6 Best Body Snatchers and Alien Doppelganger Movies

By Vlad Zakh · April 19, 2026

The paranoid terror of being replaced by an identical, emotionless duplicate has powered some of science fiction cinema’s most enduring Cold War-era allegories. In The Thing (1982): An Antarctic research team is hunted by a shape-shifting alien capable of perfectly imitating anyone it kills. Another standout is Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): A small-town doctor discovers his neighbors are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.

The Faculty (1998)

TMDB ★ 6.2

High school students discover their teachers have been secretly replaced by parasitic alien invaders.

Directed by Robert Rodriguez · 1h 44m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Invaders from Mars (1986)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A young boy discovers his parents and neighbors have been secretly taken over by invading Martians.

Directed by Tobe Hooper · 1h 40m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Artiflix · Rent: Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Thing (1982)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 85% Metacritic 57

An Antarctic research team is hunted by a shape-shifting alien capable of perfectly imitating anyone it kills.

Directed by John Carpenter · 1h 49m · Rated R

1 win & 5 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A health inspector discovers San Francisco residents are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.

Directed by Philip Kaufman · 1h 56m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A small-town doctor discovers his neighbors are being secretly replaced by emotionless alien duplicates.

Directed by Don Siegel · 1h 20m

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

It Came from Outer Space (1953)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A stranded alien crew disguises itself as townspeople to secretly repair their crashed spacecraft.

Directed by Jack Arnold · 1h 20m

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Cultpix, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Body Snatchers and Alien Doppelganger Movies

The Faculty (1998)

Invaders from Mars (1986)

The Thing (1982)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

It Came from Outer Space (1953)

You might also like

19 Best Monster Movies of All Time

8 Best Body Horror Movies of All Time

8 Best Movies of 1982

8 Best Movies of 1978

250 Best Movies of All Time

50 Best Sci-Fi Movies of All Time