Summary

• Tagline "In space, no one can hear you scream" from 1979's Alien encapsulates the cosmic horror genre and redefined space in film.
• Alien is a rare example of perfect alignment, blending sci-fi and horror seamlessly to set new standards in storytelling and visual effects.
• Powerful taglines like "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water" and "They're here" transcend their films.

In the annals of science fiction and horror, there exists a tagline so evocative, so chillingly succinct, that it alone suffices to conjure images of isolation and dread: "In space, no one can hear you scream." This tagline is not merely a catchphrase but a portal into the cosmic horror genre, encapsulating the terrifying premise of an environment where human vulnerability is amplified by the absolute silence and indifference of the cosmos. The tagline, born in the late 1970s, marked a significant pivot in how space was portrayed in film, moving away from the optimistic exploration narratives in earlier decades.

The film associated with this iconic tagline seamlessly blends elements of science fiction with the visceral intensity of horror. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly routine mission in the vast expanse of outer space, the story quickly evolves into a gripping tale of survival, as the crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a malevolent entity far beyond their comprehension. This narrative not only challenged the conventions of its time but also set new standards for storytelling and visual effects in cinema, forever altering the landscape of science fiction and horror films.

Alien is available to stream on Hulu.

In Space No One Can Hear You Scream Is From 1979's Alien Poster

Based On Dan O'Bannon's Idea That Space Is The Perfect Setting For A Haunted House Movie

"In space, no can hear you scream" is the iconic tagline of Ridley Scott's Alien. Everything from Scott's direction to composer Jerry Goldsmith's haunting score has been lauded, but the movie also had a fantastic marketing campaign. This included the trailer, which suggested much but showed little, and the Alien poster and tagline. This one-sheet showed an Alien egg — which was really a decorated chicken egg — against an ominous background with the tagline "In space, no one can hear you scream."

The franchise itself would come back to this tagline for Alien 3's teaser trailer, which proclaimed "On Earth, everyone can hear you scream."

This tag goes back to screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's idea of space being the perfect setting for a haunted house movie and emphasizes the isolation of the main characters. The tagline is now almost as famous as the film itself and has been referenced and parodied many times, including Stranger Things referencing the movie poster, directly borrowing the tagline, "In the Upside Down, no one can hear you scream." The franchise itself would come back to this tagline for Alien 3's teaser trailer, which proclaimed "On Earth, everyone can hear you scream."

Alien is a rare example of a movie where everything just seemed to line up and work perfectly, which includes the poster and tagline. "In space, no one can hear you scream" sums up the tone of the movie in one succinct sentence, which is what the best taglines can accomplish.

Other Iconic Taglines Disconnected From Their Cinematic Origins

"In Space No One Can Hear You Scream" Isn't The Only Memorable Tagline

These succinct phrases capture the essence of a film in a manner so memorable that they often detach and live independently within the public consciousness.

In the world of cinema, a powerful tagline can become a cultural phenomenon in its own right, sometimes eclipsing the fame of the movies they represent. These succinct phrases capture the essence of a film in a manner so memorable that they often detach and live independently within the public consciousness.

Among these, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water," stands out as a quintessential example. Originating from a sequel to one of the most famous shark films of the 1970s, the surprisingly more realistic Jaws 2, this tagline evokes a primal fear of the unknown lurking beneath the ocean's surface. Despite its clear reference to the dangers of the deep, many recall the phrase without immediately connecting it to its cinematic source, a testament to its pervasive grip on the collective imagination.

Another tagline that has transcended its filmic roots is "They're here," a chillingly simple declaration from the supernatural horror film Poltergeist. This phrase succinctly captures the terror of the unknown invading the sanctity of home, embedding itself in popular culture as a harbinger of eerie, unexplained phenomena. Despite the movie's critical and commercial success, the tagline often floats free of its origin, quoted in various contexts far removed from its eerie, suburban nightmare beginnings.

"There can be only one," from the cult classic Highlander, melding action, science fiction, and fantasy in the mid-1980s, has grown larger than the film itself. This phrase, encapsulating the eternal struggle and loneliness of immortality, has been repurposed across different media, symbolizing ultimate battles beyond its original context of sword-wielding immortals. Its usage in popular culture has somewhat obscured its connection to the movie, just like "In space, no one can hear you scream," demonstrating how a compelling tagline can take on a life of its own, beyond the screens.