Home media
Aliens was released on VHS in February 1987.[138][139] A modified cut, including scenes deleted from the theatrical release, was broadcast on CBS in 1989, and a further extended edition with more deleted scenes, including the opening scene of Newt's family investigating the derelict spacecraft, was released on LaserDisc in 1991. The extended cut is 157 minutes long, 20 minutes longer than the theatrical cut, and Cameron has stated it is his preferred version.[19][140][141] In 1997, Aliens debuted on a THX certified widescreen VHS release.[142]
The extended edition was released on VHS and DVD in 1999 as part of the Alien Legacy box set with the other three available Alien films: Alien, Alien 3 (1992) and Alien Resurrection (1997).[140] The DVD version was also sold separately, and both versions included additional behind-the-scenes footage.[143] The 2003 Alien Quadrilogy nine-DVD box set included all four films and an additional disc for each film with behind-the-scenes footage and featurettes (including a three-hour documentary, Superior Firepower: The Making of Aliens), and theatrical and extended cuts of each film. The Aliens disc included commentary by cast and crew members, including Cameron; Weaver did not participate. Each film was sold separately (including its bonus disc) in 2004.[19][144]
Aliens was released on Blu-ray in 2010 as part of the Alien Anthology box set with remastered footage, theatrical and extended versions, and featurettes found in earlier releases. The film was released separately on Blu-ray in 2011.[145][146] For its 30th anniversary in 2016, Aliens was released on Blu-ray and digital download, featuring a new interview with Cameron about his inspirations for the film. In addition to the theatrical and extended versions, the release contained a limited-edition lithograph of Ripley in battle with the alien queen, an art book focused on the Aliens comic books by Dark Horse Comics, and collectible cards with concept art by Cameron.[147] A limited-edition, 75-copy vinyl soundtrack was also released that year.[148] A 4K Ultra HD remastered Collector's Edition of Aliens was made available for digital release in December 2023, followed by a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release in March 2024.[149]
Other media
Toy company Kenner Products attempted to release figures based on Alien in 1979, but only an alien action figure was released, which was quickly withdrawn when it was deemed too frightening for children. Aliens was considered a different prospect (despite its adult-oriented content), since it focused on action and featured marines (instead of ordinary workers) fighting a large number of aliens. The toys were intended to tie into Operation Aliens (a children's cartoon scheduled for release in 1992, alongside Alien 3) and a series of mini-comics by Dark Horse Comics.[150][151] Since its release, Aliens has appeared across a variety of merchandise, including action figures,[151] punching bags,[148] clothing,[148] and board games.[152] McFarlane Toys released figures for Hicks, the alien, and the alien queen in the early 2000s.[153][154][155] In the late 2010s, National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) released figures based on the film, including Newt,[17] Burke, and Cameron dressed as a Colonial Marine.[156][157] NECA also revived the original Kenner designs in 2019, releasing better-quality models.[158][159]
Aliens has had several video-game adaptations, beginning with Aliens: The Computer Game (1986), which was followed by a separate game, also called Aliens: The Computer Game, in 1987. A side-scroller, Aliens (1987), was released in Japan for the MSX,[160] and a 1990 arcade game, Aliens, allowed players to play as Ripley or Hicks against alien variants; some levels required the player to control Newt.[160][161] Aliens: A Comic Book Adventure, an adventure game focusing on puzzles, was released in 1995.[160][162] A first-person shooter, Alien Trilogy (1996), is based on Alien, Aliens, and Alien 3.[160][163] Aliens Online (1998) was an online game which allowed players to play as Colonial Marines or aliens.[160] Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013) is a first-person shooter and a canonical sequel of Aliens, focusing on the marines sent to search for Ripley's expedition.[160][162] Several other games have the Aliens brand or are side stories or sequels to the film's events, and the Aliens vs. Predator game series.[i]
A novelization by Alan Dean Foster was released alongside the film.[165][166] Comic books based on (and continuing) the story of Aliens have been published (primarily by Dark Horse Comics) since 1988, including crossovers of the titular aliens with popular franchises, such as Predator (creating a derivative Alien vs. Predator franchise), Terminator, and Superman.[j] Reebok's boots designed for Ripley became available to the public in 2016; other versions included boots based on the power loader, Bishop, the Colonial Marines and the alien queen.[88][148] Rinzler published The Making of Aliens, a 300-page behind-the-scenes book with cast and crew interviews and previously unseen photographs, in 2020.[89] Operation Aliens, a board game, was released in 1992. Players are cast as a Colonial Marine or Ripley and tasked with finding a self-destruct code to destroy an infested spaceship.[152][176]
