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)