Aliens Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition Now Available
- Adam Williams
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
This summer marks 40 years since Aliens, James Cameron’s groundbreaking sequel to Alien, and its legacy remains as powerful as ever. Released in 1986, the film redefined what a sequel could be, blending intense sci-fi horror with explosive action while deepening the emotional core of Ellen Ripley, brought to life by Sigourney Weaver in an iconic performance.
Its influence can still be seen across modern cinema, from its strong character work to its masterclass in tension and pacing. Four decades on, Aliens isn’t just a great film — it’s a landmark in filmmaking, widely regarded as one of the greatest sequels ever made and a defining moment in both horror and science fiction history.
And to celebrate the occasion CreatorVC are releasing a 2-disc Special Edition of their mammoth documentary Aliens Expanded.
As James Cameron’s glorious, science-fiction classic Aliens turns 40, the acclaimed, award-winning documentary Aliens Expanded returns in a strictly limited run, 2-disc Special Anniversary Edition.
Written and directed by Ian Nathan (former editor of Empire magazine, author of Alien Vault and James Cameron: A Retrospective), and produced by CREATORVC, Aliens Expanded has been hailed as the definitive exploration of a cinematic legend. Not least, because it boasts over thirty brand new interviews, including James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, and producer Gale Anne Hurd.
Running at over four hours, the Rondo Award-winning Aliens Expanded centres on a sequence-by-brilliant-sequence analysis driven by memories, stories, facts, revelations, opinion and genuine passion. And augmented by an innovative graphical design that expands the love of Aliens far beyond the movie screen.
“As it celebrates its 40th anniversary, Aliens still stands as arguably the greatest sequel of all time. It is Cameron’s brilliant twist on the original – a film he revered – that effectively invented an entire franchise, and in my opinion his finest hour. With Aliens Expanded our primary mission was to do this incredible, enduring film justice.” - Writer/DIrector Ian Nathan
The set includes-
Aliens Expanded Blu-ray
Special features Blu-ray
15 hours of special features
40th anniversary slipcase
32-page booklet
Documentary digital download
Special feature digital download
Aliens Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition Now Available
The special features Blu-ray included with the Aliens Expanded 40th Anniversary Edition includes hours of bonus content and stories we weren’t able to include in the documentary. Including-
THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS: Over 14 hours of unseen and extended interviews taking the discussion of Alien in new directions. Listen up for James Cameron on where he thinks Aliens ranks in his career; Gale Anne Hurd on the trials of staging scenes in Acton Power Station; Sigourney Weaver on Ripley’s new look; Michael Biehn on his early friendship with Cameron; and Mark Rolston on the man who saw Aliens thirty times.
INSIDE ALIENS EXPANDED: An interview with writer-director Ian Nathan and executive producer Robin Block answering fan questions about the making of Aliens Expanded.
ALIENS EXPANDED THE THEATRICAL CUT: Pacier and more direct, the 100 minute Theatrical Cut sticks closer to the timeline of the film as it tells the story of Aliens and its enduring power, guided by the wonderful interview with James Cameron.
“Aliens is, without question, one of the most influential films I’ve ever seen, so being able to bring Aliens Expanded back for its 40th anniversary is genuinely special. It’s been an absolute pleasure putting this edition together and celebrating a film that means so much to so many of us. This is a strictly limited release and won’t be around for long, so if Aliens is your jam, this really is your last chance to own it for a while.” - Executive Producer Robin Block
You can pre-order either the Blu-ray or digital package HERE with the opportunity to grab copies of some of their other incredible documentaries as adds ons. Please note this sale only runs from 14th - 28th April.
