With the UK National Archives recently releasing new files on UFO sightings and the launch of the spectacular alien-invasion thriller SKYLINE on DVD and Blu-Ray later this month (March 21st), we take a look at some of the most recent Hollywood interpretations of our extra-terrestrial friends and the methods used to resist their attacks…

You can also watch an exclusive clip from Skyline, featuring one of the main characters attempting to fight off an invader, and see how the film’s defensive tactics play out, here.

MARS ATTACKS

Released: 1996

Starring: Jack Nicholson (The Shining), Glenn Close (Damages), Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right), Pierce Brosnan (Goldeneye)

The Visitors: Bulbous-headed Martian pranksters shooting every human in sight with laser guns.

The Defence: Drown them out with Tom Jones records!

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Released: (1996)

Starring: Will Smith (Men in Black), Jeff Goldblum (The Fly), Bill Pullman (Casper)

The Visitors: Plate-shaped spaceships confuse everyone by parking above America’s biggest cities….and then start blowing up any building of vague historical significance.

The Defence: Nominate the US president to blow them up in a fighter jet.

STARSHIP TROOPERS

Released: (1997)

Starring: Casper Van Dien (Sleepy Hollow), Dina Meyer (Saw)

The Visitors: Advanced, intergalactic bugs decide to attack Earth. Presumably because they’re bored.

The Defence: Send clean-cut teenagers in Nazi-esque uniforms to the oversized cockroaches’ home planets, with guns… lots of guns.

SIGNS

Released: (2002)

Starring: Mel Gibson (Lethal Weapon), Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator), Rory Culkin (Mean Creek), Abigail Breslin (Zombieland)

The Visitors: Countryside loving invaders with artistic tendencies and razor blades for fingers.

The Defence: Just throw some water at them… apparently.

WAR OF THE WORLDS

Released: (2005)

Starring: Tom Cruise (Top Gun), Dakota Fanning (Taken), Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption)

The Visitors: Mega spaceships from a super advanced civilization, pulverizing the world’s population with a number of powerful lasers.

The Defence: Develop a common cold and sneeze vigorously in their direction.

CLOVERFIELD

Released: (2008)

Starring: T.J. Miller (Unstoppable), Lizzy Caplan (Mean Girls)

The Visitors: A Godzilla-like creature single-handedly destroying New York City, specifically targeting the young and annoying.

The Defence: Videotape your friends being ripped apart, and run in the opposite direction.

SKYLINE

Released: 2010
Starring: Eric Balfour (The Teaxs Chainsaw Massacre), Donald Faison (Scrubs)

The Visitors: Gigantic light beaming vessels from outer-space filled with giant, brain-hungry monsters

The Defence: DON’T LOOK UP!

Check out our exclusive Skyline clip, to see what happens when you ignore that all important advice; “Don’t look up”; here.