Alien (1979) Home Release History

by: James A. Barnes

Here’s the full history of “Alien” (1979) on home release.


VHS - Alien - Magnetic Video - 1980

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


LaserDisc - Alien - 1981 (US) - 1982 (UK)

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


VHS - Alien - CBS/FOX Video - 1983

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


VHS - Alien - CBS/FOX Video - 1984

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


LaserDisc - Giger’s Alien (Documentary) - March 21, 1987

Contents

  • 1979 Documentary


LaserDisc - Alien: Special Collector’s Edition - October 8, 1992 (US)

Contents

  • 10 deleted scenes:

    • The Alien Transmission

    • Lambert Confronts Ripley

    • Kane's Condition

    • Ripley and Parker

    • Planning the Search

    • A Quick Glimpse

    • Ripley Reassures Lambert

    • The Airlock Sequence — Part 1

    • The Airlock Sequence — Part 2

    • The Cocoon Sequence

  • 7 outtakes:

    • Nostromo Fly-Bys

    • Rise and Shine

    • Kane's Point of View

    • The Facehugger Attacks

    • Alien Attacks Lambert

    • Ripley Blasts the Alien

    • Firing the Engines

  • Annotated history of the film

  • Screenplay excerpts

  • Conceptual art work

  • Giger's paintings and drawings

  • Rare production photographs

  • Behind-the-scenes footage

  • Theatrical trailer and original advertising materials

Other contents

  • Guide booklet including program notes and chapter listing


VHS - Alien - 20TH CENTURY FOX VIDEO (HOME ENT.) - 1992

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


VHS - Alien - 20TH CENTURY FOX VIDEO (HOME ENT.) - 1999

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version


DVD - Alien: 20th Anniversary Edition - June 1, 1999 (US) - May 15, 2000 (UK)

Contents

  • Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott

  • Composer's original isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith

  • Alternate music and production sound audio track

  • 10 deleted scenes:

    • Alien Transmission

    • Lambert Confronts Ripley

    • Kane's Condition

    • Ripley and Parker

    • Planning the Search

    • A Quick Glimpse

    • Ripley Reassures Lambert

    • Airlock Sequence Part 1

    • Airlock Sequence Part 2

    • The Cocoon Sequence

  • 2 outtakes:

    • Rise and Shine

    • Alien Attacks Lambert

  • Original Ridley Scott storyboards

  • Trailers and TV spots

  • Production and promotional image galleries


DVD - Alien: The Director’s Cut - January 6, 2004 (US) - March 15, 2004 (UK)

Contents

Disc 1: Alien

  • 1979 theatrical version

  • 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction

  • Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O'Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings, and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt

  • 7 deleted and extended scenes

  • Deleted scene footage marker (Director's Cut only)

Disc 2: Special features

  • The Beast Within: The Making of Alien

  • 7 deleted scenes:

    • Kane in the Morning

    • The Derelict

    • Kane's Condition

    • Repairs Interrupted

    • Regrouping

    • Ripley and Lambert

    • The Airlock

  • First draft screenplay by Dan O'Bannon

  • Original Ridley Scott storyboards and notes

  • Storyboard archive

  • Sigourney Weaver screen test

  • Multi-angle Chestburster sequence

  • Production and promotional image galleries


Blu-ray - Alien - May 10, 2011 (US) - January 30, 2012 (UK)

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version

  • 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction

  • Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O'Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings, and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt

  • Alternate audio commentary with Ridley Scott (theatrical cut only)

  • Final theatrical isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith (theatrical cut only)

  • Composer's original isolated score (theatrical cut only)

  • 7 deleted and extended scenes

  • Deleted scene footage marker (Director's Cut only)


Blu-ray - Alien: 35th Anniversary Edition - October 7, 2014 (US)

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version

  • 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction

  • Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O'Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings, and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt

  • Alternate audio commentary with Ridley Scott (theatrical cut only)

  • Final theatrical isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith (theatrical cut only)

  • Composer's original isolated score (theatrical cut only)

  • 7 deleted and extended scenes

  • Deleted scene footage marker (Director's Cut only)


4k UHD Blu-ray - Alien: 40th Anniversary Edition - April 1, 2019

Contents

  • 1979 theatrical version

  • 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction

  • Audio commentary with director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O'Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings, and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt

  • Alternate audio commentary with Ridley Scott (theatrical cut only)

  • Final theatrical isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith (theatrical cut only)

  • Composer's original isolated score (theatrical cut only)

  • 7 deleted and extended scenes

  • Deleted scene footage marker (Director's Cut only)