of Bob Lazar, a physicist who, in 1989, became famous for revealing his work for the US government on alien spacecraft at Area 51. Lazar stated that he was involved in reverse engineering extraterrestrial technology for the military.
The viewer learns about the difficulties and trials that Lazar faced after he decided to break his oath of secrecy and share his knowledge with the public. Director Jeremy Corbell explores Lazar’s claims and their impact on his life over the past 30 years, including rare and previously unreleased footage.
Interestingly, the Pentagon has officially confirmed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), which operated from 2007 to 2012 and was aimed at collecting and analysing data on anomalous aerospace threats, including unidentified flying objects. So, the story of Bob Lazar is definitely attention-worthy, as it offers food for serious thought.
John was Trying to Contact Aliens (2020)
This short UFO documentary tells the story of John Shepherd, who spent 30 years trying to communicate with alien intelligence by transmitting music into space using a radio he assembled.
John Shepherd has been fascinated by the idea of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations since childhood. He built a sophisticated radio broadcasting system at his home in rural Michigan and began broadcasting music into space, hoping it would reach aliens. After decades of unrequited attempts to communicate, John finds a connection — not in space, but here on Earth. It’s a story about a guy who feels “different”, and so is trying to find meaning not only in this world but also to spread cultural love beyond the stars.
The documentary is only 16 minutes long but touches on deep themes of the search for connection and belonging. Audiences describe John Was Trying to Contact Aliens as “charming” and “hopeful… a sweet little movie about a really sweet guy.” We highly recommend this heart-warming story.
Phenomenon (2020)
Director James Fox’s third successful work on the UFO theme after Out of the Blue (2003) and I know what I see (2009). Phenomenon explores the history of UFO sightings since World War II and calls for more serious scientific study of the “UFO phenomenon.” The documentary includes archive interviews and testimonies from high-ranking government and military officials, NASA astronauts, and accounts of incidents such as Ariel School, UFO Westall, Lonnie Zamora, and the Rendlesham Forest.
The film features interviews with such personalities as former US Senator Harry Reid, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and journalist Leslie Kean.
Critics describe the documentary as “the most convincing ever made on this topic,” and Harry Reid said that it “makes the incredible credible.” We suggest finding out whether politicians lie in retirement, just as they do at work, by watching Phenomenon.
Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified (2021)
This six-episode series explores the idea that long-dismissed alien encounters may be not just probable but quite certain. The documentary presents the latest information and evidence revealing the most secret government projects that were involved in contacting UFOs and concealing information about their presence on Earth.
Viewer reviews of the film were very varied. Some find it interesting but note that it contains too many unnecessary and misleading computer graphics effects. Other sources call the series “a curious mixture of alien encounters and large speculations presented as facts.”
Watch this entertaining documentary about aliens to form your own opinion.
New Alien Documentaries
Encounters (2023)
This is one of the best new alien documentaries that includes 4 episodes and explores mass UFO sightings over the past 50 years. The series features eyewitness accounts, interviews with experts, and new evidence.
The documentary chronicles a variety of UFO sightings, including strange lights in the skies over a small Texas town, underwater spaceships stalking a coastal town in Wales, an alien encounter experienced by schoolchildren in Zimbabwe, and alleged non-human interference at a Japanese nuclear power plant.
Encounters received mixed reviews from viewers. Some call it quite entertaining; others call it the most boring UFO documentary ever seen. Perhaps both are right. Your opinion will likely depend on whether Encounters is your first or tenth UFO documentary.
Alien Disclosure Files (2024)
IMDB
This new UFO documentary describes numerous declassifications of Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP) events over the past five years.
Each of the 13 episodes in the series focuses on different aspects and evidence related to UFOs and extraterrestrial civilisations. For example, one episode explores UFOs found in our oceans, and another touches on the Fermi Paradox and the question of where all the aliens are. The series also discusses whistleblower accounts of UFO war games and presents physical evidence of alien activity that has been concealed for many years.
The documentary aims to cast light on the history of secrecy surrounding UFOs and provide viewers with new data to think about the possibility of extraterrestrial civilisations’ existence and their contact with Earth. And it looks like the authors did a good job.
These were the 12 best UFO documentaries according to Orbital Today as of April 2024. We wish you an enjoyable viewing experience and encourage you to check this page periodically, as we will update the list.
References and Additional Information:
- https://www.imdb.com/list/ls024465263/
- https://www.rottentomatoes.com/search?search=Ufo+documentaries
- https://www.themoviedb.org/
- https://www.netflix.com/ro-en/
- https://www.primevideo.com/collection/IncludedwithPrime
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