It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a new alien movie. But did you ever wonder if any alien movies were based on true stories? From harrowing encounters to real-life baby aliens, it turns out that quite a few alien movies have some basis in truth. Let’s take a look at the top alien movies based on true stories.
The Real-Life Story Behind “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
The movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” has long been considered a classic of the alien genre. The story is based on an interview with Swiss alien abductee, Betty Hill. She and her husband Barney recounted their experience in the book, “Interrupted Journey” by John G. Fuller.
The Hills had been on a road trip in 1961, when they encountered a bright object in the night sky. Coming in and out of consciousness, the couple arrived five hours later than when they left, and their car was surrounded by a strange smell.
The Hills underwent hypnosis to recall their experience, a process that showed that people had observed them and taken them close to their unexplainable object. Betty also recounted a strange exchange with the aliens and the detailed description of them. The Hills’ story became a much-anticipated subject in the world of UFO reports.
“Fire in the Sky” and the Travis Walton Abduction
From the depths of the Mogollon Rim Mountains in Arizona comes the story of the Travis Walton abduction. As related in the movie, “Fire in the Sky”, Walton and his loggers reportedly encountered a strange craft hovering above them. His coworkers fled in fear, while Walton was left to investigate the light by himself.
He was only able to make it close enough to observe a single light up close. As soon as he touched the light, Walton blacked out and found himself strapped inside the strange machine, in an environment covered with bright lights. When Walton returned to his crew five days later, he was convinced he had been abducted and experimented on by aliens.
The story of his abduction was chronicled first in Walton’s book, “The Walton Experience”, and later became the basis for the 1993 movie. Walton’s story was also a subject of heated debate in the field of abduction reports.
“The Fourth Kind” and the Dr. Abigail Tyler Story
The horror movie “The Fourth Kind” stars Milla Jovovich as abduction therapist Dr. Abigail Tyler. The movie was based on reports related by Tyler in separate news segments. It seems that Tyler had found herself in Nome, Alaska in 2000 investigating an unusually high number of abductions by aliens.
She documented her experience in a 10-episode series of videos, which appear in the movie as segments released to the public. Skeptics were quick to point out that Tyler’s reports lacked evidence. In response, the movie creators claimed the footage was real. As with many alien abduction reports, the truth behind them remained elusive.
“The Mothman Prophecies” and the 1966 West Virginia Sightings
The 2002 movie “The Mothman Prophecies” follows the strange sightings of a huge creature with glowing red eyes. The movie was based on reports of the creature’s appearances around the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960s.
The reports from the townsfolk were collected in the book “The Mothman Prophecies” by John A. Keel. Keel’s book was a thrilling recount of the sightings, including said reports of strange lights, crop circles, and not to mention the creature’s conduct during the events. Extraordinarily, the Mothman was also reportedly seen as an omen of things to come in the town of Point Pleasant.
As strange as they may seem, there are many alien movies based on true stories. From the Betty and Barney Hill of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” to Travis Walton of “Fire in the Sky”, these stories form the basis for some of the most iconic alien movies of all time.
While it may be hard to prove the authenticity of some reports, it’s safe to say that there’s an element of truth in these alien movies. So, the next time you watch one, remember the incredible stories behind them, and hold on to that little bit of wonder that these events bring – even if it’s all just make-believe.
