On May 25th, 1979, the Ridley Scott-directed film, "Alien", was released to theaters across the United States. The film is legendary for its slow-burn tension and the "Chestbuster" scene, which was filmed in one take using high-pressure blood squibs. Beyond that scene and the special effects, the film broke ground by casting Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley. Originally written as a gender-neutral role, Ripley became one of cinema's first and most iconic female action protagonists. Despite an $11 million production budget and initially mixed reviews from critics, "Alien" went on to gross over $100 million and win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
